KVR Audio

synchronizer · Post by **synchronizer** » Fri Jun 14, 2013 11:42 pm

I use Cubase 6, and I have no mixing software, so I need headphones that are better than "okay."
I've spent most of my budget on very good sample libraries, including the Vienna Symphonic Library solo strings that you hear.

kbaccki · Post by **kbaccki** » Fri Jun 14, 2013 11:54 pm

Well, if you can spare $100, you can get some really good cans... Sony, Sennheiser, AKG, etc.

synchronizer · Post by **synchronizer** » Fri Jun 14, 2013 11:57 pm

I think that $100 to $150 is reasonable.

I did buy these a few years ago:

http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9 ... EYaeLP8nZd

I do regret it because they sound a little weird, as if the bass is being boosted. Do you have any headphones in mind? I'm aware of how reputable those brands are, but I need something more specific. Thanks.

eDrummist · Post by **eDrummist** » Sat Jun 15, 2013 12:30 am

I love Stewart's drumming with the Police. If you want to go after his sound, you're going to have to play with the tuning of the drums. Plus, Stewart played with a 14x5" snare with the Police and tuned it pretty high. If you want that sound, the snare is going to be one of the keys. I actually have the same model kit he played back in the 80s (a Tama Imperial Star from the 80s; Tama later retired the pro end line and re-introduced the name for an amateur line several years ago, so if you find a library with the name Tama Imperial Star, unless it was made in the 80s or early 90s, it won't be the same line). Stewart also used Octabons and made liberal use of an 8" splash. It would take some seriously good finger technique to re-create Stewart's style and great cymbal technique on a keyboard or via midi programming IMO.

Here's what Stewart was playing back in the day:

Tama Imperial Star Mahogany Drums (9-ply) and Paiste Cymbals:

10x8" Rack Tom
12x8" Rack Tom
13x9" Rack Tom
16x16" Floor Tom
14x5" Pearl Jupiter Snare
22x14" Bass Drum
20x16" Tama Gong Drum
Tama Octobans Low Pitch (x4)
Two Tama Tymp Toms
Wood Blocks

Cymbals - Paiste

13" Formula 602 Medium Hi-Hats
16" 2002 Thin Crash
8" 2002 Bell
7.5 Ufip Ictus Bell
8" 2002 Splash (x2)
11" 2002 Splash
14" Rude Crash Ride
16" Rude Crash Ride
24" Rude Ride Crash
20" 2002 China

kbaccki · Post by **kbaccki** » Sat Jun 15, 2013 3:42 am

synchronizer wrote:I think that $100 to $150 is reasonable.

I did buy these a few years ago:

http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9 ... EYaeLP8nZd

I do regret it because they sound a little weird, as if the bass is being boosted. Do you have any headphones in mind? I'm aware of how reputable those brands are, but I need something more specific. Thanks.

In the $100 range I'd look at Sony MDR-7506, AKG K240... up toward $150 maybe the Audio Technica M50... I think the biggest difference will be going from $100 to $200... I have the MDR-7506, but I've heard lots of good things about the other two I mentioned. I'd recommend searching gearslutz and kvr for more opinions as well...

synchronizer · Post by **synchronizer** » Sat Jun 15, 2013 4:38 am

People on those sites certainly have many different opinions...

What would be something right after that larger leap in quality in the midrange $200 headphones? I suppose that I'm looking for as flat a response as possible.

kbaccki · Post by **kbaccki** » Sat Jun 15, 2013 2:31 pm

Maybe the AKG K701s, which are more in the $300+ range, but supposed to be pretty flat (which is a relative term when talking headphones). I've heard good things about the Beyer DT 880, which look like they go for somewhere between $200-$300. Problem is if you're just coming out of the MBP headphone out, you're not going to be driving your $300 phones properly. I think you'd be much better off getting a decent $100-$150 headphone amp + either Sony MDR-7506 or ATH M50 for a total of $200-$300. Then the output from the MBP would go to the headphone amp to drive the phones with proper power...

kbaccki · Post by **kbaccki** » Sat Jun 15, 2013 2:33 pm

Also, phones should really be listened to before plunking down the cash... you should trust your own ears, and also make sure they're comfortable, provide enough isolation, etc etc. If you can get to a stereophile or music store to try out some models in different price ranges using proper amplification then I'd definitely try to do that...

