Mixing on Headphones

[WhiskeyJack]

i know there are a few of you on here that rely very heavily on headphone mixes for pretty much all that you do. here is a really great article from the folks ate Waves to help you out a little. hope you can walk away with something you didn't know before.

Mixing on Headphones: How to Translate to Speakers

[Lt. Bob]

[rayc]

I've read about this before - it's like an expensive branded version of Binaural audio simulation plug in.
If a Binaural recording head was set up in Abbey Control - you'd hear a more 3D and natural version of the mix being played in that room.
What makes this saleable is the Abbey Road aspect. It doesn't make it better - just a better brand name.
http://www.vst4free.com/free_vst.php?id=2069
http://www.vst4free.com/free_vst.php?id=887
https://www.kvraudio.com/product/tb-iso ... neboosters
I think the question is whether you trust the brand name or some freebie.
IF the headphone mix is listened to on headphones, (I believe that's the new normal), then the software becomes merely an effect, if it can be applied to the mix, rather than an aid to mixing.
I'm not against it - I LOVE the Binaural LPs I own: they are a little disappointing when listened to in a room but with headphones they are bliss.

[musicturtle]

I think I put this in some other thread sometime, but Sonarworks has something called Reference4.

It is a plug in that has different settings for most major brands of headphones and reduces the coloration of specific headphones.

You put it on your master bus as the last plug in then remove it when you export your mix.

Focusrite gave a 6 month free trial of it a few months ago, and I have to say, I will probably spend the $100 dollars it costs because I have to mix so often with headphones.

https://www.sonarworks.com/reference

[CeeBee]

There is an alternatve on the market https://www.toneboosters.com/tb_morphit_v1.html at 39 Euros
It is by the same folk who did the isone.

[rayc]

It is a plug in that has different settings for most major brands of headphones and reduces the coloration of specific headphones.
https://www.sonarworks.com/reference

Interesting - though when he said he used Bose Noise cancelling headphones to mix in flight I was def. worried. I have a pair of those and in noise cancelling mode the audio is VERY different - that difference varies depending on what's being cancelled amongst other things so the program'd have problems addressing that. I can see it working for other situations though - the bloke's comment about hearing more detail, wider image and 3D also suggested oddness. I can understand the 3D & detail but the stereo image seemed odd.

[rayc]

There is an alternatve on the market https://www.toneboosters.com/tb_morphit_v1.html at 39 Euros
It is by the same folk who did the isone.

I'm not in the market but also none of my headphone models are on the list. Typical for me.

[Lt. Bob]

I use a Headroom amp .... they have a cross feed that makes phones sound VERY much like speakers.

This is one of the 'net tropes I argue against ..... "Can't get a good mix on headphones?" .... bullshit.

"Have to rebias everytime you change tubes?" Bullshit

"Don't open an amp, you'll get electrocuted?" Bullshit

A DJ is a musician?" Bullshit

[Bill L]

hes-right-you-know-32644960-1.png

Well stated! I used to get decent to very good mixes with headphones. It takes longer but it can be done. Obviously you'd be better off with speakers but sometimes that's not an option.

[rayc]

I use a Headroom amp .... they have a cross feed that makes phones sound VERY much like speakers.

That's the ticket - some software does it sort of.
I used headphones when I must - usually because the wife is asleep OR having a more damaging depressive/anxiety episode. I do the work upstairs to keep and eye and ear on her and decent cans - and the necessary knowledge/experience of them - can get the job done.
This mix, while it has its own inherent problems that aren't can related, is completely headphone based...

FTMSoul0808gd.mp3

[JD01]

I mix on headphones. I also mix on monitors and check things on the stereo.

If you've not got a great mixing environment, few of us have, a combination of headphones, monitors, home stereo, car etc can be great. The main thing is learning your headphones/room etc and the relationship between them.

[frank1985]

I use sonarworks reference with a pair of beyerdynamics....works well for me. Am about half way through my trial

[JD01]

Was thinking about this earlier... if you're really good at mixing you'll get a good mix on headphones. If you're shit at mixing, you'll get a shit mix no matter how good your monitors and mixing environment is.

[vomitHatSteve]

I'd thought the big concern with headphones is that you can't hear phase issues between the channels. So if they're there, your mix will sound bad on speakers, but you'll have no way to know.

[WhiskeyJack]

Was thinking about this earlier... if you're really good at mixing you'll get a good mix on headphones. If you're shit at mixing, you'll get a shit mix no matter how good your monitors and mixing environment is.

I feel this is largely true. Yet speaking only formyself my mixes got better when i stopped using headphones. Low end stuff and stereo placements of things were difficult for me on headphones. I needed to listen in open monitors, cars, stereos etc.