Recording HEAVY GUITARS with HEADPHONES!

[@KohleAudioKult]

How do you like my low end trick? And who has used headphones as mics?

[@HenritheHorse]

Sounds great! Never tried!

[@oris81]

Zurbum on Filosofem?

[@ABHORRANCE831]

Ha!! I forgot about that. Don't think I've tried headphones as a mic since the 90s

[@joaoantoniovione484]

I did use some 70s headphones as mics, for drum overheads, bass guitar (didn't really work out) and vocals. By the speaker's characteristics it was rather lacking in low end. But sounded cool.

[@CrushingAxes]

Me complaining I don't have expensive amps, Kohle just makes the perfect tone with a headphone, you're making my life any easier man =P. LoL, very cool video!

[@hjortoo]

The headphone driver on the old 80s DT770/880/990 was the same as the capsule in the Beyerdynamic M380, a favorite for Steve Albini on kick drum and bass guitar. The driver in the new headphones are not the same, but similar enough to basically have the same character, only flatter. Since it is bidirectional it picks up both drumheads when you put it inside the kick drum and has a huge natural sound compared to cardioid mics. And it doesn't pick up the reflections from the shell on the sides, letting you have a wide open kick drum while still eliminating the dreaded basketball sound! Since it is bidirectional it also has an insane proximity effect, which is useful for any instrument where the low end is important. I built a clone from a pair of DT770s and anything else sounds flat and lifeless to me now.

[@KohleAudioKult]

The IR pack also includes M380 IRs. Great mic!

[@_B.C_]

This same trick can be used to crack safes. Because of the ear cup, it’s great for pressing up against a flat surface for listening. Let’s you hear the lock as you turn the safe dial.

[@clowncorpse7230]

When I did not have a microphone at hand back in the days of demos on 4track I would use headphones as a vocal mic as it was awesome for blackmetal vocals and death old school death metal vocals I assume it works as it does on a guitar as it had low end and great high end that was not half as easy to get with good studio mics,I would struggle to replicate what I did on 4 track cassette when it came to recording in a studio

[@nitromeda]

For my very first recordings I used the mic of my guitar tuner (which has a line-out) into the mic-in of my parents' Sony stereo system, to record on cassette. Worked ... "magical" 😂😂😂 Edit: that was around 1995.

[@lukasgraesslin]

Sounds like a proper black metal recording studio of the 90s.

[@KohleAudioKult]

Sounds like a great topic for a YT video ;)

[@tomasolsson6493]

That's awesome. I wish I could hear how the recording sounded

[@vladv5126]

​@@tomasolsson6493 you probably can with a free afternoon and like 10 bucks.

[@nitromeda]

@@tomasolsson6493 Not sure if I still have the cassette somewhere, but it sounded really quite bad 😅👌

[@blasher4]

This is really cool man. Thx for sharing this!

[@beargonefission6160]

The Beyer 380 mic element was a modified headphone element. So this makes a lot of sense.

[@KohleAudioKult]

Great mic!

[@tihinter]

…and absolutely overpriced today. Luckily I got one, when those were still inexpensive. Nowadays they got for 1k bucks…

[@josefplager]

Great video! By the way nice to see someone still using Win7 :) great for audio

[@KohleAudioKult]

109% vintage 😂

[@mundainmonstre2372]

My first electric guitar was an old epiphone acoustic when I was 11. I duck taped a broken headphone ear peace into the sound hole then popped the cable into the mic input of my sony boombox. Cranked that beast as loud as it could go. Boom - a life long journey was born. 30 years later I have my own home studio.

[@Ryan_Messenger]

Not headphones but I have turned a car speaker into a kick sub mic. Works great🤘

[@JordonBeal]

Beyer M260’s are very unironically my favorite ride mic ever. Seriously, they’re insane in that application, if a bit extravagant.

[@KohleAudioKult]

I’m jealous that you have one! 😩

[@Tikktator]

I did this in the 90's - headphones plugged into the DJ Mic Input of a crossfader normally found between turn tables, then to my recording device. low end NEVER distorted.

[@yonikessler1912]

I have a broken pair of AKG k553's that I used on a VO session for a small documentary during a drive through scene where we had to redo the dialogue for a fast food worker coming out of a drive through speaker and the headphones + some light distortion was PERFECT.

