Realphones, Sienna, Waves NX, SoundID? HEADPHONES mixing SHOOTOUT!
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- čas přidán 16. 07. 2024
- Yo, my very dear audio friends! Recently I got a mail from DSoniq, which asked me to review their Realphones. I decided to make it big and went for a real shootout between headphone mixing platrofms.
Which one is the best? Whis one should you choose? Let's find out!
0:00 Intro
1:58 Session overview
3:05 SoindID Reference
10:15 Acustica Audio Sienna
14:49 DSoniq Realphones
22:20 Waves NX
27:39 Toneboosters Morphit
31:13 Summing tha thingz up!
Hellooo, I'm back! What do you think about the idea of headphones mixing? Ever tried it? Planning to do so? Which software serving this purpose do you want to try / do you own? Lemme know down below, another hot discussion coming!
Slate VSX, bought it about 3 Years ago.
Software has been constantly updated.
It is a System that is specifically optimized for the VSX Headphones.
@@rudigerk that's why it's not reviewed in this vid :) Thanks anyway!
@@FoliaSoundOverall i think these Headphone Plugins are a good Solution for People too lazy to treat their Room aka me. 😂
But you really need to get used to it.
Thank you for the Video
@@rudigerk might be :D But some guys have phones as their only reasonable choice, I think. Very small rooms, kids, neighbors etc.
@@FoliaSound by the Way! Hornet also have a Headphone Plugin.
great platform, ive watch a few of your vids and i like your approach. thanks for their comparison information on the choices out there.
No probs, happy to have you here, man!
I use Sienna and I don't have any constant problems with my mixes, so I'm happy. You're right about them going overkill with the rooms though, I mostly use the Spitfire room with the Sirio 705 monitors and no sub. I also have the addon that adds a few night clubs and a movie theater, which is helpful for checking how the bass will react in a big room for the music I'm working on - I don't know of another plugin that can do that. So in total I use 3 rooms out of all those.
3 is absolutely enough, agreed!
Can do your own headphones EQ correction outside of the monitoring plug-in.... It's just important to know your monitoring system really well... Than to focus primarily on options....
Very good breakdown. Waves sounded great.
I'm so glad i find your video. Your speak just like i feel this plugins.
Have Audeze LCD4z, Neumann NDH30, Sennheiser HD650 and pair Sound ID with all Waves modules (with head tracker) and so far happy. But issues with using Waves for obvious reasons, and also have heard good things about Realphones….don’t have yet. An evolving environment, but so happy I can now mix with much fewer translation issues than previous. Thanks for this review. Was useful.
Thank you too!
Hi this was a great video! I primarily mix on headphones and i use Neumann ndh 30, Sennheiser 650/600 and Audeze MM-500 with a RME DAC and SPL Phonitor 2 headphone amp.
I own everything that you reviewed except for Sienna. I totally agree with you that some headphones sound better with certain software but on the other hand it’s just like monitors even in the most well treated room some people still won’t like those monitors even though they are flat/ balanced and translating in and outside the environment. I honestly have grown fond of Realphones the curves that they offer for all of the headphones that I have seem to just work for me even though it is a bit bright but when you take it out of easy mode you have a lot more control over the curve and you can tame the top end, adjust the room simulation and crossfeed affect.
Sound ID works and has worked for me for years but it’s not exciting to listen to for me, it almost sounds boring at times depending on the headphones. LOL just my two cents!
How does the spl phonitor crossfeed compare to the software crossfeed?
@@fredtimothy940 Honestly it’s cool but I really like it because it’s one less plugin and i can keep it tuned on outside of my DAW but CanOpener gets it done ✅ in software and if you use Realphones crossfeed is built in.
I think the best way to compare these is to do a mix using each, then bypass and compare which translates the best...Just listening through headphones to see how they compare don't give it any justice.. Sienna sounds kinda hi fi compare to Realphones but its the decisions you make while using each is what matters the most...
True, thanks for a comment!
For me the Sonarworks Sound ID is a good choice for room correction and headphone correction, gives me good results. I have similar impression like you as the program crash on a regular basis (but only the Systemwide while the VST3 added on my Controlroom in Cubase is running without any problems) so hopefully it will be better with updates. On my Audio Technica m40 and Beyer Dynamic Sound ID gives new life to the headphones. I also have HEDDphones and I will run them with Sound ID sometimes but I realized that I can't mix on them without Goodhertz CanOpener Studio so that is a plugin I recommend you try for your Neumann cans too. Once I got the crossfeed correct the HEDDphones are insane. I actually tested the Realphones last weekend, it had some nice touches but was uninstalled after 1 hour of use. For me it was about tricking your ears to make the cans sound good rather than to get a great refrence for mixing. To run Sound Id then Waves sound like an exciting idea. I have a pair of Ollo 5x and they have just recently partnered with Waves NX for a totally flat listening experience - now I am gonna test it for sure.
