Headphones, the BIG NO-NO!!!!!!

  • Thread starter Thread starter little z
  • Start date Start date
L

little z

New member
Hey guys,
I have a question that I just knoooooow yall are gonna love!!!!! LOL I want to know what methods, if any are known, could I use to get the best mixdown through headphones. I know, I know, I know..... I can hear all of you gasp for air and grab your foreheads, but I am, as always, working with limited funds, as well as currently living in an apartment and wish to keep at peace with the neighbors, HaHa!! I just can't seem to get that edge or punch out of my mix and cannot help but think that there might just be a mixing problem. I always hear the bass fine through the cans when I mix, but when I listen to it after it's on tape, the bass seems to have disappeared!!! I have heard all the bad press about trying to mix through phones but I have also heard a few good things, like in Recording Magazine. I really hope you guys can lend me some advice on this one. See ya!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Little Z
 
Your headphones might be exaggerating the bass, causing you to mix too light on the bass. If you boost the bass in your mixes, then it will hard to properly mix the other elements in the mix. Try a different set of headphones if you can, but you already know you need some good monitors, so I won't bring that up !
 
I have modest (Event PS-5) monitors and not the best space for listening. What I find myself doing more and more is listening at various volumes through the monitors, listening through my headphones, listening to the .wav file throught my computer speakers, burning a CD and listening to it through my stereo and/or walkman, converting it to MP3 to see how that sounds, etc. etc., and going back and adjusting the mix. If I don't end up putting my fist through the wall first, I end up with a mix that sounds reasonably good in the media in which people actually hear it.
 
This advice is for any situation, be it headphones or monitors. Take some CD's that you like, something you consider to be a good mix. and spend some time listening carefully to them. If your using a PC or MAC, get a ripping program to directly transfer the CD onto your hard drive. Don't record it through your sound card. If you do, you won't know how your AD-DA converters have handled the tracks. I wouldn't even think about tweeking knobs or pointin' and clickin' untill your familiar with your phones/monitors. If you "teach" your ears what the phones should sound like, all you have to do is make your stuff sound the same!
 
You don't need to bug your neighbors while mixing, I mix a very low levels, in my studio. I mean really quiet... almost like Muzak going in the background when your at the grocery store. You will find, you'll hear more stuff that isn't sitting right.. (level-wise) this way... (Although If you get too quiet, the bass will monitor incorrectly and will not be right in the mix, as you compensate)
 
Ahha, Tooshay!!!!!

Thank you for the info, VOXVENDER!!!! I never knew that you could turn it down to a low level, or lower level, while mixing. It has always been my experience that the volume should be kinda pumped when mixing down, but I very much agree with you and think that more could be heard with the volume at a lower notch. Thanks a bunch!!!!!!! Little Z
 
Boredom sucks, so here's Voxvender rambling on a bit more

Nine times out of ten, thats how I can find a good level for vocals... once you turn it down enough, you will notice the music fading in the distance, yet the vocal is still hot, live and upfront then you'd know to kill 'em a little, unless you like 'em hot...It very hard to single things like this out, when the music is pumping. A standard rock song takes 1-2 hours to mix, and if the sound is too hot, slowly during that time period, your ears are slowly fizzling (you know the rock concert effect... Deaf by the end of it).....................So by the time your almost done the mix your fuckin' ears are shot and you start compensating with eq and over-exagerating everything.........This method, may not be everyones piece of cake, but works for me and a few others I know of........Im sitting here bored, so thought I would elaborate a bit more on this subject..
 
yes, watch out

I've seen sonusman say, "turn those puppies up" to best hear what's going on. And John Sayers said that he likes to turn it up and then walk all around and into the next room to get perspectives on the sound. I've found that really helpful. I bet the neighbors could stand at least 15 minutes or so on a weekend afternoon.
 
Vox.......

Thats exactly what I was trying to say in the end of one of my above posts, When I mentioned about compensating if it's too quiet...There is a fine line to the level....... I didn't know how to put it in words Vox.. you said it!
 
I've done a lot of mixing in headphones, using a variety of headphones. Nothing I'd every release. The mixes usualy sound much worse when played back on run-of-the-mill speakers. Having said that I do a number of things that have improved the situation a lot.

1) There are headphones that attempt to reproduce the equilization curve of speakers in a diffuse field. I use K240DFs, and they seem to get me better results than "flat" headphones.

2) I have the luxury of time so I stop often to listen to reference material (CDs I like and think are well produced) often. It helps compensate for the fact that I'm mixing in headphones.

3) I definitely mix in mono first and get levels right before worrying about placing things in the sterio field. The improved stereo seperation that headphones give you make it much harder to tell when something is burried in the mix.

4) I think it helps to listen to the mix at very low levels as well as normal. Low levels tend to make high and low frequencies harder to hear so if you can get a mix that sounds good at both lower and higher levels it can only improve the end result.

Of course, I'm just an amature so take everything i say with a grain of salt.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top