I'm sure this has been discussed before but I haven't seen it brought up since I joined

I really want to step out of the realm of software-only production and start buying some actual gear and develop my own studio. I've considered buying a keyboard synth, but I feel like I should probably invest in some decent monitors first.

I work with AKG K701 headphones, and my question is, what are the benefits to working with monitors and headphones vs just headphones? I don't necessarily produce music to be played live, I understand that monitors are crucial for that, but beyond that are there any pros to producing with monitors that can't be achieved with relatively upper-end headphones like the K701's? Or more specifically, do those benefits justify spending several hundred dollars on them?

I obviously plan on buying some when I can more readily afford them, the question right now is if it's worth buying instead of a hardware synth, because that's what I'm trying to decide between right now.

Stereo field is the biggest. Headphones just are not good at creating a good stereo field (for obvious reasons) - You need to hear both speakers (monitors) in each.

i think the ipod revolution makes it essential to check your mix in headphones. LIke stephen mentioned, the stereo field will differ from monitors in that the stereo field will be much wider as each ear only hears the direct source.

Laidback Luke uses headphones instead of monitors.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQSER4QsrPg

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quote:

Originally posted by Alekos Laidback Luke uses headphones instead of monitors. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQSER4QsrPg

and fl studio

i dont trust my new headfones enough. AKG 240 Studio

i use headphones to make tunes then my speakers for the mix-down

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i don't have good monitors, most if not all my productions are started mono and completed in headphones

The benefits are (a) stereo field and (b) bass. It's certainly possible to produce with headphones just like it's possible to produce with pretty much any equipment, you just need to realize that people will hear a lot of things from stereo speakers that you won't hear out of your cans, no matter how good they are.

If you can test your mixes on anything else, even just some hi-fi speakers, you'll be better off for it.

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Sorry, I probably should have clarified more, I know the benefits to producing with monitors, I'm just wondering if those benefits are worth spending several hundred dollars on when I'm already producing with $300 headphones. If it's not I'd rather get a hardware synth.

In my experience, the benefit of being able to accurately judge your bass/ low end is worth paying good money for monitors.

I can have something which sounds great in the low end on my headphones, but I throw it out to the monitors and it doesn't hit me in the chest the way it should.

In my experience, headphones can't give me how the bass "feels" hitting my body, they only gives me how the bass sounds.

It may be possible for others to be able to judge this in headphones, but I can't currently.