Support and discussion for all of Akai’s modern standalone MPCs including the MPC X / X SE, MPC Live 1, 2 & 3, MPC One / One+, MPC Key 37/61.
By CharlesRandolph Wed Oct 21, 2020 10:31 am
Sennheiser HD 650 requires a good headphone amp, so buy a good headphone amp. You don't have to break the bank and spend $2000+. But buying the RNHP Precision or SPL Control One or Little Labs Monotor 2. Will improve what you're hearing as well as help open up your current headphone that you use.

We can like it or not, but these MPC's Headphone amps were not created for serious critical mixing. They were designed to give the user a quick idea of what's there. Good headphone and Good headphone amp will allow you to listen at lower level and still hear what's going on. Which protects your hearing in the long run.
By CharlesRandolph Wed Oct 21, 2020 12:47 pm
This thread is turning into a Headphone/Headphone Amp conversation. Which makes sense if you're mixing in headphones. Camden just released a Preamp/Analogue Saturation Processor/ Headphone Amp.


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By 64hz Wed Oct 21, 2020 1:05 pm
Shame this doesn't work without a laptop but this seems to be the answer to anyone willing to mix on headphones and won't break the bank. I have no experience with it, yet, but everyone seems to agree these phones actually work.

https://stevenslateaudio.com/vsx
By CharlesRandolph Wed Oct 21, 2020 1:29 pm
64hz wrote:Shame this doesn't work without a laptop but this seems to be the answer to anyone willing to mix on headphones and won't break the bank. I have no experience with it, yet, but everyone seems to agree these phones actually work.

https://stevenslateaudio.com/vsx



The only thing it doesn't address is the low quality headphone amp. :lol: I bet Steven Slate is not using the MPC ONE headphone amps to mix with.
By Eyalc Wed Oct 21, 2020 1:30 pm
These headphones that emulate mixing environments in top studios...

They're going to be the next "rage" among bedroom producers (and I don't mean "bedroom" disparagingly - just don't know another term to use). There's a waves plugin that claims to do the same.

Like most "easy" button things, I think they're a bad idea. But none-the-less I'm betting they'll be popular.

For me, I use Sennheises cans to mix in headphones, but I only get to about 65% of the mix in order that way. I move to a proper monitoring system to finish the mix. I don't completely trust my ear mixing in headphones. The reason I mix in headphones is because similar to the OP, I can't have music playing loud all the time in my home environment. So headphones allows me to make progress before going to the studio to finish.

I do believe that it's possible to get a decent mix in headphones, but it would require a lot of trial and error to get something really, really good.
By CharlesRandolph Wed Oct 21, 2020 1:37 pm
Eyalc wrote:These headphones that emulate mixing environments in top studios...

They're going to be the next "rage" among bedroom producers (and I don't mean "bedroom" disparagingly - just don't know another term to use). There's a waves plugin that claims to do the same.

Like most "easy" button things, I think they're a bad idea. But none-the-less I'm betting they'll be popular.

For me, I use Sennheises cans to mix in headphones, but I only get to about 65% of the mix in order that way. I move to a proper monitoring system to finish the mix. I don't completely trust my ear mixing in headphones. The reason I mix in headphones is because similar to the OP, I can't have music playing loud all the time in my home environment. So headphones allows me to make progress before going to the studio to finish.

I do believe that it's possible to get a decent mix in headphones, but it would require a lot of trial and error to get something really, really good.


Also I'm not a fan of the emulation because, what happens when I mix at another location where I don't have the emulations. :lol: Are you using an standalone headphone amp or your audio interfaces headphone amp?
Last edited by CharlesRandolph on Wed Oct 21, 2020 1:40 pm, edited 1 time in total.
By 40Beatz Wed Oct 21, 2020 1:39 pm
Easiest/Cheapest Route is to get Any Decent Closed Back Headphones just for the Initial Mixing. Then Use your Monitors, with a wide Stereo Field setup. Compare your mix to a Song or Two, thats mixed well...in YOUR Opinion.

Then Take that Mix to your Car and compare the Song you know is Mixed Well. Have em on Track 1 & 2.

Use those References against each other, so you'll know the Proper Mixing Levels at your Studio AND Headphones.

Because The Average Dude listening to your music, will NOT have $2000 Headphones.

Make Multiple Mixes for Headphones, Computer Speakers, Car W/Heavy Beats in it, Car W/No System, The Stereo in the Living Room, SoundCloud, YouTube, Etc.

