Speakers & Headphones

Speakers, headphones, and In-Ear Monitors (IEMs) are transducers. Like all transducers, they change one form of energy into another. Learn the basics of transducer operation at the back end of the signal chain, where truth, or the lack of, can lead to consequences in the quality of your music.

Videos

• Speakers & Headphones (00:50) - An introduction to speakers, headphones, and in-ear monitors (IEMs).

• The Truth? (01:09) - Speaker and headphone components, amplification, internal electronics, cabling, power, noise, and especially the room you’re in can all color the listening experience.

• Types of Speakers (01:16) - Speakers come in various types including 2-way, 3-way, subwoofers, active, passive, and more.

• Speaker Components (03:21) - Speaker components, called drivers, fall into three basic categories: a woofer, midrange, and tweeter.

• Speaker Inputs & Features (01:02) - Studio monitors are either active or passive. Active speakers come with an integral amplifier while passive speakers need an external power amp.

• Headphones & In-Ear Monitors (02:03) - Headphones and in-ear monitors (IEMs) are valuable tools for monitoring while tracking, mixing, or doing overdubs.

• Monitor Control (00:50) - A monitor controller is a separate piece of gear where you, the engineer, may design your listening experience.

• What Have You Learned? (00:59) - A recap of the concepts taught in this course.