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Probably its been discussed a hundred times, but when I mix on headphones, particularly with m-audio - pro-tools, the music sounds perfect. Then, I can never get the same sound with any of the speakers I have.

I have heard that you should never mix with headphones - so how can I get my speaker sound to match the headphone sound?

Doug

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I personally have no idea how my recordings sound on regular speakers because all I have is my laptop and the speakers are already terrible. So everything I mix is done with headphones anyway =/


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Doug,

I have had the same experience. I think the headphones tend to make everything audible and compress or flatten out the differences in volume. You can hear something that is very faint, and something that is very loud does not seem too loud.

Also, only the better headphones provide even frequency response. Poor headphones will emphasize certain frequency ranges and de-emphasize others which throws off your mix.

When you listen on speakers, the advantage of headphones is gone and you have to mix more carefully. So you can get a mix started with headphones but at some point you have to switch to speakers and balance everything accordingly.



Colin

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It is a fact of life. The cheapest headphones can sound much, much better than a expensive set of speakers. Hard to believe but it's true. Designing speakers is a difficult task at best even today. While most speaker designs are already being used and have been for many years there are factors that speakers have to overcome such as a room enviroment. I have heard expensive speakers that were superior to more modest speakers actualy sound worse than the modest ones. Speaker Specs may look good on paper, but to the ear, not so good.


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Doug,

Headphones add color to the sound, they don't give you a "flat" sound. Beside that, the sounds people are used to, the ones that are on the hits, have all been mixed on a combination of large room speakers and smaller nearfield speakers, all done in a room that's been treated for sound. If you want recordings that are similar, you've got to do what you can to approximate that.

If someone simply cannot mix on speakers, for whatever reason, then I'd recommend having comparison tracks ready. A favorite hit song that you want your project song to sound like. While mixing, switch back and forth once in a while and try to get your mixes to match it. That still won't cure some of the problems with mixing to headphones, but it might get you in the ballpark. Bottom line is, pro mixes aren't done with headphones.


You've got to know your limitations. I don't know what your limitations are. I found out what mine were when I was twelve. I found out that there weren't too many limitations, if I did it my way. -Johnny Cash

It's only music.
-niteshift

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Thanks for the responses guys.

Andrew, if you have not heard your songs on speakers, you are going to be surprised when you do.

Thanks Colin, I also use Audacity, like you do. I wish there was a software program add on that would change your headphones to sound like a good set of mixing speakers.

I agree Ray. My best computer speakers sound great on some kinds of music (hip hop or pop usually). They have huge woofers, but I can't adjust those woofers, so they are almost worthless for mixing.

I think I am going to try your idea Mike, using duals speaker sets with regular computer speakers on the computer and remote (large room) ones away from it. My recording room is abouit 30 by 40.

Doug


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It is all about ears......and using speakers that do not add to or take away from the sounds you have produced........once you have a final mix you have to try it through many different speakers to see how it sounds played on different systems. A reference track is a great idea. You have a track that has been mastered by a top pro and use that as a reference or comparison with what you have produced.

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I have not used a reference track before. Is that one that you yourself have developed or couldn't it be any track that you know sounds radio ready.


Doug

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A reference track is usually a song by one of your favorite artists that your current song is close in style to. If I was going to mix a song that was sort of like a Counting Crows tune (on headphones or speakers), I would listen to parts of my song and then listen to parts of the counting crows tune.

It still is difficult -- I think experience is required to mix correctly (the old "10,000 hours until you really learn to be good at anything" type of thing!).


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Thanks Kevin

I thought that was how it might work, and guess I've accidentally done something like that.

It's good to know I only have about 9000 more hours to go on the mixing thing!

