I use headphones cause I can trust them and know how they sound no matter where I am, the speakers are usually dicey depending on what room they are placed in and I can't take my room everywhere I go for work. lovely vid Warren, peace and love!
Haven't made any myself but, I would think people who make dark ambient music could mix, or maybe even should mix it on headphones. It really is "headphone music" in terms of listening. I actually imagine it wouldn't even work as a listening experience listening to dark ambient on speakers.
Since most kids and well everyone listens via headphones I find that making a headphone mix balance with speakers works best for the three people who listen to my music.
Been using their DearVR Monitor plugin the last few months while using Shure SRH 1540's into Sonarworks and throwing the plugin after. 1. I've had noticably less fatigue wearing headpones and have fooled myself to not thinking I was on headphones a few times. It's fantastic. 2. Iv'e had the best mix translation results yet since implementing this approach. It almost feels like my own approach to make a makeshift version of VSX. I'm very excited to try this new version from them!
I agree... if you're a speaker mixer DearVR makes you feel more at home! I've tried ALL the competition and I bought DearVR... it was the only emulation that passed the "panning test". If you pan from hard left to hard right in the competition they all end up directly "in your ear" whereas the DearVR, even fully panned, sound like they are "off to the Left or Right in front of you".
It’s helpful to run music you’re familiar with through it and set the settings to where it sounds how you’d expect in certain settings and then mix your own stuff through those settings afterwards
I'm using Sonar Works Sound ID with Sennheiser HD 650's with individual calibration. I had to move recently and largely due to the pandemic, have not been able to build a room. I am getting used to mixing on headphones and I can say that the individual calibration makes a definite difference in the portability of my mixes. I use several other headphones for reference as I do a lot of location recording. I also use Sennheiser HD 280 PRO that have been my favorite location HP, Sony 7506 a pair I've had since the 80's and a recently acquired Audio Technica ATH MX50x that I find great for tracking. All benefit from use with the Sound ID software yielding consistent, portable results but the best for mixing/mastering is the HD 650 with individual calibration.
I mix exclusively on headphones as I haven't any monitors. But I can see this as a useful means of testing your mix in different environments without having to leave your studio. Of course, it's not a pure substitute for multiple source testing but it would give you a better idea on how things stand before you jump to the first new source.
I love mixing on headphones as it allows me to be really scrutinize the sound. I also, as do an increasing majority of people these days, listen to music mainly on head/earphones. I started using Sonarworks a while back, as I realised how unbelievably 'coloured' headphones could be. It gives me a solid/flat base on which to build my music, which really helps me balance elements much more quickly and easily. I've just downloaded Dear VR Monitor and tried it in conjunction with Sonarworks, as I didn't really like the headphone profiles DearVR provide (they really knock off the high end!). But, with Sonarworks in conjunction with DearVR, I can have my mix playing through Neumans, NS10s or Mixcubes playing in a well-balanced room, and in mono summed! If I can make it sound great like that, I've dealt with most issues by the time I get back to full stereo. I also imagine it'll really help with ear fatigue.
Okay this review has been published some time ago, yet I want to thank you for that cautious review. I agree 100% that you have to have some mixing experience (which I have). As you said - if you know what you are listening for this is really helpful. Take reverb, for instance. If you mix with headphones you tend to mix in less reverb than the mix can actually digest because you hear it a lot more intensely. This tool tells you what amount of reverb is okay and when you go overboard.
These days I almost exclusively work on headphones. I actually have Chronic Fatigue, that was triggered by a virus that landed me in hospital at the start of the year. Since then, I've essentially had to change my workflow completely, so that I can still work on mixes from bed. It's been a learning curve, but I'm now at the point where I'm achieving mixes that sound as good as I was getting through monitors. That said, I do feel like I'm still missing out on quite a bit of the experience. The lack of crosstalk and room ambience has made it quite a lot harder to place things in the stereo image, resulting in me often having to shelve mixes until I have the energy to be able to check them on monitors, making sure that the panning is right, and that I haven't overdone the reverb. I've been getting better at it, but something like this could really help with that! I've tried a few different room modelling tools, such as Waves NX that you mentioned in the video, but as you said, it felt too much like I was needing to learn a whole new room, and I ended up just sticking with Sonarworks for flattening the EQ of the cans. I really like the idea of this, as I don't want to learn a whole new room - making my headphones sound more like a room sounds like the ideal! Definitely entering the competition in the hopes that I get this! If not, It's not tremendously expensive, so I may just need to buy it! Thanks for bringing it to my attention! I sorely miss my studio, but this could be a good alternative, while I'm still struggling with fatigue.
wow, hearing is such a gift......life without sound must be supreme hollow echo......i cannot and will not pretend to unserstand......but man would this life be different. Color is not only for the visable......the color of sound, to me, has much greater impact than light spectrum. I love this channel, 38 songs in Nashville with Bill Hullett, Larry Paxton, B.James Lowry, David Briggs, Terru Feller, Scotty Saunders. When David Briggs was setting up, he did this keyboard angellic sound than poured from the live studio speakers.........my skin still shivers at the memory, everyone went quiet for an instant......i said to myself.........this is what i imagine Heaven sounds like at the Gates when St. Peter says....."Welcome"....thank you for doing all of this for us.
i have Waves NX and it does give me good info from one perspective that sounds unatural, but does expose weaknesses in my mix. this sounds much more realistic and look forward to trying it soon.
I’ve got 3 sets of headphones I’ll use for tracking and editing. Only rarely will I mix with headphones late at night at home. I think some of us could do a good job mixing with headphones, but I much prefer good quality studio monitors + I have a sub I can turn off or on when needed. There’s something about the air between the monitors and my ears that I’m used to and prefer.
Another use could be to record the stadium and use it as a reverb. I’m all about surround and this allows you to play with this also. I just wish that the DAW manufactures would add a place for them, in their system! I keep forgetting to turn them off, before rendering the final mix.
Cubase pro versions have the control room section (on right of your main project window) which is awesome and one of the features is inserts for multiple plugins like this and sonarworks SoundrefID, effecting only your monitor outputs, not your mix export. I have 2 sets of monitors and control room allows separate sonarworks profiles for each so you don’t have to turn anything on and off when switching between the 2 sets of monitors in control room! Also separate headphone profiles. You’d love it.