Whoah, you're a headphone guy, Glenn, didn't know that. Thanks for an insight! I know Can Opener, but I didn't treat it as a correction/simulation environment, that's why it's not in my review. Thanks!
I use sonarid but why mixes sound harsh in mobiles in desktop speakers, i have pulldown again in mix???
great show keep it up my friend
Thanks, James!
Regarding the Waves NX you may use the camera for the head tracking, it does a great job. It needs to be no more than three feet from your head. It is better when the camera is closer. Mind is on the desk at three feet, when the head is moving you have the experience if you’re in the room. I do not own the Bluetooth head tracker device to make a comparison. The response from the camera in the NX Tracker within a room is excellent, sometimes there's a small latency response.
Would love you to try VSX and compare it to sienna
I think you missed the point of Realphones by never exiting the default "Easy mode" which is done in bottom left sandwich menu where you can actually tweak stuff. I use it with HD800s and I like it. But I also like it as an FX, especially when using those big speakers in the bottom simulation module. And yeah, 100% is too much for the top module, maybe 70-80% max.
I simply tried to make the vid as short as possible...
@@FoliaSound makes sense. Also I felt like boring about taxes in Russia was a bit toxic. As EU has been the main sponsor of the war for last decades, feeding Putin with piles of money.
@@Tvaroh , well, if you really think that anything I do is toxic - not the best idea to watch my stuff. Seriously! I do my best not to support Russia in the war. I'm not a politician responsible for deals with Russia, I was always against them. Period
I am happy with my Hedds and Realphones, it works great for them. I think you didn't check it properly as Realphones is a great and very flexible tool that allows you to adjust all parameters, just switch in Advanced mode and you can set it up very well for any headphones using reference tracks.
Regarding the clean correction without room it may differ as this module takes into account further processing with the crossfeed, speakers angle and room simulation for better result.
Hedds! I'd love to try v2 one day!
I've been using Sound ID and recently went from Sennheiser 660 to with my Audeze MM-500 which are absolute monsters. I rarely use my Genelec monitors (I live in a condo) but with this combination my masters translate beautifully now.
Great setup, congrats :)
@@FoliaSound Thanks. I always enjoy your videos. Keep em going.
Hi,! Is the difference between yourSennheiser 660 and the Audeze MM-500 gigantic? Please tell me, I am thinking of making the investment in those Audeze model! I'm still a little far away because they are a little expensive. Thanks in advanced!
@5thPro Imo the difference is definitely noticeable in terms of clarity and also bass. They are also noticeably heavier but comfortable once I got used to them. My mixers are noticeably better also and so is the translation. My 660's are the next best thing but not as good as the MM-500 hence the price difference. I bought mine last year and a few days ago one of my ear pads came loose so I contacted them, gave them my serial and they sent out a new pad with no charge. Waiting for them now but I'm still using them while I wait so their support is responsive. I also wondered if if the difference in sound is enough to warrant the price difference and I think it'd be hard to go back now. That's why I'm giving you this much detail. I know how it is. Hope this helps. :)
late to the party so if no reply i understand, just curious on a few things, 1. when mixing a song would it be bad or good to have the plug in on while ur mixing and making mixing decisions? 2. other channel mentioned referencing alot, alot of songs i know and love....does this mean listen to a Slayer song that i know and love with the plug in on so i hear what its actually doing, and if so could i not export that Slayer song with the plugin turned on, to always have that to quick ref easily? 3. Should this plug in just be used to hear whats wrong with your mix? when do u make mixing changes, and with the plug in on or off. I really hope for a reply thank you
You need to use the other interface on Realphones and set it to 'Optimised Correction'. I use that setting with my Beyer 1990's and it works perfectly. Not sure you were using it the right way, there is an easy setting and pro setting. 🤔
I have been using the Nuendo Headphone Match and the Immerse Virtual Studio All Access, and I prefer the one that comes with Nuendo
Waves has impressive rooms. Shame I'll never buy it!
I think playing back the audio was great as, for example, I could've listened to the NDH30 correction on my own NDH30.
It's interesting how aggressive the curves were on some of the NDH30 corrections. Almost as if they were trying to make them sound like Beyerdynamics.
Great video, Paweł! Thank you.
Edit: at 31:45 I had to pause because I thought someone was yelling for me outside 😅
Oh, you own NDH 30? Nice, you could exactly hear what I heard. Cheers, Mark!
@@FoliaSound yes, I purchased them primarily based on your recommendation!
loved the " Reaction only " with no Sound for us to hear 😅👍🏻
Folia please review Audio technika M50x headphone I waited much more you review on this headphone I am happy my freind if you review it in this week😊🎉
I have them in the studio. They are very detailed, but they aren't flat for sure. Shortest review for you :)
@@FoliaSound ok folia so can m50x good accuracy for mixing purpose
Compare their frequency response curve to the Harman target curve. No, they are far from accurate for mixing purposes, but they offer decent isolation for tracking.
