REQ: Mixing With Mike Headphone Mixing Course
The Headphone Mixing Course is designed to teach you the essential skills necessary to create professional sounding mixes using headphones. Whether you work primarily with speakers or exclusively with headphones, this course will teach you how to create mixes that translate to both.
COURSE OUTLINE
Class 1: Mixing With Headphones
Headphones offer many advantages over speakers but also come with inherent issues that must be understood to be an effective tool for mixing. This class starts with the basics.
Headphone History & My Experience With Headphones
Types of Headphones
Impedance and Sensitivity
Head Related Transfer Function (HRTF)
Assessing Your Headphones
Class 2: Headphone Software
This class wades through the available headphone enhancement software options and how to integrate them into your mixing workflow.
Headphone EQ Calibration Software
Basic Binaural Compensation Software
Mix Room Simulation Software
Monitor Simulation Software
Strategies for Integrating Headphone Software
Bonus Content Reviews: Re-Head, CanOpener, Waves NX, Abbey Road Studio 3, Ocean Way Nashville, CLA NX, Immerseby Embody, dSONIQ Realphones, dearVR Monitor
Class 3: Listening Exercises for Headphones
It's not enough to just listen to commercial productions on your headphones, you must become consciously aware of imaging, depth and separation characteristics. Regardless of your headphone model, understanding them with the most intimate detail is essential to making good mixing decisions.
The Sound Field Inversion Principle of Headphones
The Headphone Monitoring Playlist
Frequency Response Characteristics
Compression Characteristics
Depth and Space Characteristics
Integrating Headphone Software
Class 4: The Primary Sound Field (Levels and Panning)
This class will begin the mixing process by teaching you how to translate level and pan decisions into headphones.
Headphone Tuning Exercise 1: Sound Field Perception
Levels and the Front-Back Sound Field
Panning and Width Adjustments
Integrating Monitoring Software
Balancing Adjustments Between Headphones and Speakers
Class 5: Frequency Balancing for Headphones (Equalization)
Frequency balancing is perhaps the most difficult technique to master in headphones. The proximity of the drivers to our ear drums creates a false sense of density particularly in the lower frequency spectrum. This class will focus on those issues and how it affects the perception of the entire frequency spectrum.
Headphone Tuning Exercise 2: Frequency Balance and Height Perception
The Bottom Up Approach to Equalization in Headphones
Low and Low Mid Frequency Equalization Techniques
Midrange Equalization Techniques for Localization
Balancing the High Frequency Spectrum
Class 6: Density and Imaging Quality (Compression)
Density and imaging characteristics in headphones translate differently than they do through speakers. This class will focus on those differences and how to make your mix translate to both worlds.
Headphone Tuning Exercise 3: Density and Imaging Perception
Primary Sound Field Placement with Compression
Stabilizing Compression Techniques
Parallel Compression Techniques
Saturation Techniques for Density and Imaging
Class 7: Creating Space in Headphones (ER, Reverb and Effects)
Where speakers set a sense of space that is mostly in front of you, headphones set the listener in the center of the experience of space. Understanding the Sound Field Inversion Principle is critical to creating space with early reflections, reverb and effects.
Space and the Sound Field Inversion Principle
Headphone Tuning Exercise 4: The Perception of Space
Early Reflections in Headphones (Creating Space)
Reverb in Headphones (Filling the Space)
Delay Effects in Headphones
Immersive Enhancements for Headphones
Class 8: Headphone - Speaker Compatibility Adjustments
This class will focus on the adjustments and techniques necessary to make your headphone mix translate effectively to speakers. If you are not working with physical monitors, the integration of control room emulating software is critical to making adjustments.
Headphone Tuning Exercise 5: Control Room Software Monitoring
Selecting Your Control Room and Speaker Setup
Translating Level and Pan Settings
Translating Equalization Settings
Translating Compression Settings
Translating ER, Reverb and Effect Settings
Checking Against Alternate Monitor Setups
Class 9: The Automation Process in Headphones
Automation is the process of shaping the flow of the production from top to end. The objectives are the same for speakers or headphones but bridging the translation between the two mediums is critical for compatibility.
Headphone Tuning Exercise 6: Automation in Headphones
Automation for Foundational Tracks
Automation for Sectional Tracks
Automation for Transitional Tracks
Automation for Lead Instruments
Automation for Effects
Class 10: Finishing the Mix with Headphones
The final 'glue' for any mix resides in the processing of mix stems and the mix buss. Integrating Headphone and Control Room Monitoring into the process is necessary to finish the process. This class will focus on that integration and what adjustments are necessary to bridge the gap.
Mix Stem and Mix Buss Processing Defined
Harmonic Processing
Compression
Equalization
Using Maximizers
Final Compatibility Checks
Headphone Mixing Course Wrapup
Bonus Class: Immersive Mixing for Headphones
The emergence of headphone specific mixes is here. The degree to which it succeeds or fails is in the hands of Apple, Dolby Digital Labs and Sony and any other company that gets into the fray. This Bonus Class will discuss the binaural technologies that are currently available on streaming services and what current tools are available for you to utilize in your mix sessions.
What is Immersive Mixing for Headphones
Gaming and VR Sound Formats
Dolby Atmos for Headphones
Apple Spatial Audio
Sony SA360 Reality Audio
Immersive Mixing Tools
Preview of the Immersive Mixing Course