Production without headphones

alic · Post by **alic** » Mon Jun 08, 2009 11:52 pm

Hey all. Recently I developed a condition called hyperacusis from listening to music too loudly and using headphones a lot. It basically means that every sound, especially those with high frequencies (like voices!) hurts my ears, even at normal and low volumes. It's fucking horrible - can't listen to music, can't have conversations etc - but I'm hoping it will get better. Let that be a lesson to you all - turn it down and wear earplugs when your out.

Anyway, I wanted to ask, since I want to keep producing music when/if it gets better, and I don't want to go bac to using headphones, does anyone produce solely with monitors? I've just always used headphones, with occasional reference to monitors - I can't imagine not using headphones. Is it basically impossible to get a decent result without headphones? Any monitors to recommend for this? Thanks

setspeed · Post by **setspeed** » Mon Jun 08, 2009 11:58 pm

Alic wrote: Anyway, I wanted to ask, since I want to keep producing music when/if it gets better, and I don't want to go bac to using headphones, does anyone produce solely with monitors?

most people do!

you need to make sure your room is right, and you've got a reasonable pair of monitors, but it's perfectly possible

alic · Post by **alic** » Tue Jun 09, 2009 12:01 am

setspeed wrote:
Alic wrote: Anyway, I wanted to ask, since I want to keep producing music when/if it gets better, and I don't want to go bac to using headphones, does anyone produce solely with monitors?
most people do!

you need to make sure your room is right, and you've got a reasonable pair of monitors, but it's perfectly possible

Really!? I guess maybe I'm unusual - I literally sit with headphones on for hours producing tracks. Maybe it's cos I began by recording stuff - guitars, vocals etc. - and headphones are obviously necessary for this - it just kinda stuck. Fucked my ears though!

setspeed · Post by **setspeed** » Tue Jun 09, 2009 12:02 am

as for recommended ones, well, I've been using Alesis M1 Active MKII's for a few years (about 260 quid a pair) - they're not amazing but they're decent for the money.

Mackie HR824's are very tasty but a bit on the pricey side...

dignan · Post by **dignan** » Tue Jun 09, 2009 12:23 am

Yeah, I don't understand why sooo many people produce using headphones. Phones give you a false sense of sound, other than using phones, when are your ears going to be THAT close to a speaker??

Sorry about your condition, man. I hope it gets better and you can go back to making music.

hurlingdervish · Post by **hurlingdervish** » Tue Jun 09, 2009 12:29 am

i find if you use headphones too much, you keep turning up the track louder and louder over time untill your ears are fuckeddd

at least with monitors you have the reference point "alright this is loud enough for me but not loud enough to piss off my neighbors"

abZ · Post by **abZ** » Tue Jun 09, 2009 12:44 am

I never ever used headphones for producing until I got top quality cans. Now I still only use them sparingly.

morro_e · Post by **morro_e** » Tue Jun 09, 2009 8:39 am

hope you'll get well mate

i use headphones to produce at night because of neighbours and shit

bedroom beats · Post by **bedroom beats** » Tue Jun 09, 2009 9:34 am

Ye headphones definately just as another reference point after you have done your mixdown IMO. Sometimes helps to notice little nasty artefacts etc

paradigm_x · Post by **paradigm_x** » Tue Jun 09, 2009 9:38 am

Eops wrote:The Revolting Cocks

RevCo

alic · Post by **alic** » Tue Jun 09, 2009 10:00 am

Thanks for comments guys

paradigm_x · Post by **paradigm_x** » Tue Jun 09, 2009 2:21 pm

i spent loads on a headphone amp and some senny 650s and hardly use em

really ought to

but had my mackies for 5 years or so and really know them, so now i dont have neighbour issues i dont...

mole · Post by **mole** » Tue Jun 09, 2009 2:32 pm

I have the same aversion to high end.
Headphones are a bit rubbish. end of.
Id put a pic of my monitors up but im a cyberetard and dnt know how, oops.
Im dreading leaving them behind in the summer, but hey ho.

Dubz are bad m'kay!

ps comizzeations on the ailment, give it time and it will get better.

Production without headphones

Production without headphones

Re: Production without headphones

Re: Production without headphones

Same hear.

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