For tracking I use closed backs. For long tweaking mixs, doing edits, etc., I use a light weight open back. Beware, closed backs create ear fatigue much quicker and tend to accentuate bass frequencies!
I don't really get caught up in brand names as much as weight, comfort, and frequency response of the headphones you choose.

FWIW legendary engineer Andrew Scheps recently said in an interview that he completed a mix on his laptop using cheap Sony headphones that his mastering engineer told him didn't even need mastering. I once spoke to a guy in New York, a sound engineer who mixes for movies, who told me that he does everything on headphones. I guess it's possible if you're experienced enough to know how YOUR cans color the sound and how it translates to speakers.

sharke
I guess it's possible if you're experienced enough to know how YOUR cans color the sound and how it translates to speakers.

I imagine it's just like Beethoven.  Scheps probably has a pretty good idea of what he's doing in his head, even without phones or speakers.  And Jeff Evans says he gets a pretty good idea of the quality of his mix by watching the dance of the needles of his vu meters.  That certainly won't disturb the neighbours.

It may have been an innocent thing on your part that in the heat of the moment you may have lost track of time while doing your music ...
It can happen to the best of us....
 
The fact that you were threatened by 2 people on your doorstep brings this thing into Major Red Flag territory...
 
IMHO, You would have been much better off if the police had knocked on your door because they would have treated you in a much more civil manner . You would have been a low impact call for them in the scope of their shift that night.
After a little chit chat you would have been in a better position than you are now because they would have had to document the nature of the call ...
Chances are they would have given you a polite warning  , also there would be a record of a possible Rub w your neighbor's in the making ...
 
OP , you need to take what happened seriously and do everything you can to nip this one in the bud .
 
If money is super tight for you right now , do a little thrift shopping or go to a Good Will and grab a cheap set of used cans just to start the ball rolling on keeping the peace ...
 
I sincerely hope that This Rub blows over for all folks concerned ...
 
 
Kenny

I use open headphones for mixing. I turn on a radio and if I cannot hear it, then the headphones are too loud.
 
Recording my vocals to backing tracks is different. Then you need closed.
 
But you will always need to listen to your final mix on speakers.

kennywtelejazz
 
If money is super tight for you right now , do a little thrift shopping or go to a Good Will and grab a cheap set of used cans just to start the ball rolling on keeping the peace ...
 Kenny

Yes Kenny - I was saving for the $99 for Cakewalk. Now I am going for the headphone - Open type as many of you have advised. Let me see what best I can afford or avail.
 
I always thank everyone in the forum for their help each and every time.
 
Regards for ALL.
Snehankur

Paul P

sharke
I guess it's possible if you're experienced enough to know how YOUR cans color the sound and how it translates to speakers.

I imagine it's just like Beethoven.  Scheps probably has a pretty good idea of what he's doing in his head, even without phones or speakers.  And Jeff Evans says he gets a pretty good idea of the quality of his mix by watching the dance of the needles of his vu meters.  That certainly won't disturb the neighbours.

As a software engineer I can write my programs on any crap which can be called a computer (I have developed AZ Controller on Centrino based notebook, with 120GB disk and 2GB of RAM, under Linux).
 
As a noob musician, I could not follow groove3/youtube mixing tutorials till I have bought Shure headphones (over $200). I have a good store in the near, with almost ALL currently available mass production music related equipment already prepared to be tested. On one side I can choose what I want within 1-2 hours, on the other my choice is never in the thought price range
 
Extrapolating that experience, if you are already good in music production, you probably can work with cheap equipment. Otherwise some "smart" staff is required to "help" you.
 
My situation is such that I need closed headphones. First 1-2 month my head had to adopt to use them for more than 1-2 hours. Now I have no problem to wear them all the day (periodically exchanging the air inside...).

As far as annoying your neighbor, closed vs. open headphones don't matter. Not unless he sleeps next to your mixing desk. Open-back cans are typically higher-fidelity, but as long as you do your final mix on speakers you can still do the bulk of your mixing on headphones just fine.
 
What I would do, though, is include the price of a good deadbolt lock in your gear budget.

If you go to your favorite music store you'll generally find that the 3 most popular headphones are all $99. AKG K240, Sennheiser HD 280, and Sony MDR-7506. Two are closed and the AKG is semi-open. I don't think you could go wrong with any of them if you've got $100 to spend.
 
Shop around and you might find one or the other on sale.
 
If you have the bucks, then go for the AKG K701s , Beyerdynamic DT880s, or Sennheiser HD 650s or a few other offerings.
 
gabo 

jatoth
I use closed back when tracking live. But, I have found open back to work better for me when mixing.
If you plan on mixing with headphones, get a decent pair and use the Sonarworks Headphone calibration plugin. That made a world of difference in my mixes.
Just my $.02 YMMV

And you can do this with your budget!
These headphones ($30.00):
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002GHIPYI?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00
Along with the sonarworks plugin (These cans are supported!) ($69.00)
http://sonarworks.com/headphones/supported-headphones/