Headphones as mixing monitors?

[HeisnbrgUncertn]

I'm in a similar boat... Looking to do more 'serious' recording on my iPad, but I have either Apple earbuds or some AudioTechnica headphones that sound decent for listening to music, but not recording.

I'm debating whether a cheap (under $200) set of monitors would be better or a similar cost set of headphones...

Go for the monitors. It feels much more natural when mixing and doing playback. Larger drivers mean better bass reproduction than with cans.

 

[cnltb]

Headphones as mixing monitors?
Whilst not ideal I'd say that once you have learned how any given set of headphones translate to other listening environments,( the 'real 'world), you should be ok.
It will certainly help to have more than one thing available for listening back.
The more ways to listen back on, the better.
( I use active monitors and three different sets of headphones and in-ears)

 

[oerk]

Go for the monitors. It feels much more natural when mixing and doing playback. Larger drivers mean better bass reproduction than with cans.

I agree with this, except for the larger drivers bit. Firstly, larger drivers don't necessarily mean better bass reproduction, size is only one small part of the equation. Secondly, good headphones typically go much lower than speakers.

 

[Kubicki440]

I tend to mix mostly with headphones (AKG) at first. What I do is find a nice song (Favorite Artist) and when in the mastering process I use that song as a reference. I already have a certain song from my fav artist that sounds good on most of my audio devices (mobile and fixed). Seems to work well for me. I am looking into the headphone suggestions mentioned in this thread.

 

[Nateflakes]

Mixing with headphones will give you a false since of that bass presence. Get a decent pair of monitors with a flat frequency response. You'll still want the headphones though. Listen to your mix on as many different devices as possible, because you never know what the end user will be using to listen to your song.

 

[RDUB]

Mixing with headphones will give you a false since of that bass presence. Get a decent pair of monitors with a flat frequency response. You'll still want the headphones though. Listen to your mix on as many different devices as possible, because you never know what the end user will be using to listen to your song.

That probably hasn't been said enough here. BOTH are very useful tools. I listen to a mix on my monitors. Then I listen with the phones, because often I can pick up the little niggling imbalances there.

 

[knumbskull]

Please take this with a pinch if salt, as i am just an interested hobbyist... Just some thoughts:

- i'd guess you might want to look at open-back headphones? They often have less artificial bass response. That said, each model will surely have its own voicing...

- people always say, do a second playback through your car stereo. Good advice or not, i like this

- someone told me the RnB /pop version of the above is to listen back through mobile phone speakers...

Of course a good pair of monitors will always be the ultimate tool.*

*in before "you're the ultimate tool" etc

 

[Nateflakes]

That probably hasn't been said enough here. BOTH are very useful tools. I listen to a mix on my monitors. Then I listen with the phones, because often I can pick up the little niggling imbalances there.

It's a good way to find balance in you're mixes. Be warned you will never be completely satisfied, I have spent months tweaking mixes and still find things I wish I would have done differently.

 

[ExaltBass]

Been there... done that... had to remix I was trying to be considerate. I used my high-end Sennheiser HD600s thru a headphone amp - checked with other IEMs and phones . Sounded great! (but only on phones)

It is a good tool to add to the mix process, as is burning a CD and listening through as many car stereos and quality speakers you can. Nothing beats a good set of monitor speakers driven by a decent amp.

 

[RDUB]

It's a good way to find balance in you're mixes. Be warned you will never be completely satisfied, I have spent months tweaking mixes and still find things I wish I would have done differently.

Yeah, I know! What's really fun, and a little masochistic, is to go back to the old mixes I did on a four track cassette machine in the 80's...