Monitor References and the Audified MixCheck Plugin - Mixing With Mike Mixing Tip

[@Jeffway24]

I think those emulations are really similar to what they are trying to model! If I had to mix while traveling with just headphones and a laptop I would definitely try this out to make up for not having other monitors. Thanks for sharing Mike!

[@mrmorpheus9707]

I have been using sample magic ab... but this mike...is a step further!! thanx as usual!

[@mixingwithmike]

Cheers!

[@monteirosfusion]

I do too, but Sample Magic AB doesn't account for different playback contexts, awesome for checking multiple references

[@seanemmettfullerton]

You are a true shaman, Michael. Bless you for sharing your wisdom and institutional knowledge. Priceless! ...sadly, the basic meaning of the word 'reference' may be completely lost on some folks :) Keep a-going, most of us are listening...

[@TimeMarchesOn]

I've used Toneboosters "Isone" plugin in the past but I'de like to try this one, more real world examples. Thank you Mike.

[@mixingwithmike]

Cheers!

[@ouroboros3268]

your content is always an educational experience. Thank you sir....

[@mixingwithmike]

Cheers!

[@stevebelgrave]

This plugin has its uses for sure but the marketing claims go a bit beyond what is practically realistic to achieve. Michael nails it with his comment on how its useful for a quick check to see if anything stands out, but not a plugin for critical mix decisions. Just to add re a previous comment in this thread, its best not to use or consider mastering as a 'fixing' process. Aim for a great mix so mastering can take it to the next level.

[@mixingwithmike]

Very true about the "fix it in the mastering" approach, not being a good way to look at your mix. There are important translation things that can be done more effectively in the mastering process than the mixing process, but you never want to count on it. Cheers! Mike

[@tomaszmusic]

Mike, thanks for the review. Really useful plugin.

[@mixingwithmike]

Thanks Tom!

[@slamcrank]

I have an off topic question, Mike ... how do you get the tracks in your mixer to be "black" colored? I don't have that color in my Pro Tools color palette, and I would love to be able to do that. (hoping it's not an HDX only option). Thanks!

[@ouroboros3268]

When you double click on the track and the color box pops up choose the none option and it turns that specific track black.

[@slamcrank]

+Ouroboros You, sir, are a gentleman and a scholar. Thanks!!

[@capturelightmedia]

I've got to ask, what size is your monitor screen? You can fit so very much in your mix window.

[@mixingwithmike]

Running with 5K resolution on a 27inch screen

[@capturelightmedia]

+Michael White I'm using 22s. I guess that extra 5 inches makes a world of difference.

[@mixingwithmike]

indeed!

[@sundamusik]

seems like a plugin i should save money for hehe

[@mixingwithmike]

Hehe!

[@kayboog2000]

I find myself using AudioEase Speakerphone on my master buss a lot to do the same thing.

[@mixingwithmike]

I have always thought of this as an effect box for post production, never thought about it for monitoring references. Cheers! Mike

[@kayboog2000]

You gotta turn off all the the effects, just use the speaker emulations.

[@mixingwithmike]

Not sure what you mean?

[@swmorgan515]

the song is great. who is it?

[@YoungBlaze]

Taylor swift featuring another guy who broke her heart

[@ronaldanderson9263]

The guitars sounded tough through the laptop preset.

[@mixingwithmike]

Hi Ronald, Yes, if you go instrument by instrument it will get easy to become paralyzed with the mix and how to process it. There is no perfect way to avoid this but the mastering will go a long way to helping even things out. Cheers! Mike

[@zeepster]

Appreciate the video but a 6 minute intro explaining what this is and why, is probably a little bit too much :p. Seeing your audience probably has all this basic knowledge. I googled this plugin specifically for reviews. Audio starting at 12:19

[@mixingwithmike]

Thanks zeepster, I try to never assume that all the listeners have this knowledge but I will start adding links that allow the watcher to skip to what they want to see. Cheers! Mike

[@zeepster]

I understand. Great. Thanks for posting ;)

[@OrganicGreens]

This plugin is total BS.You cant just make your headphones or monitors sound like a radio in a room. It just wont work, a simulation is always just that. Buy a cheap radio a Bluetooth speaker and iPod headphones(you probably already have them tho) hook them all up to a 50 dollar speaker controller and switch between them during mixing to check for compatibility. There are good plugins you can get to emulate the sound of mp3 compression for what it would really sound like on an iPhone with iPod headphones.

[@OrganicGreens]

Also you still always got to check your mix in a real car for the levels and the bass if anything. It sucks but nothing can realy emulate the way air vibrates in the cab or a car.

[@mixingwithmike]

Hi Phillip, Great points, but if you really pay careful attention to the infinite ways hardware systems sound, you soon realize that you'll never be able to reproduce every scenario with plugin, hardware or both. You could lay out 20 computer speaker setups and they would all sound completely different from each other, not even factoring in all the different acoustic spaces. I still do check my mixes on consumer hardware systems and car stereos that I know well and also with the plugin, but I rarely end up making significant adjustments. Plugins like this are great for a quick check to see if anything really stands out as an obvious problem. Cheers! Mike

[@matrixate]

I don't think so.

[@mixingwithmike]

Not a fit for everyone...