Can you get by without monitors???

So I have two turntables, mixer, headphones, and a normal home stereo. I'm picking up a used mpc today. Now, I've heard from a few friends over the years that monitors are essential and that stuff they made through headphones only, sounded totally different and like crap once put to cd.

My situation is that I live in a small apartment with then walls and can't bang my music...SO, I can listen at a normal, but not too loud level through speakers, or bang it in the headphones...my only two choices really.

Am I screwed? Do I need to be able to bang the music through monitors to really make a descent, clean track?

I don't mind buying monitors, but if can't put the volume up that high, isn't just listening through home speakers, or headphones just as good?

Would love your opinions...

newbie, dmavis

you dont REALLY REALLY need monitors. I definately helps. Makes a big difference when mixing, but to be honest, if you know how to mix, it wouldnt make a difference in what you use. Buy some REALLY GREAT headphones and learn to emulate what you hear by listening to how others mix. My boi gotta pair of Beyerdynamics and thats all he uses. If your new to mixing i wouldnt waist the money on average monitors/headphones b/c eventually you'll upgrade to something better anyway.

Check out www.tweakheadz.com, read "The Guide" and get your learn on.

I'd suggest that you get yourself decent monitors. it really helps your sound. and i don't think that you'll ever learn to mix with just headphones.

and listening at a normal volume is ok for mixing!

but yeah, go to tweakheadz, a lot of knowledge there!

don't sweat it.... just mix on your home stereo at a normal level and then check with the headphones at a louder volume until you can get some decent monitors.....

the truth is the same record will always sound different on different systems anyway so you should be listening to your mix through as many different types of speakers as possible. starting with a decent set of monitors will just decrease the amount of work required to get it to sound good across them all....

Yea, you don't REALLY need monitors. You can get by without them just as long as you become familiar/comfortable with whatever speakers you use now and know how to create good mixes using them.

Personally I used monitors AND headphones.

Thanks a million...I think I get what you all are saying..and I'll definitely check that site!

peace

dmavis