I know this is meant simply for monitoring, but seems like you could throw this on a track as an effect to create some distance on sounds that are a little too close and clawing to the ear
I disagree a little in that new mixers will get the even more use out of this by being able to see how their mixes translate in different environs. If you can make the "kitchen" sim sound good while also making a control room sound good, you probably have dealt with all major level and resonance issues and probably have a good mix. A bad mix will "get terrible" on or more of the environs and make the newer mixer aware. These tools really help with reverb also.
I have been using Dear VR Pro from Plugin Alliance on each channel for a year now and finally, on the master, I control with Sonarworks (KRK Rokitt 6 monitors and headphones Audiotechnica M50X )Too bad the Sonarworks didn't introduce the profile of the Austrian Audio Hi-X55 headphones .... but they preferred the Hi-X50 model (probably consider DJs more important than musicians and sound engineers)
Great to see that companies are taking headphones more seriously! This will help those that are tied to headphones at home or on-the-go. I'll try this.
For me, sometimes I want to feel from sounds, you can't make that happen with a plugin. The only way is with good speakers. You know I use the Ultrasone Headphones which give you almost the feel of low end. Much more than my Sennheiser HD15s. I just downloaded the free trial and give it a shot, thanks for the review. Much appreciated.
Nice review Warren....I liked the settings that just sort of took the edge off the headphones, ie headphones can feel like you are smashed up against the glass a bit...haaa....and the settings in this I enjoyed most just moved you a few feet back....again "took the edge off". And most importantly, I just found out my room was lying to me and adding 10 Db of 130 and an adjacent null at 50 to 100....the advantage of these rooms is there should be no false info on frequencies. I think this tech is going to serve a lot of people well. Thanks for the review...I am considering the VSX at present. But this DearVR software was nice. (Currently I mix 90% of the time on Adam A7 speakers.) Id like to change that to get the room out of the equation, even though IK ARC3 has provided a nice correction curve.
Very interesting new take on the room emulation plugins >> sounds great. I would suggest the 'big boomy' room emulations are there to see how th emusic translates surely... no point otherwise. Also, there is the Acustica Audio 'Sienna' series that emulates just about everything >> I am sure I saw a 'Laundrette' tinny radio one somewheres 😋😋
@@Producelikeapro Really enjoying your focus on producing music in Dolby Atmos as that is next level for all of us, and I have been sharing them with a group of really talented beautiful ambient music producers... ready to produce music for the Metaverse >> super exciting and these studio emulations will at least get us to an affordable 7.1 monitoring environment... great channel thanks for all the time and enthusiasm 🌟🙏🎶🎧😎👌💯👀🔊
Interesting Warren but having purchased Blue Cat Audio's Re Head a while back as I record and mix mostly using headphones (in my case Beyerdynamic DT990 Pro) I have to say that I eventually decided I preferred my own mixes without the Re Head adjustment so now seldom if ever use it and suspect the same would apply with this one too.
Soo, this is basically just a convolution plugin, like any cab sim plugin, but for simulating specific room settings for people who only have headphones? I see a use for that, sounds cool.
I always make the transition and the comparison between Audiotechnica M50X and Austrian Audio Hi-X55 (in Mastering) but now I experience AYAIC COS Pro Eq and Monolith ... they are really interesting and useful!
@@w3stoff I have been using Dear VR Pro from Plugin Alliance on each channel for a year now and finally, on the master, I control with Sonarworks (KRK Rokitt 6 headphones and monitors)
Just got new Sennheiser Hd600 and considered Sonarworks Reference. But this will do the job + have the room emulation. I haven't used room emulation before, though. I would like to know the story behind the armband.
or...you might make a preset from your cool mixing room to..well, take your room with you when you're on the move. Also it seems to make sense to go and "copy" a mixing room from a friend's studio you like to check how you're mix approximately translate there... dunno.
Why do you think this is not for a beginner? This should provide flatter response, right? Wouldn't that benefit anyone regardless of their level. Of course it's not gonna make a good mixer out of a beginner but why do you think this wouldn't mean much to someone who has less experience in mixing? I play guitar for a long time but I'm a newcomer when it comes to mixing and producing so I'm eager to hear your opinion! P.S. Thanks for all the amazing videos Warren! Love your channel!
Hi Mladen! Great question! So, ALL the young UA-camrs that have been mixing for just a short period do0 not like this kind of technology at all. They are all on headphones and have not started on speakers, so if you use headphones and you don't want to emulate speakers that might be one issue. Secondly if you've been playing music for years you are NOT a beginner! Someone who is first getting into music might not be able to adjust this!
The most important way to answer your question is:- It is designed for someone to emulate what they want to hear, a version of a room they know and love, if you've never worked in a control room with speakers what are you going to emulate? Many thanks, Warren
@@Producelikeapro Thank you so much for this answer! Now that I think of it I guess I was just focusing on getting the flatter response rather than the room simulation because this plug-in should provide that too, right?
I don't believe you are supposed to actually "mix" with this enabled. It's simply a suggestion of what your tracks will sound like in these environments without actually going there. It's all in how you interpret the results. If some problem clearly reveals itself we can address the solution then and there. As a person who mixed live 40k seat stadium sound from a control room for 18 years I can imagine this to be a valuable tool. Even though that is not the intended use.
It could be interesting to see what it does to DI instruments. Maybe the original signal would need to be subtracted a bit to exaggerate the effect. An MS mix could be interesting too. (Yes, I understand that it’s not what it was designed for)
Thanx Warren! I have been leaning towards this type of solution since watching your waves demos. I really think I would like to try this and maybe reference tracks in the most simple environments and try to force myself to mix in that room "Set and forget" as you say. I already have the HD 280 pros. BTW just curious. When you bypass the room are you bypassing the HP correction as well? I enjoyed this thoroughly as always!
