A
asv
New member
Many people say it's better to mix using monitors instead of good headphone.
Is that right? and why?
Is that right? and why?
exhnozoaa
New member
Yeah, that's right (from everything I have read as well 
). I think it's because it's important to know how the left and right channels interact with each other and stuff... But it's probably more complicated that that too.
However, it's always good to check your mixes on various systems--including headphones--afterwards to make sure they sound good everywhere.
EDIT: Though everything I had stumbled upon before now said to use monitors and never mix on headphones (like it's worse than murder *le gasp*), a little more research find a lot of people use headphones for a variety of reasons:
Untreated environment
Their headphones are better than cheap monitors
They can hear more detail
Need to be quiet for others sharing a living space
It's easier to hear panning effects?
Etc.
So while I thought it was universally accepted that headphones shouldn't be used for mixing, that isnt always the case.
). I think it's because it's important to know how the left and right channels interact with each other and stuff... But it's probably more complicated that that too.However, it's always good to check your mixes on various systems--including headphones--afterwards to make sure they sound good everywhere.
EDIT: Though everything I had stumbled upon before now said to use monitors and never mix on headphones (like it's worse than murder *le gasp*), a little more research find a lot of people use headphones for a variety of reasons:
Untreated environment
Their headphones are better than cheap monitors
They can hear more detail
Need to be quiet for others sharing a living space
It's easier to hear panning effects?
Etc.
So while I thought it was universally accepted that headphones shouldn't be used for mixing, that isnt always the case.
A
asv
New member
I have an edirol speakers, which is 'ok'. But, i find that it's a bit flat (or maybe it's my untrained ears). I tend to compress the bass and boost it.
First time i got it, i thought it's got enough 'bass' but the result was 'flat' so now i tend to compress and boost more on the bass just enough to hear low end signal.
At the moment i'm using sennheiser HG220 (I know its not studio headphone).
I just bought AKG K271 and hopefully it'll arrive tomorrow.
First time i got it, i thought it's got enough 'bass' but the result was 'flat' so now i tend to compress and boost more on the bass just enough to hear low end signal.
At the moment i'm using sennheiser HG220 (I know its not studio headphone).
I just bought AKG K271 and hopefully it'll arrive tomorrow.
grimtraveller
If only for a moment.....
philbagg
Just Killing Time
I mix in an untreated room with my KRK RP5s, and I'm still able to do a pretty good job. However, there are some frequencies that just completely take off in my room (low end mainly), so I slap on a pair of headphones to make sure that it's the room that's exaggerating certain frequencies and not the audio itself.
That's just one example of why I'd use headphones in conjunction with my monitors.
That's just one example of why I'd use headphones in conjunction with my monitors.
M
moresound
Loud Sun Studios
Not so much as mixing ... but when a mix sits up and slaps you in the head and says - Yeah you nailed it.
Then yeah. Some thing that I'm proud of, I enjoy critically listing to it with cans.
Much like at home leisure listening or on the run ipod listening.
Then yeah. Some thing that I'm proud of, I enjoy critically listing to it with cans.
Much like at home leisure listening or on the run ipod listening.
John Willett
Circle Sound Services
You really need both.
Headphones will let you hear things that you miss on loudspeakers.
Mixing on headphones is fine - as long as you also check the mix on loudspeakers.
And as most people nowadays seem to listen to music on an iPod, I would say that headphones are vital.
Headphones will let you hear things that you miss on loudspeakers.
Mixing on headphones is fine - as long as you also check the mix on loudspeakers.
And as most people nowadays seem to listen to music on an iPod, I would say that headphones are vital.
A
asv
New member
Got it!
Thanks for all the info guys
Thanks for all the info guys
A
asv
New member
I just received my AKG K271 headphone yesterday.
It's lacking bass. but great on the upper mids and treble
Any idea how to monitor my bass level using this headset?
It's lacking bass. but great on the upper mids and treble
Any idea how to monitor my bass level using this headset?
Armistice
Son of Yoda
Not specifically... like all monitoring systems, you'll have to be aware of what its strongpoints are and aren't and adjust.
Cross checking on real speakers, different ones if you can, will give you a benchmark.
Cross checking on real speakers, different ones if you can, will give you a benchmark.
A
asv
New member
Alright thanks
What's 'reference track'?
I'm using 'reaper', i dont think i can put EQ on the master output volume? can i?
What's 'reference track'?
I'm using 'reaper', i dont think i can put EQ on the master output volume? can i?
kcearl
I see deaf people
reference track is just any track in your genre that you wish to sound like...
I use headphones all the time due to living in an apartment, just be sure to pop your head up and listen on monitors or at the very least speakers every now and then...
Im sure you can put an EQ on the master bus, you can in every other DAW
bouldersoundguy
Well-known member
Eqing by ear is still guessing.
Audio Mastering
Master Of Mastering
Headphones are good for checking mixes, not mixing mixes.
Cj
Cj
philbagg
Just Killing Time
It's a bit less of a guess.
Once you EQ your headphones to a reference track, so that the ref track sounds how you think it should, then you should know how your mix should sound. It should feel more natural in the process. This would be opposed to mixing away and having to keep trying to remember how it should sound on those headphones.
Having said that, both ways are good. Learn the headphones. And, no matter whether it's speakers or headphones, where you are, how well you know the system, you should ALWAYS keep checking your reference, just to keep yourself on the right track.
kcearl
I see deaf people
I dont agree...you can do quite a bit of the mixing task if you are used to your headphones sound and you check back on monitors as much as possible...
its not ideal, but being a homerecorder seldom is
bouldersoundguy
Well-known member
I was being slightly disingenuous when I wrote that. I use a measurement mic and analysis software to check the monitors where I mix, and even that requires a little educated guessing to interpret the data. But it's drastically more consistent than eqing by ear to a familiar recording.
With headphones there are other issues besides frequency response. In a mix done on headphones but heard on speakers, centered things will tend to be a little low and LF panning will tend to be inaudible.
Anyway, if you must eq your monitors (and I think it's sometimes the lesser evil), use an external hardware eq. Then you can just leave it on and never worry about forgetting to bypass it before bouncing or being misled by your DAW's meters.
Villain S Deeds
Member
Makes sense to me: Years ago I read a book on home recording which said to use any speakers you're used to listening to music on (if you don't have/can't afford monitors). So, I use the speakers from a home stereo system that I've had for half of my life (the stereo's long gone, but the speakers remain). I also use my Grado SR-60 headphones which are low-end audiophile headphones. By using reference tracks, I can get results that I'm fairly satisfied with.