Mixing on Headphones: Love it, hate it? 🎧

[processaudio]

Hey everyone,
Curious to know how many of you actually mix on headphones, not just check, but really mix.

We just released a new free article about it, inspired by a classic Fab Dupont & Andrew Scheps conversation on Puremix:

Free article: https://www.puremix.com/blog/mixing-with-headphones
Free video: https://www.puremix.com/library/tutoria ... headphones

They both admit: it’s tricky.
No room acoustics, exaggerated stereo image, bass translation headaches... but also total consistency anywhere you work.

So, what’s your take?
Do you mix mainly on headphones?
Any favorite models or correction plugins?
Do your mixes translate well, or do you always double-check on speakers?

Would love to hear how you handle this.

The Puremix Team

[mixyguy2]

Why anyone would mix mainly/entirely on headphones (other than having no choice for whatever reason) I can't imagine. For me it's a secondary thing which can help find things you don't catch on speakers, but that's it...and done with open-back headphones.

[Uncle E]

100% VSX. For me, it's better than all the Focal, PMC, Tannoy, Yamaha, KRK, Mackie, JBL, etc. monitors I've gone through. Mixing has never been easier.

[mixyguy2]

100% VSX. For me, it's better than all the Focal, PMC, Tannoy, Yamaha, KRK, Mackie, JBL, etc. monitors I've gone through. Mixing has never been easier.

To translate: apparently this is what you're talking about? https://stevenslateaudio.com/en/vsx

[cryophonik]

100% VSX. For me, it's better than all the Focal, PMC, Tannoy, Yamaha, KRK, Mackie, JBL, etc. monitors I've gone through. Mixing has never been easier.

To translate: apparently this is what you're talking about
https://stevenslateaudio.com/en/vsx

Yup

[zerocrossing]

What I’ve learned about monitoring is that as long as you have a good quality solution, what matters most is how familiar you are with it. Also, keep in mind that your music will most likely be listened to on earbuds. Listen to your mix on a variety of devices, but give yourself some time in between to reset.

[cdbaksu]

I mix exclusively on headphones. I love how my Focal Bathys sound, no correction software.

Can't even imagine wanting to mix on speakers without a serious investment in room treatment as well as the gear itself.

I understand that the 'norm' is to mix on speakers, but now-a-days it's just not viable anymore; just like using an actual SSL console instead of the plugin. Even more so if one's traveling for work.

[zerocrossing]

I mix exclusively on headphones. I love how my Focal Bathys sound, no correction software.

Can't even imagine wanting to mix on speakers without a serious investment in room treatment as well as the gear itself.

I understand that the 'norm' is to mix on speakers, but now-a-days it's just not viable anymore; just like using an actual SSL console instead of the plugin. Even more so if one's traveling for work.

When we moved to where we are now, I claimed a spare bedroom for my studio, but it quickly became apparent that my wife needed it a lot more, as her work involves a ton of meetings and phone calls. So I swapped with her, and it's been working out well.

It wouldn't be impossible for me to treat my room, but it would mean building a full wall, which would be costly if I was to make it look nice. I've got monitors that I like but I'd have to buy some bass traps, wall treatments, etc. Mostly, I haven't done it because it just doesn't seem to be necessary. I'm not running a commercially rented out studio space.

[mixyguy2]

keep in mind that your music will most likely be listened to on earbuds.

Speak for yourself. May be true for some, but hardly all.

[zerocrossing]

keep in mind that your music will most likely be listened to on earbuds.

Speak for yourself. May be true for some, but hardly all.

True, most likely your music won't be listened to by anyone but you.

[Scrubbing Monkeys]

Love it or hate it ....I mix only on HP. I got used to it and now my mixes are better than ever. I use ...

AKG K240 studio
Tonebooster Isone and Morphit together.

[mixyguy2]

True, most likely your music won't be listened to by anyone but you.

aw - are you in time out or something, and that's why you had to spit at me? Or do your panties always get so easily in a twist when someone points out that there is a world and reality beyond what you are capable of perceiving?

Not everyone listens to music on ear buds, and of those who do, many listen in other ways as well. How sad that you are unable or unwilling to grasp that obvious fact.

[Uncle E]

It doesn’t matter anymore. The technology is mature enough that headphones are more accurate than 95% of studios. If you have the resources to get yourself into that top 5% tier, more power to you, but all the owens-corning in the world never got me there.

[lfm]

100% VSX. For me, it's better than all the Focal, PMC, Tannoy, Yamaha, KRK, Mackie, JBL, etc. monitors I've gone through. Mixing has never been easier.

To translate: apparently this is what you're talking about? https://stevenslateaudio.com/en/vsx

The idea to also supply the hardware for listening seems brilliant.

Focusrite VRM box did an attempt, but no headphones supplied with it. You had phones connector on the box, but did not really go deep into phones and basically said HD280 Pro would suffice. So electronics did not have proper voltages inside or anything to driver higher quality phones.
- think it's discontinued by now

I've been intrigued by placing sound sources from any spot in a room that feels real.
- like projecting a sound source being straing in front of your nose maybe 1m away

I found no software that do this properly
- it's the "phones syndrom" as I call it, an increased reverb will extend up your forehead, not in front of you.
- with "surround" spatial processing I think it should be possible

I tried Wavearts Panorama to play around with does nothing to position anywhere.
- just the usual headmodel thing how one ear is obscured in certain angles
https://wavearts.com/products/plugins/panorama-7
- cool in many respects but does not do "in front of your nose" kind of thing
- the further away, goes more upwards through forehead

What about VSX software, does it do that you feel you are in a room with speakers in front of you?

You can place an audio source anywhere in a room you are, and you hear where it is coming from.
- this is the challenge
- you don't hear it up through your forehead like through phones
- you hear it's at level where you sit and similar

Looking into surround a couple of years ago I found a lot of demos, many from games and such.

A couple of samples I found then

[Benedict]

I NEVER mix in cans. I avoid cans at every possible opportunity as they provide a very false sense of reality. And no, I do not believe that any sort of 'intervention' will sort that. I discuss that here:


I did mixes in real time when doing reviews etc for Higher Hz and comparing those mixes against real work was never flattering. I was obliged to say that gear x was as good as what I usually used, but honestly those mixes were artless at best. To be fair, I was rushing and talking at the same time which deffo takes away the real Art of the situation.

- - -

Love it or hate it ....I mix only on HP. I got used to it and now my mixes are better than ever. I use ...

AKG K240 studio
Tonebooster Isone and Morphit together.

Great to have the opportunity to see that said and go hear the results - I am not sure about before after so just listening to "Bubbles".

Oh now I note this is 5+ years old so I am probably hearing "before" anyway. And I was thinking this sounds like headphones. Nice mixes - in that I can hear what you are doing very clearly. Buuut the highs are too sharp and the overall space is kooky. I quite like the music and the mix is not off-putting as such, just a part of the experience as it is all a bit sideways by choice.