Hi Warren , Sorry to contact you on here but I bought the sceaming course with mastery upgrade but It isn''t in my streams on the Pro mix Academy. I have contacted support a few times but haven't heard back
I have a serious question about the audio engineering business: Is it possible to make a living as an engineer without youtube or other social media? Are there enough clients for everybody who is into recording and mixing? How many studio owners with lots of experience, great acoustic treatment, great gear etc. we have nowadays, that run their studios more than part time? Is audio engineering being tought in social media only to be tought again in social media, instead of being really practiced? And how much of a profit does an average audio engineer make comparing his recording- & mixingjobs with social media-work, meaning giving courses and doing advertisement? 50% ? Or less? Or more?
aside from its use for working on a mix, it seems like it would be pretty handy as just a stereo enhancer that you could whack on your tracks during the final mastering process. Gives a lot of immediate presence and thickness to the sound without needing to tweak a million variables
I need some new headphones, I'm always trying to find behind the neck over the ears ones that aren't too tight, and have no latex at any contact points. All that and sounding good too! It's harder to find than it seems like it should be. I would settle for over the head and ears ones, if they weren't too tight behind the ears but sounded good. I keep listening to tons of specs after googling but everything that isn't, what I'm hunting gets loaded in, even when I boolean search. I like the sound of these. Just wonder about the tightness around the ears.
I used to use Sonarworks for my headphones, but I ended up overcompensating, if you know what I mean. It made me feel like swimming upstream all the time, because in the end what it does in essence is laying a huge filter on your mix, for which you have to compensate. Am I wrong?
Hi Frank, when you use correctional software it is just there to even out your headphones or speakers so they are more accurate. Once you’ve finished mixing make sure to turn that off before you bounce
@@Producelikeapro Of course, I get that. What I'm saying is, the thought of mixing into a compensation filter, is a huge brain breaker for me. It really throws me off.
Been wondering the same. Sounds to me like a reverb in diff setting (room, hall, etc). Besides, it's hard to judge when the volume of the pre and post are vastly diff, on the favor of the plug, of course. "louder is better" so...yeah!
@@dannyd6664 Actually, the 'sound virtualizer' for headphones are already in market for cunsumers. Its have DSP to calculate and simulate the sound reberb in several types of hall/room. But, the integration with VR technology is awesome. Still, I prfre the direct sound when using headphones or IEMs.
Hi Danny, obviously it’s created with two speakers in a treated room in the optimal listening position. A reverb would be a point source captured in a room with no concern for those things
I like headphones better, It allows me to focus better. My monitor controller lets me cross bleed the sound in my headphones to where it sounds like your sitting in front of speaker.
The trick here is a EQ curve and a algo to synthesize Crosstalk , not just position... Especially when it comes to enclosed headphones..... Ive always preferred Open back for mixing.... Way more natural.... Maybe , this is the step Moreso , even earbuds can sound open... Thats my take.... All the Atmos Algos from my experince never are totally on point... (I own DearVR Pro) but, I still feel they are chasing what , in my experience Sony nailed with Positioning on the old PSVR.... Position wise? Blows everything away...... But for mixing? Maybe, like sonarworks they'll offer a calibration service for your headphones, or a bundle purchase price... Thats IF you want a mix on phones tag... Just throwing it out there for convo.. Lord as Devils advocate... Who knows... But, why a room?
Hi , you mention it’s not in binaural I thought the whole concept of the plug-in overall is binaural or is it when it’s on doly atmos setup is engaged it then makes it binaural
I rarely use headphones. So, question... I understand one of the settings is "car". Will using this setting, whilst listening through speakers, negate the need for me to double check mixes in my car?
Not sure they will ever develop a headphone that will emulate the sensation of the bass hitting your entire body with such a powerful wave of sound that it nearly knocks you over.
Sounds a bit harsh to my ears. I got dearVR few yrs ago but kind of forgot about it. Might have to go through a few settings. I sort of like Altiverb and Ocean Way, few others but I don't know if the photos aren't influencing perception. I don't like guitar amp IRs cause it after a short period of time the fatigue sets in and I need to throw down the phones, whatever and vacate the premises. I've been strictly on my own last 15 yrs, away from bands, music scene etc and had to do that for various reasons. Anyway, I'm ok with whatever happens at this point, c'est la vie -
always on my phones...good Sony model and when you KRANKED that sucker i really had a hard time even noticing,,,not enough of a "difference maker" to play with on what i have to work with in my opinion thanks tho...be well
Just a thought. Why is everyone mixing on headphones? Could it be because a large percent of consumers will only listen to music on Airpod spacial audio once they have it?
I think it's because people are being cheap and trying to convince themselves that mixing on $60 headphones is a good idea. A plugin like this can get you there, but you have to be a good mixer in the first place for that to happen haha. Monitors are usually the first step to getting there, since good monitors are what ensure the best translation across systems.
I always mix on headphones. We moved from a place where I had a studio separate from the main house to a smaller space where my studio is directly across the hall from the den and one quarter the size. Whenever I would mix anything with a lot of bass on the studio monitors my wife would tell me to turn the bass down. I've tried a couple of room emulations and they may help...I'm not sure. Once you've mixed the advice is to bypass the plug-in before rendering the file, so the sound changes dramatically. I don't know... Couple of points: When I mix I always sit at the mixing desk, which I would assume is where the impulse of any room should be sampled at. So I don't quite understand why you would load up a room and then change the parameters. I get listening to different areas of your space while mixing on speakers but on headphones you have no idea when, say, adding ambience, where you are in the virtual space. Maybe I'm missing something? It seems to me that these types of plug-ins are more complicated than they need to be. Set me at the mixing desk at Abbey Road Studios (or wherever) and let me mix! And who mixes in their kitchen? Finally, why is it that when someone speaks with a British accent they always sound smarter? Don't get me wrong, you ARE very smart, but it just adds a little something to the equation. And do American accents sound smarter to a Brit? Great stuff as always.
I'm not Warren, but I can provide a little bit of insight on this. If you're adding ambience on a set of headphones, how do you know when you have too much or too little? Because there's no room sound in your headphones. So if you think it sounds good, then play it in a room, maybe then it sounds muddy because what sounded just right in your headphones, was actually way too much. That's why the ambience emulation in plugins like this is a good idea. And you don't put them on your master bus, you put them on your monitoring bus. I have Waves NX set up on mine constantly, and have gotten used to it. And my mixes have gotten a little bit better, too. Turning it off and on to check my mix, is really interesting, because there is some EQ correction for my headphones on so automatically, that alternate sound profile is enough to refresh my ears in give me a different perspectivel
I mix almost exclusively in headphones (AKG K240), as I have had to work that way for years due to having housemates. I have Presonus monitors but am not often able to use them.
