TranceAddict Forums (www.tranceaddict.com/forums)
- DJ Booth
-- Mixing in headphones only, the proper way?
Mixing in headphones only, the proper way?
Quite complicated explanation about mixing in headphones only, but read through for an interesting question!
I notice that more and more big Trance DJs out there are doing all the mixing in their headphones these days, not only for que/beatmatching but also the Live mixing.
This has its advantages, in such as:
-You don't need to put your volume that high, in order to cope with the level in the club.
-You don't have to rely on your Booth monitors when mixing.
-You don't have to flip your ear in&out of your cup to check the beatmatch.
-You can record a mix at late night without disturbing your neighbors.
There are a few beatmatching techniques out there, but to be clear - the one I'm referring to is stereo mixing in headphones - NOT split que (with one track in each ear).
The worlds leading trance DJ, Armin Van Buuren is using this technique. Doing all the mixing in his headphones.
Q: But how does he do it?
I've tried different ways, but are still not sure which way is the best. After studying Armin in quite a few videos, it seems like he's using this method:
Example:
Channel 2: Live track
Channel 4: Cued track
Qued in headphones:
Channel 4 Cue + Master Cue.
Headphones MIXING knob: Turned slightly to the left, towards cue (guessing this is done to get the same volume of each track)
1)Above settings used for doing the beatmatching, while Live track is palying. THEN - When mixing in (remember with using headphones only)
2)Cuts Channel 4 Cue, So only Master Cue is playing (To be able to hear how the Cued track comes in to the mix)
3)Then keep pushing Channel 4 Cue button on/off to check that the beats are in match, while doing the mixing with only Master Cue pushed down.
4)When Low EQ is flipped around so you have the low-end of the Cue'd track playing (mixed fully in) - Then you switch to the Channel 2 Cue button on/off to check your beats, while mixing the Live track out.
- But here's the problem:
When you have both channels Live, and you press Channel 4 Cue to check your mix, the volume increases A LOT! (obviously since you now have both channels in Master Cue)
And since you have the volume quite high in the first place, to be sure you catch every beat that goes out Live, in the master cue, this will keep blasting your ears on&off when re-pushing the Ch-Cue.
It also is quite annoying and easily puts off your concentration on the Live mix as it now appears significantly lower in volume.
So back to my question again. Is this the right way to stereo mix with your headphones only, or am I missing something essential here?
I know there are different ways of doing it, of what you prefer yourself. But when that is said, there's always 1 more common proper way of doing it. - As I believe f.ex Armin is using.
And for what I think of, doing an 8 hour set with consistent volume increase/decrease in your headphones wouldn't be preferable. So there must be a way around this problem?
Any suggestions or inputs guys? How do you mix in your headphones?
you leave the cue on, you just twist the cue pan knob all the way to master when it comes time to mix, then if you need to check the track mid mix just twist back towards cue on the cue pan knob until you can hear what you need to hear
i usually mix in the headphones as much as i can, i'll leave one cup half on/half off my ear while the other is fully on
I really don't see the importance of stereo cueing. I've been using split cue for years. I've even modded my Xone 4D to do split cue. The way I have my system setup is that both sides of the headphones are the same as far as output goes. This way I know how loud to set up the incoming track is compared to the master. I can also set up the eqs this way too. Once I play both tracks at the same time out the master I switch off the cue and have the master running in the headphones and make my adjustments from there. If a track gets slightly off and I need help identifying it, I just quickly switch back the left side to cue. I spin at a lounge for 4 hours a night and this method has worked for me. It enables me to do seamless mixes in a noisy environment by using high end in ear monitors with a quality headphone amp.
Who cares what Armin is doing? Do what works for you.
I usually turn the knob all the way to master,then cue the channel into the headphones. That way you can hear the incoming track without actually mixing it in yet. Then once you got the beats matched turn the cue'd channel off and then just start mixing. You will be able to hear the mix like if it were mixing out to the main speakers.
Youll probably find yourself turning the cue/master knob alot.
--Peace
Thanks for the inputs guys! And for sharing your own technique 
| quote: |
| Originally posted by djsaekone [..] Then once you got the beats matched turn the cue'd channel off and then just start mixing. [..] Youll probably find yourself turning the cue/master knob alot. --Peace |
| quote: |
| Originally posted by Tony Morello you leave the cue on, you just twist the cue pan knob all the way to master when it comes time to mix, then if you need to check the track mid mix just twist back towards cue on the cue pan knob until you can hear what you need to hear i usually mix in the headphones as much as i can, i'll leave one cup half on/half off my ear while the other is fully on |
I find if you just twist it a little to give to make sure you're solid before you bring in a track is all you really need, but then again my mixer doesn't have cue blend, so I can't stereo mix in the headphones the way you're describing.
lol
nothing is simpler than mixing in the headfones. after many years with shitty stereos u actualy enjoys the headfone mix alot more. though my ears got to hell at certain occations.
meh, I like hearing the monitors.
