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  4. Mixing with Headphones

  • Mixing with Headphones

    S
    S

    Hi to the forum,

    just read on another site how some people feel it is not a good thing to mix with headphones for various reasons.

    I'm not in a position to mix with stereo monitors due to my close proximity where I live, to others. I have thought that mixing headphones - amd some different names/brands have been recommended to me.

    Is there anyone here who mixes with headphones, and still gets a result they are happy with when they listen through monitors?

    If that is so, can you please let me know the brand of headphone you are using for this?

    thanks for any help with this,

    best regards,

    Steve.
  • C
    C
    Hi Steve,

    One of the issues with using headphones to mix is that you really miss out on the lower frequencies. However, there are advantages of using headphones as you definitely get a more intimate sound and problems/issues with room acoustics are diminished.

    What I do is to mix using my M-Audio BX5a nearfield speakers. I then use the headphones to verify the initial mix (I use the Ultrasone HFI-780 headphones) and then I also use a cheap $20 pair of computer speakers to see what the mix sounds like using crappy speakers. Once I'm happy with the way things sound on all three systems, I know it's time to stop mixing!
  • S
    S

     Hi Corte,

    thanks so much for your reply. I will check out those headphones. I found one way to check out the mix - I just recently purchased a mp3 player - you know, the ones everyone tends to wear while they're walking or exercising with the small ear headphones.

    I suppose if the mix sounds good on these, they should sound Ok on normal speakers, besides, of course, what I would first do as a mix result with good headphones. So, thanks again for your reply. I'll check out those headphones with a Google search!

    best regards,

    Steve [:D]
  • M
    M

    I always had some trouble mixing bass in headphones. I find the Grado headphones give you a good "feeling" for the bass, and a mix done on these usually translates well to speakers.
  • E
    E
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    Hi Steve,

    There is also some software on the market when using headphones in relation to 'the' actual sound on monitors. It may be not the ultimate solution, but you could try out Redline Monitor or Tonebooster Isone.

    I quote: "...a stereo virtual reproduction system and listening room can now be experienced simply using high-quality headphones. The frequency response and the directivity pattern of the loudspeakers can be adjusted. Furthermore, the reverb time and volume of the virtual listening room and the distance to the virtual loudspeakers can be fully customized.."

    It is independent of brand and type of your headphones in a way, so why not give it a try?

    best,
    Erik
  • S
    S

    Hi Martin and Erik,

    '

    thank you both for your replies. The Googling of Grado headphones search gave me lots of links of course, and  these pages:

    http://www.getprice.com.au/buy-best-grado%20headphones.htm?gclid=CIaLzbOjiqkCFQPabgodFU9Tkw

    http://www.grado.com.au/index.html

    I'm guessing that it may be these PS1000s headphones that you are speaking of.

    I've also checked out the plug in's that you mentioned Erik, and they look very interesting. Theres a demo download of one of these, so I am going to try these  out. I'm just wondering Erik about the two plug ins that you have mentioned. In looking quickly at these, it appears that they both do the same thing. Do you own both of these plug ins? Thanks if you can let me know.

    Well, thanks again  Martin and Erik, for helping me out here with your posts and very helpful information. 

    I do appreciate your help and advice with this greatly.

    best,

    Steve [:D]
  • B
    B

    Focusrite also have something called VRM which simulates different speakers for use when mixing on headphones.  You can buy it as part of one of their audio interfaces (Saffire pro 24 DSP) or as a standalone box.  It is very good, and useful when you want to try your mixes on different speaker set ups.
  • S
    S

    Hi Basso,

    thanks for that info. I will look at this software also.

    thanks and best,

    Steve [:)]
  • M
    M

    I'm using the Grado SR-125 myself. They sound great, but are not the best anatomically. The higher end series are much more comfortable.
  • E
    E
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    @Steve Martin said:

    Do you own both of these plug ins? Thanks if you can let me know.

    Hi Steve,

    Indeed I have one: the TB Isone. It is really very cheap and functions quite well.

    I forgot to mention the Focusrite Saffire (see hereabove) with its VRM: great stuff! I use the Saffire PRO 24 DSP as audio interface.

    best,

    Erik
  • S
    S

    Hi Erik,

    thanks so much for the extra info. Great stuff! I will check out the other one you mentioned also.

    best,

    Steve[:D]
  • civilization 3C
    civilization 3C
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    last edited

    @Steve Martin said:

    Is there anyone here who mixes with headphones, and still gets a result they are happy with when they listen through monitors?

    If that is so, can you please let me know the brand of headphone you are using for this?

    I'm happy with my results and I don't get any negative feedback on bass, and I look for and ask for negative feedback. Sennheiser HD-280 Pro.

    In fact, I get quite positive feedback on how spacious and 3-D stereo my mixes are. 
  • S
    S

    Hi Civilization,

    Thanks for your information here. I did check the headphones out on a google search, so I do appreciate your help with this.

    thanks again, and best regards,

    Steve [:D]
  • T
    T
    Hello, everyone, What a coincidence, I was just reading an article on the topic when I found this thread, here it is: http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/jan07/articles/mixingheadphones.htm
  • S
    S

    Hi Tralen,

    thanks kindly for the link!

    best,

    Steve [:D]
  • G
    G
    last edited
    last edited

    @Steve Martin said:

    Hi to the forum,

    just read on another site how some people feel it is not a good thing to mix with headphones for various reasons.

    I'm not in a position to mix with stereo monitors due to my close proximity where I live, to others. I have thought that mixing headphones - amd some different names/brands have been recommended to me.

    Is there anyone here who mixes with headphones, and still gets a result they are happy with when they listen through monitors?

    If that is so, can you please let me know the brand of headphone you are using for this?

    thanks for any help with this,

    best regards,

    Steve.

    Hi Steve,

    this new gadget might be of interest to you: Focusrite VRM Box.

    I've just read an online article about it (which I suppose won't be of use to you, being in German). This functions as a kind of monitor emulator for the headphones and should be able to at least partly compensate for headphones localization issues.
  • S
    S

    Hi Goran,

    thanks so much for the information about this!

    best,

    Steve [:D]
  • S
    S

    I have used Sennheiser HD600 for about a year now and am pleased with the results. They are a bit pricey, but probably worth it. 

    Regards, 

    Stephen W. Beatty
  • S
    S

    Hi Stephen,

    thanks for that info. I will check these out.

    best,

    Steve [:D]
  • S
    S

    Hi Steve, 

    I guess I have been using the HD 600's since 2008 and they have been satisfactory. 

    However, a couple of days ago I bought the Seinheiser HD800 after reading some favorable reviews. These headphones blow away anything I have ever used. They are  expensive but they deliver. The bass is accurate and the mixes sparkle beyond belief with these headphones. I think these really could replace studio monitors.

    Regards,

    Stephen W. Beatty