Hi Warren! I have a question. Right now I'm looking forward buying open headphones on a budget. I currently cannot mix with monitors as I can't make much noise in the place where I live. Could you recommend me some nice models please? Thanks ever so much!
Interesting I tried a 1khz tone through the Mix Room A, which gives a right heavy output through the plugin, not on mixroom B or the anechoic room. Need to email Dear VR to see what they say.
Atmos is already light years ahead of Quad. It’s in every movie theatre, Netflix requires it on every show, Labels are requesting new music be mixed for the format and Apple has Spatial, Amazon has their own format etc etc and professional mixers mix in Atmos for all of these various deliverables.
@@Producelikeapro My phone has Atmos. I'm not sure what that means. Multi-speaker is what I assumed, but apparently I have no idea what I'm talking about, which is not unusual.
It's coming off a bit phasey. At least over UA-cam on these unsophisticated earbuds I'm using on the go with my phone. UA-cam algorithm also. So I can't be sure it's not better than I'm experiencing at the moment.
EDIT: The profile in DearVR app shows DT 990 250ohm. Mine are DT 990 PRO 250ohm (pretty sure these are one in the same). I switched to a different pair of headphones and it sounds much better with it's profile. ------------------- I just tried it with my BeyerDynamics DT Pro 990's and it sounds AWFUL. Nothing like it should. If I turn the headphone emulation/compensation off, it sounds much better. I also own the WAVEs NX and it sounds INFINITELY better and closer to my room. I can't get over how bad it sounds. They must have really messed up on the BD headphone models....
Not sure I get the whole concept! Any room is a compromise of many things. First off you haven't the playback of the speakers.......Makes me question loads of things.....looks up in utter confusion.. I guess people who know a lot more than me....what ever works.... Male
Because mixing on headphones is very fatiguing, also you need to check your music on more than just headphones, as music is consumed on lap top speakers, Malls, cell phones speakers, cars and many more places than just headphones.
@@Producelikeapro that's why I said learn your headphones, so you know what the song will sound like on a phone, in the car or hifi etc you learn your headphones sound like you would learn your room monitors, given all monitors and rooms are different. Focus on getting your mix and mastering templates in the rough ball park. I think learning the headphones is the fatiguing part, until you know them. The problem is with users headphones that boost bass with pre amps. I listen to my friends beats and they blow my head off 😂
@@whoisp indeed. So most mixers use rooms and then check on headphones. That’s a process most people I know do. Now you can use your headphones you know very well and check the mix in a room, the car etc. these kids of softwares give you multiple ways to check your mix while still using your headphones. Many thanks
Do YOU mix using headphones? Let me know if you do or don't use them below!
I do. I mix using my Audiotechnica M50x
I do because I have no other option...I don't have studio monitors
Of course I love mixing on headphones!!!! This technology is awesome!!!
I use headphones cause I can trust them and know how they sound no matter where I am, the speakers are usually dicey depending on what room they are placed in and I can't take my room everywhere I go for work. lovely vid Warren, peace and love!
Haven't made any myself but, I would think people who make dark ambient music could mix, or maybe even should mix it on headphones. It really is "headphone music" in terms of listening. I actually imagine it wouldn't even work as a listening experience listening to dark ambient on speakers.
Since most kids and well everyone listens via headphones I find that making a headphone mix balance with speakers works best for the three people who listen to my music.
Haha thanks for sharing!
Been using their DearVR Monitor plugin the last few months while using Shure SRH 1540's into Sonarworks and throwing the plugin after. 1. I've had noticably less fatigue wearing headpones and have fooled myself to not thinking I was on headphones a few times. It's fantastic. 2. Iv'e had the best mix translation results yet since implementing this approach. It almost feels like my own approach to make a makeshift version of VSX.
I'm very excited to try this new version from them!
Thanks ever so much for sharing Connor!
Thanks for the info Connor....I may give that a try with Shure 1840's. Considering purchasing VSX at present also.
I agree... if you're a speaker mixer DearVR makes you feel more at home! I've tried ALL the competition and I bought DearVR... it was the only emulation that passed the "panning test". If you pan from hard left to hard right in the competition they all end up directly "in your ear" whereas the DearVR, even fully panned, sound like they are "off to the Left or Right in front of you".
Realphones passes the "panning test" as well.
It’s helpful to run music you’re familiar with through it and set the settings to where it sounds how you’d expect in certain settings and then mix your own stuff through those settings afterwards
Indeed, that's why I used a song I had recorded and mixed in that room.
Yep. Exactly that. Adjust it to accommodate a wide variety of mixes you're familiar with. Then probably set and forget.
I'm using Sonar Works Sound ID with Sennheiser HD 650's with individual calibration. I had to move recently and largely due to the pandemic, have not been able to build a room. I am getting used to mixing on headphones and I can say that the individual calibration makes a definite difference in the portability of my mixes. I use several other headphones for reference as I do a lot of location recording. I also use Sennheiser HD 280 PRO that have been my favorite location HP, Sony 7506 a pair I've had since the 80's and a recently acquired Audio Technica ATH MX50x that I find great for tracking. All benefit from use with the Sound ID software yielding consistent, portable results but the best for mixing/mastering is the HD 650 with individual calibration.
I mix exclusively on headphones as I haven't any monitors. But I can see this as a useful means of testing your mix in different environments without having to leave your studio. Of course, it's not a pure substitute for multiple source testing but it would give you a better idea on how things stand before you jump to the first new source.
Thanks ever so much for sharing Brett!
I love mixing on headphones as it allows me to be really scrutinize the sound. I also, as do an increasing majority of people these days, listen to music mainly on head/earphones. I started using Sonarworks a while back, as I realised how unbelievably 'coloured' headphones could be. It gives me a solid/flat base on which to build my music, which really helps me balance elements much more quickly and easily. I've just downloaded Dear VR Monitor and tried it in conjunction with Sonarworks, as I didn't really like the headphone profiles DearVR provide (they really knock off the high end!). But, with Sonarworks in conjunction with DearVR, I can have my mix playing through Neumans, NS10s or Mixcubes playing in a well-balanced room, and in mono summed! If I can make it sound great like that, I've dealt with most issues by the time I get back to full stereo. I also imagine it'll really help with ear fatigue.
