Mixing advice? Speakers(monitors) vs headphones

What’s up iLLiens,

I need some direction on how to mix for playing music on speakers.

I have been having issues finding a way to mix my beats so that they sound like they do in my headphones. They sound hollow; like they don’t have the full sound I hear on my headphones.

Is there a way to mix a song without speakers?

What are some speaker(monitors) that you guys would suggest for getting the sounds to match from headphones to monitor? Any threads on here for this question?

Thanks!

Anton6 said:

What’s up iLLiens,

I need some direction on how to mix for playing music on speakers.

I have been having issues finding a way to mix my beats so that they sound like they do in my headphones. They sound hollow; like they don’t have the full sound I hear on my headphones.

Is there a way to mix a song without speakers?

What are some speaker(monitors) that you guys would suggest for getting the sounds to match from headphones to monitor? Any threads on here for this question?

Thanks!

Click to expand...

As for myself I would never mix with headphones. 90% of the time mixing in headphones are slightly incorrect as far as sound quality. I mixed with M Audio BX5 before and Yahama HS8 (as of today) but its really up to you. You can't go wrong with monitors

Anton6 said:

What’s up iLLiens,

I need some direction on how to mix for playing music on speakers.

I have been having issues finding a way to mix my beats so that they sound like they do in my headphones. They sound hollow; like they don’t have the full sound I hear on my headphones.

Is there a way to mix a song without speakers?

What are some speaker(monitors) that you guys would suggest for getting the sounds to match from headphones to monitor? Any threads on here for this question?

Thanks!

Click to expand...

What @K-waz said. I'd only check the stereo image on headphones...

But if your mixes sound hollow every time, it may have to do with room treatment and the way how your monitors are positioned in the room.

Going to need a better description of "hollow"

When you listen to commercial tracks in your headphone and then on your speakers... do they also sound hollow?

If your mixes sound hollow on your speakers, but commercial mixes sound fine then;
- it's either a problem with your headphone response
- a problem with your mixing

If you find your mixes always lacking or heavy in xyz frequency, then you may need to be sure to under/overcomplicated in your mix.

Speakers(monitors) will also likely bring with them their own problem as you will get room tone issues.

If commercial mixes also sound 'hollow' compared to your headphones, this could either be;
- issue with your speakers freq response
- issue with your room

If its an issue with your room, doesn't matter what speakers you get.

Ultimately you need to learn your room and learn your playback devices.

If your headphones are the issue I think is it sonarworks (or similar software) Can seek to create a flat freq response.


Personally I've always advocated for mixing on speakers... but Slate VSX headphones have been a massive game changer in terms of translation - you will be able to solve this hollow issue by jumping around different rooms on vsx (assuming it's not an issue with your room or device.)

Feel free to ask more advice regarding this

Soooo...

...I'm defintely the contrarian here, as I do everything, including mixing in headphones. I don't claim to have the best mixes, but they're not trash. I do have a decent pair of studio headphones (Sennheiser HD 600) which I think helps.

While I do have a pair of cheap monitors (IK Multimedia MicroLouds) I don't really use them as I live in a condo with thin walls. What think the key is, is knoqing your A/B differences, While I do everything in my Sennheisers, I still make sure to listen to the boubce with my AirPods, Sony soundbar, and of course me car.

I think once you know how a mix move acts in several listening environments, you can get pretty decent mixes in headphones. That being said, that;s also dependant on:

consistently making the same type of music
using the same instruments
deep understanding of your plug-ins and EQ settings

The key to getting best results no matter what you are using for monitoring is using reference tracks. Understanding how professionally mixed and mastered songs sound on what you are using gives you something to aim for. You might not nail it given the limitations of your monitoring choice, but it at least gives you something to a/b with and compare, and get you on the right track.