monitors vs cans

[Cyrokk]

I'm kinda curious...

A couple years ago I went to a recording studio to make a digital backup of some stuff I did on ADAT.. while I was waiting for them to finish, the engineer was joking with the intern about some guy who decided to mix his entire album exclusively with headphones.. They acted as if that was a real stupid approach to mixing.. But now that I think about it.. I have never heard anyone say NOT to do it that way.. I realize the value of having your mix go through many different speakers and monitors to gain as much a perspective on the mix as possible.. But how badly would someone shoot themselves in the foot if they mixed exclusively through cans?

And taking a step back in the process.. would it hold true that you would want to hear your tracks in different monitors during and after recording?

Cy

 

[Blue Bear Sound]

It WOULD be pretty bad. Monitor mixes translate very easily to headphones. Headphone mixes do not translate AT ALL.... period. Stereo imaging is all messed, relative balances are totally different, even effect levels are different (they tend to be more obvious, so what you think is a good level is really shy of the mark.)

It wouldn't even be practical to learn how to mix with headphones, 'cos it would vary from can to can!

Stick with monitors - makes you life A LOT easier!

Bruce

 

[SPINSTERWUN]

You should DEFINITELY listen to Big Bruce.

I would tell you that you should want to check out your mixdowns on as many different types of speakers, monitors, and environments as possible.

Plus, you have to also remember that headphones are constructed to make music sound good.

They weren't meant for mixing down music.

spin