Okay this review has been published some time ago, yet I want to thank you for that cautious review. I agree 100% that you have to have some mixing experience (which I have). As you said - if you know what you are listening for this is really helpful. Take reverb, for instance. If you mix with headphones you tend to mix in less reverb than the mix can actually digest because you hear it a lot more intensely. This tool tells you what amount of reverb is okay and when you go overboard.
Thanks ever so much for sharing!
On my 3rd pair of 280 pro s. Comfortable, good response and affordability. No need to crank em. ✌😎
Headband and ear pads are replaceable too. 👍
Thanks for sharing Peter!
These days I almost exclusively work on headphones. I actually have Chronic Fatigue, that was triggered by a virus that landed me in hospital at the start of the year. Since then, I've essentially had to change my workflow completely, so that I can still work on mixes from bed. It's been a learning curve, but I'm now at the point where I'm achieving mixes that sound as good as I was getting through monitors.
That said, I do feel like I'm still missing out on quite a bit of the experience. The lack of crosstalk and room ambience has made it quite a lot harder to place things in the stereo image, resulting in me often having to shelve mixes until I have the energy to be able to check them on monitors, making sure that the panning is right, and that I haven't overdone the reverb. I've been getting better at it, but something like this could really help with that!
I've tried a few different room modelling tools, such as Waves NX that you mentioned in the video, but as you said, it felt too much like I was needing to learn a whole new room, and I ended up just sticking with Sonarworks for flattening the EQ of the cans.
I really like the idea of this, as I don't want to learn a whole new room - making my headphones sound more like a room sounds like the ideal!
Definitely entering the competition in the hopes that I get this! If not, It's not tremendously expensive, so I may just need to buy it!
Thanks for bringing it to my attention! I sorely miss my studio, but this could be a good alternative, while I'm still struggling with fatigue.
wow, hearing is such a gift......life without sound must be supreme hollow echo......i cannot and will not pretend to unserstand......but man would this life be different. Color is not only for the visable......the color of sound, to me, has much greater impact than light spectrum. I love this channel, 38 songs in Nashville with Bill Hullett, Larry Paxton, B.James Lowry, David Briggs, Terru Feller, Scotty Saunders. When David Briggs was setting up, he did this keyboard angellic sound than poured from the live studio speakers.........my skin still shivers at the memory, everyone went quiet for an instant......i said to myself.........this is what i imagine Heaven sounds like at the Gates when St. Peter says....."Welcome"....thank you for doing all of this for us.
i have Waves NX and it does give me good info from one perspective that sounds unatural, but does expose weaknesses in my mix. this sounds much more realistic and look forward to trying it soon.
Fantastic! Thanks for sharing Jay!
I’ve got 3 sets of headphones I’ll use for tracking and editing. Only rarely will I mix with headphones late at night at home. I think some of us could do a good job mixing with headphones, but I much prefer good quality studio monitors + I have a sub I can turn off or on when needed. There’s something about the air between the monitors and my ears that I’m used to and prefer.
Been using its big brother the DEARVR MONITOR! Which sounds fantastic!
Thanks ever so much for sharing!
Another use could be to record the stadium and use it as a reverb. I’m all about surround and this allows you to play with this also. I just wish that the DAW manufactures would add a place for them, in their system! I keep forgetting to turn them off, before rendering the final mix.
Cubase pro versions have the control room section (on right of your main project window) which is awesome and one of the features is inserts for multiple plugins like this and sonarworks SoundrefID, effecting only your monitor outputs, not your mix export. I have 2 sets of monitors and control room allows separate sonarworks profiles for each so you don’t have to turn anything on and off when switching between the 2 sets of monitors in control room! Also separate headphone profiles. You’d love it.
I am thinking your exactly right on. Useful more so for vastly experienced traveling pro's & studio engineers.
Thanks ever so much for sharing!
I know this is meant simply for monitoring, but seems like you could throw this on a track as an effect to create some distance on sounds that are a little too close and clawing to the ear
I disagree a little in that new mixers will get the even more use out of this by being able to see how their mixes translate in different environs. If you can make the "kitchen" sim sound good while also making a control room sound good, you probably have dealt with all major level and resonance issues and probably have a good mix. A bad mix will "get terrible" on or more of the environs and make the newer mixer aware. These tools really help with reverb also.
Great! I’m excited to hear that! Thanks for the great opinion
Hi did someone who used the neuman ndh 30 and can say day are good ?
very usable if you are needing a room. One room might be your favourite. Good idea that takes us another step to a great mix.
Thanks Robert!
I have been using Dear VR Pro from Plugin Alliance on each channel for a year now and finally, on the master, I control with Sonarworks (KRK Rokitt 6 monitors and headphones Audiotechnica M50X )Too bad the Sonarworks didn't introduce the profile of the Austrian Audio Hi-X55 headphones .... but they preferred the Hi-X50 model (probably consider DJs more important than musicians and sound engineers)
Thanks ever so much for sharing! I appreciate it
Great to see that companies are taking headphones more seriously! This will help those that are tied to headphones at home or on-the-go. I'll try this.
Thanks ever so much
For me, sometimes I want to feel from sounds, you can't make that happen with a plugin. The only way is with good speakers. You know I use the Ultrasone Headphones which give you almost the feel of low end. Much more than my Sennheiser HD15s. I just downloaded the free trial and give it a shot, thanks for the review. Much appreciated.
Nice review Warren....I liked the settings that just sort of took the edge off the headphones, ie headphones can feel like you are smashed up against the glass a bit...haaa....and the settings in this I enjoyed most just moved you a few feet back....again "took the edge off". And most importantly, I just found out my room was lying to me and adding 10 Db of 130 and an adjacent null at 50 to 100....the advantage of these rooms is there should be no false info on frequencies. I think this tech is going to serve a lot of people well. Thanks for the review...I am considering the VSX at present. But this DearVR software was nice. (Currently I mix 90% of the time on Adam A7 speakers.) Id like to change that to get the room out of the equation, even though IK ARC3 has provided a nice correction curve.
I’m using LCD2s with acusticas sienna , and my headphone mixing is significantly more balanced
Thanks for sharing
Sienna is great for quickly flicking through a bunch of setups to find problem areas. They even have a profile for my ancient hd580s.
