Question about trying to Mix for different speakers and/or iPod (headphones)

[johnnymegabyte]

I'm getting varied responses from my "band mates" on how mixes I do, turn out. We write, record & jam for the fun of it

I wonder if there is a plug-in to Filter an existing mix (freeware would be nice), to emulate headphones, or limitations cheap speakers, or speakers with subwoofer would pump da bass. Does anyone know of anything ? I can't be the only one thinking about this

The idea would be to try "environments" from the DAW, rather than difference devices, speakers, headphones, car ......

Here's one of our originals REACHING OUT (melodic rock) Winter Breeze - Reaching Out

 

[mjbphotos]

Every type of speaker, headphone or earbud is different. There's no 'magic plug in'. Mix to sound good on as many different systems as you can.

 

[Farview]

That's the point of good monitors in a good room. If you have that, the mix should translate. (once you have learned the monitors)

Of course, your band mates could be the problem. For example, if you bass player listens on a cheap docking station and complains that he can't hear his thundering bass tone, that's not a mix problem...

 

[JimmyS1969]

That's the point of good monitors in a good room. If you have that, the mix should translate. (once you have learned the monitors)

Of course, your band mates could be the problem. For example, if you bass player listens on a cheap docking station and complains that he can't hear his thundering bass tone, that's not a mix problem...

Great point. That happens more than I would care to have.

 

[grimtraveller]

I wonder if there is a plug-in to Filter an existing mix (freeware would be nice), to emulate headphones, or cheap speakers, or speakers with subwoofer. Does anyone know of anything ?

An interesting idea. In a way, a number of stereos, computers and Ipods do this with various settings like "Rock", "Classical", "Jazz", "Ambient", "Industrial", "Pop", "Blues" etc.

I can't be the only one thinking about this

You might be !

 

[johnnymegabyte]

thanks everyone. I have KRK Rokit 6 mointors and a few models of AKG headphones, and high-end Sennheiser headphones.
I also listen my mixes with a set of $50 Panasonic DJ style headphones (at work), and the best $10 headphones ever (Tribal by Maxell) for my laptop.
My laptop has a 100 watt 2.1 setup on my laptop. The only thing is gauges is if I have way too much bass in the mix, but generally not great for evaluating mixes.
Also, I sometimes fire the audio up through the PA I have setup for rehearsing with 15" + horn Yorkville YX15 cabinets on elevated stands (at ear level) powered by Sansui 80 watts per channel Class D stereo. We're talking insane volume with this setup for a 20 X 30 room.
The other guys listen with .... PC speakers, iPods and cell phones. You guys confirmed my thought being the issues are more on their end.

 

[Farview]

It will never sound the same on all systems. As long as it still sounds like the same mix on everything, you have done your job. All your favorite CDs don't sound the same everywhere, but you don't question the mix because you assume it's right. (and you have no control over it) More than likely, you are just looking for more consistency than you can expect from system to system.

 

[RAMI]

....all true....but it could also be that mixing in an un-treated room isn't helping your mixes. It might be on their end, but I wouldn't blow off all responsibility either. Do YOU find that your mixes translate well on different systems?

 

[grimtraveller]

It will never sound the same on all systems. As long as it still sounds like the same mix on everything, you have done your job. All your favorite CDs don't sound the same everywhere, but you don't question the mix because you assume it's right (and you have no control over it)

Going right back to my teenage years in the 70s I used to notice this. The same tape would sound different on my cassette than it would on my Dad's music centre. And when I got my own pad, things played on my stereo didn't sound the same as on my walkman. Sometimes, I'd hear things on one system after 20 years that I'd never previously heard on others.