Mixing In Headphones Like A PRO

[@somemothersson4184]

I'll hold my hand up if I'm wrong, but aren't you using a reference track that is mastered in order to get a mixdown ready for mastering. I just think telling people a mix should be as loud os a master is not right. Doesn't make sense, is this why there's so much low bar tech house with no life in the mix and just a boomy kick,too loud?

[@dilbydj]

Hypothetically, let's say you find a reference track that is mastered and you love the balance. You mix your track without considering compression and get a balance that you feel is "perfect" like the reference track, and your mix is still very dynamic (maybe -12 LUFS loudness). Then the label sends the track off to get mastered ready for release. The mastering engineer adds a bunch of compression which brings it up to -8 LUFS (a very modest loudness by today's standards). The track is going to come back with a very different balance to the reference track, and to the mix you submitted, because the compression is going to reduce the dynamic range, thus making all the quiet parts louder. I have had this experience many times as a result of mixing without a limiter which is why I always check my mix with a limiter. What I am suggesting is that you consider the compression that will be applied in mastering so that you can have as much control as possible over the balance and dynamics of your track. What you are suggesting is like buying clothes based on how they look on a model but refusing to try them on first. Then inevitably being shocked and disappointed when they don't look as good on you. 😱 Like it or not, modern house and techno is very loud and compressed. I suggest you consider the end result when mixing your track rather than leaving it to chance. Let me see those hands up... 🙋

[@iambadd]

@@dilbydj Great analogy with the clothes

[@mravocado1283]

@@dilbydj thanks for this explanation.

[@toadscrote123321]

I tried mixing in headphones for a long time due to having a room that's just never going to sound good due to its shape. Tried all sorts of methods and using reference tracks but it was always miles off by the time I got to the car or anywhere else. About a year ago I bought the Slate VSX and have never looked back. Mixing pretty much spot on first time every time these days using the Archon room in the VSX plugin.

[@najsmusic7611]

Slate is so underrated! So cheap as well! I use it too

[@suryanshjha5675]

you always got the most relevant content. Props to you!

[@thepdc3372]

I anchor the kick first with span and a reference track. Then mix the bass... using the same method and keeping it roughly 5 DB below. Then hats.

[@d05music17]

Always useful and helpful information dude, thanks mate :)

[@EmmanuelGrance]

Thank you so much for all your content! You help and inspire a lot of producers, including me, every day! now that i've liked and commented, i can watch the video

[@EqDior]

THis tutorial was Amazing. definitely learned a few things that i have not done in the past. Subbed immediately!! Good Stuff!🙏🏽🙏🏽

[@victorarrudadj]

Amazing tips as always!

[@steezymp3]

Thanks Dilby, hope to catch one of your sets sometime

[@spaceymonkey7777]

love this video very useful information thanks dilby 🙏😊

[@nedlucas7532]

great tutorial Dilby! big love dude!

[@b00ts4ndc4ts]

I mix using headphones but find taking a break every 30 minutes or so, by either doing nothing or listening to something completely different like classical or acoustic.

[@Andrew-rz7qt]

I always check my mix on the same cheap Bluetooth speaker to see if it sounds good it and if it sounds good on that it will be okay on anything else.

[@cardinaltmusic]

Hey Dilby, thanks for the great content you make, love the vids! As you're pushing 3 to 4db inside the l2, when the kick peaks at -3 to -4 it really means that, when it plays alone, it will peak exactly at zero post l2, with no gain reduction, right ? I think it's slightly confusing to have this -4db target when it's actually offset to zero by the gain inside the l2, but that's maybe just me. Thanks again for the work 👏

[@dilbydj]

That's just you 😂. No, I'm joking. The track is going to have limiting applied and this is the reason for the L2. I want to know what it's going to sound like in the end. The reason for the kick peaking at -4 is because it will have other elements playing on top The peak volume of the track is going to increase as more elements are added. If I set the kick to 0 and the Limiter to 0 I have no headroom.

[@abrahamclark767]

Dilby who started making these goofy faces in the thumbnails? I see all you guys doing this now 😂

[@dilbydj]

I know mate, it's ridiculous. But people click on them more which means KZbin shares them more. If you think this is bad, I hope you haven't heard about TikTok! 🤣🤣🤣

[@abrahamclark767]

We are all here for your fire 🔥 tunes and breakdowns. I just started seeing you and EDM tips and edmprod and other creators in the space doing these silly faces it makes me laugh Everytime! 🤣

[@iain_nz.]

wow great advice mate will look into them :)

[@spacewavez]

Great video Dilby! Quick question: when you set the bass value do you solo just the low main bass track or anything else that might be in that area (maybe some low chords or whatever)? Thanks

[@stjepancosic9451]

Great stuff as always, when you make your tracks do you use (mix into) this master chain (gain and limiter only)? No master compressor before the limiter?

[@victorarrudadj]

I just have a question, the track you are comparing is mastered, and your track is not mastered, this is not going change de relative volume of the kick, and bass ?

[@dilbydj]

That's why I am adding limiting and matching the loudness.

[@Roanyt351]

So you pushed it 7db and when you wan't to make your pre master you just set the limiter off? @@dilbydj

[@dilbydj]

@@Roanyt351 I turn the limiter off and the gain plugin off

[@rizlamusic]

Good video mate will take on board to reference as much as I can as I can only use headphones atm. Do you recommend sonarworks soundID when using headphones Dilby just to get the flattest response possible?

[@dilbydj]

Yeah, I use it.

[@rizlamusic]

@@dilbydj thanks man

[@T6V3R1C]

I use a pair of ATH-M50x's and feel my mixes sound great there but not as great when I test else where. Not sure if it's do to inexperience, lack of knowledge or otherwise. Would making a switch to another pair of headphones like the 650's help or should II keep the practice with the headphones I'm used to?

[@dilbydj]

Work with the headphones you know and start using the techniques in the video.

[@klosjason]

Do you have a loose rule on where your hats (hat group) should be at dB wise? I think your Hat group in this video is at roughly -12dB versus the kick at -4dB and the bass at -9dB approx.

[@dilbydj]

I would say the hats group is louder than that.Usually around -5 or -6 I think but I generally mix in my open hat first and then the next hats in order of importance. For demonstration purposes, it would have been better to do that in this video. But when I turned the hats on they were already pretty well balanced. So I just adjusted the group volume

[@Owenclark99]

The beyerdynamic dt990s feel to harsh in the high end even at lower volumes, triggers my tinitus too frequently, anyone got any better recommendations i hear the sennheiser 650s are less harsh?

[@dilbydj]

I use sennheiser hd 650. They're great

[@Andrew-rz7qt]

How do I submit a track to get feed back later this week?

[@dilbydj]

All the info is in the latest post on Patreon

[@Andrew-rz7qt]

@@dilbydj why thank you good sir, hope you have a great day

[@StotheEtotheB]

No need to watch the video. Its just not possible because of that we cant hear a proper stereo signal under headphones. The location will happen in our head and not outside (sorry not a native speaker, I hope ppl understand what I mean). Yes there are some tools like can opener but its meant for listening or producing rough mixes not for professional mix downs.

[@dilbydj]

🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@dilbydj]

If you don't have a studio and can't use monitors you may as well give up right?!!