JimmyS1969
MOODerator
Most of my mixing are done on headphones, before I'm done with the mix step I make some adjustments (if necessary) using my monitors. Then in mastering I usually start with headphones for a quick ballpark, then back to the monitors for the final say.
Common theme here... monitors aren't used most of the time, but they are used as the critical reference point before anything is considered final.
I mostly fell into this method of mixing/mastering because I can't always use my monitors when I want [shared house, time of day, etc].
You need to get good at knowing your headphones as others have mentioned. I adjust partly based on what I know the track/mix will sound like on the monitors, not relying solely on what the headphones are telling me. I can get things sounding pretty close to 'done' with just headphones now, after a lot of practice.
Luckily I don't have time limitations. I couldn't imagine mixing on headphones myself. I hate the fact that I have to wear headphones while tracking vocals in my control room. I just hate things on my ears period... Ears get fatigued quickly with headphones. That just me tho. I am in process of treating a vocal room so I don't have to do that anymore...
Oddly, I find that I need to press them against my head tight to hear the low end in a mix that sounds fine in my monitors. Maybe it just me. but low end needs to move air for it to feel right to me. It never works out right with headphones. I will check mixes with the monitors/sub on while listening for details.
Props to you Pinky for being able to mix with headphones. I surely would go nuts if I had to do that. I probably wouldn't record bands if I had to use phones most of the time.