Accurate Monitoring and Mixing through Headphones Impossible?

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Dizzy991

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The title says it all, is it possible? I was searching musicians friend and noticed Audio Technica headphones in the Dent/Scratch area under monitors and headphones and read the description "for precise monitoring or mixing." It supposedly has a flat eq response but is this all I should be looking for when evaluating monitors/headphones? My budget for monitors is super tight at the moment so I was
thinking about these headphones, any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.
 
Do a search in this BBS for the keyword "headphones" - you'll have all the advice you need on types and whether or not it's a good idea to mix with 'em... (it's not a good idea BTW...)

Bruce Valeriani
Blue Bear Sound
 
Thanks that's what I pretty much thought was the general notion but on a cost basis is a $200 pair of monitors that much better than a $70 of headphones? If it's yes than I'll snag the monitors.
 
For about $200 you check out Yorkville YSM-1... can't beat the value for the money.... very nice, smooth sounding....

Bruce
 
It's not impossible to mix on headphones.... but it's VERY hard. Headphone mixes generally just don't translate very well to monitors... They DO make excellent 2nd references, and for examining critical details.

Bruce
 
Headphones? Cans? Did someone mention HEADPHONES?????


I can BEYERLY WAIT TO TALK....


Bruce is certainly right. You can mix using headphones if you've mixed a long time using monitors. You begin to understand that the HEADPHONE REPRODUCTION is always good sounding, if you have a good set of cans like the BEYER 250's or, I guess they have a 270 model out there too.

However, when I first started recording, I would mix using the cans and when I played back the mix, I was boggled at what was on the tape; it was nothing like I heard while mixing down.

But, as you grow and learn, it is possible to mix a fairly decent sound with the cans. But, when I want to be sure, I set up the mix by listening to the monitors. I'm still learning and expect to be learning for a long time.

Will stop now; don't want to be over-BEYERING.

Green Hornet
 
you can mix with CERTAIN kinds of headphones if you even have a fairly decent set of speakers, you know like those 25 dollar each radioshack things.

You might even get a better mix when checking through those certain headphones, because they have better tone control than most monitors.

the reason you need a pair of monitors is that if you try and do any stereo work inside of headphones, it will sound really messy and mushy when you play it back on a deck.

but, when you get your self a Stax Lambda Nova headphone with tube amp or a grado rs2, then it is already more expensive than the studio monitors that you could have got.
the stax lambda nova cost $1500 and I have seen staxes for $6000.

but rest assured that if you mix in mono on these, its like mixing with nearfields on steriods, and then you can check you panning and stuff(bass that hits you only in the chest) etc) on your speakers.
 
all speakers will sound different depending on the room you listen to them in,so headphone mixes have that one advantage(i don't know if there is much more?)the only mix that is unaffected buy the room.just straight to yer ears and the space between 'em.the green hornet amongst others have some crucial points.though,"it can be done",it just gets weird with stereo panning.i know that you pan things all "trippy"sounding in the cans,or some like cool concept,will sound terrible on a common home stereo.voices tend to come out weird too.and as always,the bass response will be so non-existent mostly, that you will mix in too much typically.otherwise it's definitely a "trial and error" or "learn by mistakes" kind of thing that most need to go through.i am glad that i have made the discoveries i did by doing things that"you weren't supposed to".



not that i am like some expert, or any seasoned veteran engineer/producer in fact when i read most the forums here, i realize how much of a student/beginner/amatuer/schoolboy i really am with the"studio".but,hey it's a f**king blast i read everyday and walk away from this learning so much!!!good luck!!!
 
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