An idea for a Headphone Splitter - Give me Ideas

[getz out]

Originally posted by Mr. Phil.:

How did you get up to 9 or 10 headphones?

I'm a boy scout. I like to be Prepared.

You still didn't answer the question.

 

How many players do you have?

 

Also, just because you're in a garage doesn't mean you can't be isolated. I'm assuming that there's a door to the garage? Why not go outside the actual garage?

[R.S.M]

Phil,

What equipment are you using to record give us everything you got ( what kind of mixer. if you going into a soundcard or analog set up,how many mikes you have available)I done alot of house recordings with headphones and everybody in different parts of the house to everybody in the same room with everything blasting.And im sure alot of guys here have done the same so if we know what your using we can probally help a little.

[wonton]

I know exactly how you feel Phil. I have done my fair share of basement tracks. But I can tell you this. My band (standard 4 piece rock band) and I went to make our first decent (read: a friend of a friend recorded us on a digital 24 track in a semi-studio environment) demo after doing 2 and 4 track recordings on old tape decks for ages. We practiced together about 10-15 hours per week. We were actually very tight and had good chemistry with lots of interaction.

 

The minute we all put headphones on, disaster struck! None of us was used to playing together through headphones (particularly me and the drummer). We were a live rock band used to playing at full volume all the time. In the studio, any chemistry we thought we had was immediately vanquished. The recording turned out to be lifeless and uninspiring (maybe it was the headphone thing, maybe a bad mix, but you can't get a good mix if the tracks suck from the start). In all seriousness, we showed more conviction, passion, chemistry and skill on a bunch of tapes from a Sony boombox than we could with some big digital Roland 24-track. I still prefer the old tapes to our actual demo.

 

My advice, drop the headphone thing. You're way too worried about something so trivial (that is, unless the band you're recording is used to playing through headphones). Put the $50 bucks into a headphone amp (just in case) or better yet, a decent EQ or compressor. Just worry about getting some really good tracks of the band doing their thing, their way. Some of the best tracks in history were made during rehearsals, when the band had no idea the tape was running.

[getz out]

I'll disagree with Wonton. With proper preparation, using headphone will make your job of having a professional sounding finished product much more painless.

 

Dealing with non-isolated amps can cause difficulties in mixing and the use of overdubs and punches. If these guys are pros and can nail it on the first take, just make sure you're happy with the sound your getting on tape and try to minimize the bleed by using baffles, etc.

 

See if you can get at least the drummer a set of headphones, not only for monitor but for click track. If he can't play to a click track, it's going to limit your ability to cut and past sections without a major hassle.

[ModmanQ6]

My recommendation would be a Rane HC6. There are 3 on ebay right now for about $100 (they retail for $499). These are a steal at this price IMHO. I have one and love it. It has 6 channels and 2 hp jacks for each. That's a total of 12 cans you can run at a time.

http://www.rane.com/hc6fp.gif

 

As for headphone power requirements, this is a very informative read...

 

Here\'s one that\'s only up to $6.25 with 3 days to go..in perfect working order...

[Steve Force]

Example Setup:I use the Furman Headphone Distribution System (HDS) in my DAW recording setup http://www.furmansound.com/pro/hdphn/system2/system2_1.htm , which is a Win XP supporting Steinberg Cubase/Nuendo recording software. I Have two options of sending signal to the headphones: directly out of the digital interface (in my case, MOTU 2408Mk3), or as a "send" from a Cubase/Nuendo channel. This setup can send a stereo signal and up to four discrete mono channels, which can then be "submixed" by the individual musicians.

 

Very flexible and very effective. A tad pricey, though. Check it out!

 

HTH

[Mr. Phil]

Originally posted by getz76:

Originally posted by Mr. Phil.:

How did you get up to 9 or 10 headphones?

I'm a boy scout. I like to be Prepared.

You still didn't answer the question.

 

How many players do you have?

 

Also, just because you're in a garage doesn't mean you can't be isolated. I'm assuming that there's a door to the garage? Why not go outside the actual garage?

Well Maury, I always like to have more than I need. In case I need to do this with a bigger band. Thats Why I said 10. There are 6 people in their band and one is the vocalist, so I would need 5 + myself at most at one time.

 

And about going outside the garage, my cables are not long enough, and its a little hard to communicate with them then.

[Mr. Phil]

Originally posted by R.S.M:

What equipment are you using to record give us everything you got

Mixer: Yamaha 16 Channel

 

Recorder: This Fostex DMT-8VL used on Ebay (8-track Hard Drive)

 

Mics: 7-mic Drum kit by Samson

Vocal Mic - Whatever the singer has.

 

And all the necessary cables and things.

I also have a Pair of Sony headphones (MDR-380 I think), Koss PRO 4-AA remakes, and a cheap pair from Samash for $15.

[Mr. Phil]

Originally posted by forceman:

Example Setup:I use the Furman Headphone Distribution System (HDS)

Yea thats waaaaay too expensive for me. I already spent about $900 on everything.

 

Originally posted by getz76:

I'll disagree with Wonton. With proper preparation, using headphone will make your job of having a professional sounding finished product much more painless.

When I was recording with my old band, we had no problem going through headphones. In fact, I prefered it rather than blasting away from our amps.

[Mr. Phil]

I think I've got my solution now.

 

One of These plus a couple of these.

 

I'll probably be getting the amp tomorrow, and I have the adapters already.

[ModmanQ6]

Good luck!!

[wonton]

Whatever you end up doing, make sure you get stereo-to-stereo y-splitters. Otherwise the headphones will all hear mono through only one ear.

[Mr. Phil]

Originally posted by wonton:

Whatever you end up doing, make sure you get stereo-to-stereo y-splitters. Otherwise the headphones will all hear mono through only one ear.

Yea, I figured that out.

[R.S.M]

Phil this is how i would set it up. 4 mikes on drums, 1 bassdr, 1 snare, left and right kit. bass direct ,guitars mic up and put blankets over amp and mike, like a tent -bleed is not always a bad thing-(this is if the headphones dont work out)