Mixing with Headphones - Andrew Scheps & Fab Dupont Share Expert Tips | Puremix

🎧 Mixing on headphones—blasphemy or brilliance? Join legendary engineers Andrew Scheps and Fab Dupont as they reveal how they’ve embraced headphones in their mixing workflow. From low-end consistency to vocal level precision, discover how to turn headphones into your secret weapon for pro-level mixes!

Hang out with Andrew and Fab as they discuss:
- Why they started mixing on headphones
- Translation from headphones to speakers
- Correction and spatialization software
- Deciding on vocal level in headphones
- The benefits of mixing in headphones
- Using headphones to consistently get the low end of your mix right

00:00 Introduction
00:39 - Why Would You Mix On Headphones?
07:05 - Should You Mix For Headphones?
07:49 - How Do Mixes Translate To Speakers?
16:02 - Why Do Headphones Have A Bad Rap?

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[adoebeatz]

“If it’s on the internet it’s true. If you don’t see it, it’s not true.” Love this 😤

[lincolnmmitchell]

Andrew Schepps is a real thinker. He defies all of the arguments based on his results and logical argument. We need more like him.

[MadkeimMusic]

Everytime I see an Andrew Scheps interview, I feel like he's overall telling me that things are going to be ok. And I like it! (Not to dismiss all the great knowledge he shares, of course)

[Noisa]

I started mixing on headphones almost exclusively from home a few years ago because of the less than optimal acoustics, but didn’t tell anyone, because of the stigma. Needless to say, once I got used to them, people have said the mixes sound better than they used to. Nice to get some backup here.

[boonfire]

I’m so glad to hear him say he doesn’t remember what he did the day before! That happens to me constantly, and I was beginning to think there was something wrong with me 😂😩

[davejohnsonaudio]

No other mix engineer keeps it as real as Andrew Scheps does.

[amkmuic]

Andrew just chilling with no shoes on. Makes perfect sense.

[themagicianofsound]

Andrew is absolutely awesome. Most engineers think that THEIR way to work is THE way to work. I love when Andrew mentions that whatever works for you IS a good approach. Coming from one among the best in the world, it makes me feel less weirdo about the way I do things.

[matthewchavezm.b.s]

Andrews opening statement is gold. If it turns out you dont read that statement, than it doesnt apply to you. This is true on so many levels. We have to try things for ourselves to truly see whats possible. Many guidelines or parameters are setup as good starting points but we can do anything anyway we want and have it come off professional. We dont have to follow any sort of standard. Some standards might be good to know or practice but nothing is ever end all be all. Its endless experimenting to even outdo what is a current professional standard. Thats what pushes the envelope.

[meshica]

Andrew is my hero..he's a humble, and realistic, genius.

[violamoonshape]

We've been mixing and mastering on HD800s since day one. Couldn't be happier. Superb interview. Thanks, Andrew and Fab.

[rome]

Three years after first watching this, this is still one of my favorite videos on the internet. There are so many good arguments in favor of headphones:

1) Consistency. No matter where you are, your headphones will sound the same.
2) Portability
3) Price. A lot of people can't afford the thousands of dollars of acoustic treatment it takes to get the best out of studio monitors.
4) The ability to mix at all hours without disturbing anyone
5) Familiarity. Like a lot of people I know, I do the majority of my casual music listening in headphones. So why wouldn't I mix using the listening system I'm most used to hearing?
6) It's closer to the experience of the average listener. Most people aren't sitting down in front of a pair of speakers. They're listening on earbuds at the gym.

Look, of course there are issues unique to mixing in headphones. But are they really any more limiting than the issues caused by monitors in a room? No matter how well treated your room is, you're going to have dips and bumps to take into account. And there are certain things that are much harder to hear on monitors. Headphones offer a more granular, detail-oriented experience. They are better than monitors for noticing clicks and pops. They're better for making small adjustments to things like volume or reverb. You don't get the same crosstalk between the left and right channels, but so what? I've never had the lack of crosstalk cause a real problem. And no one is saying you can't also check your mix on speakers later.

I've yet to hear a coherent argument for why headphones don't work. But yet, people are still making that claim despite many industry people like Andrew Scheps offering working proof that it's nonsense.

[jimdukeproject]

He breaks every rule and misconception. He’s the most honest.

[edwardlewis]

Finally Andrew articulated the conclusion that I came to every time I considered dropping $10-20k of renovations to modify my home studio. 1 I was never going to get it perfect and in fact was wasting my money to chase the perfect acoustic environment. Instead Eliminate the variables, buy flat monitors and comfortable flat head sets, then calibrate your interpretation of your mixes. Thank you gentlemen!

[hummarstraful]

I came back to this video since it's upload 2 years ago. Priceless insights from two veterans. Probably the most important video on headphones out there.

[luisesquer]

I have so much love for these two people even though I've never met them. Thank you for getting them together

[sebastianmirceabadiu]

He just said he's listened to the same headphones for 20 years...there's your explanation. Awesome video !

[johnhahn]

Thanks for once again sharing your brilliance Andrew Scheps!! Whenever you are sharing mixing gems, I'm all ears.

[MrAchris]

That was so mentally freeing. I appreciate that conversation.

[RandyWillcox]

I absolutely love his philosophy. He's so matter of fact and very, "as long as you get there in the end, what's the difference?" It's like...cut the BS and just do the thing.