Which first? Soundcard vs Headphones vs studio monitors

TranceAddict Forums (www.tranceaddict.com/forums)
- Production Studio
-- Which first? Soundcard vs Headphones vs studio monitors

Posted by ac dc on Jun-13-2005 17:49:

Which first? Soundcard vs Headphones vs studio monitors

Hi Guys, i did a search but didnt found anything close to my question.. so here goes...

I use reason 2.5
i was trying out the tutorial from one of the CM mag and i followed their tweaking of the knobs...then i bypass the device to hear how the untweaked sample sounded like...

Result: Cant hear much of a difference.

Well i realised my speakers were cheap creative computor speakers...and my sound card is audigy so not very fantastic...

I was wondering if good monitor speakers were really that good and u could hear what u tweak... Somewhat tempted to change my speakers

However, my friends advise me against my decision, as speakers are costly and im a noob in music production...i was advised to get quality headphones instead...

Which brings me to a dilemma... Im ready for change but can only afford one piece...Please advise

Posted by don_q on Jun-13-2005 18:49:

I'd say listen to your friends
If they're good you'll notice even better details than with monitors, except for low(subbass)frequencies

Posted by Reversed on Jun-13-2005 19:02:

A good set of headphones can cost close to a pair of monitors and imho are not suited for proper mixing/mastering :P

I'm not sure about your budget but you really can't go wrong with a decent set of monitors. It's a critical component of any studio and can have a huge impact on your productions. There are a lot of great monitors out there that are reasonably priced. For Example you can pick up a pair of Tannoy Reveals for approx $400 new which many people have had success with. (Granted those are passive and require an amplifier)

Here is an article you might find useful:

http://studio-central.com/studio_monitors.htm

Here is a link to several articles all related to monitors, subs, placement etc. (a lot of them older but still relevant)

http://www.theprojectstudiohandbook.com/articles13.htm

Hope this helps a bit

Cheers!

Posted by Dickie-T on Jun-13-2005 21:03:

i have beyer dt 770 pro headphones, which cost 150 euros and i must say, you cant create a track with headphones only... Sometimes at nights when i create a track i can only use my headphones because my parents are at sleep and when i hear the track the next morning through my speakers its total crap... Especially the low freqs sound like shit...
Though i love my headphones (i even have sex with them), they can't work miracles... in a non-sexual way that is

Posted by /I\ on Jun-14-2005 00:09:

yeah, tryout a set of monitors or headphones first, audigy aint all that bad so the audiocard is second priority

quote:
Originally posted by Dickie-T Though i love my headphones (i even have sex with them), they can't work miracles... in a non-sexual way that is

do you wear protection ... lmao

Posted by ac dc on Jun-16-2005 06:35:

thanks guys...i think i know what to do now

Posted by Samplecraze on Jun-16-2005 07:44:

quote:
Originally posted by Dickie-T
i have beyer dt 770 pro headphones, which cost 150 euros and i must say, you cant create a track with headphones only... Sometimes at nights when i create a track i can only use my headphones because my parents are at sleep and when i hear the track the next morning through my speakers its total crap... Especially the low freqs sound like shit...
Though i love my headphones (i even have sex with them), they can't work miracles... in a non-sexual way that is