When working online with an existing musical track, or recording a new one, headphones are an important part of your set-up. They allow you to monitor sources clearly, prevent unwanted noise feeding into microphones, and work without disturbing others.
There are a number of different types of headphones. Each has their own advantages and disadvantages.
Open back headphones allow external sounds to travel into the ear, and also some of the sound from the headphone to travel out into the close environment. Whilst open back headphones can function a little better and are good for certain activities, they are not ideal when recording or capturing sound for online activities as sound can ‘bleed’ back into any microphones being used.
Ear buds are in common use when listening to portable devices, but they are not recommended for recording or capturing sound for online activities as their frequency range can be restricted meaning you don’t hear all of the sound, particularly low frequency sounds.
Closed back headphones significantly reduce the amount of external sound reaching the users ear, and also the amount of sound leaving the headphones and arriving into the close environment. They are very efficient and popular for the types of online activities.
Another consideration is the connection of your headphones to your recording or playback devices. The most common connectors found on headphones are either a mini-jack (⅛ inch) or a ¼ inch stereo jack. Many headphones come with adaptors to switch between the two, and if not, these can be cheaply purchased. Some Headphones come with USB connectors but these tend to be used more for video conferencing rather than musical activities. It’s best to check connection compatibility with your device or computer before purchasing.
The further resources include a general guide to headphones as well as a guide for studio headphones specifically.
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