How Headphones Influence Music Production

[DonaldM]

I came across interesting article this morning. I'd be curious to know how you all take headphone listening into account when you mix?

[nsureit]

Headphones are just one of several tools to use. I switch back and forth from monitors, to open-back headphones, to closed-back headphones and even listen on cheap old PC desktop speakers. This gives me a good sense of where my mix is, balance wise.

[albee1952]

Originally Posted by nsureit

Headphones are just one of several tools to use. I switch back and forth from monitors, to open-back headphones, to closed-back headphones and even listen on cheap old PC desktop speakers. This gives me a good sense of where my mix is, balance wise.

This^^^ and especially to check the bottom end as that is very tough to get ironed out in a small mix room(no matter what DSP or other trickery we throw at it)

[DonaldM]

Do you guys think its generally true that most people listen to their music on earbuds and headphones? And if so, how does that affect the way you mix, if at all?



The article mentions that because of earphones, the way vocals are being done has changed too. He gives examples from Selena Gomez and Lana Del Rey of that. Do you think that's the case?

[nednednerb]

Originally Posted by DonaldM

Do you guys think its generally true that most people listen to their music on earbuds and headphones? And if so, how does that affect the way you mix, if at all?



The article mentions that because of earphones, the way vocals are being done has changed too. He gives examples from Selena Gomez and Lana Del Rey of that. Do you think that's the case?

100% where the listening happens should be considered where the mixing happens!

Think of the old vinyl of classical recordings made in 1972. You COULD rip it to MP3 with 2005 MBox AD/DA and play it through 2009 windows laptop speakers, but I am sure the loudness standards the Audio Engineering Society set forth just a few years ago didn't even exist when ANY of that other stuff was made.

Therefore, if you ONLY mix on great sounding speakers with lots of power, you might not have a clue that, for example, your track mixed will be far too quiet to even hear on an iPhone or Android cell phone if the "volume" is set below "7 out of 9" or whatever.

I am on the side of loudness ceasefire lol. I want to have good hearing into the future. I plug my ears when emergency vehicles go by. But I like loud bass, too. So things have to interface as they vary--- that's a big part of this.

[EGS]

I mix on big/medium/tiny speakers plus headphones. I switch between all four while mixing.