Has the Mixing-With-Headphones question been decided here?

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Eleanor Fudd

Eleanor Fudd

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On some forums, such a thing is forbidden to talk about. Oh others, it seems to be how things are done. Eh?
The same might be asked of Recording-With-Headphones.
 
Why would mixing with headphones be a forbidden topic? It's simply a second reference point, no different that taking it out to the car to listen there, or to the home theatre room. As for recording with headphones, if I'm doing everything, then that's the only way to work. If I'm playing live and recording, headphones aren't necessary since you're listening to the other players.
 
It's pretty well known that there are drawbacks to mixing in headphones that don't apply to mixing on speakers (phase, fatigue, etc)

Historically, the response to the question "what are the best mixing headphones" here has been "that's the wrong question" because of this. Your primary mix reference should be the most-accurate possible system available to you, and very rarely will that be headphones.

But as to recording on headphones, that has never been disputed. If there's a live microphone involved, headphones are the best solution to limit bleed.
 
After 40 years, I'm coming around to questioning some of the things I was taught, learnt myself and even taught to others. Over the past five years or so I have listened to music more frequently on headphones than ever before. Headphone don't do stereo like speakers do. I think most people can work this out, but lots of my jobs, and even the hobby side are recordings of real musicians in a space. For me it might be jazz bands, small orchestras, choirs, brass bands - that kind of thing. Forever, I have banged on about the differences between X/Y, A/B and then later Blumlein and Decca Trees - with or without outriggers. I've come to the conclusion that headphones do make it possible to create the 'hole in the middle' people talk about all the time, but most times on location I do not have speakers, in the rehearsals I have sealed headphones (DT100's which many hate). When I am back in the studio, very rarely have I noticed any issues.

When I'm doing other kinds of music, I actually get better results with headphones - more clarity, and more separation. With practice, I can pan and adjust reverb depths pretty well now, so the mixes are fine on speakers too.

It's taken me a long time to realise all the doom and gloom stuff I even promoted years ago has nowhere near the impact I thought it did. Poor mixes, poor EQ and putting things in the wrong place are far more destructive than the speakers vs headphones thing. Perhaps I just wasn't as familiar with headphone mixing? Some of my stuff has been done on headphones and I cannot remember which is which - and I certainly cannot tell from listening. We just get told this, believe it - perhaps even using a bad mix as evidence (when it was just a bad mix) . I've stopped using this 'rule' - it doesn't seem to apply any longer?
 
The answer is, if you get the results you are wanting, then that is the best way to get there.
 
These days, it probably depends a lot on the specific genre, and, to some degree, the "channel" for music delivery. I'd think that if you're recording sparse instrumentals or classical/jazz combo-ish stuff that have a real "soundstage" you want to [re-]create, not using speakers might open more room for mistakes. And, knowing that some non-insignificant percentage of folks will be listening to non-lossy or at least high-quality lossy recordings on speakers would be a good indicator, if that can be determined... But, headphones, both as mixing tools and primary listening devices, have probably overtaken serious listening on speakers in the real world.
 
In headphones, you will tend to mix center panned elements (above ~300 Hz) a bit hotter (relative to elements panned to the sides) than you would on properly set up speakers. Whether that's bad is a matter of opinion.
 
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Eleanor Fudd said:
On some forums, such a thing is forbidden to talk about. Oh others, it seems to be how things are done. Eh?
The same might be asked of Recording-With-Headphones.
Click to expand...
no matter where you go,
the answer is almost always the same.


poll what most of the pros do.
there is your answer.
 
60's guy said:
Gonzo, do you remember Blubear and his opinions about mixing with headphones?

Click to expand...
no 60's, i don't, i'm not surprised people have strong opinions about it, tho.

me, i know that mixing in headphones does not work for me.
i will use headphones after my mixes are done, to do surgical work, small edits, and make sure it does translate in stereo and mono using the headphones.
i love listening to music in headphones,
but they can really lead you astray with low end issues.

some pros work with headphones during tracking,
but most always fall back to mixing in a proper room with proper monitors,
and they do this for good reasons.
 
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