Listening Revelation

[uab9253]

I've been struggling with that same thing we all do - getting a sweet mix on a set of monitors, burning a cd, taking that mix out into the world and finding it disappoints in the car, on headphones, on the home stereo, etc. I am also finding that my best "source of truth" on a mix in progress is my stereo downstairs, particular the low frequency stuff and vocal balance. I usually sit on the couch between both speakers to do this.

The other day, nature called during one of my listening sessions. TMI? Sorry. Upon coming out of the bathroom, around the corner and past the kitchen from my listening spot, my song was still playing and the new physical perspective gave me quite a different "view" of the overall mix. So, has anyone else ever tried to do an "around the corner" listen to a mix? What did you think? Is there value in that audio perspective? Should a mix that is really great hold up to coming down the hall or out of a car window?
Let's hear it and thanks.

[String7th]

I've heard of it. It helps to make sure that some things "stand out" in a mix. If you walk out of your room and leave the door open, for rock music you should mostly hear the vocals, snare, and the snap of the kick. This is my opinion, though. You may want your guitars to stand or only the vocals. But if you walk out of the room and all of a sudden the cymbals are overpowering the vocals, you know they need to come down, or not hog the eq.

[KillerV]

I do this too. My studio is a part of my house, and I've found that I can get a pretty good idea of how my mixes will translate when I listen to them from different rooms. The best ones are my bedroom and the bathroom that is also around the corner from my control-room. I know someone will probably let me have it for saying this but I've actually made some of my best mixing decisions while I was er... busy in there.

I know of many guys checking their mixes from different rooms.

[brandondrury]

So, has anyone else ever tried to do an "around the corner" listen to a mix? What did you think? Is there value in that audio perspective?

This is "standard" technique that has been around forever. I always walk around the room before stamping a mix. This has a way of catching out of control low end or some element that is dramatically out of place. While I do this everytime, the translation thing is always a struggle.

[glenn]

Hahahaha and i thought i was the only one.. very funny!!!
I do this stuff all the time, walking to the door and back, to the kitchen and back..
sideways left speaker, right speaker and offcourse most the middle spot (between)

Also listen sometime via my cheap surround system.. not bad mix but i think you get
also more feedback from other users..

cheers glenn

[uab9253]

Wow, and here I thought I had a Eureka moment. Like Barenaked Ladies say "it's all been done". I've walked around a room before, but never down the hall.