When we speak of recording audio, we usually picture ourselves with a desk, a mixing board and a pair of headphones. Well, those were not the only things that we used to do but they are still the most popular means of recording. However, those days are now long gone. In the past, microphones and speakers were more expensive. Nowadays, it is possible to record using simple computer programs.
Headphones and microphones differ in many ways. For starters, they produce different sound. In addition, headphones can be used for practicing without any interference from external sounds and environments. On the other hand, microphones are made to capture the true audio quality which cannot be achieved with headphones. As a result, the sound of recorded recordings comes out clearer when the quality of microphones are compared to headphones.
Therefore, we come to the question “Are studio monitors better than headphones?” The answer is a big “Yes”. There are various reasons why studio monitors are much better than headphones.
Headphones generally produce low sound quality. This is because of the wires used to connect them to the sound system. Moreover, there are several factors like comfort and proximity that cause variation in sound produced by headphones. But, with monitors, the sound is uniform all over the monitor system.
Secondly, headphones are only compatible with computer-based recording devices. Let us take the iPhone as an example. Even if you use headphones with this device, you will only be able to hear sound from the speakers. This is because iPhone has a very small speaker system.
In addition, headphones produce lower-quality sound than studio monitors. Perhaps, they are suited for home usage or for listening to music at small volumes. But, they do not work well when you need to record high quality sound.
Thirdly, headphone sound cannot be controlled whereas studio monitor sound can be controlled using volume knobs. This makes it possible to change the level of the sound during recording sessions. On the contrary, the sound from headphones can be amplified if needed.
In addition, headphones make you dependent on the source of the sound. When you are in the studio, you do not want to depend on external noise for your sound. You can fix this problem by using headphones. However, headphones are not suitable for long recordings. Studio monitors on the other hand provide extended tones and sound range for excellent recordings.
Lastly, headphones take time to recharge. Sometimes, this can affect your recordings. Studio monitors on the other hand have batteries that can be recharged in less than 15 minutes. Hence, you do not need to wait for half an hour before you can get back to your work.