Doug

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I am a great believer in having a natural gift of a good ear rather than trying to learn to have an ear....Kevin's point about 10,000 hours is OK but some people have 1 hours listening experience 10,000 times. In other words some people just do not have it and probably will never learn it no matter how much time they spend listening at a console.
I heard a tale about a sound engineer guy who worked in Abbey Road. Now the guy knew how to set up and work everything to a great degree technically .....but he had no ear or natural aptitude for music. He had no rythmn and no clue about listening to balances... he always set levels and mixed by watching meters and looking at slider levels never by using his ears. They were so suspect he had to be constantly told to alter settings and balances as his settings by numbers were so often off kilter.
Now another guy had very little idea about the technical side of things but boy he could sure adjust gains and mixes till they sounded great......the two guys were one hell of a team as they knew each others srengths and weaknesses and used them to the fullest.

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I like to draw from reference tracks/favorite influences. Even with eighties synth pop there is something that makes it less convoluted with a flat recording.
Verve though seems to be the hardest part to capture.
How many feel better with what they did not record?
Left, right, normalize, panning subtleties. Sometimes certain things are just meant to work (or not) work.

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Originally Posted by Doug Buche
I wish there was a software program add on that would change your headphones to sound like a good set of mixing speakers.



Focusrite kind of answered your wish a few months ago although it is hardware rather than software...

http://www.focusrite.com/products/vrm/vrm_box/

There is also a software only attempt at

http://www.supremepiano.com/product/head.htm

James.


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Thanks Big Jim and R&M. What you said made sense.

Also, James, those sites seem a little too good to be true, but I am going to check out both.

Doug.

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I looked em up James and the ads look very good.

The software solutions looks like its only about $20.00, but I could not find how much the VRM BOX was selling for.

Have you tried either one. Its pretty exciting, if they work.

Doug

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different speakers different sound,a pain in the ass i know.I like to get the mix down then throw it in the car stereo or house stereo,give it that test,that's what 99% of the people are going to listen to it through anyway.If it sounds great through those systems,then ya got it.

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Back in the 70's I was recording to cassettes through headphones. I learned a valuable lesson then. I was really proud of some tracks I laid down and took them to work to let some friends listen to them. When they started to play i had to shut the boombox off it sounded so bad. I made an excuse that I grabbed the wrong tape.

So I listened to it that evening through the headphones first, it sounded great to me, then i loaded it into a boombox and about threw-up. What a difference.

So now everything goes through a cheap set of speakers first before anyone else gets to hear it.

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Doug, I've got VRM on my Focusrite interface. But here's the thing...what sounds good mixed in one "virtual room" sounds a bit odd in another, and I think that VRM might confuse the hell out of you, like it does to me.

Still, it's a better alternative to mixing in an untreated room with plain speakers, which also gives us false sound information as we mix and ends up sounding different elsewhere.

Here's my inexpensive suggestion: a pair of Audio Technica ATH M50 headphones. They can be found new for anywhere from $85 to $150 (I suggest $85), and have a very flat response. Since using these, I've been much closer to what I intend, and when I pop the CD in my car or on a stereo, it translates pretty much the same way.

The ideal way is to treat your room with expensive materials and buy two or three sets of terrific monitors that cost as much as a small car. But for my purposes, those headphones rocked my mixes.

Good luck!

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Thanks Rick, I think I have had that same experience.

Thanks Michael and Mark also for the feedback.

I have noticed my best mixes do sound right in a car with bose speakers. I was going to ask what headphones someone would suggest, so I might be looking for the Audio Technica ones you suggested Mark. I used a similar microphone of theirs for years and it was good quality for the money.

Doug


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Just a note on headphones...there is a big difference in the sound between normal or DJ type headphones and pro quality closed back monitoring headphones. The normal or DJ type usually add colour or bass..whilst the monitoring ones should add or take away nothing. I am also a fan of Audia Technica mics and use similar headphones to the ones Mark suggests. Other good makes are AKG and Sennheiser

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Originally Posted by Doug Buche
I was going to ask what headphones someone would suggest...



I use Beyer DT250's and Sennheiser HD25SP's. The Sennheiser seems to sound more 'hifi' but both are usable if you don't have speakers. They're also both designed to stand up to the rigours of studio life.

James.


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Originally Posted by Doug Buche
I was going to ask what headphones someone would suggest


I have the Sony MDR7506 which is ubiquitous and top quality.