How does Sienna compare to DearVR? (cpu, quality, etc) @JulianMoore1
Very interesting new take on the room emulation plugins >> sounds great. I would suggest the 'big boomy' room emulations are there to see how th emusic translates surely... no point otherwise. Also, there is the Acustica Audio 'Sienna' series that emulates just about everything >> I am sure I saw a 'Laundrette' tinny radio one somewheres 😋😋
Thanks Ben! Yes, excited to try Sienna!
@@Producelikeapro Really enjoying your focus on producing music in Dolby Atmos as that is next level for all of us, and I have been sharing them with a group of really talented beautiful ambient music producers... ready to produce music for the Metaverse >> super exciting and these studio emulations will at least get us to an affordable 7.1 monitoring environment... great channel thanks for all the time and enthusiasm 🌟🙏🎶🎧😎👌💯👀🔊
@@LittleFellaDynamics thanks ever so much Ben! I'm really trying to help people as much as possible!
Interesting Warren but having purchased Blue Cat Audio's Re Head a while back as I record and mix mostly using headphones (in my case Beyerdynamic DT990 Pro) I have to say that I eventually decided I preferred my own mixes without the Re Head adjustment so now seldom if ever use it and suspect the same would apply with this one too.
Thanks ever so much for sharing your experience
Soo, this is basically just a convolution plugin, like any cab sim plugin, but for simulating specific room settings for people who only have headphones?
I see a use for that, sounds cool.
I always make the transition and the comparison between Audiotechnica M50X and Austrian Audio Hi-X55 (in Mastering) but now I experience AYAIC COS Pro Eq and Monolith ... they are really interesting and useful!
Thanks ever so much for sharing!
Try realphones, there is a preset for Austrian Audio Hi-X55
@@w3stoff I have been using Dear VR Pro from Plugin Alliance on each channel for a year now and finally, on the master, I control with Sonarworks (KRK Rokitt 6 headphones and monitors)
Hi Warren! What about Slate VSX? Have you tried them? Greetings from Finland!
Excited to try it!
Just got new Sennheiser Hd600 and considered Sonarworks Reference. But this will do the job + have the room emulation. I haven't used room emulation before, though.
I would like to know the story behind the armband.
or...you might make a preset from your cool mixing room to..well, take your room with you when you're on the move. Also it seems to make sense to go and "copy" a mixing room from a friend's studio you like to check how you're mix approximately translate there... dunno.
It’s a useful tool and I think it’s important to check mixes on my headphones but I do get tired of wearing them.
You should try out Acustica Audio Sienna Studio :)
Thanks for the recommendation
better Embody ? custom ear fingerprint seems very interesting...Tried Sienna by Acustica audio ?
Why do you think this is not for a beginner? This should provide flatter response, right? Wouldn't that benefit anyone regardless of their level. Of course it's not gonna make a good mixer out of a beginner but why do you think this wouldn't mean much to someone who has less experience in mixing? I play guitar for a long time but I'm a newcomer when it comes to mixing and producing so I'm eager to hear your opinion! P.S. Thanks for all the amazing videos Warren! Love your channel!
Hi Mladen! Great question! So, ALL the young UA-camrs that have been mixing for just a short period do0 not like this kind of technology at all. They are all on headphones and have not started on speakers, so if you use headphones and you don't want to emulate speakers that might be one issue. Secondly if you've been playing music for years you are NOT a beginner! Someone who is first getting into music might not be able to adjust this!
The most important way to answer your question is:- It is designed for someone to emulate what they want to hear, a version of a room they know and love, if you've never worked in a control room with speakers what are you going to emulate? Many thanks, Warren
@@Producelikeapro Thank you so much for this answer! Now that I think of it I guess I was just focusing on getting the flatter response rather than the room simulation because this plug-in should provide that too, right?
I don't believe you are supposed to actually "mix" with this enabled. It's simply a suggestion of what your tracks will sound like in these environments without actually going there. It's all in how you interpret the results. If some problem clearly reveals itself we can address the solution then and there.
As a person who mixed live 40k seat stadium sound from a control room for 18 years I can imagine this to be a valuable tool. Even though that is not the intended use.
would you put sonarworks before or after this plugin?
Hi, can anything reproduce the "Carver Holograph" sound thing.........or imaging prospects
What kind of headphones are the white ones you sometimes use ?
Those are Direct Sound headphones
Hi, did you compare it with Sienna by Acusticaaudio ?
I haven’t compared yet! Will do
It could be interesting to see what it does to DI instruments. Maybe the original signal would need to be subtracted a bit to exaggerate the effect. An MS mix could be interesting too. (Yes, I understand that it’s not what it was designed for)
Or dry vocals, maybe as a fake drum room?
Sounds like an interesting tool!
Thanks ever so much
Ok, big surprise. I'm confused. Is this to check mixes or to be used in the mix.
You should talk about Slate VSX!
Marvellous idea!
I have mixed on headphones I like using reference 4 for that but I don’t like using room emulations as I find them unrealistic .
Try realphones, I think they have the best emulation
Thanx Warren! I have been leaning towards this type of solution since watching your waves demos. I really think I would like to try this and maybe reference tracks in the most simple environments and try to force myself to mix in that room "Set and forget" as you say. I already have the HD 280 pros. BTW just curious.
When you bypass the room are you bypassing the HP correction as well? I enjoyed this thoroughly as always!
Hi Brett,
yes the internal bypass button, turns off the whole plugin.
@@DearReality thanx...I ended up buying the software...I'm still in the bizarre stage. But I like it!
Hi Warren , Sorry to contact you on here but I bought the sceaming course with mastery upgrade but It isn''t in my streams on the Pro mix Academy. I have contacted support a few times but haven't heard back
Hi Rune, sorry to hear that! Can you email me at warren@producelikeapro.com with your email address you used? Many thanks
@@Producelikeapro it’s ok it’s been sorted this afternoon. Thanks Warren
I have a serious question about the audio engineering business: Is it possible to make a living as an engineer without youtube or other social media? Are there enough clients for everybody who is into recording and mixing? How many studio owners with lots of experience, great acoustic treatment, great gear etc. we have nowadays, that run their studios more than part time? Is audio engineering being tought in social media only to be tought again in social media, instead of being really practiced? And how much of a profit does an average audio engineer make comparing his recording- & mixingjobs with social media-work, meaning giving courses and doing advertisement? 50% ? Or less? Or more?