I'd rather mix off the delay in a club with no monitors to be honest. I hate mixing in the headphones. Ironically it was the only way I was able to learn how to beat match initially.
What I've been doing recently (since i switched back to my Vestax PCV 275 for shits and giggles, usually use my Xone92) to save my ears when i'm cueing up the next track i have my headphone volume quite low and then hit the cue button for the incoming track and increase the volume on the cued channel, in effect 'blending' it. Sometimes i go into the red with the cue'd track but i never bring it in like that.
I turn it right down so the levels are similar and then bring it in.
| quote: |
| Originally posted by Zild Who cares what Armin is doing? Do what works for you. |
My method:
Set cue on incoming track.
Whip it forward to noisy parts, match level with current track. Memorize this gain position to set it back if you need to mess with the gain to hear it better.
Set cue back.
Start beatmatching with both tracks cued.
If it's hard to hear, cue incoming track only, turn cue knob to MIX. This will set the incoming track a bit louder in your headphones but still bleed in some of the master.
Start pushin the fader up, working the eqs.
Depending on how well you can hear each track, move knob between Cue/Mix/Master to taste, but always be sure to check it in Master as you get closer to the cue being fully in.
| quote: |
| Originally posted by kadomony My method: Set cue on incoming track. Whip it forward to noisy parts, match level with current track. Memorize this gain position to set it back if you need to mess with the gain to hear it better. Set cue back. Start beatmatching with both tracks cued. If it's hard to hear, cue incoming track only, turn cue knob to MIX. This will set the incoming track a bit louder in your headphones but still bleed in some of the master. Start pushin the fader up, working the eqs. Depending on how well you can hear each track, move knob between Cue/Mix/Master to taste, but always be sure to check it in Master as you get closer to the cue being fully in. |
| quote: |
| Originally posted by kadomony My method: Set cue on incoming track. Whip it forward to noisy parts, match level with current track. Memorize this gain position to set it back if you need to mess with the gain to hear it better. Set cue back. Start beatmatching with both tracks cued. If it's hard to hear, cue incoming track only, turn cue knob to MIX. This will set the incoming track a bit louder in your headphones but still bleed in some of the master. Start pushin the fader up, working the eqs. Depending on how well you can hear each track, move knob between Cue/Mix/Master to taste, but always be sure to check it in Master as you get closer to the cue being fully in. |
| quote: |
| Originally posted by n3lly For me (as there is no right or wrong way) It's This. |
the only proper way is the one that doesn't involve you trainwrecking, trancen00b 
one love
| quote: |
| Originally posted by Max Thomson the only proper way is the one that doesn't involve you trainwrecking, trancen00b one love |
i play and match the other unst unst o the unst unst and crack a jesus pose
The reason there's a difference between the cue and master loudness, is that the master is post the master gain(output) pot and the cue is just the channel gain.
I just beatmtach with the cue, then lower the headphone volume and switch to master for bringing it in. Once I've brought it in, I drop the headphones and work off the speakers. Headphones IMO, don't give a a precise enough representation of the relative gains of each channel, and on a large club system, those small differences can sound major.
@nelly - good for keeping it real with the Vestax. I used to love that mixer, and I;m still on a Vestax right now.
Saw Carl Cox on the weekend tearing it up on a Vestax PMC CX and damn did he work it. It was on a full Funktion1 system as well and it sounded so fucking great.
My prefered method these days is mixing in the headphones.
That said, when you play on a loud soundsytem with the main speakers right next to the booth and a crappy monitor you don't have much else choice. That is when quality headphones come into their own, i.e. the ones that have proper isolation from external sound e.g. Sennheisers or similar.
That said, I have seen fresh young DJs fail miserably at any method simply because they weren't ready enough on their technique or skill.
Some thing to note is that when you are playing on a loud system, minor corrections become a lot harder to hear, but if you make a big mistake then everyone will know about it. Giving yourself the edge (whatever that is for you in terms of cueing) is never a bad thing.
Mixing in the head phones appears to be a lot more acceptable these days. If you had popped the same question about 4 years ago, the 'Mixing in the phones is cheating' brigade would have flamed you to death for saying so.
The key to all of this though is to be so confident in your beat matching that you are able to pull it off no matter how you hear it and that folks is usually a bit more advanced than many think it is.
In my opinion there are two steps for the average DJ today. Learning the principles at home i.e. how the equipment works and then the second step, really learning how to DJ in a club environment.
Learn the principles and it shouldn't matter which way you cue or mix it as long as you get it right.
Cheers
Nem
Powered by: vBulletin
Copyright © 2000-2021, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.