Mike Walker
Doesn't pull punches
- Joined
- Jun 25, 2001
- Posts
- 541
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- 14
Actually Trap mixing should also be done on analytical headphones/speakers, because these allow you to hear tiny details which are often MUCH more difficult to hear on other equipment. This may not make much sense to those who aren't involved in audio recording/mixing, but trust me...to those who actually do it for a living, it makes perfect sense.
I GUARANTEE that if you mix on a headphone such as the HD-580, or HD-600 which has more recessed mids and treble, you will get a mix that will have a "sizzly" high end when played on (the vast majority of) consumer equipment which already has exaggerated highs.
Perhaps Trap thinks I meant that mixes should ONLY be monitored on "analytical" meadphones and speakers. NOTHING could be further from the truth! Mixes should be checked on as many different types of systems as you can get your hands on...car stereos, cheap walkman portables, boom-boxes, mp3 players, mono table radios, and yes...HIGH END STEREOS (although it's important to understand that your mix will be heard far more often on the types of devices mentioned first, than on the high end stereo). Fortunately a good mix needn't sacrifice the clarity and definition appreciated by audiophiles in order to "cut through" on cheaper gear. An experienced engineer/producer knows how to "strike a balance".
Most good recording/production studios have multiple monitors which an engineer/producer can switch between...everything from highly analytical, to highly accurate, to dirt cheap and "cheesy". It's also useful to LEAVE the "sweet spot", perhaps even the room and listen from some distance to see if you can still hear all of the important elements in a mix, and understand the words. Don't laugh! Lots of music listening is done to a radio in the next room, or down the hall!
The thing I personally love about the MDR-V6/7506 is that mixes which sound good through it hold up well on most everything else. When I get a mix to sound "right" on my V6/7506, I KNOW it will also sound right on the HD-580, HD-600, car stereo, walkman, boom-box, etc. I know because I hear my work constantly on radios ranging from 10 dollar Wal Mart clock radios to 15,000 dollar high end stereo systems.
By the way, if you've gotten the idea from what I've written that the MDR-V6 is not accurate because I say that it errs on the "analytical" side of neutrality, don't forget that EVERY headphone errs from neutrality in some way. The MDR-V6/7506 is, to my ears, the MOST accurate headphone under 200 US dollars, and at least as accurate as most of the models above that price! I simply find it's "analytical" nature to be a bit too "in my face" for relaxed listening for pleasure! (it also accentuates fm hiss quite a bit more than the HD-580 or HD-600, so it is a much worse choice for radio listening, which I do a lot of!)
I GUARANTEE that if you mix on a headphone such as the HD-580, or HD-600 which has more recessed mids and treble, you will get a mix that will have a "sizzly" high end when played on (the vast majority of) consumer equipment which already has exaggerated highs.
Perhaps Trap thinks I meant that mixes should ONLY be monitored on "analytical" meadphones and speakers. NOTHING could be further from the truth! Mixes should be checked on as many different types of systems as you can get your hands on...car stereos, cheap walkman portables, boom-boxes, mp3 players, mono table radios, and yes...HIGH END STEREOS (although it's important to understand that your mix will be heard far more often on the types of devices mentioned first, than on the high end stereo). Fortunately a good mix needn't sacrifice the clarity and definition appreciated by audiophiles in order to "cut through" on cheaper gear. An experienced engineer/producer knows how to "strike a balance".
Most good recording/production studios have multiple monitors which an engineer/producer can switch between...everything from highly analytical, to highly accurate, to dirt cheap and "cheesy". It's also useful to LEAVE the "sweet spot", perhaps even the room and listen from some distance to see if you can still hear all of the important elements in a mix, and understand the words. Don't laugh! Lots of music listening is done to a radio in the next room, or down the hall!
The thing I personally love about the MDR-V6/7506 is that mixes which sound good through it hold up well on most everything else. When I get a mix to sound "right" on my V6/7506, I KNOW it will also sound right on the HD-580, HD-600, car stereo, walkman, boom-box, etc. I know because I hear my work constantly on radios ranging from 10 dollar Wal Mart clock radios to 15,000 dollar high end stereo systems.
By the way, if you've gotten the idea from what I've written that the MDR-V6 is not accurate because I say that it errs on the "analytical" side of neutrality, don't forget that EVERY headphone errs from neutrality in some way. The MDR-V6/7506 is, to my ears, the MOST accurate headphone under 200 US dollars, and at least as accurate as most of the models above that price! I simply find it's "analytical" nature to be a bit too "in my face" for relaxed listening for pleasure! (it also accentuates fm hiss quite a bit more than the HD-580 or HD-600, so it is a much worse choice for radio listening, which I do a lot of!)
