KVR Audio

michael2 · Post by **michael2** » Wed Jul 31, 2013 5:37 pm

i have kids and my music time is getting more and more limited. I often find myself tracking things whenever I get 5 or 10 minutes; often at work. i can't wear headphones at work as they are too obtrusive, and to be honest: they give me headphone hair (which is unprofessional). can anyone recommend some decent sounding ear buds for tracking?

see i told you it was a stupid question

thecontrolcentre · Post by **thecontrolcentre** » Wed Jul 31, 2013 5:44 pm

There was a thread about earbuds yesterday ... can't remember exactly where atm.

cryophonik · Post by **cryophonik** » Wed Jul 31, 2013 5:50 pm

Not a stupid question at all. I'm in the exact same situation. Sometimes ya gotta do what ya gotta do, even if everybody else gasps in horror at the thought of making music in anything less than a properly treated studio with thousands of dollars worth of audio cards and monitors.

I like my Klipsch Image S4 earbuds for making music at work, on the road, or wherever I can grab a little spare time while away from my home studio. They have good response across the frequency spectrum, come with several different sized tips, and I find them comfortable to wear for extended periods. I wouldn't trust them for final mixes, of course, but they're great for scratch tracks. They also have good isolation, which should be good for tracking, but they do block out ambient noises very well, even at relatively low volumes, and sometimes I won't even hear my phone ringing (something to consider in case your boss, clients, SO, etc. are trying to reach you).

robogone · Post by **robogone** » Wed Jul 31, 2013 6:00 pm

Does the quality really matter too much? It wouldn't be your final mix I assume, so you would redo it regardless of what ear buds you wear.

I've tried the kind that came with my work Blackberry and they're adequate, but I would always go back and listen again later.

randy4me · Post by **randy4me** » Wed Jul 31, 2013 9:34 pm

http://www.amazon.com/Allen-Heath-Xone- ... =xone+xd20

Allen & Heath Xone:XD-20's are only $29.99 with free shipping. They sound great! They are listed at $129.99. I think they are discontinued now so grab them while you can.

michael2 · Post by **michael2** » Thu Aug 01, 2013 12:12 am

thanks guys. i guess the "stupidest" part of the question was the admission about my concern of getting "headphone hair." I will check out the ones listed. i do it with the iphone buds right now, but not loving the experience. they really kind of kill the desire to listen to music (let alone create).

i only make beats and synth parts at work. although I must admit:part of me has been curious about what a mix done on ear buds would be like.

cryophonik · Post by **cryophonik** » Thu Aug 01, 2013 1:20 am

michael2 wrote: i only make beats and synth parts at work. although I must admit:part of me has been curious about what a mix done on ear buds would be like.

Before I bought my Klipsch's, I used the standard Apple earbuds that come with iPods and whenever I would later hear my mixes on my real headphones (BD DT880s), the mix would be VERY bass-heavy because I was constantly overcompensating for the earbuds' lack of bass. When I listen to mixes made with the Klipsch earbuds on my headphones, the mix is much closer, although usually a little weak in the lows because the Klipsch earbuds tend to hype the bass a little, especially if they're shoved in a little too far.

michael2 · Post by **michael2** » Thu Aug 01, 2013 1:28 am

cryophonik wrote:
michael2 wrote: i only make beats and synth parts at work. although I must admit:part of me has been curious about what a mix done on ear buds would be like.
Before I bought my Klipsch's, I used the standard Apple earbuds that come with iPods and whenever I would later hear my mixes on my real headphones (BD DT880s), the mix would be VERY bass-heavy because I was constantly overcompensating for the earbuds' lack of bass. When I listen to mixes made with the Klipsch earbuds on my headphones, the mix is much closer, although usually a little weak in the lows because the Klipsch earbuds tend to hype the bass a little, especially if they're shoved in a little too far.

that's actually what I pictured.

Aiynzahev · Post by **Aiynzahev** » Thu Aug 01, 2013 1:35 am

Just be really careful not make mistakes with the volume if your tracking with headphones especially in ear. I wouldn't recommend those ones that go right in the ear canal in case there is a malfunction or some buzz or something superloud. You will seriously damage your hearing if that happens.

audientronic · Post by **audientronic** » Thu Aug 01, 2013 1:53 am

Aiynzahev wrote:Just be really careful not make mistakes with the volume if your tracking with headphones especially in ear. I wouldn't recommend those ones that go right in the ear canal in case there is a malfunction or some buzz or something superloud. You will seriously damage your hearing if that happens.

+1 on that. The in-ears scare me. Even with headphones I always use a limiter plus Ice9. I've been zapped way too many times.

cryophonik · Post by **cryophonik** » Thu Aug 01, 2013 2:00 am

I've never been zapped by loud bursts of sound when using in-ears, but I tend to keep the levels pretty low.

michael2 · Post by **michael2** » Thu Aug 01, 2013 3:23 am

audientronic wrote:
Aiynzahev wrote:Just be really careful not make mistakes with the volume if your tracking with headphones especially in ear. I wouldn't recommend those ones that go right in the ear canal in case there is a malfunction or some buzz or something superloud. You will seriously damage your hearing if that happens.
+1 on that. The in-ears scare me. Even with headphones I always use a limiter plus Ice9. I've been zapped way too many times.

never get that into sound design while recording at work. usually something more along the lines of fixing a kick drum, or figuring out a chord progression. that would be awful though.

michael2 · Post by **michael2** » Thu Aug 01, 2013 3:31 am

randy4me wrote:http://www.amazon.com/Allen-Heath-Xone- ... =xone+xd20

Allen & Heath Xone:XD-20's are only $29.99 with free shipping. They sound great! They are listed at $129.99. I think they are discontinued now so grab them while you can.

just ordered these. thanks for the heads up.

xoxos · Post by **xoxos** » Fri Aug 02, 2013 6:31 pm

one of my "dsp greats" claims to use earbuds. he works at stanford tho so they're prolly different than mine.

i've also produced a couple tracks this way. trying to salvage the mix afterwards wasn't easy at all, though i didn't listen to much with earbuds before i started composing.

michael2 · Post by **michael2** » Fri Aug 02, 2013 7:06 pm

sometimes it bums me out when I look at the hardware I have; it gathers dust much of the time and I end up tracking with earbuds and the QWERTY keyboard on my laptop (or use my iPad). whatever: it's still fun making music.

earbuds - worlds stupidest question