Have no experience with these type of headphones. I would love own a pair😎👍
No giveaway link? 🤔
It's up there now! Sorry about that!
aside from its use for working on a mix, it seems like it would be pretty handy as just a stereo enhancer that you could whack on your tracks during the final mastering process. Gives a lot of immediate presence and thickness to the sound without needing to tweak a million variables
Interesting Idea! Thanks for sharing
Does it render with this effect? or print it live
@@cerebralcoma4850 Sure, you can also use it for a mixdown. Just don't bypass it, while rendering.
I need some new headphones, I'm always trying to find behind the neck over the ears ones that aren't too tight, and have no latex at any contact points. All that and sounding good too! It's harder to find than it seems like it should be.
I would settle for over the head and ears ones, if they weren't too tight behind the ears but sounded good. I keep listening to tons of specs after googling but everything that isn't, what I'm hunting gets loaded in, even when I boolean search.
I like the sound of these. Just wonder about the tightness around the ears.
Akg k240's might be a good starting point. Semi-open, detachable cord, less than 60 bucks. I forget I'm wearing them all of the time
@@pmshrevecomm Thanks, I'll check those out.
I used to use Sonarworks for my headphones, but I ended up overcompensating, if you know what I mean. It made me feel like swimming upstream all the time, because in the end what it does in essence is laying a huge filter on your mix, for which you have to compensate. Am I wrong?
Hi Frank, when you use correctional software it is just there to even out your headphones or speakers so they are more accurate. Once you’ve finished mixing make sure to turn that off before you bounce
@@Producelikeapro Of course, I get that. What I'm saying is, the thought of mixing into a compensation filter, is a huge brain breaker for me. It really throws me off.
What is the difference between the simulated room effect and the reverb effect on down-mixed stereo sound?
Been wondering the same. Sounds to me like a reverb in diff setting (room, hall, etc). Besides, it's hard to judge when the volume of the pre and post are vastly diff, on the favor of the plug, of course. "louder is better" so...yeah!
@@dannyd6664
Actually, the 'sound virtualizer' for headphones are already in market for cunsumers. Its have DSP to calculate and simulate the sound reberb in several types of hall/room. But, the integration with VR technology is awesome. Still, I prfre the direct sound when using headphones or IEMs.
Hi Danny, obviously it’s created with two speakers in a treated room in the optimal listening position. A reverb would be a point source captured in a room with no concern for those things
P.S I was concerned about the fact that when engaged the plug in is actually slightly quieter than the original source.
@@Producelikeapro
Since it is a 'virtual speakers', just crank up the 'virtual volume knob'. Sometime, the reverb effect may distracting, IMHO.
I like headphones better, It allows me to focus better. My monitor controller lets me cross bleed the sound in my headphones to where it sounds like your sitting in front of speaker.
Thanks ever so much for sharing Jesse!
Which monitor controller have you got?
@@adambutcher3194 The BEHRINGER Monitor2 Usb. About $160.00 in most places that sell it.
@pkeaton1 do you mean the monitor controller puts crossfeed in your headphones to simulate a more natural listening environment?
Yes!
To me, I'd like to find a best in class of room emulation at this stage so I can mix into it. Which one sounds better ?? :) Thanks, Warren.
Thanks Kev!
Me too
@@Mako-DC marvellous idea!
The trick here is a EQ curve and a algo to synthesize Crosstalk , not just position... Especially when it comes to enclosed headphones..... Ive always preferred Open back for mixing.... Way more natural.... Maybe , this is the step Moreso , even earbuds can sound open...
Thats my take.... All the Atmos Algos from my experince never are totally on point... (I own DearVR Pro) but, I still feel they are chasing what , in my experience Sony nailed with Positioning on the old PSVR.... Position wise? Blows everything away...... But for mixing? Maybe, like sonarworks they'll offer a calibration service for your headphones, or a bundle purchase price... Thats IF you want a mix on phones tag...
Just throwing it out there for convo..
Lord as Devils advocate... Who knows... But, why a room?
Hi , you mention it’s not in binaural I thought the whole concept of the plug-in overall is binaural or is it when it’s on doly atmos setup is engaged it then makes it binaural
He could probably click the widget that said Stereo and choose Binaural. I think.
I didn’t say it wasn’t Binaural? I said I’m not listening to Binaural mixes to test it. Thanks
I rarely use headphones. So, question... I understand one of the settings is "car". Will using this setting, whilst listening through speakers, negate the need for me to double check mixes in my car?
Yes! That's the idea :) Check everything from the comfort of your studio
It’s not ntended for use with speakers at all. So setting it to “car” while listening with headphones on will emulate listening to your mix in a car.
@@drinkinslim Exactly, dearVR MIX is a binaural plugin. It is designed for headphones.
I was about to buy this plug-in after watching this video.....but then I saw the price tag. So I went with the Waves Nx CLA for $300 less.
Fascinating
Thanks ever so much
Not sure they will ever develop a headphone that will emulate the sensation of the bass hitting your entire body with such a powerful wave of sound that it nearly knocks you over.
Probably not, but no one mixes in that environment for extended periods.
@@philranger9825 - True. Demonstrates the need for multiple listening alternatives to ensure the best results.
You can get wearable subpacs
Likely makes little sense, but no matter what headphones and monitors tell me, until a mix translates well in my car/van stereo, it needs work.
Whatever works for you is great!
Sounds a bit harsh to my ears. I got dearVR few yrs ago but kind of forgot about it. Might have to go through a few settings. I sort of like Altiverb and Ocean Way, few others but I don't know if the photos aren't influencing perception. I don't like guitar amp IRs cause it after a short period of time the fatigue sets in and I need to throw down the phones, whatever and vacate the premises. I've been strictly on my own last 15 yrs, away from bands, music scene etc and had to do that for various reasons. Anyway, I'm ok with whatever happens at this point, c'est la vie -
All those headphone mixing software are bananas, as each headphone sounds massively different with different headphone amps
always on my phones...good Sony model and when you KRANKED that sucker i really had a hard time even noticing,,,not enough of a "difference maker" to play with on what i have to work with in my opinion thanks tho...be well
Thanks for sharing Adrian!