[@KohleAudioKult]

I almost made a joke about AKG headphones in the video. Because one side of every pair I used in my career died at some point.😮‍💨

[@JimijaymesProductions]

Time to get out my piles of broken headphones. I really like the low mids and low treble of the headphone mic. Nice grind to it

[@Askesis6]

loved when you added a little more "Oomph" in your mic mix everytime you say "oomph"

[@TowelMachine]

Damn, should've thought of that when my DT990 after a lot of abuse went into permanent mono. Nice one 🤘

[@snowandcoal]

Yes! This was one of my favorite IRs in the pack.

[@brozio77]

for fun when i was young i have used phones as microfone but for vocals. you have done e great thing that i have to try, especially with brighter ten inch speakers.

[@mattiabonafini4026]

great idea! thanks ... what I tried and still use is a LOM Geofón ... also very nice to get some low frequencies

[@slayabouts]

I actually have a broken pair of those exact headphones haha. I do remember with my first cellphone before I actually got into recording and mixing, I used some ear buds to record a Skynyrd song to use as a ringtone. It objectively sounded like shit, but I made it so it sounded great What if you used the hi and low pass filters on Libra to make the headphone be the low end and the other one be the hi end?

[@mrcoatsworth429]

Interesting! Would this work as a subkick?

[@KohleAudioKult]

Yes

[@Mikey__R]

I was thinking the exact same thing!

[@KohleAudioKult]

@@Mikey__R It's actually a better sounding subkick. Not too boomy

[@hoborec]

Such a great idea!!! Why haven’t I thought about this before 😮

[@DraigGalon]

I'm still trying to figure out phase with a 57 and ribbon mike. I do like how easily you can blend the two Mike's, sweet

[@KohleAudioKult]

You gotta delay one of the mics to get them in phase. Check out my “High Gain Guitar Tone Crafting” course.

[@PaulEubanks]

I feel like the IR loader is doing most of the heavy lifting here. Just pick any good sounding dark and bright IRs, and blend. Can use Cabinetron's auto-phase align if they're out of phase.

[@riangarianga]

Haha, that was cool! It brought me memories of my teen years, when together with my friends we taped our own «radio programs», and I was the only one with a microphone, so we got a set of Aiwa headband headphones from our walkman, and thanks to the magic of minijack Y doublers we had a full «studio». 😂

[@BenjC1979]

Cool idea and great results! How did you manage to screw the headphone driver on a mic stand?

[@LIXOSonidoyDiscos]

Its the best sound that I've listen with your Proffessional experience and #beyerdynamic microphones

[@mpasistasyalanci]

I ve heard that they make a great bass drum mic. What is the difference between closed back headphones like a dt’s 770 and open back headphones like a dt990 ? Do they have a different polar pattern?

[@CrushingAxes]

I tried using a AKG 414p once, but didn't work at all, didn't spend a lot of time trying to find the perfect spot, but it's definitely a very cool idea to add some textures!

[@MadScientistGuitarLab]

I really like knowing that something I would have done in desperation as a teen has become the secret sauce for beefy tone in your studio.

[@KohleAudioKult]

That’s how legendary tones are born 😇

[@jeffbridges6110]

LoL. Awesome. I made sub mics for my kick and floor tom with an 8 & 10 inch speaker. I never NOT use them.

[@russianmusicgear]

how did you make a holder for your headphone to attach it to a mic stand?

[@Maddin-Kambrium]

Fat guitars? Bass players will hate this! Oh, wait, you can put a headphone in front of a bass cabinet as well... Bass players will love this! :-D

[@vorpalblades]

Most bass tone sounds like shit anyway. Too clanky, too much distortion,barely any low-end.

[@MadScientistGuitarLab]

They get to use the broken half of the headphone though. 😂

[@PaddyMacNabh]

Great sound from the headphone. 👍 I had an old Sennheiser HD540 which worked really well. It has 300 ohms impedance. If you want to go completely crazy then try the Yamaha Subkick. The Subkick hasn't got a very detailed sound but killer if you work with subzero tuned guitars 😁

[@KohleAudioKult]

I actually used to have the Subkick on guitar cabs, I feel theat the headphopnes to a better job though.

