What headphones and or speakers do you use to monitor footage that you shoot in the field and back on the computer?

Should I invest in a great pair of headphones for editing, and monitoring? Is there a good set of speakers I could use. Any recommended sound card?

I've got a pair of AKG K240S headphones. Marvelous. $99 at B&H (2-3 months ago).

You can edit with almost any headphones or crappy speakers. Headphones can be more fatiguing though. *BUT* If you want to mix audio tracks, then it's best to get some decent monitors. Maybe some nearfields. Everyone has their own take on what to get. Some get buy with cheap ones, some won't use anything under a grand or higher. Look for the best you can afford. I've done alot of research and asking around and it seems speakers in the class of those like the Genelec 1029's and that are good ones to go with. Excellent quality for their price range. Those are the speakers I am going to purchase (Unless, of course I end up with more money to spend on them)

Aaron

M-Audio have a reasonable line of cards, I use the audiophile 2496. They're $150 at B&H and no, an audigy is a gamers card, you will hear a difference.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=NavBar&A=search&Q=&ci=2802

http://www.m-audio.com/
http://mackie.com/products/studiomonitors/index.html
http://www.tannoyna.com/professional/index.html
You can buy powered or unpowered monitors. powered gives the manufacturer to tune the speakers to the amp. You don't want standard stereo gear, you want accuracy.

Some of the better known names are mackie, M-Audio, Tannoy, Yorkville. I own the Yorkvilles and for the money they're fine.

Stay away from the gamer cards and plastic speaker systems like Creative or Soundworks, they are for gamers.

Headphones are far to detailed for editing, the mix won't sound the same on speakers. i use Sony 7506 and AKG 271's for my field and home headphgone monitors.
T've heard that the 241 diffused Field open monitors are supposed to be made to emulate a monitor setup. They are 600 ohm (7506 and 241S or M and other popular headphones are around 55 ohms) and take a fair amount of ballz to drive them.

Audio is an area where the technology doesn't change much in terms of pickup and presentation. Invest in good mics and speaker/playback. Your end product will look better, and the gear will hold its resale value if you take good care of it.

Consider the echo line of sound cards. I use an Echo Mona with a mackie mixer into genelec 1029 speakers. The whole setup is about the price of a sony 2000 and will give you long, high quality service.

Best,

John

Sony 7506 for headphones. Non-fatiguing, industry standard, near bulletpruf.
But NEVER mix on headphones. If you read the tutorial/article on mixing for DV at the link below my name, you'll quickly see why. It's a boner thing.
Audio cards....Echo and M-Audio here. The new M-Audio 410 is a great firewire card with 2 good mic pre's in there. Not Hardy-quality pre's, but for the cost they are dang good. 6 outputs, TRS.
Mackie, Gennie's, m-audio, KRK all have great monitors. Stay away from the cheap Alesis marketed as 'pro' monitors. they're made by Logitech for gamers that want to look cool. Uncompressed audio sounds horrible through them.
Depending on your NLE/DAW, you won't need a mixer, just a Griffen knob will work for most. My personal room out of the 3 studio rooms just has a Griffen and I'm very happy with it.

I use an M-Audio Audiophile 2896 and a Pair of Behringer Truths B2031. They are a great combination and relatively inexpensive. Soon to add a mixer to that setup.