Headphone/Soundcard query

[koopa]

Hello Crew
I have a problem you guys may be able to help with.

I am playing round with a bass line its got loadsa sub and some higher freq tones to it.

When I play the bassline in headphones it sounds crisp, however when its played on my 5.1 surround system it sounds jank, the low rumbles to much it is a lot less tighter (poss lack of compression) . Has anybody had a similar prob if so how can I make the bass sound as crisp as it does in the headphones. Or is the headphone a realistic sound wheras the 5.1 is pants.

Nuff Respect

Koopa

btw I am using absynth/ cambridge audio 5.1 surround/ soundblaster live value /shit £15 HMV hi-fi monitor headphones/ caffine/ herbal highs

 

[Affliction]

Sounds like the problem could be largely down to the acoustics in your room.... it's amazing how much four walls can fuck up a sound, echoes reverb phase cancelation standing waves etc etc etc. Headphones overcome this problem which is why they will almost always sound crisper.

About which monitoring option is most realistic.. how do you define realistic?? With monitoring it's important to listen on a similar soundsystem to the ones it's ultimately going to be played on.. in dnb most likely a club soundsystem. But even club soundystems couldnt really be called "realistic". If you mean a completely accurate representation of the sound... a realistic sound would be very high end monitors. In both cases monitoring on headphones would be extremely unrealistic, when was the last time you went to a rave and everyone was wearing headphones?

 

[freeagent]

Make sure your basslines are mono.

 

[koopa]

freeagent
i changed the bassline to mono it made no difference. I know that basslines cannot pan on vinyl but is a bassline better in mono and why?

Afflicition.
Took a lot of your shit on board, i will be able to try the bassline on a crisp monitor to see how it is. I was more interested on wheather there were compressors, filters etc in the headphone and if any bright person knew how to mimmick this .

Nuff Respect

:Koopa:

 

[Affliction]

Make sure your basslines are mono.

i would actually disagree with this, there's no need for the producer to be worrying about things like this... it's down to the mastering engineer (if the tune ever gets that far).

The only producers that need to worry about it are those ones that press their tunes to vinyl without getting it mastered... and to be honest most of us around here dont even get that far.... there's nothing wrong with stereo bass on an mp3

 

[Affliction]

I was more interested on wheather there were compressors, filters etc in the headphone

there will be peaks and troughs in the frequency response... there could also be a compressing / limiting effect aswell........ but thats actually quite realistic because a clubsystem will have the same problems (specially with limiting)

It all depends on what you want to do with the track.... if you want to play it while DJ'ing... monitor on a innacurate (but loud), limited/compressed system.... if you want to play it in your car.... monitor it on standard hifi speakers (and maybe a sub).... if you want to send it off to a label.. monitor on mid/high end monitors... cos thats ultimately how it's gonna be heard.

 

[dj ic]

koopa you dont say what sort of 5.1 you have?the desktop variety?or a nice system?if it is a cheap system that come with your computer then they are not built to deal with the frequency response you are looking for.
Your headphones will concentrate the sound to your eardrum,driving it to the most sensitive part of your ear.even though your headphones are only £15,they are designed to accomadate a huge frequency difference,from high tto low.headphones also have preamps.
it depends on how serious you are into making music,i suggest some good actives or some nearfields if you arereally serious