[@figydscnvn9rek]

It'd have to be even more cooler if you just recorded it with dt990 live, instead of using dt990-used IR. Just as using the subkick instaed of using a subkick recorded kick sample.

[@AdamZiokowski666]

Not headphones but Heinrich submic uses a 6,5" speaker as a subkick mic and it sound amazing.

[@chupiconverge6034]

Good Job. Big like 👍

[@BlondPanda]

Would be super interested in hearing what the headphone-mic would sound like in front of a kick drum. I assume not quite as low-end heavy as your usual sub-kick but it might work as a thick kick-out mic?

[@vorpalblades]

A 6" to 10" speaker would be a better choice.

[@KohleAudioKult]

I’ll try that asap!

[@byronwade1204]

Will this work if I keep the 1/4 inch jack ? Or is it necessary to convert to XLR ?

[@KohleAudioKult]

You gotta connect it to a mic pre. That’s why you need XLR.

[@bradzillarocks]

I have an old AKG set that only has 1 working side. Gotta see if I can make this happen.

[@JoeRojasJNPMultimedia]

Wow, that sound cool using headphones. More mics that aren't mics!

[@mrparkinson]

Hey Kohle, did you get a chance to try the headphone mic on a kick? Seems like it might be cool outside of the kick, like a subkick.

[@KohleAudioKult]

Not yet. But that’s exactly the plan!

[@mrparkinson]

@@KohleAudioKult Excellent!

[@dremcfleuve]

I never manage to make a sound I like with a sm57 and a huge cab with V30 but somehow I managed to get something I like with a 15w practice amp and a karaoke microphone

[@KohleAudioKult]

That means either you do something completely wrong or you are special! 🤘❤️

[@HollywoodRecordingStudio]

I did find this headphone method is awesome for bass or kick. I’m finding that too much low end on the guitar masks the bass and kick drum.

[@crock2434]

Would you be recording in mono ? Only using 1 side ov the phones?

[@KohleAudioKult]

Of course. Guitars are usually recorded in mono.

[@m.a.6478]

Looking at my headphone with rotating ear cups... then at my rack with the big amp... which directly feeds into a reactive load, no cab anywhere.

[@vorpalblades]

I could never record without a cabinet.

[@Sylkis89]

Hey, Kristian! Can you review using some specific bass speakers in guitar cabs? People online recommend Celestion BN12-300S, Eminence Basslite S2012, Eminence Deltalite II 2512, Beyma 12G40, 12" vintage CTS, and 12" Peavey Black Widow, and there's surely more I am not aware of. These often have response graphs similar to guitar speakers, but can handle the excursion and wattage needed for bass - though a graph is not enough to know what to expect irl. I’ve seen them used in setups with a modeller + poweramp + DIY cab, or for high-gain guitar and bass in home studios, or for Doom/Shoegaze. Quilter, Zilla, and Barefaced use them in guitar cabs. I think it's a cool idea to explore as an alternative to the boring V30 and/or Greenback standard. I wonder how well - from your perspective - they perform with high-gain guitar tones (possibly with a 10-band EQ in the effects loop), as well as bass tones where you mix a miced cab track with a bass cab IR track. Could you test each speaker individually and in blends, and compare closed vs. open cabs, and 2x12 vs. 4x12 configurations? Dr. Decibel from Celestion support confirmed it’s safe to use the BN12-300S this way, and I've seen people successfully use the Eminence models, not to mention vintage CTS being common in old Fender combo amps.

[@KohleAudioKult]

I once did a 10" bass speaker comparison video, but not for guitars. Check the bass playlist for that one. Bass speakers usually have too much high end for distorted guitars.

[@Sylkis89]

​​@@KohleAudioKultthe Celestions and Eminences I mentioned are actually usually told to be dark for a lot of guitarists who want to have shine and sparkle from their telecasters ;) but metalheads usually praise them. So hence I was hoping to get a big KZbinr with a capacity to have some gear rotation to try it out, as it's difficult to go by anecdotes online, and it's very expensive for a bedroom playing hobbyist, haha! I have actually already decided on getting a BN12-300S for my 2x12 cab, but I still need to decide whether the other speaker will be another BN12-300S or one of the Eminence models, or something yet else. Anyway, I think it would be a really awesome idea for a video!

