KVR Audio

AMC2-Andy Clark · Post by **AMC2-Andy Clark** » Wed Mar 07, 2012 12:55 pm

I have Grado SR325's and use them to mix most of the time. Not by choice though as I'm usually producing early in a morning/late at night and have the rest of the household to think about. I've noticed that with a good pair of headphones mixing can get quite close to a finished product. I do a final mix through monitors (HSM80's), then Mains (Gemini DJ Set-up) and finally via an iPod. Generally, I only need to make a few tweaks going from headphones to monitors.

Andy

dek88 · Post by **dek88** » Wed Mar 07, 2012 8:34 pm

the importance about mixing is not really the sonic quality you get from the speakers/headphones you are using, but knowing how it will translate into other setups. if you can do it with your 50$ headphones then why not?

Arglebargle · Post by **Arglebargle** » Wed Mar 07, 2012 8:41 pm

Headphones are useful as a secondary source. I think it's more comfortable to mix on monitors, though. Headphones make my ears fatigued a lot quicker.

ford442 · Post by **ford442** » Wed Mar 07, 2012 9:20 pm

ya - i can't wear any headphones for more than maybe 2 hours.. my ears get raw and mashed.. but, up till now my AKG240 phones probably have the best fidelity in the house, so it can be great to get a proper feel of your mix, panning, bass with quality headphones - you also eliminate your room acoustics..

Jim Rosebrook · Post by **Jim Rosebrook** » Fri Mar 09, 2012 11:54 pm

The Focusrite VRM Box is made to help this situation.

And it really works pretty good. Don't knock it without trying it.

risome · Post by **risome** » Sat Mar 10, 2012 12:15 am

golemus wrote:Is studio monitors really necessary to do professional mixing...?

I mean could you learn to mix with headphones equally well, if you have very high quality head phones?

Maybe with using sound field emulator which moves L and R to where they should belong (30% from mid axis).

It is very appealing if you could do this, because you would spare yourself from all the acoustic problems of studio.

If you think that it is not possible, what are the main reasons? I mean professional headphones frequency spectrum should go pretty low. Is it the impulse response that is the problem?

Of course I think that you should really put a lot of effort into learning your headphones so doing a lot of A/B with different monitoring systems and soundscapes.

Yes monitors are essential for a pro mix as are headphones , think of your headphones as a microscope of listening .
Try to listen to your mixes on as many systems as you can ie car stereo , home stereo, phone etc .You got one chance with a song when you put it out and if there are flaws in the mixing thats what everyone will hear despite how good a track it is
cheers

LukeMornay · Post by **LukeMornay** » Sat Mar 10, 2012 12:30 am

I usually hate headphones, if have to get my ears by sounds for hours, it better sound good, quite happy with the AudiotechnicaATH-M50

musikmachine · Post by **musikmachine** » Sat Mar 10, 2012 12:39 am

Jim Rosebrook wrote:The Focusrite VRM Box is made to help this situation.

And it really works pretty good. Don't knock it without trying it.

I got one and it's a good little headphone amp as well. Not sure about the rooms cause they sound nothing like mine! Good reference though.

Can you learn to do pro mixing with headphones...?