Hey y’all!
I primarily produce from my home studio with my good ol’ DT770s, so making sure my mixes translate well across different playback systems (and don’t sound like total trash) is a top priority. Lately, I’ve been battling some translation issues, where the width of my mixes sound a lil funky across different systems. This conundrum has inspired me to embark on a very dramatic 'translation crusade' (how mindful and demure!).On that fabulous note, I had a blast chatting with Engineer Thomas Warren (Charli XCX, Dominic Fike, Sam Smith).
I asked him: “How do you ensure your mixes translate well across various playback systems? Do you follow a specific approach?”
Effective Techniques for Mix Translation
He said:
"To achieve a well-balanced sound, the most critical thing I’ve done was make sure my room was acoustically treated and tuned. I use a variety of studio monitors like the NS10s, ProAcs, and PMC Two Two 8s which allows me to gain different perspectives on the mix. In addition, I reference my work to the top-charted mixes on multiple devices. I also use AudioMovers to stream my session to AirPods Max and iPhone for further adjustments. I think it’s important to simulate how listeners may experience your record on consumer devices. The adjustments made while listening this way are small, like balancing and taming any harsh or problematic frequencies. I do this at the end of my mix to tweak that last 5%."
Applying Insights to Your Workflow
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Thomas's answer. What stood out to me was his method of referencing both a top-charting mix and his own on various consumer devices. Inspired by this, I started comparing my mixes to other tracks on multiple devices—like my AirPods and even my little bro’s Skullcandy earphones. Dedicating more time to listening across different consumer devices and comparing my mixes ‘against’ other tracks has been a slay source of perspective for my mixes, hearing how the width, and frequency spectrum translate. Definitely a workflow keeper y'all!
Thanks Thomas for the insightful answer!
Catch you next blog!