Why the car?

[Len911]

Lack of trust in your reference monitor system. You trust your system by maybe "proving it" or it needs to earn your trust, and whatever you need to do to accomplish the trust. If you trust it, it's a reference, if you don't, it's just another monitor.

The one thing no one will be able to tell about your mix is what monitors you used,lol! If you told them what monitors you used, then someone who used those monitors, if something wasn't quite right would just inform you that you didn't know how to use them or wasn't familiar with them, so it's sort of a lost cause!

I think there are probably more misconceptions about reference monitors than anything else in recording.

[Cruciform]

Are you writing music that's destined for radio or public release? No? Then why bother? I don't think I've ever checked a mix in the car.

What are you aiming to be heard on? Tv speakers? Buds? Check on them.

[cardell]

I put the track (I'm working on) on my iPhone, then play it via Blue-tooth through my car audio system.
I also use IK Multimedia's ARC 2 room correction software, which included simulated listening environments.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ci1U2uhFqL4

It's a reassuring thing for me to hear it sounding good/great on my car stereo...love that feeling.

Stuart

[waveheavy]

The idea is what the majority are listening on, that's a reproduction source you want to check your mix on. Since the iPod thing, a good many listen on buds, which is sad I think, and mp3 is suitable audio quality today, which also is sad, since it's not as good as .wav format. Prior to the iPad it was the car stereo the majority of Pop and Rock fans listened on.

[ochaim]

i used to check a mix in the car because it the most familiar to me. i had a much better idea how a mix should sound because of the time i spent listening to music while i was driving. the second reason is to hear how the sub sounds, is it balanced with everything else?

generally, you dont experience standing waves so the bass you hear is pretty much what it is. You're so close the speakers you dont really need to worry about reflections masking any frequencies. the 6x9's on the door are directed at your legs and the carpeting. you have some tweeters on the dashboard that might reflect off the side windows but they're so close i dont think it significantly affects what you hear.

these nodes and reflections are potentially very serious problems in a room if they arent addressed and even worse if you're not aware of them. i think thats another strong advantage to checking your mix in a car.

[Kolstad]

Yea, one should think that flatscreen tv's should be a more appropriate reference for many in these forums..

[cardell]

I was joking about simulations of in-car listening, but I see that ARC2 includes such a feature. Now, if the point of ARC2 is to make sure you CAN trust your monitors, and even in their ad blurb they even mention that it saves you running out to your car to listen, why include a simulation of it? I'm not sure I understand the logic there.

Well, what I've found from using ARC for many years is: if it sounds decent on ALL of the simulated listening environments, it will translate very well. For me, it's more about relative levels of instruments, within my mix. Certain listening environments tend to hype/diminish certain frequencies. For example, my bass/drums mix might sound awesome (to my ear) on one setting & out of balance on another.

I want to get myself a real "grot box" in the near future. However, until then, these free Impulse Responses are kinda cool. I do use them from time to time:
'Free Impulse Responses from the iPad, iPhone and Behritone speakers'
http://www.aaronbrownsound.com/free-imp ... -speakers/

Stuart

[cardell]

Looks like I'd better give it a go!

I'd be interested in hearing your opinion on that software.

Stuart

[mojobone]

Well, you needn't; there's a huge long thread on the VI Control forum.


http://vi-control.net/community/threads ... wow.58189/

[fuzzbox]

Hi Graham,
I have used Reference 3 headphone calibration for over a year now and it's excellent. The headphone calibration uses the same algorithm as the monitor system as I understand. My room is not ideal and though I have acoustic treatment using the Reference 3 plugin in addition gives you that one more piece of the puzzle. Used in conjunction with your reference tracks then you should be able to hear what you're missing or what you're over doing. You get that flat response!

If you know your car speakers and what your favourite songs sound like in the car and your mix sounds reasonable against it then you moving in the right direction. I used to take most of my mixes to the car but less so with the Reference 3 plugin.

If your room is not ideal, this plugin is worth a look. Sonarworks will even calibrate your headphones if they're not on the list.

Cheers Graham