A cheap alternative that still sounds good is the Koss R/80. It does not seal in sound while tracking as well as the Sony however.


Colin

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I just got the ATH-M40fs headphones today ($49). I couldn't find the ATH M50 headphones that Mark recommended for under $140. I tried the M40fs out briefly and a prior mix of mine (red fire truck) sounded a little tinny -- it will take some getting used to the sound. I have a decent set of computer speakers to do some listening -- but no real monitors. The fs stands for "flat response", so we will see how well mixes sound on other systems.

At some point in time, I will get some real monitors (and a top notch set of headphones), but for now I will have to make do with what I have.

Kevin

P.S. I now have to set them aside so they can be wrapped and placed under the Christmas tree -- maybe I'll do a switcheroo and slip my older pair in the box!


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The experts have weighed in but I'll throw in my own experience:

(1) Headphones and speakers will never sound the same

(2) It will usually sound better over headphones

I finally broke down and bought a pair of studio monitors to do my final mixes on. If I get it to sound good on those, it usually sounds good on other systems.

Before that, I mixed with headphones and it didn't sound good when I played it on the home or car stereos. So I'd mix it with phones, play it in the living room and car, and make adjustments accordingly. Was a bit of trial and error involved. I wish now I would have asked the same question you did - Mike's suggestion would have saved me quite a few test CD's. smile

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Scott.... a reference track is a great idea as you have a benchmark for comparison.....that said it is never a good idea to mix using just speakers whether headphone or monitors that add ot take away from the sound....to do the job properly you need studio reference speakers or proper studio monitor phones...these tend to cost much more than the standard.....but at the end of the day it is always down to budget and application.....
I am of the opinion that for worktapes and roughs slight deviations from perfect do not matter that much...but for final demos etc it is crucial to get the best mix possible.

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Once you get a pair of decent monitors, you need to ask yourself if you can trust what you hear out of them based on room reflections.

If your room is a terrible monitoring environment, those monitors won't help. A few inexpensive room treatments like home-made bass traps and wall baffles can make an enormous difference...although that is often hard for people to believe. But it's worth reading up about room treatment before investing in good monitors. If you live in a desert, don't buy a boat.

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Originally Posted by BIG JIM MERRILEES
Scott.... a reference track is a great idea as you have a benchmark for comparison.....that said it is never a good idea to mix using just speakers whether headphone or monitors that add ot take away from the sound....to do the job properly you need studio reference speakers or proper studio monitor phones...these tend to cost much more than the standard.....but at the end of the day it is always down to budget and application.....


I can't remember who it was but some guy who did mastering had a big bank of different kinds of speakers that he could switch between on the fly. I thought that was an interesting approach. smile

Scott

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Most studios I have worked in have a similar setup.....they can change the speaker config just to check ALL the frequencies....
Here is a link to my pal Dave Valentine's studio just outside Edinburgh

http://heartbeatstudio.co.uk/index.htm

....you can see the speakers there in the pic and there are others behind the camera...he can control the configuration and isolate certain speakers from the desk controls....it is worth listening to different arrays.....of course it takes good ears first...but ears are no good without great monitors.
Most engineers will tell you that the most important crucial piece of equipment in any studio is the monitors.

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Sometimes it's so late and a mix has to get done so I'll mix with the headphones. However if your used to your gear you can get a close match in mix as with your speakers. All depends on the headphones too.
The reason the AKG 141 headphones are my favorite is because they are like monitors on your head smile They don't add highs' they don't add lows they don't add color they don't add tones. Hey that rhymed kinda.

This popular pair of Sony's that I have add TONS of high end so they sound very bright. Annoying actually but when you get used to high end you start to like it. Especially since High's will disappear the more you listen to music.
Sometimes when playing back a mix with the AKG's I raise the high end on the phones just for play back balance. Other wise I may adjust the mix too bright by mistake compensating for the the lack of high end in the phones.

