Headphones vs. Monitors

[Fhangor]

Can anyone tell me, what is the better method: mixing via headphones versa mixing via monitors?

Thanx for responding

[JumpingJackFlash]

Can anyone tell me, what is the better method: mixing via headphones versa mixing via monitors?

Mixing on monitors is usually the preferred method, because they are generally more accurate.

The exception to this is if you have a very bad room, acoustically. In that case, the room colours the sound far too much, and so mixing on headphones becomes more accurate. (Also, a very expensive pair of headphones would probably be better than a very cheap pair of monitors).

Headphones are not usually regarded as good for mixing on because:
1) Only the very expensive ones can handle the bass frequencies well, and even then, never as good as a decent pair of monitors
2) Headphones give you an over-exaggerated stereo panorama; - 180° as opposed to something like 120°.

But, the best advice is to try your mix on both! - It's always a good idea to get it to sound good on as many different systems as possible.

[camsr]

I find my mixes come out better on headphones. I got fed up with crappy room acoustics so I got a nice pair and they do handle bass really well. I just made a mix yesterday and its the best I've made in a very long time! But the stereo width is a huge difference between monitors and cans, and a track mixed on one will sound wider or narrower on the other. Definately mix on both as jumpinjackflash said.

[Fhangor]

Aha! that's the difference: stereo! I really want to know, why there is such a difference...

[zircon]

I personally do all of my mixing on headphones. While yes, it can be tough to adjust to the stereo and frequency response of cans, they ARE highly detailed and your room acoustics will never screw up your impression of the sound. Neither will your positioning, or the relative positions of the monitors. In fact I've done broadcast mixes on headphones that cost $50 with no other reference available.

[Fhangor]

Hm. If room is making such difference: there are so many constellations. How ever you can get the real best mix ever! You can't make it for all rooms available...

[camsr]

Aha! that's the difference: stereo! I really want to know, why there is such a difference...

Just like he said, headphones put the true sound source at 180º while a proper monitor setup will be at 60º. You have to seperate more to get the same image on monitors than on headphones, and seperate less to get the same image on monitors.

[zircon]

Hm. If room is making such difference: there are so many constellations. How ever you can get the real best mix ever! You can't make it for all rooms available...

Well, the ideal is to have an acoustically treated, specially designed room (like many mastering and recording studios) with several sets of monitors. By testing on multiple monitors, in a proper room, you can get the most "true" picture of the sound. A good engineer and/or producer with a true picture of the sound will make the best mix possible - eg. it will sound good in as many situations as possible.

[Fhangor]

I see. You'll never will fit all speakers arrangements. You only can get a good result by testing in several conditions to get a fine avarage. Isn't it like life is?

[dhanjit]

http://www.refinedaudiometrics.com/products-hdphx.shtml

[Lusamars]

http://www.ultrasone.com/htdocs/08_fram ... _index.php

Amazing. I have the 2500 open and i'm very impressed with the freq responce and clarity.

[frz]

I think that is better to mix on monitors "you really know well". I prefer monitors because even with the best headphones i don't have the depht of the sound (which is my main reference for volume relations). and I have to mix on my monitors because I've listened to so much music through em I can compensate for whatever.
If I have to mix with monitors I don't know I try to get used to them as quick as possible using one a reference cd (like something I mixed before or floyd's "run like hell" - hehe listened 1000s times) Then i double check the mix with headphones and in mono, trying to make the three sound as consistent as possible.

But basically one can adapt to everything I guess, the trick is using always a reference you listen a lot of music from and you are really used to, to continuosly compare your mixes. And if you have high quality reference the less guessing you have to do.

cheers

[Toxikator]

It's better to mix on headphones, TECHNICALLY, since if both the headphones and speakers in question have the same frequency response you get a more accurate audio image from headphones (less crosstalk, outside noise, and the breaks and pops that would usually pass the monitors become more apparent at close proximity and low SPLs.)

Problems arise in that headphones don't get as good frequency response (usually), they can be physically constraining (in particular if you have multiple people listening in, etc.), and they can be very fatiguing on the ears (if you listen at length, anyway).

I notice a lot of people discussing the "exaggerated stereo image", but when you really think about it the number one audio listening source in this day and age is probably going to be portable audio w/ headphones. then probably the car after that, then home stereo.

So I'd argue a bad headphone image is a bad image in general.

[jebudas]

If you pan a snare far left, and listen on headphones...
your right ear doesnt hear the snare.

On monitors, it does.

[Toxikator]

Exactly. Isn't that technically wrong?

Though it ought to be, with proper speaker setup in a proper room, to be a very minimal effect.