{"id":4937,"date":"2026-09-21T01:10:13","date_gmt":"2026-09-21T00:10:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sonarworks.com\/soundid-reference\/blog\/?p=4918"},"modified":"2026-09-21T01:10:13","modified_gmt":"2026-09-21T00:10:13","slug":"benefits-and-limitations-of-mixing-on-headphones","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sonarworks.com\/blog\/uncategorised\/benefits-and-limitations-of-mixing-on-headphones","title":{"rendered":"Benefits and Limitations of Mixing on Headphones"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

I used headphones exclusively for many years to mix professionally and they still play a vital role in my mixing process today. While nowadays I prefer to utilize multiple sets of monitors and check my mixes on several playback systems obsessively (OCD is real), there are many scenarios, especially when traveling, where working on a trusty set of cans is your only option. <\/p>\n\n\n

In this article, I\u2019m going to share the techniques, tips, and tricks that I use on a daily basis to help you make your next mix with headphones your best mix yet. <\/p>\n\n\n

Click here to download the associated sound examples as well as multiple sets of multitracks to mix for yourself and practice the techniques you learn today (The free multitracks are provided by The Mix Academy and may absolutely be used on your resume<\/em>). <\/p>\n\n\n

Can you really mix on headphones?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n

Before we dive too deep into the techniques, I want to address the stigma associated with mixing on headphones. I believe this negative perception is fading due to popular mixers and content creators such as Andrew Scheps openly sharing their workflow and how they\u2019ve capitalized on the benefits of mixing with cans. Not to mention that several studies have shown the vast percentage of people listening to music are in fact using headphones. 
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For me, this information turns the tables on the negative perspective of using cans in the mixing process and begs the question, why in the world wouldn\u2019t we use headphones?<\/em> At the very least, I believe headphones should be a part of your workflow when producing and mixing music if they\u2019re not already.<\/p>\n\n\n

The Goals of a Great Mix<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n

There are many scenarios where mixing with headphones is your best option, but at the very foundation of choosing to mix with cans (or at least incorporating them into your process) is the fact that they\u2019re a great way to control your acoustic environment.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

This is vital when mixing as having a trusted source on which to make decisions will allow you to make good choices when applying processing to the tracks in a song.<\/p>\n\n\n

In order to accomplish our goals as music creators and ensure that we\u2019re releasing sonically sound art, we have to be able to hear things accurately. Or at the very least, close to accurate. A good pair of headphones is a great tool to help you achieve these goals when mixing.<\/p>\n\n\n

At the core of the mixing process there are two fundamental goals:<\/p>\n\n\n

  1. To create cohesion between the instruments in order to properly convey the emotion of the song.<\/strong><\/li>
  2. For the music to translate well across multiple playback systems<\/strong> (large stereos, clubs, earbuds, mobile devices, etc.).<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n

    We\u2019ll take a look at some of the issues that relying solely on headphones can present and then how to work around these \u201cdeficiencies.\u201d But first, a common question I see in my inbox and in YouTube comments is \u201cWhat is the best type of headphones for mixing?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

    What Type of Headphones is Best for Mixing?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n

    I want to share a brief look at the two main types of headphones: Open back and closed back.
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    Closed-back headphones are a great choice while recording because they aim to prevent sound from leaking to the outside world. This prevents any spill from hitting the microphone and allows for a clean capture of the source instrument.<\/p>\n\n\n

    Open-back headphones, on the other hand, will indeed spill a bit due to their acoustically transparent profile. This open-back design can help to prevent ear fatigue from setting in too quickly and is generally accepted as the default option for mixing and mastering.<\/p>\n\n\n

    I personally own a pair or two of each and will make my decision on which to use based on the environment that I\u2019m working in. When I\u2019m upstairs working around the kids playing or where there\u2019s noise that I don\u2019t want to disturb me from working I choose closed back. I used to fly quite a bit back when I was producing and recording more and would have to use closed-back cans while on a plane to get over the engine noise. Coffee shops? Editing? You guessed it\u2026 closed-back \u2018phones.<\/p>\n\n\n

    While there are pros to using closed-back cans, open back wins for me when mixing or mastering in just about every other scenario I can think of.<\/p>\n\n\n

    Benefits and Limitations of Mixing on Headphones<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n

    Let\u2019s identify some of the benefits of mixing on headphones before listing the cons and ultimately addressing solutions to the potential problems that come with mixing on cans.<\/p>\n\n\n

    Several benefits include:<\/p>\n\n\n