There are 2 distinct processes you need to apply to headphones to be able to mix with them:
1) Fix the extreme stereo image of the headphones so it matches the natural stereo image of speakers in the open. This involves monoizing bass frequencies and introducing some left-right cross over.
2) Fix the frequency response of the headphones in order to get a flatter response for better "translation" of your mixes. This involves measuring the headphones and compensating with EQ and phase alignment.
Isone and CanOpener performs the former (1).
Morphit and ARC performs the latter (2).
Realphones and VHS perform both.
3) Finally, there is a 3rd, optional function that some software may perform that emulates the frequency response of various speakers (such as Genelecs or NS-10s) for "virtual monitoring". ARC, Realphones, and SonarWorks all provide this option. But it is better in theory than practice, and it's best to bypass it because it's not like listening through the emulated speakers organically at all, and just sounds like a miked recording of a speaker as heard through your speakers.
When it comes to headphone correction, less is more. Just try to get the stereo image and EQ profile right. It will still sound like your headphones, but with the obstacles to informed mixing removed. If you try to emulate "space" or other speakers, it's just going to make your headphones sounds worse, and cloud your mix decisions.
1) Fix the extreme stereo image of the headphones so it matches the natural stereo image of speakers in the open. This involves monoizing bass frequencies and introducing some left-right cross over.
2) Fix the frequency response of the headphones in order to get a flatter response for better "translation" of your mixes. This involves measuring the headphones and compensating with EQ and phase alignment.
Isone and CanOpener performs the former (1).
Morphit and ARC performs the latter (2).
Realphones and VHS perform both.
3) Finally, there is a 3rd, optional function that some software may perform that emulates the frequency response of various speakers (such as Genelecs or NS-10s) for "virtual monitoring". ARC, Realphones, and SonarWorks all provide this option. But it is better in theory than practice, and it's best to bypass it because it's not like listening through the emulated speakers organically at all, and just sounds like a miked recording of a speaker as heard through your speakers.
When it comes to headphone correction, less is more. Just try to get the stereo image and EQ profile right. It will still sound like your headphones, but with the obstacles to informed mixing removed. If you try to emulate "space" or other speakers, it's just going to make your headphones sounds worse, and cloud your mix decisions.
Statistics: Posted by jamcat — Tue Dec 24, 2024 10:57 pm