You'll Find a Happy Medium after a few tries!
By CharlesRandolph Wed Oct 21, 2020 2:03 pm
40Beatz wrote:Easiest/Cheapest Route is to get Any Decent Closed Back Headphones just for the Initial Mixing. Then Use your Monitors, with a wide Stereo Field setup. Compare your mix to a Song or Two, thats mixed well...in YOUR Opinion.

Then Take that Mix to your Car and compare the Song you know is Mixed Well. Have em on Track 1 & 2.

Use those References against each other, so you'll know the Proper Mixing Levels at your Studio AND Headphones.

Because The Average Dude listening to your music, will NOT have $2000 Headphones.

Make Multiple Mixes for Headphones, Computer Speakers, Car W/Heavy Beats in it, Car W/No System, The Stereo in the Living Room, SoundCloud, YouTube, Etc.

You'll Find a Happy Medium after a few tries!



Place I test: Studio Monitors, Headphones, ipad, TV speakers, standard car stereo, club, arena or stadium. But most importantly I send it to people with Studios, whose ear I trust and make adjustment according.
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By QuentinB Wed Oct 21, 2020 3:01 pm
Man! What a difference in volume. The Sennheisers came in, plugged them up, played my track Gotta get movin, sounds completely different than the Audio technas. They are much flatter, so I pumped up some volume on the 808s and kicks, night and day. Now it's not as flat as it is on Soundcloud, but it's damn close. So I think I'll spend some time with the mixes on my last few tracks to see what I can do with these.
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By Danoc Wed Oct 21, 2020 4:11 pm
Eyalc wrote:I do believe that it's possible to get a decent mix in headphones, but it would require a lot of trial and error to get something really, really good.


Yes sir! I have a lot of years mixing in Headphones, so I'm able to do an entire mix. Whenever those Senn HD 600's came out I got it right away, early 2000's, so I been doing it over 10 years. Exercise the ear muscle just like weight lifters work out their muscles. LOL :lol:

But flat good headphones won't solve a good mix, you have to know what you're doing and have a technique, just pushing up and down levels ain't going to cut it, if you're going for a pro level. Just have to practice until you get it.
E, your mixes are dope!
By CharlesRandolph Wed Oct 21, 2020 4:23 pm
QuentinB wrote:Man! What a difference in volume. The Sennheisers came in, plugged them up, played my track Gotta get movin, sounds completely different than the Audio technas. They are much flatter, so I pumped up some volume on the 808s and kicks, night and day. Now it's not as flat as it is on Soundcloud, but it's damn close. So I think I'll spend some time with the mixes on my last few tracks to see what I can do with these.


Is that the mix in your signature?
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By Danoc Wed Oct 21, 2020 4:24 pm
QuentinB wrote:Man! What a difference in volume. The Sennheisers came in, plugged them up, played my track Gotta get movin, sounds completely different than the Audio technas. They are much flatter, so I pumped up some volume on the 808s and kicks, night and day. Now it's not as flat as it is on Soundcloud, but it's damn close. So I think I'll spend some time with the mixes on my last few tracks to see what I can do with these.

LOL hahahaaaa :lol: :lol: :lol: I told ya. Dammmmmmm how in the hell you get the Senns that dam fast? :shock:
Turn up the volume but not to damage your ears. Do you feel you need an amp? If not don't, if you do then get one. You don't want to damage your ears! The goal is if you can hear every instrument clearly.

Peace.
By Eyalc Wed Oct 21, 2020 6:26 pm
CharlesRandolph wrote:Also I'm not a fan of the emulation because, what happens when I mix at another location where I don't have the emulations. :lol: Are you using an standalone headphone amp or your audio interfaces headphone amp?


I use my audio interface amp. UAD Apollo twin and a UAD Apollo X6.
By Eyalc Wed Oct 21, 2020 6:28 pm
Danoc wrote:But flat good headphones won't solve a good mix, you have to know what you're doing and have a technique, just pushing up and down levels ain't going to cut it, if you're going for a pro level. Just have to practice until you get it.
E, your mixes are dope!


Thank you! It's funny, because when I listen to them a month after release, little things make me cringe - like "how did I NOT hear that???" LOL
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By QuentinB Wed Oct 21, 2020 6:31 pm
CharlesRandolph wrote:
QuentinB wrote:Man! What a difference in volume. The Sennheisers came in, plugged them up, played my track Gotta get movin, sounds completely different than the Audio technas. They are much flatter, so I pumped up some volume on the 808s and kicks, night and day. Now it's not as flat as it is on Soundcloud, but it's damn close. So I think I'll spend some time with the mixes on my last few tracks to see what I can do with these.


Is that the mix in your signature?


The one in my Signature is the original mix, the one that I did with the Audio Technas. Eventually I'll replace that but I think you have to have soundcloud pro to replace a file.