The super secret way to not have to use monitors

[truekimbo2]

So i figured this out awhile ago, and i've never seen anything online about it.

its my SUPER secret technique for avoiding having to pay for expensive monitors.

Take 2 speakers with totally different tonal quality, i use one thats really bass heavy and one thats pretty top heavy. Don't use two sets of speakers, use 1 of each speaker.
Whatever you're hearing will now directly translate to pretty much any sound system. I've tested this extensively, and at least with the 2 speakers i'm using, it sounds the same whether i listen on a laptop, headphones, car whatever.

Dudes, if you try this and it works for you, now YOU OWE ME.

drop some feedback on one of these tracks. I arranged them in order of what i think people will like.

http://soundcloud.com/kayimbo/sets/semi-finished-1

edit: when choosing your two speakers, obviously one of them must have bass, or you won't be able to hear bass... If you use 2 different sets of 5$ computer speakers i doubt this will work.

[Heartless]

This sounds like a terrible idea.

[truekimbo2]

try it. I'm not lying when i say i've tested it quite a bit.

[jrisreal]

I don't see how it would do what you say, but I'm not gona judge whether it works or not.

[-[2]DAY_-]

so you fool-proof tested your idea by using only the two speakers you have, and by checking them on a laptop, headphones, and a car....

And instead of purchasing monitors, we should

Take 2 speakers with totally different tonal quality [. . .] one thats really bass heavy and one thats pretty top heavy

Because its no ball ache whatsoever to randomly test the tonality of all the shitty playback speakers lying about your friend's garage, so you can properly UN-match your pair.

This is a pretty sneaky way to plug your soundcloud. Give out really shitty advice, and bait us into listening to your tunes to see how bad the result is
I bet you just made this whole thing up

[Eridu]

and i've never seen anything online about it.

theres a reason for that.

[truekimbo2]

Lol, i can see you've definitely tested this for yourselves.

Don't click on my soundcloud link unless you've confirmed it for yourself and its helped you.

I know alot of people out here are mixing on crappy headphones, and i was full of fury everytime i worked on a track and listened to it on other sound systems until i figured out this trick.

as for the theory? i have no clue why it works for me. My assumption is that you end up hearing a mean(median?) mix of whatever you're working on. That mean/medium is going to apply no matter where you're listening to it (warning! fairly sure this is not applicable if you're talking about real sound systems with real subbass. Everything home listening or small venue should apply though.)

If you can't afford monitors, try it.

edit: Also i think my WIPs stand up nicely to anything on your Soundcloud 2day. I see your monitors have gotten you far.

[blinx]

Among other reasons why i wont "endorse' this method, but Stereo imaging will go to hell with two monitors that are not matched correctly. Sure you can mix in mono but this sounds like a bunch of hopefully thinking and unicorns to me lol.

Decent pair of headphones + spectrum analyzer plugin and you should be able to get good results (more and more producers are traveling so much they dont use monitors jsut headphones anyway)... unless you suck at mixing lol then go buy crappy spaekers mismatch them and you may feel like you "sounding" better until you play through some real speakers and you just murder everyone ears with your super secret mismatch monitor tech that ended up exagerating 200hz range plus your highs will either be unheard or so annoying you'll clear the floor in seconds flat.

[truekimbo2]

I don't appear to be having stereo imaging problems, and thats actually what i care most about in my productions/spent the most time on. There are so many factors to stereo, i don't think this technique would fuck you up more than anything else. I think good imaging is more a product of good knowledge. I dunno i could be wrong.

I checked out the song in your link, sounds like you know what you're talking about with the stereo.

[safeandsound]

Frequency response is not the only thing to consider when mixing.

[Shum]

Transient response, whether your listening space is treated in any way, etc...

[Dystinkt]

iv never produced on anything but headphones, and my mixdowns always seem good to others, and plus youd need at least 2 pairs of speakers to begin with, nice concept though

[VirtualMark]

congratulations, this is a serious contender for the DUMBEST THREAD EVER

[3rdeye]

lol @ thread, serious jokes

[sunny_b_uk]

LOL this is so funny, no this is wrong all wrong! no point in any1 trying this trick. i heard your songs and your mix downs sound fine ish, you need 2 centre your sounds a bit more too much panning about.. also with basses your totally lacking in the 200hz - 400hz range which is normally the hardest bit 2 get right when you dont have proper monitors. so yeah due to that your basses are really thin and not bassy :S you REALLY need monitors, sorry but that trick might sound nice to you and ul be able to get your production ideas down.. but when it come to mix downs you will most likely fail.

[sunny_b_uk]

u will only get so far with what your doing, maybe if u spend more time analyzing your favourite songs, carefully using your ears.. then applying it to your tracks that you make, then yeh you might be able 2 fix certain mix down issues.. but honestly you need monitors, monitors will pick out details easier, like clicks and background noise.. using some random speakers wont translate those details properly and yet again you will not have proper mixdowns because of that too.

[truekimbo2]

I think the comment about 200-400hz is interesting. Was that on 1 song in particular or were you saying thats across the range of my stuff?

Ultimately though, My mixes sound like i want them to sound. I like higher pitch stuff and wide stereo.
Like i said, i'm not lying when i say this technique appears to work for me, and before using this i had a ton of problems with my mixes.

I can't afford monitors, this thread was aimed at people that also can't afford monitors.
I've gone to guitar center and listened to my music on their monitors, and it sounds just like it does at home/on a laptop in my headphones.

Laugh all you want, but if you can't afford monitors, try it. Headphone mixing doesn't cut it at all, in my experience.

edit: couldn't find examples of superior-to-mine mixing from most of the naysayers, feel free to post something that blows me out of the water and i'll pay attention to what you say.

[jrisreal]

dude you have been here since 2007.

either a) you haven't made any effort to learn throughout your stay at the DSF hotel or b) you be trollin, bro.

yeah I went ahead and decided to judge.

[Kes-Es]

I can't hate on ghetto monitoring techniques, but I'd definitely keep my silly home theater system over two shit speakers that are probably going to confuse and hurt my ears.

[truekimbo2]

dude you have been here since 2007.

either a) you haven't made any effort to learn throughout your stay at the DSF hotel or b) you be trollin, bro.

yeah I went ahead and decided to judge.

I like how your soundcloud goes back a couple months, our music isn't even close to the same class, but you're quick to judge something you haven't tried for yourself.