Mixing on cans

I mix on cans ALOT for a myriad of reasons.  But for FINAL or PRECISE mixing, fidelity, mastering, EQ-ing, etc. ... Studio listening (Adams speakers, ARC, etc. etc.) becomes necessary for generalized translations.
 
If you can't change this fact (?) you'll need non-EQ-biased cans, like AKA k702s (iirc), or similar.  I'm pretty sure others here will recommend appropriate cans for your dilemma.
 
Also, having several sets of cans may help; pairs you know might render the lows mids &/or highs for your peculiar needs.
 
Note: For me, the NOTS: Ear-buds (even the best) ... are a no-brainer.  They hurt the ears and never perform as advertised (for me).  Noise-cancelers (like the Boss Quiet Cans) likewise suck for translating per se (despite being great for noisy environments).
 
Hope this helps.

Awesome!  Any specific recos on a model of headphones that won't break the bank?  Suitable for rock music?

I like to mix in cans, even though I have excellent speakers in a nice-sounding room. The cans are like a second opinion. If it sounds good in the cans AND on the speakers, it gives me a high degree of confidence.
 
My current favorite headphones are the ubiquitous ATH-M50s. They do a fine job, they're comfortable, rugged, and inexpensive (~$150). A little hyped in the low end, but I've become accustomed to that so it doesn't get me into trouble.
 
Lately I've been thinking about adding another pair of headphones to my collection, mainly just for pleasure listening but also as a third reference. Something that complements the Audio-Technicas. So I've been researching and listening to many models in my price range (< $300) and at the moment the Shure SRH-940 (~$250) is at the top of my short list. 

I pretty much mix entirely in headphones. I have some Shure SRH1840's. They are open back and i love them. I prefer to mix in headphones but as others have said, you have to check your mix on other systems.

Personally, I can't stand mixing on headphones.
 
I find them really useful for checking stuff but:
a) I couldn't stand working with headphones on for that length of time
b) your stereo imaging is all over the place

COMB FILTERING.
 
THIS ISSUE IS NOT GOING TO GO AWAY.
 

I went the AKG Q701 route. Could not resist the sale. Very handy for mixing when monitors are not an option.

Are you sure about that Bat?
 
Yeah I agree mostly that cans are not the preferred way to mix. At least not if it's the only way you listen to the mix.
 
I also understand that many of us hobbyist music producers don't have treated rooms, and for one reason or another, must keep the volume down so others in the house can do homework or watch TV in another room. Some don't have the money to buy speakers.
 
So..... I do, on occasion, track and mix primarily in my cheap $30 Yamaha cans. The last song I recorded was done 95% in the cans. I do however, play the mix through the studio monitors to check it. Normally, it is the other way around..... 95% done on speakers and checked in cans and ear buds on my mp3 player.
 
BUT... if all you have is a pair of stereo headphones, by all means use them. Just understand the shortcomings of mixing that way..... because as Bat points out, there are things you will miss in the cans that you will be able to hear in the speakers.....

bluzdog
The mix in cans debate has been around for a long time. I agree with Bat, don't mix in cans esp. alone. If you've heard Bat's tunes you can't argue. On the other hand the "my room sucks, I live in an apartment, I can only work on my stuff a 2 a.m." camp certainly has validity. My opinion and situation is that I do what I can when I have to with cans and a VRM Box, I always finish up in my somewhat treated room using ARC and my Dynaudio BM5A's. I find I get much more hands on time this way. Just my $.02.
 
Rocky

Do you have a link to your music?  I have ARC and BM5A's as well.  My mixes stink.  Partly because of my lack of skill and practice.  Mixing is not my forte.  Also is your room treated?

 
 
There are a few other issues too with mixing on headphones. You will tend to hear the reverbs sooner and louder because the speaker system is right on your eardrum! You may hold back on them a bit thinking you have them right only to find that things are a little dry on speakers. One possible solution is to return all your reverb returns to a master reverb return buss and leave it set at unity say. Then when on speakers you might find you have to nudge that buss which has all your reverbs on it up 2 db or so maybe.
 
Stereo imaging becomes a little more pronounced on headphones too. Like things panned hard to one side really sound that way in your phones. There are systems (hardware/software) that introduce precise amounts of crosstalk to remedy this. We also have speaker modeling devices that can simulate speakers in a room on your headphones. I have not worked with this technology yet. I know there are some forum members here that do use this setup and I welcome their input as to how effective they are. If you can switch your mix into mono before the headphone out, comb filtering issues (from within the DAW that is not outside obviously) will still be revealed and can be sorted.
 
There are some great sounding headphones around. Listen to the advice here regarding makes and models. These forum members will cut to the chase and at least you know where to start listening from. Don't listen too much to the salesman either. Do not sell your speakers, it is silly advice.
 
I have got an old pair of Sennheiser eh150's and they sound like my monitors up loud! Sometimes I rip them off in the middle of the night thinking I must have my monitors on because the sound is so good but only to find that my speakers are in fact powered off and silent!
 
I know I rant on about a single mono Auratone type speaker down low. Yes it is also good for this scenario too. Because you won't disturb anybody with this either. If you are down to 75 dB SPL or quieter your neighbours won’t hear it. I have worked this way at all hours with no complaints. It stops the noise issue and you are still on a speaker and getting a more accurate speaker mix too. While you are sitting directly in front of a speaker like this (8 or so inches away) i.e. close to it and looking directly at it and it is soft in level, your room acoustics do not come into play. You can rule them out too.
 
You still need some quick checks up loud on your main speakers though for bass and reverb levels.
 
 
 
 
 
 

+1 on the ATH-M50s! Changed my life!

Beer cans.  Turning them into empty cans is the best.

I think guitartrek has the right idea. Even though you might thing you mix may sound great through your headphones, it's a good idea to use other speaker set ups as a double check. Yes, checking it on a set of ear buds is a good idea if you know your listeners will be using them.

I originally planned my whole studio around cans. My entire plan was to be mobile (had to, band recorded in another location down the street and mix/master was at my house). I envisioned sitting on the patio, watching the sun set/rise with cans on, mixing and mastering...oh so sublime. Well, then I woke up.
 

Of course, with bands, all things change! So after the NEW band started recording at my home, being mobile did not seem as important. I mixed probably 20 songs and they sounded like crap. I started with my Sony studio cans that, at the time I bought them in the early 90s, were considered excellent (again I am a beginner, so consider this as you read). Having never used them, they were in “like new” condition and sound incredible, but that means nothing in comparison to today’s highly efficient cans. I then started using another set of cans, noise canceling and cheap in comparison. My results did not change, but I learned an interesting lesson regarding how to mix to the cans or monitors’ one uses. My experience led me to two conclusions…stick with the Sony cans for now and BUY monitors to use as the preferred method!
 
After some microphone & cable upgrades and technique improvements, O.K. and some more experience under my belt, my new monitors have improved my mixing/mastering results immensely. In fact, there is no comparison, as monitors are the way to go, but if you can’t then definitely check on other systems. I still compare and contrast with the cans, Audiophile home stereo, cheap man cave stereo and car stereo, just to keep it real, as I can’t anticipate what anyone would be using to listen to my songs on. I can’t wait to finish the new mixing/mastering space, which has undergone acoustical treatments etc. I anticipate a whole new listening experience and another step forward in the learning process.