Lol the brother from David Hasselhoff:)isn´t he looks like...a bit? Thank you for this good Video,it helps me out.Ill Subscribe this channel
Just a thought. Why is everyone mixing on headphones? Could it be because a large percent of consumers will only listen to music on Airpod spacial audio once they have it?
I think it's because people are being cheap and trying to convince themselves that mixing on $60 headphones is a good idea. A plugin like this can get you there, but you have to be a good mixer in the first place for that to happen haha. Monitors are usually the first step to getting there, since good monitors are what ensure the best translation across systems.
@@JTguitarlessonsdo you think it's possible to become a good mixer through learning mixing on headphones? 😅
I use headphones 90% of the time to mix.
Thanks for sharing
I always mix on headphones. We moved from a place where I had a studio separate from the main house to a smaller space where my studio is directly across the hall from the den and one quarter the size. Whenever I would mix anything with a lot of bass on the studio monitors my wife would tell me to turn the bass down. I've tried a couple of room emulations and they may help...I'm not sure. Once you've mixed the advice is to bypass the plug-in before rendering the file, so the sound changes dramatically. I don't know...
Couple of points: When I mix I always sit at the mixing desk, which I would assume is where the impulse of any room should be sampled at. So I don't quite understand why you would load up a room and then change the parameters. I get listening to different areas of your space while mixing on speakers but on headphones you have no idea when, say, adding ambience, where you are in the virtual space. Maybe I'm missing something? It seems to me that these types of plug-ins are more complicated than they need to be. Set me at the mixing desk at Abbey Road Studios (or wherever) and let me mix!
And who mixes in their kitchen?
Finally, why is it that when someone speaks with a British accent they always sound smarter? Don't get me wrong, you ARE very smart, but it just adds a little something to the equation. And do American accents sound smarter to a Brit?
Great stuff as always.
I'm not Warren, but I can provide a little bit of insight on this. If you're adding ambience on a set of headphones, how do you know when you have too much or too little? Because there's no room sound in your headphones. So if you think it sounds good, then play it in a room, maybe then it sounds muddy because what sounded just right in your headphones, was actually way too much.
That's why the ambience emulation in plugins like this is a good idea. And you don't put them on your master bus, you put them on your monitoring bus. I have Waves NX set up on mine constantly, and have gotten used to it. And my mixes have gotten a little bit better, too. Turning it off and on to check my mix, is really interesting, because there is some EQ correction for my headphones on so automatically, that alternate sound profile is enough to refresh my ears in give me a different perspectivel
I mix almost exclusively in headphones (AKG K240), as I have had to work that way for years due to having housemates. I have Presonus monitors but am not often able to use them.
Not a good way to work if you're aiming to do this professionally.
@@JTguitarlessons That's so, but necessity often drives one's reality.
Hi JT, anything that gets someone working and making music is a good thing! Thanks
@@xaoslordxaosynth106 indeed, whatever works best for you is great!
Hi Warren! I have a question. Right now I'm looking forward buying open headphones on a budget. I currently cannot mix with monitors as I can't make much noise in the place where I live. Could you recommend me some nice models please? Thanks ever so much!
Sony MDR MV 1
Watch this video with headphones on
Preferably with the same headphones I’m wearing haha
Interesting I tried a 1khz tone through the Mix Room A, which gives a right heavy output through the plugin, not on mixroom B or the anechoic room. Need to email Dear VR to see what they say.
Yes, please send a mail to our support team (support@dear-reality.com). They should be able to fix the issue.
VSX from Slate is the best, IMO.
As far as Atmos, yeah remember quad. Theater application. No one else will care again.
Atmos is already light years ahead of Quad. It’s in every movie theatre, Netflix requires it on every show, Labels are requesting new music be mixed for the format and Apple has Spatial, Amazon has their own format etc etc and professional mixers mix in Atmos for all of these various deliverables.
And of course all immersive video experiences are requiring immersive audio.
@@Producelikeapro My phone has Atmos. I'm not sure what that means. Multi-speaker is what I assumed, but apparently I have no idea what I'm talking about, which is not unusual.
Awkward enough I gain stage & mix my levels with headphones & then switch to monitors when im trying to add a vibe
Whatever works for you! Thanks
It's coming off a bit phasey. At least over UA-cam on these unsophisticated earbuds I'm using on the go with my phone. UA-cam algorithm also. So I can't be sure it's not better than I'm experiencing at the moment.
EDIT: The profile in DearVR app shows DT 990 250ohm. Mine are DT 990 PRO 250ohm (pretty sure these are one in the same). I switched to a different pair of headphones and it sounds much better with it's profile.
-------------------
I just tried it with my BeyerDynamics DT Pro 990's and it sounds AWFUL. Nothing like it should. If I turn the headphone emulation/compensation off, it sounds much better. I also own the WAVEs NX and it sounds INFINITELY better and closer to my room. I can't get over how bad it sounds. They must have really messed up on the BD headphone models....
I wonder what the issue could be? Maybe it’s the wrong profile that’s loaded up?
Not sure I get the whole concept! Any room is a compromise of many things. First off you haven't the playback of the speakers.......Makes me question loads of things.....looks up in utter confusion..
I guess people who know a lot more than me....what ever works....
Male
Indeed. This kind of technology that many companies have been expanding into is not for everyone.
Let's be honest Warren... You would not mix for a client on this
I would check mixes using this software. That’s what most people I know would primarily use it for that already have mixing environments they know
Why would you want to mix in a room, when nobody listens to the music in the room you mixed in 😂 mix in your headphones but learn your headphones.🤷
Because mixing on headphones is very fatiguing, also you need to check your music on more than just headphones, as music is consumed on lap top speakers, Malls, cell phones speakers, cars and many more places than just headphones.
@@Producelikeapro that's why I said learn your headphones, so you know what the song will sound like on a phone, in the car or hifi etc you learn your headphones sound like you would learn your room monitors, given all monitors and rooms are different. Focus on getting your mix and mastering templates in the rough ball park. I think learning the headphones is the fatiguing part, until you know them. The problem is with users headphones that boost bass with pre amps. I listen to my friends beats and they blow my head off 😂
@@whoisp indeed. So most mixers use rooms and then check on headphones. That’s a process most people I know do. Now you can use your headphones you know very well and check the mix in a room, the car etc. these kids of softwares give you multiple ways to check your mix while still using your headphones. Many thanks
Sounds quite phasey. Sienna ftw.