OK so after forever, my song is nearly finished. I've been 'nearly finished' for about a month now but the day when I'm 'actually finished' never seems to get any closer. I guess this is what chasing the dragon must feel like.

I thought I was finished yesterday...

My mix was sounding pretty nice on my monitors, and through my headphones, and through some small earphones. Happy Days! I went and made myself a sandwich to celebrate while I waited for my song to be burned to CD (Rock n Roll!!!). I played it in the car and it sounded good there too. Awesome!!

 Then I finally played it through my laptop speakers. It was terrible. It was quiet, tinny and whispery, and the vocal was louder than before. I was gutted. 

I need to fix this. Any advice on how to do so would be massively appreciated.

Cheers.

Hint: I would have never called it done without listening on the laptop speakers.

2nd: Did you use any "pro" track as a reference on everything (including the laptop speakers)? Sometimes, even pro stuff can sound bad on laptop speakers.

3rd hint: See hint #1 and #2.

I say forget laptop speakers. They are rubbish, I don't care what anyone says. They are not a reference. Bapu is right. Does an even well mixed and mastered album blow you away on laptop speakers. Not really. 

A much smarter thing to do is to mix in mono (L+R) into a single Auratone type speaker at low volume. You can make much better informed decisions. Computer speakers (even with a sub) are an OK reference check for sure but they tend to behave much like the Auratone does. 
I also think a quick transfer to mp3 and an earbud check is also good value. I mixed an Indonesian female pop music album and it was great on all speakers but not the earbuds. Just had a little too much bottom end. After a quick tweak down there the buds sounded great and hardly effected the speakers.

Ditto.... on occasion I have listened to mixes and tunes from fellow cakers on lappy speakers but I generally will refrain from constructive commentary from that listening experience. 

I will use my lappy to power my nice buds or some cans and give comments based on that, but rarely from the speakers.... they are horrid. 


If it sounds good in the car, I'd say you nailed the mix pretty good myself. 

OK - but I guess the next question is....

Because SO many people listen through laptop speakers, is it worth compromising the overall quality of the mix so that it better suits this format?

If yes...how?

Cheers.

Greekmac7,

Gotta go with what Guitarhacker sez. If it's good in the car (and decent earbuds) you've probably got it. Assuming a decent system in your car of course.

Laptop speakers are generally cr@p. I never listen on (on actual) laptop speakers. Buds/phones on the laptop is what I do.

With no disrespect to those that listen on laptop speakers, I seriously doubt if they are audiophiles. And if they are they know to go to the real thing. You're chasing a "magic bullet", IMHO. 

The lappy speakers do not reproduce anything below what?  200hz or so... maybe 150hz.......... so there is no bottom in the sound. Kinda like listening to Pandora radio on my phone. It's OK with buds, but otherwise.... no. 

I would not mix for lappy speakers because they can not reproduce the bottom at all worth a hill of beans. 

greekmac7


OK - but I guess the next question is....

Because SO many people listen through laptop speakers, is it worth compromising the overall quality of the mix so that it better suits this format?

If yes...how?

Cheers.

No, sorry to be brutal, but sod 'em!


You should not have to compromise YOUR mix to accommodate a few unbelievers.


Or, if you want to please everyone - do 2 mixes - 1 good one and 1 for the masses.

For all these reasons mentioned, when I forward my songs to friend's, coworkers, family members I usually include a note something along the lines of suggesting they listen through their favorite buds, or speakers, and avoid the laptop speakers.  I think one of the best ways to listen to my own stuff is on my small Walkman mp3 player and the buds that came with it. Others have been surprized by how good they sound. When is the last time anyone has actualy seen anyone listening to music on anything but some good buds or a set of small phones from the local big-box store (cars aside).

Anyone that is in the habit of listening through their laptop speakers probably does not have very discerning ears to begin with. All of my friends that are into music understand the purpose of a good set of speakers/earphones for the best possible listening experience. Do not compromise your recording for people who will not even appreciate it.