[@riangarianga]

I have a BN12-300S and it sounds great, but you might lose more high end than you expect. An A-Type is also warm and dark, if you're after that, I love that speaker, alhough it might have less bass. You can find plenty of examples of these two on KZbin, both of them are sort of vintagey. I liked how Thevon or the guys at Zilla Cabs got great results out of the A-Type in the videos on their channels. The latter guys also tested the BN12-300S, but I can't recall if they used high gain. I believe the Hempback would be also extreme in this warmness game, but I never tried one. What about building and tuning a crossover circuit where you just filter out the high end, and using the speaker you have now? It's cheaper than trying dark speakers, and unlike the EQ pedal it would act after the power amp.

[@Sylkis89]

​@@riangariangaboth Celestion BN12-300S and Eminence Deltalite II 2512 are often suggested as lightweight (as in physically, neodymium, easier to carry a cab) alternatives to EVM12L. I was wondering how coupling them in one cab would work. What I'm after is speakers that will allow me to use my Hughes & Kettner Switchblade 2x12 combo both for high gain baritone guitar and for bass recording at a small hobbyist home studio.

[@vorpalblades]

I use a full range 15", never found one that sounds good for guitar. 10" bass speakers can sound good. I used to play through a Hartke Transient Attack cab with 4 10" aluminum cone drivers. That sounded great. Burned up in an apartment fire though.

[@Harrysound]

White background Cubase, that’s pretty old school!

[@KohleAudioKult]

I hate dark backgrounds. Everything looks fuckin grey in grey these days. Terrible! 😇

[@antares4975]

"Whenever i need some oomph down there" I don't know man, whenever i record guitars i have loads and much too much low-end wich oomphs my mix apart

[@rafadolny3551]

So earbuds are small diaphragm dynamic mics now :D

[@badagon]

But we use ribbon mics :)

[@bradleyberdahl6148]

THATS FUCKIN COOL BRO!!!!!!!!

[@JGStonedRaider]

Got a pair of DT990 pro's on my head right now...must not pull them apart :/

[@KohleAudioKult]

I’m sorry! 😎😇

[@JGStonedRaider]

@@KohleAudioKult I can just mix in mono ;)

[@KohleAudioKult]

@@JGStonedRaider Right! Who needs stereo anyway 🥳

[@kenhomeier8629]

Thjis is why I follow this channel. Hey, Here's some cool ideas to try for free or here's the same thing that we recorded if you want to buy the pack I love it.

[@chickenlickin3820]

why not an ns10 woofer lol

[@KohleAudioKult]

I never liked the traditional subkicks for some reason. I have the new version from Yamaha.

[@johnhaight6142]

And I'll do it again... With Sony 8ohm speakers from old waterlogged home stereo cabinets These are the filters we listen to most often, why wouldn't we use them to capture the sound we are trying to replicate or reproduce ... But.... I'm one cheap ass mofo too

[@KohleAudioKult]

Do it! 🤘

[@flapjack413]

Why ruin a pair of headphones, only to capture sound that's going to get high passed out anyway? Seems kinda dumb IMO.

[@KohleAudioKult]

I did NOT recommend to treasure your headphones apart! Use headphones with only one side working or just get our IRs 😜

[@BrunodeSouzaLino]

You'd probably get the same effect using a Harmonica microphone.

[@punkfloyd4148]

Hey Kristian, thank you for all your work. Great content! I have one request, which may piss you off, but I don't mean to. There is one thing that makes it difficult for me to watch the whole thing: the riffs. I am really having a hard time listening to them. I can imagine why you chose them, but I think you channel would benefit from riffs that are a little more accessive and less disturbing. I am constantly fighting with myself to stay focused on the message, but the riffs are distracting me. Many times I turn stop watching because of that. Maybe you want to give it a thought, maybe not. Cheers!

[@tomix1970pl1]

Cool but I will not destroy my headphones.Sorry...

[@KohleAudioKult]

Just get the IRs, much safer

[@mrcoatsworth429]

@@tomix1970pl1 well, he specifically said you can do this with your defective headphones, not working ones.