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Open-Back vs. Closed-Back Headphones COMPARED for Recording & Mixing

Aug 18, 2021 | 38,928 Views

What type of headphones are you using? Learn the differences between open and closed-back studio headphones and how each can best serve you when recording, mixing & producing music.

If you’re looking into buying your first set of professional-grade “over-the-ear" studio headphones, don't let the terms “open-back” or “closed-back” confuse you.

In this video we’ll give you the information you need to know to help you find the best model of headphones to serve your critical recording, mixing and mastering applications.

  • 0:00 Introduction
  • 0:28 How do open-back and closed-back studio headphones differ?
  • 1:39 Which should I use when recording?
  • 1:58 Which should I use when mixing and mastering?
  • 2:20 Which sound best?
  • 3:01 Which IS best?
  • 3:30 Final thoughts
  • 3:51 How to get more from your headphone monitoring experience

Want to take the performance of your headphones to the next level? Discover how Waves Nx headphone monitoring plugins help countless producers improve the quality of their mixes when using headphones.

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