I also use a very good pair of headphones. I use Audeze MM-500. At the same time, I purchased the Steven Slate VMX as I moved studio. I was afraid that I would not find the right thing. I had projects to complete. I will say that Steven Slate should send you a pair with the platinum rooms package. I think you will keep your Neumann pair but will find that the VSX is very impressive for room emulation. I now do more mixing in headphones than in the past!
I liked Acustica Sienna but the company was terrible about answering simple technical questions. They even became rude when I pushed for answers that they were obviously avoiding. I also own Sonarworks products and agree they are very good at what they do. Just adding my 2 cents to the conversation.
I also have been using SPL Phonitor for many years for crossfeed. I think you will find crossfeed to be awesome with your Neumann pair. I see someone here is endorsing CanOpener.
Thanks for all the videos past and future!
I want to try the VSX but I’m scared of the durability of the headphones!
Thank you too! Can Opener is on my list of things to be tried out ;)
@@Musictron Durability is a well documented issue. My pair have not had any issue but you can feel the cheap in the construction. I also can add that the 3.5mm cable sucks and is quite short in use. You will want to replace it as possible. If you do give them a try be sure to get the Platinum package. This gives you all the rooms forever. Replacing the headphones becomes less of an worry
@@MusictronI'm on my 3rd Replacement Headphones..
But Slate Support is very quick.
In the new Model they changed that plastic part prone to breaking to Metal.
Cześć mam Wawes NX są moje Beyery DT1990 i powiem że chodzi to świetnie
As for me the less stuff you put in the monitoring chain, the better you are. The headphones should not add any room sound or reverb because what if you need to add some room reverb to drums or vocals when it's already there because of the stuff you put in the monitoring chain.. It's just tricking your ears that everything is sounding nicer than it really is. SoundID for me is only good for the studio monitors for checking the mids or cheaper headphones but it does make the stuff sound dull in the highs and too present in the high mids (on the headphones, but on the speakers I've found something different). I like manual 3band eqing in Pro-Q3 (linear phase) for headphones way way better. Just broad strokes to even out the tonal balance. As for auratones I've never found anything that emulates it properly even 60-70% so I'm using real ones haha. They are amazing for balancing and vocal volume automation. You know exactly if the vocal is in the right pocket and fully audible at all times if it's good on Auratones. NDH30s I found somewhat too forgivable in that aspect.. They have a wider sweet spot
I'm absolutely with you, but I also know people who achieve good results, using room sims and phones correction, so I suppose it can make some sense.
I prefer to work with Neumanns only, because I still make references to other tracks when mixing a lot, so I don't mind non-linear response, as long as it remains the same for everything I'm listening to. Cheers!
Ironically, VSX wipes the floor with all of the above
One important trick to mix with headphones is to use the harman curve for you specific model.Youre welcome.
lol this men did not use the waves captor, he have not ^^, maybe he use R2R version ??
You dont need this kind of stuff....grab a reference track and start mixing
Yes!
So we are not hearing anything from what you are listening to under headphones?! THAT MAKES NO SENSE!!!
Unless you are listening on the exact make and model of headphones he it makes no sense to hear the examples.
Unless you are listening on the exact make and model of headphones he it makes no sense to hear the examples.
Yo people shall i tell you the TRUE SECRET of awesome mixes with headphones?
......
DONT use any of that ON Ear headphones,
Use IN EAR instead the mixes you create will blow your minds
When i mix on the massive studio speakers in comb with the ns10's and then mix only with in ear headphones the similarity is soo close
All on ear headphones i tried were failures
I used to own Shure SE846, they were quite amazing, but never close to my Neumann NDH 30... Also, working in-ear brings serious risk for your hearing.
of course you shouldnt "pump it to the max" with in ears to prevent any eardrum or hearing damages - for us here in the studio it turned out very well to do a pre mix with in ears and then finesse the mix with the speakers
@@FoliaSound
That's interesting, What in ear headphones you're using?
Not a very fair unbiased overview of Realphones when just sticking to the easy mode. If you look under the hood you will find everything you want.
True, I skipped some advanced settings not only on Realphones. The vid became painfully long anyway :(
@@FoliaSound No worries, I understand you were trying to get out a brief overview to keep the video short. I appreciate the content. For your information, Realphones 2.0 just dropped with the the ability to import your soundID headphone curve. Or make adjustments with a 16 band parametric. It may be worth your time if you still have the trial to explore all the possibilities, I feel like custom eq curves with all the advanced features will make a beyond magical combination with your lovely set of NDH30's. Perhaps your audience may also benefit from a full review, either way keep up the good work!