The BIG key to this is too KNOW your sound, your speakers and and headphones and your room. At least oncve your used to or adjusted to something you will at least be consistent in what your doing. Okay so what if somebody has to adjust there car radio eq a little for your CD, just dont make them adjust every song LOL.

I explain it this way because really technically thinking what the hell are you really gonna do about getting true true true sound smile Get your whole room treated?
Test your mixes on a few systems. Little boom box type radio's that play CD's, CARS!!! people listen in the car...
Pop it in the computer. Your TV's surround system in the dvd player!!

The Ipod as an mp3 with the little headphones etc......

what I could never understand is buying $3,000 dollar speakers with a massive sub woofer and mixing with it. Bass rumbling at your feet. But listening back on a system like that would be cool. Think of today with the kids in the cars and clubs BOOMING!
Sound!

All the best
Mike



Thanks!
Peace Mike
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You nailed it Mike consistency is the key...know your gear and your sound....make every recording to the SAME standard....if it compares to your ref track then it has to be OK.

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Originally Posted by Mike Caro Substudio

The reason the AKG 141 headphones are my favorite is because they are like monitors on your head smile They dont add highs' they dont ass lows they dont add color they dont add tones. Hey that rhymed kinda.

This popular pair of Sony's that I have add TONS of high end so they sound very bright. Annoying actually but when you get used to high end you start to like it. Especially since High's will disappear the more you listen to music.
All the best
Mike



So how do you know which ones are correct?


Colin

I try to critique as if you mean business.....

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I've noticed the huge diff from phones to various speakers just at home with pro music I love, classic rock to classical!!

Sad tho, I turned in a mix in a hurry for a big contest this week, and I *know* the kick drum track sounded very "booming Club" on my phones, but on my laptop speakers & little iHome speakers the MP3 I turned in.... I can't hear the kick drum at ALL & I had it up as high as I could turn it without hitting red and leaving that "head space" but I wanted it to "thump" darn it all. And all I hear is tinny.

Oh well I have no shot of winning anyway, it was just FUN to try. smile and I now have legal possession in WAV format of all 9 tracks to a Queen song - hehe hehe.

But I hate that it sounds tinny.

GREAT IDEA to pop it in the car..... I do that with all new CDs I buy anyway! My best place to listen. Gonna do that!

I was up against the wall for time so had to just cross my fingers. Judges will have major monitors & phones to listen on far better than I'll ever own... So.... Scary!!!

My "studio" phones I mixed with were about $150, Ultrasone S-Logic HFI 450. Anyone have these??? I had a studio experienced friend check them one time & he said they were OK. But I don't know if they are "flattening" or whatever. I just know they pick up more sound than my $35 ear buds for my iPod. Those - still tinny and no kick drum frown

Well .... Great thread Doug. Thx for posting it!!

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PS My Macbook Pro laptop speakers (yay, I got an upgrade this year - almost free too!!) Sound much better than our old Dell or Vaio.... But when I'm here to listen to folks I always put the phones on. Computer speakers are the best test for .... If it still sounds ok on THOSE you may have something down, LOL!!!

Gotta run my mix thru our surround sound system too still. I'm scared what I will hear. Lol. It was past midnight and out of time on deadline when I clicked "Submit" entry so I couldn't wake the whole house up trrying to blast it.... But I didn't think of the CAR!!

Has anyone tried taking their laptop out to plug in and mix in the car?? Is there a simple way to connect the 2 without, as Scott said, burning a whole lot of CDs???

L

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PS Sub, funny funny typo on "they don't add lows" .. ROFL

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Difficult question Doug. You'll never get them to match. Just try to get them good on both (but different).

I use headphones for mixing (AKG K271 MKII), then double check with modest yamaha monitors (MS101 II). Then sometimes I'll listen on the car CD player and a walkman.

John smile

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Yeah I went back and fixed that LOL I don't what made me type ass instead of add. Maybe the word low had something to do with it smile


Thanks!
Peace Mike
Sub

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Which ones are correct?

