Headphones

[Lomas]

So I'm reading up on articles about mixing, and the more I read the more I want to try it out.

The problem is, right now I have no option but to mix in headphones. I've got monitors but can't use them right now for various reasons.

My question is: Would you recommend practising on headphones, just to learn what reverb, panning and various other effects do to the soundstage, or do you think I should stay away from it alltogether until I can mix with monitors? I'm asking 'cause maybe there's such a difference between the two that I would risk fucking up a lot more once I start on monitors if I have mixed for a while only in headphones.

 

[SouthSIDE Glen]

Go ahead. The worst that can happen is you'll discover just why mixing and translating in headphones alone is such a cold shower. Maybe even get so attuned to translation that when you do move to the real world you'll be translating like a pro.

In the meantime there are some other things to be learned from headphone listening as well, such as critical listening to pan space and image focus, attention to low-level dynamics, etc.

Just don't have super high expectations for the spectral quality of your mixes, they will almost certainly suffer because of the idiosyncracies of inexpensive headphones and headphones in general.

G.

 

[masteringhouse]

Even doctors practice on cadavers. If that's all that you have better than nothing. But I wouldn't hang out my audio engineer shingle until you've had a few years with a good pair of monitors. If it's just stuff for yourself, practice, pratice, practice ...

 

[Lomas]

Yup, thanks!

I wasn't even really planning to do any mixes and listen on anything else than the phones. I just have no skills at all and when reading about EQ and carving out space, it just starts to itch in my fingers to try those things since I've never managed to make instruments have their own space even in headphones.

I just asked 'cause maybe there are certain things that are so different that it could mess with my head so that it would take longer than necessary when I start mixing on monitors.

 

[Robert D]

I just asked 'cause maybe there are certain things that are so different that it could mess with my head so that it would take longer than necessary when I start mixing on monitors.

Naw, it won't wire your neurons permanently. Ususally the mistakes you make when mixing with cans are pretty easily corrected when you put the mix up in the monitors, unless they're really bad headphones. If you can find a good deal on some AKG 240-DF (difuse field) headphones, get them. They put a lot of R&D into making them translate well, and they do.

 

[Lomas]

Cool, I'll look for those!
Thanks!

 

[Keiffer]

before you buy, please take a look at the AKG701 phone. the 701's are about $300. the 701 has a very wide, deep and balanced sound field. read as much as you can on the 701 before deciding.

btw, the 240DF takes a lot of power.

also, you'll probably want to go with Openback phones. 701 is Open... so is the 240DF.

please don't get the Sony 7506 to mix with. they're great phones to check with, but not to mix with.

 

[Robert D]

before you buy, please take a look at the AKG701 phone. the 701's are about $300. the 701 has a very wide, deep and balanced sound field. read as much as you can on the 701 before deciding.
btw, the 240DF takes a lot of power.
also, you'll probably want to go with Openback phones. 701 is Open... so is the 240DF.
please don't get the Sony 7506 to mix with. they're great phones to check with, but not to mix with.

The Audiophile community loves the 701s, and I'm sure they're fantastic for listening. For mixing though, even AKG puts the 240 ahead of the 701. The buzz on Gearsluts (like that matters ) isn't too keen on the 701 for mixing either, saying they sound great, but don't translate very well. This is a lot like audiophile speakers vs. studio monitors. The audiophile speakers are more exciting to listen to, but not the better choice for monitoring. The 600 ohm impedance of the 240DF does make them harder to drive, but that should only be an issue with consumer gear. Wow, 300 hours to break in the 701s till the high end settles down and loses it's edgyness!

 

[Keiffer]

I have both along with quite a few others... I have used 240DF for years... the 240DF doesn't hold a candle to the 701. also, the 240DF is fairly bottom lite.

 

[Brackish]

The Beyerdynamic 770s are often mentioned when
this subject comes up. They are closed back
so you don't bother anyone else.
Beyer also has the 880s and 990s that are
not closed.
If you happen to be trying to mix in an area
that's kind of noisy, like with cars going by
or TV on, the 770M model is high isolation
so you can concentrate.
The 770s are much better for mixing with than
the Sony 7506 ... that I know from firsthand
experience.

 

[dinorocker]

I have used the AKG K240DF for several years now. I completely agree that they translate really well, but there is another factor that is critical to me - comfort. And these gems let me work for hours without fatigue - far longer than I can work with any other headphones.

All things being equal, I rate that as important.

The K240DF were recommended to me by two professional (as in earning their living from) sound engineers in a studio in Europe, and I am really glad I listened to their advice.

The initial effort of overcoming the 600 ohm impedance without colouring the sound along the way was a bitch, but once I got it right (ironically with a small National amp from the last century, dedicated to the job), it was joy all the way.

If they ever die on me, I will certainly buy another pair (if I can get one on the antiques market

 

[ecktronic]

Yous all might laugh, but I use the Sennheiser HD200 headphones.
They may not translate the best, but I have been using them for 3 years now so know how they translate.
Wish I started on a better pair of headphones that were easier to translate to, would prob have saved myself alot of bad mixes, but at the same time I feel like I can translate most semi good monitoring systems now pretty quickly.

Eck