THE TRUTH... MIXING IN HEADPHONES!

⬇️ CHECK OUT MY FREE DOWNLOADS

🌍 GET 10% OFF STREAKY COURSES & PRESETS!
Use Code: 'YOUTUBE10'

🎛️ GET 10% OFF STREAKY PLUGINS!
Use Code: 'YOUTUBE10'

🔊 20% OFF AT STREAKY STUDIOS
Use Code: thanksforwatching

🎓 Don't Miss A Thing, Subscribe here:

💌 JOIN MY SATURDAY TIPS NEWSLETTER!

WHO AM I:

[svengali]

I've mixed and master songs on Shure 240A for years and you can absolutely do it - it just takes a lot of adjusting. The biggest challenge is getting the depth right when mixing on headphones so my biggest suggestion is to listen as low in volume as possible when placing things in your mix. Also a lot of headphones have dips on higher frequencies so your ears don't get tired so pay attention to that when mixing. What might not sound bright to you might be very bright to people consuming on smartphones and earbuds

[nmcdre]

I've gotten acceptable and exceptional mixes using headphones. so yes it's possible guys. 2 things important to take from this video 1)take breaks and reset your ears. 2) use other headphones to check your mix ( EVEN CHEAP HEADPHONES AND EARBUDS) And i forgot a reference track can most certainly save the day and help. learn your room if you use speakers and have no treatment. play as many tracks commercially released in that untreated room. and you'll understand what you need to do. you're not copying their mixes you're just understanding how things should sound. AND HAVE CONFIDENCE IN YOURSELF IF IT SOUND GOOD AND FEELS GOOD THEN IT IS GOOD. OVERTHINKING WILL CAUSE YOU TO DO A LITTLE TOO MUCH AND THEN YOU WILL DEFIINETLY DESTROY YOUR OWN TRACK LESS IS MORE.

[davidwilkins]

I always turned my nose up and sneered at the Idea of mixing with headphones but after a bit of experimentation I find that my DT 990 PRO's with Sound ID works really well giving me good professional results

[rallzam]

one of the "flattest" and best headphones for mixing is sennheiser 650 and also 600. both are legends and in many pro studios present.

[Jamusictv]

I love the audeze LCD X 2021 revision. By far the best cans I ever heard. And much better then budget studios.

[Xstatic]

The biggest gripe with headphones is your stereo image not translating well to speakers because with speakers your left ears also receives audio from the right speaker and vice versa. With headphones left and right are fully separated. But since more people are listening to headphones that seems less of an issue. WIth headphones you can also use room acoustics simulation software like Realphones to get a better reference. Flat frequency respone is also helping decisions but I'd say using quality reference tracks is more important.

[MarkDLion]

Also test a merged mono, not the mid, but the combined stereo, so you can hear in the headphones if the left and right are conflicting cause with the speakers they blend in the same space.

[mrnelsonius]

I’m a professional musician, most of my career has been as a touring and recording instrumentalist, but the last few years have been doing more and more work producing and mixing. I have good monitors, a moderately treated space, and 2 pairs of headphones I also use to mix. An extremely flat pair of Shure’s I spend the most time in. But I go back and forth depending on what I’m looking for. Studio monitors are good all around reference, the Shures are great for stereo image, depth and midrange detail. Then I have a pair of Beyer’s that are great for transient detail and low end. The main thing is that I listen to finished professional tracks on all those playback devices frequently so that I KNOW them very well.

[Lucassnydermusic]

Totally agree with this. An amp with cross feed technology really helps, to create more of a stereo image similar to speakers, but isn't totally necessary (I have the Phonitor 2 for example).

I remember I used to struggle with my mixes and was always against mixing with headphones. and then I found out a buddy of mine (who's mixes were far better than mine) was only using 160.00 Audio Technica's. It's really all about the mixer, not the gear!

[danielarboleda]

What do you think about meze and abyss for mixing?

[nuellenaire]

Why i still use the NS10 hack and the RPS car test plugin as a reference.

[ogogoropongendity]

That's my mentor speaking. I love you so much Steeky. Thank you for making me do so well in mixing.

[artbasss]

I combine hp and monitors since I have a low budget setting. Switching back and forth helps to achieve decent results. I found the Waves Abbey Road 3 (studio monitors emulation) plugin very helpful to control the lows. Also, always listen to reference tracks.

[Mr.A_LDN]

I've found, for me, the headphones that give me the most accurate representation of the mix and are super flat are the Akg K701 open back.
And .. they're only around 125 quid.
Probably they aren't for everyone and do take some getting used to due to the flatness but are super light and comfortable and translate really well to speakers or other sources.
Having said that...def wouldn't mind a pair of the Audeze!

[FrederickBeats]

1:15

Fax, I learned this on my own

[Endless_Skyway_Adventures]

I have a horrible asymmetrical room. Headphones are a must for me. I have sennheiser HD 650, status audio CB-1 and AKG K240

[mttrashcan-bgro]

I've gone from using a Hifiman Sundara to using either a Focal Clear MG or Radiance, I swap between those two, I also occasionally plug in the Sundara to listen to my mixes on them and if things sound good on all 3 pairs then I'm happy. They're not typically headphones people would recommend for mixing, but to me all that matters is whether you use a pair you like, enjoy and know the characteristics of. I could get a HD650 and start mixing with them tomorrow, but it'd probably be iffy since I've never used them before.

[travonsinclair]

Streaky, could you also make a video about which dacs and amplifiers would be good for these headphones and for mixing-mastering in headphones in general?

[mikewaldron]

I mix 100% on headphones (AKG K240 mkII with Sound ID. For speaker crossover, I tend to check on my Yamaha HS7s in an untreated room, if I can be bothered... 🤣

[jeremylarue]

When talking about headphones, what's the difference between binaural and stereo? I thought headphones were always binaural unless using a crossfeed program like canopener.