Tips for Monitoring Sound when Editing Video

Monitoring sound can be a tricky matter. If you search the Internet for something like “Best audio monitors for video editors” you’ll get a million different recommendations. Then once you realize that the room you monitor in is also important, you could find yourself down a huge rabbit-hole trying to figure out the best way to affordably make your room sound better. And can you use headphones to monitor sound for video? The answer to that from different people is almost like a religious debate. Oy vey!

In this episode, we cover three topics related to monitoring sound while editing video: 1) If you use headphones, work with over-ear, open back, reference headphones. 2) If you can afford it, bass traps are the best type of treatment to make your audio more accurate. 3) Which types of monitors should you buy if you cannot afford $1500 USD professional monitors?

This one is a pretty nerdy episode, so if you don’t really have the interest, you are now dismissed from class. ;-)

If you’d like to improve your sound recording skills for film, please have a look at our Sound Recording for Video course over at http://school.learnlightandsound.com

Visit us at http://learnlightandsound.com for more updates on how to improve your lighting and sound for video. Also be sure to subscribe to get new weekly episodes!

Gear used to create this episode:

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Mixing Secrets for the Small Studio (focused mainly on mixing music but great info for all mixing engineers)

Amazon: https://geni.us/ljto

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AKG K612 Reference Headphones

Amazon: https://geni.us/mI2Ws

B&H Photo: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/970886-REG/akg_2458z00100_k612_pro_hi_performance_headphones.html/BI/19904/KBID/12941/kw/AKK612PRO/DFF/d10-v2-t1-xAKK612PRO

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Beyerdynamic DT880 Reference Headphones 250 ohm (This is the set I have for mixing. I really like them, comfortable, sound clinical)

Amazon: https://geni.us/B1ez

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Sennheiser HD650 Reference Headphones (If you buy these, I will be envious. People rave about these headphones)

Amazon: https://geni.us/tVRt

B&H Photo: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/310010-REG/Sennheiser_HD_650_HD650_Reference_Class.html/BI/19904/KBID/12941/kw/SEHD650/DFF/d10-v2-t1-xSEHD650

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Avantone Active Mix Cubes (You will need an audio interface with line outputs to work with these, also, make sure you get a pair, not a single)

Amazon: https://geni.us/xXAhs

B&H Photo: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/867120-REG/Avantone_Pro_A_Active_MixCube_Powered_Full_Range.html/BI/19904/KBID/12941/kw/AVA/DFF/d10-v2-t1-xAVA

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Learn more about room acoustics at http://gikacoustics.com

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Copyright 2016 by Curtis Judd

Ethics statement: Some of the links above are Amazon.com, B&H Photo, or other affiliate links.