Mix Playback

[pennyroyaltea94]

Hi guys.

So depending what I am using to listen to my own music the playback varies.

Could sound great on headphones, laptop , car , or completely horrible.

Wouldn't this be because I am skipping some type of element of mixing ?

[Dirk]

You should always use a set of big speakers when mixing, like a big stereo.
Never headphones, and definetely never those silly little laptop speakers, those are toys.

What are you using? Protools or something? Always plug your laptop into a stereo for mixing and turn off all the eq on the stereo.
Then you could try playing it back through headphones or in your car or somebody else's stereo to check the results.
It's gonna sound different everywhere no matter what.
That's why studio's have these big, expensive near field monitors that are perfectly flat in frequency response
to get the optimal result no matter what the end listener plays the song through.

Also, while recording/EQ'ing, avoid boosting in a particular region too much.
This to avoid a booming low end, or harsh highs.

[pennyroyaltea94]

Ah. Just burned a CD listened to it on stereo with headphones.

Much better VS Laptop with HeadPhones.

Actually truth is , My Car speakers are shot big time ,

[fuzzbuzzfuzz]

I personally have just quit procrastinating and decided to invest in a set of monitor speakers. They are specifically neutral (or as close to as possible) to allow accurate mixing. After that then of course road test a new mix on a variety of devices to tweak/check.

Tonight I shall pull the trigger on some Mackie MR5s, perfect.

[DarrinPA]

[Franzoni]

I rememeber watching an episode of classic albums where Quincy Jones who was the producer on Thriller talked about mixing on small speakers becuase if it sounds good on them it will sound good on a radio....

Probabaly more true than ever these days with everyone listening on laptops and phones .... and back in the 80's a small radio was ghetto blaster......... .......