Essential Gear: Headphones

It’s important to wear headphones while you record. The sounds you hear through the headphones are the sounds going into your microphone(s) and onto your recording. Monitoring that input will help you adjust the environment and mic placement before your session begins.

Of course, it’s possible to record without headphones, but the results could be disappointing. You won’t be able to hear p-pops (and other plosives), unwanted background noises, or sounds that will later be difficult, or impossible, to edit out. Headphones can help you identify and eliminate those issues before you begin to record.

There are many types of headphones, ranging in price from $30 to $1,700. But you can get good results with a pair of padded, wired, closed-back headphones for less than $100. Don’t buy open or partially-open-back headphones because you’ll be able to hear all or some of the room sounds through them. You want to hear only what’s coming through the microphone(s). Any unintended external noise you record during your session will become an editing problem later.

If you’re recording online, headphones will prevent computer audio from leaking over into your microphone. Wearing headphones will allow you to hear, while recording, exactly what your listeners will hear. That will help you with quality control during recording and editing.

High quality recordings are essential. If you want anyone to listen beyond two minutes, that is. So, before you set up a microphone or turn on a recorder, do a little research and buy a good set of headphones.

My stuff:

•  AKG K240 Studio

• Jabra Evolve 40

• Audio-Technica BPHS1 headset — more expensive, but since it includes headphones and a microphone, it’s still a good deal. One of the best options for online recordings