Ableton Forum

Can anyone suggest studio monitoring headphones that will allow me to do accurate mixdowns using my macbook and live?

No. Headphones are not good for mixing. You should look into getting some monitors.
Actually - I should look into getting some monitors...

in my opinion what Patch said is true. Not a good idea to use headphones for a final mix...I think they can come in handy for creation when the neighbors are asleep or for fine tuning certain aspects of your mix but ultimately the general consensus is that you need to check your work on a good set of studio monitors.

These are some of the the headphones I have seen come up most often when this question is asked

*edit- Sennheiser- HD-25

Sennheiser -HD280Pro

sony mdr-7506

Sennheiser HD650

AKG K240S

but I am sure there are more.

I have monitors

Im talking about for when Im on the move

And yeah
Final mixdown on headphones isn't a great idea
i worded poorly

watch out for closed headphones and for high levels. I got tinnitus using headphones......

To be fair I like to monitor LOUD - if I did this with headphones I'd have some serious problems with my hearing - I've got some Sennheiser HD 25 for DJ work and I find them pretty harsh if I use them for more then 3 or 4 hours.

sorry the first one was supposed to be Sennheiser HD-25

I have been used 7506 for years. That ones work good for me.

Gives me ear ache just thinking about having to work with headphones full time

Mee too, I used when i need to listen some details, but thats it.

No dudes, go ahead and mix on headphones. Not a set rule but if you mix 10 hours w speaks, get about 2 hours on phones. Anything can be mixed on anything. It just takes practice. I never mix without headphones and it's my living. Go ahead, the worst thing that will happen is that you get more experience.

knotkranky wrote:No dudes, go ahead and mix on headphones. Not a set rule but if you mix 10 hours w speaks, get about 2 hours on phones. Anything can be mixed on anything. It just takes practice. I never mix without headphones and it's my living. Go ahead, the worst thing that will happen is that you get more experience.

I agree with you. I've always been a headphones naysayer, but I've realized that using headphones actually gives me a whole new listening environment. Now, I make it sound good in my monitors and my phones.

You should use both but with an emphasis on monitors, but make sure you check your mixes for stereo issues and remember, in these days of the IPOD ruling supreme, you need to make sure it works out OK for phones as a lot of people will be listening this way - and often with poxy little earbuds which are crap.

I like listening with my sennheisers too but I just had to have my ears syringed and antibiotics and the doc told me to back off the phones for a while or I will be on the road to tinnitus and I don't think I listen at excessive levels...

get some beyer dynamics. you can do good mixdowns with a good pair. of course check the mix on monitors. but you get what you pay for