MIXING ON HEADPHONES
5 TIPS FOR PRODUCING AND MIXING ON HEADPHONES

Use Open-Back Headphones

Closed-back headphones prevent sound from escaping and being picked up by microphones, and this makes them preferred for recording and performing, but they tend to have an amplified low-end frequency response. Open-back headphones allow sound to escape without frequency build-up, providing a more accurate representation of a mix.

Use Reference Tracks

Reference tracks are an invaluable tool! A well-mixed reference track can help you to make objective decisions by letting you match the sound of an already produced track. This gives you an objective standard to align your mix to without being influenced by alterations to the sound made by your headphones.

Check the Mix on Different Speakers

You may have heard of the “car test.” Regularly listen to your mix on different systems, from phones to ear buds to high end speakers, so you can pinpoint issues that may not be audible in your headphones. Checking your mix helps to ensure that it translates across different playback devices.

Use Room Simulator Plug-ins

Some plug-ins simulate virtual acoustic environments that let you hear your mix affected by different physical spaces. This can help you to make more informed decisions by enabling you to hear how your mix will be represented in different environments you may not have access to. Popular third-party plug-ins include DearVR MIX, Waves Nx, and Immerse Virtual Studio. Some DAWs come with convolution plug-ins that enable you to import custom impulse responses to simulate different environments.

Maintain Objectivity by Taking Breaks

This is good mixing advice regardless. Resting your ears is very important. Fatigue affects your objectivity and hinders your ability to make decisions, so consider setting a timer to take breaks every 20 to 30 minutes. Avoiding ear fatigue is crucial for maintaining an accurate and objective perception of the audio. It’s a small investment of time that pays off in the long run