Cutting out the Noise with Studio Headphones
One of the most essential elements for a successful home recording studio is studio headphones. Any vocalist or instrumentalist has to hear him or herself clearly to give a performance so that they can improve their performance and know how to go with the beats.
There are various types of studio headphones to choose from and there are generally three elements of a headphone on needs to think about while buying studio headphones. These are:
1) The quality of the sound produced in the headphones.
2) They should be closed so that the listener can only hear his or her voice.
3) They need to be durable enough.
One can use foam to damper the audio reverberations which provides a more neutral acoustical space. One needs to isolate the performance square for a minimalist noise from the surrounding but in some cases, like a club it is not possible.
Types of Studio Headphones:
One also needs to consider the size of the headphones as they should have as much space as possible. Of course, the elements of cost should also be kept in mind. There are various models of studio headphones in the market and on can decide whether they want to invest heavily and go for an AKG K702 which cost around 390 pounds or go for a low-budget which also provides quality by opting for the ATH M40.
One may also need to select their studio headphones based on the use they have. The Sennheiser HD 205 is one of the best options for low-end DJs or one may opt for the MDR-V700 solid pro DJ headphones.
When one considers the headphones for studio use, one has the option of the low-end Beyerdynamic DT235 or one may go for the high-end Denoh AH-D2000.
High-end studio headphones are generally not necessary as one can get almost all the essential features in mid-end headphones. Some low-end headphones also have amazing quality and durability which makes them a choice for most of the users.
Qualities in a Studio Headphone:
For DJs, studio headphones should be durable and have a movable rotational ear piece. This makes it easier for the DJ to be free in his or her movement. The sound quality has to be good and the headphones need to be isolated so that the DJ can hear the music he or she is making instead of the music and the noise in the club. They need to be secure so that they don’t fall off every time the DJ swings or moves his head.
For headphones used in studios, they need to have a good bass extension and a balance in them as they will allow the user to know the music that is being played out.
Head-phone style design:
There are two types of design styles in studio headphones. One is the closed back headphones and the other is the open-sir style headphones.
The closed back headphones cover the ears completely and tightly as to minimize any leakage from the outside sources. There could be nothing worse than some outside noise being recorded with a song during a recording and hence this is a very important factor while selecting studio headphones.
The open-air style is not advisable for recording since outside noise permeates in and the design of the headphones allow sounds to be emitted outside as well. One needs to cover them with something which makes the sound ‘boomy’. In spite of this problem, the open-air style is also preferred since it is very detailed and it delivers a more accurate interpretation of the sound.
The closed back headphone design style is generally not as expensive as the open-air style.
How to select Studio Headphones ?
First step is to determine the budget under which one will be purchasing the headphones. Does one need to buy a top-end studio headphone for highly professional purposes or will a low-end model with enough features suffice?
This is followed by the purpose of the studio headphones. Are they going to be used in a club by a DJ or by a vocalist in a recording studio? Both purposes require different features and it is advisable to keep this in mind while selecting a studio headphone.
One needs the studio headphones to be durable and last long. Also, one also needs to decide whether their studio headphones should have different features or not and if they come within the budget.
Finally, before making the purchase one much always try out different headphones to check the sound quality, bass and other features and then make a final decision.