You could even bring your MBP with you and test with and without a headphone amp...

synchronizer · Post by **synchronizer** » Sat Jun 15, 2013 7:44 pm

Ugh---I can't exactly afford to purchase a headphone amp and a pair of headphones. I'm not sure if I even have access to the stores that you mentioned. I live in a rural area three hours away from New York City, and the city probably doesn't have those stores. There's guitar center, but it doesn't have the headphones.

I suppose that I have to purchase something that sounds great when connected to the direct headphone input on my computer, unless amplifiers happen to be inexpensive (probably not the case).

I tried looking for studio monitors too, but that search is just as complicated.

*sigh* I just want to have a good pair of headphones that don't distort the sound noticeably.

kbaccki · Post by **kbaccki** » Sat Jun 15, 2013 9:12 pm

Well, certainly a good pair of phones connected to the MBP is 10x better than a bad pair of phones connected to the MBP, and a gajillion times better than the MBP speakers themselves...

Can't exactly find the specs on the MBP headphone output stage, but another thing to consider when looking at higher end headphones is matching the impedance rating of the headphones with what's on the MBP analog side. I've seen numbers of 22-24ohms on the MBP headphone out, which means if you tried to plug in a high quality pair of phones at 200+ ohms, you may not get the punch and clarity you expect. A headphone amp will likely give you a better impedance match for higher end phones, not to mention more/cleaner power overall. For connecting directly to MBP headphone out, maybe look for phones with 60-100 ohm impedance, and you'll probably be OK. Certainly avoid higher impedance phones if connecting directly... like I think the AKG K240 are 600 ohm or something like that. Some brands have different versions of the same phones at different impedance. Somebody with more experience might be able to provide better direction.

RE: studio monitors... that's a whole other level of discussion regarding room treatment, listening position, etc...

kbaccki · Post by **kbaccki** » Sat Jun 15, 2013 9:17 pm

BTW, even a cheap $30-$50 headphone amp like a Behringer or Sampson would give you a bit more dedicated power and better impedance match for a wider range phones. Just something to get more opinions on...

Nielzie · Post by **Nielzie** » Sat Jun 15, 2013 9:24 pm

fedexnman wrote:hes got a unique style , almost a reggae , ska type thing going on too . Walking on the Moon , is probably my favorite drum work by him .

Yeah, my favorite too, followed by message in a bottle. Very impressive and unique drumming style indeed.

And with only 2 band members/instruments he had (the opportunity) to fill a lot of holes.

synchronizer · Post by **synchronizer** » Sat Jun 15, 2013 10:31 pm

This is so much for a hobbyist to swallow haha. I just want something that's a lot more accurate than I have now in the 100-200 range, and I'd be willing to go above by a little bit. Preferably something with fewer bass problems (since usually I have difficulty telling how much bass to add or take away. I'm not sure which of the ones listed are the best. hmmm.

kbaccki · Post by **kbaccki** » Sun Jun 16, 2013 3:20 am

To keep it simple and reasonably priced, maybe get some opinions on the Audio Technica M50. They're about $160, and it looks like low impedance so should be a decent match with the MBP output. Phones in this $$$ range will be slightly hyped in the bass or treble or both or neither... but again that's a matter for geting to know your mixing tools, whether they're headphones or monitors or whatever. You can always cross ref your mixes on various systems ... a home stereo, car stereo, etc. ... to see if what you think you're hearing is actually what you're hearing. In any event , a decent $100-$200 pair of phones, like the MDR-7506 or M50, will give you so much more detail to work with that compensating and balancing out the lows, mids, highs to match reality will become the easiest part of the mix puzzle...

synchronizer · Post by **synchronizer** » Sun Jun 16, 2013 3:49 pm

The Sony 7506 ones look good, although people are reporting problems with the ear pad parts degrading really quickly. Are those easy to replace? (Apparently, one of the solutions is to use a pad for the headphones made by a different company.) So these will work fine with a macbook pro?

EDIT: They're on sale for $80, but from my understanding, they're $150-$200 range quality. Is this correct?

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000AJIF4E

Yet, people say they wouldn't use it for mixing. This is getting pretty annoying.

Looking for "The Police" Kontakt Drum Presets for (Studio Drummer, 70s/60s Drummer)+ good headphones