In-ear Headphones for DJing, worth using?

[tokenasianguy]

just never take them out. I keep my headphones on almost the whole time and mix in my headphones.

I don't get how people can do this.

There was an article on here about how a lot of DJ's no longer use a monitor and just mix in the headphones, but there's a lot of tracks that tend to overlap and it's hard to distinguish which is which unless you listen to one in the headphone and one on the monitor thereby separating the tracks between the left and right ear, making it easier to distinguish which track the sounds are coming from.

[jimbrowski00]

I don't get how people can do this.

There was an article on here about how a lot of DJ's no longer use a monitor and just mix in the headphones, but there's a lot of tracks that tend to overlap and it's hard to distinguish which is which unless you listen to one in the headphone and one on the monitor thereby separating the tracks between the left and right ear, making it easier to distinguish which track the sounds are coming from.

I mix entirely in my headphones too... I was trained to distinguish between two tracks when I learned how to beatmatch.

I cant count on what type of monitoring system is going to be in place so being able to mix in my headphones eliminates that issue.

I dont think that IEM's are very practical for DJing. I'm sure some models offer more isolation and can be used at safer volumes but I'm consistently being asked questions or chatting while I'm playing so its a must that I can take my headphones on and off easily.

[ThinkAboutIt]

Laidback Luke is mixing with in-ear since... I don't know the beginning of his career and I read from one of his articles that he was pretty damn happy with them. Oh and I also found this:

http://www.laidbackluke.com/forum/vi...php?f=4&t=2019

[Jumanji]

but there's a lot of tracks that tend to overlap and it's hard to distinguish which is which unless you listen to one in the headphone and one on the monitor thereby separating the tracks between the left and right ear, making it easier to distinguish which track the sounds are coming from.

Just adjust the cue knob away from 12:00 to make either the cue louder & program quieter, or the program louder & the cue quieter.

[DJ ATX]

OK I have to ask.....So if you DJ with your headphones on all night, how do you adjust EQ when needed??? Or are all of you guys have the clubs sound guy with you in the booth doing it for you??

In all my years I have never DJ'd at a club where what I hear out of my headphones gets reproduced 100% coming out of the clubs speakers. Sure 90% of the time, I don't touch my EQ, but there are songs where the clubs system reproduces the highs or lows, either too high or too low. Specially those that use Sonic Maximizers. Also adjusting gains through headphones can only be done if your levels match the output.

Not being a dick here, but I would really like to know how you guys do this....

[tokenasianguy]

I mix entirely in my headphones too... I was trained to distinguish between two tracks when I learned how to beatmatch.

Just adjust the cue knob away from 12:00 to make either the cue louder & program quieter, or the program louder & the cue quieter.

Yeah most DJ's know how to beatmatch...

Regardless of whether you adjust the "cue mix" from "cue" to "program" you can't deny that it's much easier to distinguish one track in the left ear (through a monitor) and the cue through the right ear (through the headphone) as opposed to hearing both tracks in both headphones at the same time.

[Allensmusic]

OK I have to ask.....So if you DJ with your headphones on all night, how do you adjust EQ when needed??? Or are all of you guys have the clubs sound guy with you in the booth doing it for you??

In all my years I have never DJ'd at a club where what I hear out of my headphones gets reproduced 100% coming out of the clubs speakers. Sure 90% of the time, I don't touch my EQ, but there are songs where the clubs system reproduces the highs or lows, either too high or too low. Specially those that use Sonic Maximizers. Also adjusting gains through headphones can only be done if your levels match the output.

Not being a dick here, but I would really like to know how you guys do this....

how can you adjust the EQ from the DJ booth? is your booth on the dancefloor? your monitor speakers will not sound like the mains. you adjust the EQ to match the rooms acoustics, and unless your in the listening area, you simply cant do it from the DJ booth.
the only reason DJ's have a monitor speaker in the DJ booth is to get rid of the time delay so you can beatmatch properly.

a DJ can certainly adjust the main EQ. after a walk out on the dancefloor.

[tokenasianguy]

how can you adjust the EQ from the DJ booth? is your booth on the dancefloor? your monitor speakers will not sound like the mains. you adjust the EQ to match the rooms acoustics, and unless your in the listening area, you simply cant do it from the DJ booth.
the only reason DJ's have a monitor speaker in the DJ booth is to get rid of the time delay so you can beatmatch properly.

a DJ can certainly adjust the main EQ. after a walk out on the dancefloor.

I think "technically" the live sound technician should be doing any EQ'ing.

I always set the EQ to "0" assuming that every track should be recorded and mastered properly, the way it was meant to sound.

[Allensmusic]

yes, technically the sound tech should set the EQ to make the room flat. in the absence of a sound tech, a DJ might have to do it, but they would have to listen from the floor, not the DJ booth

[tokenasianguy]

yes, technically the sound tech should set the EQ to make the room flat. in the absence of a sound tech, a DJ might have to do it, but they would have to listen from the floor, not the DJ booth

That's why I always set it to "12". Although that's assuming the "artist" or producer had it mastered properly.