Headphones for beginner?

[Outer Haven]

Hello,

I'm a beginner to music production, as I am taking an audio engineering course in college right now. I'm very interested in this field, and I am looking to buy a pair of headphones for mixing. I also am looking to record my own vocals in the future, so if possible, it would be great if I could have a pair of headphones that are both good for mixing and recording. Does anyone have any suggestions for me? I'd like to spend no more than $150. I have done some research, and one website mentioned that the AGK K 240 II (the upgraded model of the original) is good for both mixing and tracking. Can anyone confirm/give their opinion on them?

Thank you.

[ZOTZinMusic]

Hey, you can shop them online and I am damn sure you will find one in your budget. You can find any or almost every required material for the same @

Inappropriate self-advertising link removed by MW

[The Elf]

Welcome!

THIS should give you a start.

Generally speaking, open-backed headphones are the preference for mixing, while closed back are the preference for tracking. To choose one or the other is going to involve some level of compromise.

[Outer Haven]

Thanks for your response.

[MarkOne]

My K240s are still my go-to headphones here. I know there are more accurate models these days, but they are comfortable for longish mixing sessions and I know them well.

You could certainly do a lot worse.

[Mike Stranks]

... and welcome from me too!

The AKGs you mention are very good (I have a pair) and only a step below those that are the de facto set often mentioned here for mixing.

However, If you want to use these for tracking vocals you could have problems. The bleed from the back will find its way into the mic and in certain situations you could even get feedback.

I previously found the Audio-Technica ATH-40 (NOT the enhanced bass one!) closed-back to be a good general purpose set for both tracking and mixing at the sort of price-point you're mentioning.

[The_BPP]

Open-backed headphones are particularly bad when recording vocals with a prominent click-track. A little bleed from the backing track isn't so bad, but the constant ticking noise from a metronome is.

[Danplifier]

Open-backed headphones are particularly bad when recording vocals with a prominent click-track. A little bleed from the backing track isn't so bad, but the constant ticking noise from a metronome is.

If no metronome or drum-track is being used, I prefer open-backs for recording vocals.
Turn your vocal-track-fader down (all the way), and keep the mix low enough to hear your own voice without having to sing too loud. That feels and sounds the most natural way IMO.

That said, if I didn't own any headphones and had to choose between buying a pair of closed/open-backs, I'd have to go with the closed-backs.
More versatile and you can use them without annoying other people.