When it comes to music production, especially audio engineering, headphones are a tough issue.
Most individuals make the mistake of believing that they can use any headphones, such as gaming headphones, for music creation, which is not the case.
In a nutshell, gaming headphones are not ideal for music production. This is because gaming headphones are designed to delight the listener in a non-professional context, which is why most gaming headphones feature an overly exaggerated low-frequency response, resulting in a lot of bass.
Studio headphones, on the other hand, especially those designed for mixing and mastering, will have accurate and flat audio representation to provide an accurate description of the audio being played through them. Studio headphones that are properly adapted for music creation are required for music production.
Studio Headphones Vs. Gaming Headphones
Impedance
The resistance of a circuit or device to alternating current (AC) is referred to as its impedance. Low impedance indicates that more power will flow through a speaker, putting greater pressure on the amplifier to generate this power.
The Microphone Feature
The majority of gaming headphones have a microphone. This architecture allows the game to communicate with other players while the game is running. This is a feature that you do not require for music creation because it is completely superfluous.
Suitable Application
Gaming headphones often include features such as wireless connection, noise cancellation, and numerous options such as EQ settings. The majority of these functions are required for gaming but not for music creation.
Connection
Most gaming headphones, particularly newer models, have wireless connectivity, making them cordless.
A headset that can be directly connected to your audio interface, rather than a wireless headphone, is required for music creation. You must be able to capture audio in its native form, with no changes or coloration.
For gamers, having a cordless and wireless microphone is a huge benefit since it allows them to play games better without having to be so near to the console. Music producers require headphones with a cable to avoid any unnecessary incorrect representation of sounds, which might lead to poor mixing judgments.
Audio Quality
For gaming, having bright-sounding headphones with extra frequency boosts may be useful since it can help you experience sound better, such as subtle low-frequency FX that you need to pay attention to as you play your game.
The Bottom Line
In music production, we aim for an accurate audio signal since how we perceive it determines which editing methods we will apply throughout the mixing or mastering process. False representations will lead to poor decision-making, which may rapidly demolish even a respectable track record.
This is why investing in high-quality studio headphones is beneficial, but you must also ensure that you have the necessary equipment, such as a decent microphone, an audio interface, and a computer with the necessary specs. Overall, you would like to stay away from gaming headphones to avoid an inaccurate representation of sound.
