Mixing music has traditionally been done on studio monitors in acoustically treated rooms. But with the rise of home studios and portable setups, many producers and engineers rely heavily on headphones. So the question is: can you really mix music with headphones?
The short answer: yes, but with limitations. Here’s what you need to know.
The Pros of Mixing on Headphones
-
Detail and isolation: Headphones reveal tiny clicks, pops, and background noise you might miss on speakers.
-
Portability: You can mix anywhere — on a plane, in a café, or at night without disturbing anyone.
-
Affordable accuracy: A good pair of studio headphones often costs far less than treating a room and buying high-end monitors.
The Cons of Mixing on Headphones
-
Stereo image exaggeration: Headphones place sound directly into each ear, creating an artificially wide stereo field that can mislead your panning and balance decisions.
-
Low-end perception: Headphones don’t move air like monitors, so bass frequencies can be harder to judge accurately.
-
Ear fatigue: Long mixing sessions on headphones can strain your ears faster than monitors.
How to Mix Better on Headphones
-
Choose reference headphones – Popular choices include the Sennheiser HD600 and Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro.
-
Use crossfeed plugins – Tools like Goodhertz CanOpener or Waves Nx simulate speaker-like listening.
-
Reference on multiple systems – Always check your mix on monitors, car speakers, earbuds, and smart devices.
-
Take breaks – Reset your ears every hour to avoid over-adjusting.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
You can mix music with headphones, but the key is knowing their strengths and weaknesses. Headphones are great for detail work and portability, but should be balanced with speaker listening for a complete perspective.
If you’ve finished your mix and want to ensure it translates across all systems, submit your track for professional mastering.
