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Wondering what the big studios and engineers use for musicians headphone mix when tracking a whole band?

Do they run for instance, 8 bus lines out of main mixer and then to an individual mixer for each musician? Or do all the musicians get the same mix/different level?

I have been considering buying 4 or so cheap mixers for this.

thanks

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anonymous Thu, 11/03/2005 - 16:57

dont buy lots of mixers buy a headphone mix box, designed for this purpose. you might wanna consider using soundcard outs instead of big mixer aux sends if this suits.

definitely try and get em all listenig to the stero bus its far less balls to juggle and its what the song sounds like so they might play more in the pocket but performance can be really affected by monitoring eg a singer will be more likely to sing loud if its voice is a little quiet in the headphones

anonymous Fri, 11/04/2005 - 16:31

Its different in different studios, but at the places I like to work we bus the drums into a stereo mix, and mult the stereo drums, bass, guitar and click into a oz audio hm6 (discontinued).

however mackie just came out with the exact same thing for about 250 bucks. the mackie hmx56

it works with protools too if you have a daw only setup. just do bus sends in the daw into your outputs, and you have an amazingly flexible solution.

steve

Davedog Fri, 11/04/2005 - 23:40

Excellent information gentlemen.

I may make this a sticky after all the opinions or methods are in.

Its important to stress how much of your 'vibe' comes from what the musicians are playing off of. I realize that there are limitations based on gear and gear flexability. This is where tact and people skills can save a performance. Grumpy players doesnt mean a clean and comprehensive part.

Studios can become famous for their headphone mixes.

Ya spend three and a half hours getting a perfect drumsound in the studio monitors.........and spend ten minutes on the foldback....

I guess I know too many picky players. That would include me.

When I'm tracking, theres nothing more comforting than to ask for a mix of instruments in the cans and get it solid and easily. I get some very good takes like that....as a musician/talent......

LOVE the Oz.

If ya got enough subs and auxes, these things become golden when you can break em out to the subs in Stereo.

Yeah. I think its really important to have a good headphone mix...and have it at every station in yer tracking area.