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| Audio-Technica’s ATH-M50 headphones (available with straight or coiled cable) are a popular, budget-friendly option for many musicians who mix over headphones. |
I LIVE IN AN APARTMENT, SO I MIX ON
HEADPHONES. I KEEP
READING THAT’S A
REALLY BAD IDEA, AND
NO PROFESSIONAL
WOULD EVER CONSIDER MIXING ON
HEADPHONES. BUT
I’VE ALSO SEEN COMMENTS FROM PEOPLE
WHO DO MIX WITH
HEADPHONES AND
HAVE BEEN SATISFIED
WITH THE RESULTS. SO
WHICH IS IT?
KIM “BEE” SHARPE
LAS VEGAS, NV
VIA EMAIL
If you’re mixing at levels
that would bother the
neighbors, reconsider
how you mix. Many top
engineers mix at relatively
low levels not just to avoid
ear fatigue, but because they
feel that if a track sounds
great at low levels, it will
sound fantastic when you
pump up the volume.
There is no law that says
you have to choose between
speakers and headphones.
It’s common practice to switch
among speakers—for example,
comparing one really good pair
with something more lo-fi to
emulate how music would
sound on consumer gear.
With more people listening to music on earbuds and
headphones, it’s important
to do at least a reality check
with headphones
Mixing with headphones
has pros and cons. You’ll
hear more detail, but there’s
an exaggerated stereo field,
effects like reverb will
sound more prominent, and
if you turn up the levels,
you’ll have a harder time
judging balance. And while
a given amount of money
will likely buy higherquality
headphones than
speakers, headphones—
especially the “over ear”
kind—can be bass-shy.
Whatever you use,
remember that the goal
is to create a mix
that will sound good
over everything. If your
mix sounds wonderful
over speakers at lower
and higher levels, but also
sounds great over earbuds
and a couple different sets
of headphones, you’re
pretty much set.
THE EDITORS
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