Well those Sony's are bright compared to everything i ever heard. so I know they are not true to the original sound source. If I mixed with the AKG"S and i take the mix around to different sources like the car, boom box etc... and it's too bright then I know I over compensated for the lack of treble in those phones.

I guess for the most part but just test things out a bit. Also if i keep using the same things it's gets consistent to some degree. If new headphones are in use or new speakers I'm lost all over again.

What i will do to trick myself is, use the flat dull AKG's then with the headphone amp add a little treble to them. This will stop me from making my mix too bright or harsh on the mixing board for each track and therefore overall.

My monitors have always been studio monitors that were flat and basic like the Yamaha NS 10's I never use subwoofers or extra tweeters etc... Nothing to enhance the sound. My mixes ALWAYS 100% sound better OUT of mys studio then in it. Just the opposite or every studio i was ever in back in the day. They would put my song through those massive JBL speakers and your like WOW!
Then you get in your car and you like Huh? Where did it go? smile





Thanks!
Peace Mike
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Yeah the basic thing is that monitors, speakers and headphones color the sound. You can't really match the speakers with the headphones, but you CAN be aware of the differences and compensate systematically.

Many products made specifically for music production also does, but particular items doesn't, and those are the ones you want for mixing.

The desired ones are with a "flat" frequency response, which doesn't add any EQ curves to the sounds. Basically they SHOULD sound as dull and uninteresting as you can stand, as that increases your odds of having your mix sound the same across platforms.

Lots of advice above on great products for that, but an alternative to spending, is to learn what your mixes lack when listening through what you have, and then compensate for it. It's not ideal and somewhat bothersome, but if spending is an issue, adjusting mixes CAN be done like that.

You have to be consistant, and mix either only on the monitors or the earbuds, then take your mix to a couple other speakers (pc speakers and car speakers are good choices, as if the mix sounds good on those, it will sound good on antything). Then listen to the issues on the mix, and go back to fix it. After a while you'll learn that you might need to consequently dip the bass, the highs by some db, so you do it in before bouncing the mix for the reference speakers.

A reference track can also really freshen up your ears again, and help you maintain perspective on your mix, like BJ says.

Be systematic and repeat processes is key. Get flat response gear when you can.

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"Just the opposite or every studio i was ever in back in the day. They would put my song through those massive JBL speakers and your like WOW!
Then you get in your car and you like Huh? Where did it go?" -


Yeah, I remember those days Mike. laugh

John smile

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Yeah when was the last time you saw a kid play music through massive speakers with woofers and tweaters? In my day everyone had great monster hifi systems which made any music sound great....nowadays they use a phone and earbuds....go figure.

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Something to think about if you are mixing on cans. The open back cans will give you a better idea of what's going on than a pair of closed back cans or, especially the noise cancelling type.


Get My Gear Here!

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So, if you are going to present your mix for anything serious DO NOT mix with headphones(as much fun as it is). The Focusrite VRM Box previously mentioned can get you out of a pinch but get some flat monitors and a decently treated room and you are set... Best of luck

Cheers....

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Update on my headphone search.

I ordered the ath-m40fs for $48.87 online at B&H Photo (really good price) but I wasn't sure about them -- a little "tinny". Maybe they are accurate, but I felt I would overcompensate on the bass. So I picked up a pair of Sennheiser HD280 Pro's for $80 locally. They were better, but seem to have a vise grip on the head.

Someone from the biab forum who runs a studio has a one-year old pair of ATH-M50's (lightly used) that he never uses, so he offered to trade straight up for the 40fs'. Since he knew what he was doing, I agreed and just got the 50's in today. I like them, which is good because I am stuck with them (ha, ha).

I don't know if I will keep the 280's or return them -- but it might be nice to have two decent sets of headphones around. I need to get monitors -- but who knows how good they will work in my untreated basement room.

I'll be posting some new mixes in a few days and you all can let me know if I am on the right track or not.

Kevin


"Good science comes in peer reviewed journals. Conspiracy theories come in YouTube videos. "
Kevin @ bandcamp: Crows Say Vee-Eh (and Kevin @50/90 2019)

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