Using NX with reference tracks

[Molotovhaze]

I’ve just purchased the Abbey Road Studio 3 NX plugin. I usually reference my mixes inside my DAW by having the reference on a spare audio track (in Logic ProX).

Does anyone have any opinion on whether it is better to listen to the reference track with the NX plugin active on the master bus or better to disable it?

To me it would seem that listening to the reference track in the “same room” as my mix would make sense?

[Jareth]

I wish someone has replied to this. I have the same query.

NX may well give a better real-world representation of your mix, it but it messes up how you use reference tracks.

With my Sennheiser headphones, NX reduces the bass whilst mixing, but when I bounce down without NX (as is required), it appears I’ve overadded bass to the new mix compared to references.

I wonder if NX might help only to be an occasional reference itself, used sporadically throughout the mixing process - just like car stereo, earbuds, iPhone, NS10s, etc.

[simon.a.billington]

I say if you’re listening to your mixes with it on, you should also listen to your reference tracks the same way. That way you put your references in the same context and see how they measure up in the same environment.

You can also try the same approach with NX off, see if it reveals anything significantly different about the mixes.

[Jareth]

Ok, my NX problem has just got bigger! Can anyone help?

As I mentioned above, I’ve been naively using NX to mix…but not to reference. Now I have several queries/problems:

1. Most importantly, how can I undo the mess I’ve created by not using NX to reference? I have about 10 tracks, all (apparently) mixed. Would it work if I just bounced them down and included NX’s headphone EQ but not the spatial settings (you can turn them down/off)? Would this give me a real-world mix, and what I was aiming for? Would it ‘bake-in’ the NS settings?

2. Nearly as important: On one of tracks, I selected the wrong headphone model. How in heck’s name do I unravel that given the above? I can’t work out the logic/reasoning behind it. Simply selecting the correct model sounds wrong. Can I use Logic’s Match EQ to find the difference? Will this then have the right or the wrong EQ baked in? Do I then avoid using NX on this track? (It’s related to the above and my confusion.)

3. Least important is: how the heck does anyone get a reference track into their DAW? Someone has mentioned elsewhere something like reversing the polarity on my interface, crossing the beams and hey-presto, I can record the output. Is this really what everyone does, every time?

Why does this feel like one of those ‘Jack has ten apples on a Tuesday’ type of question…?

[simon.a.billington]

@Jareth

Ok, my NX problem has just got bigger! Can anyone help?

As I mentioned above, I’ve been naively using NX to mix…but not to reference. Now I have several queries/problems:

1. Most importantly, how can I undo the mess I’ve created by not using NX to reference? I have about 10 tracks, all (apparently) mixed. Would it work if I just bounced them down and included NX’s headphone EQ but not the spatial settings (you can turn them down/off)? Would this give me a real-world mix, and what I was aiming for? Would it ‘bake-in’ the NS settings?

Man, that’s quite a problem. Sad to say, I’m not confident this will work actually. But try it.

Firstly, do the mixes sound any better with NX engaged in the way you state. Be aware you are still listening in the same environment. So it may be best reviewing the results on other speakers in other rooms, or simply on the ear buds. Compare them with similar reference tracks to see how it all measures up.

Normally, I’d recommend doing another run on the mixes, doing things again would help to shape your mixing skills. However, if you are in a bind, and it does sound better it’s probably the simplest solution.

2. Nearly as important: On one of tracks, I selected the wrong headphone model. How in heck’s name do I unravel that given the above? I can’t work out the logic/reasoning behind it. Simply selecting the correct model sounds wrong. Can I use Logic’s Match EQ to find the difference? Will this then have the right or the wrong EQ baked in? Do I then avoid using NX on this track? (It’s related to the above and my confusion.)

Match EQ might work, but to be honest, this might be the better solution all up. Sample a reference mix, then your current mix and use Match EQ to bridge the gap. In theory it should sound better, but you’ll need to do some reference comparing to make sure.

3. Least important is: how the heck does anyone get a reference track into their DAW? Someone has mentioned elsewhere something like reversing the polarity on my interface, crossing the beams and hey-presto, I can record the output. Is this really what everyone does, every time?

Why does this feel like one of those ‘Jack has ten apples on a Tuesday’ type of question…?

Buy the track or have the artist provide it, then it’s as simple as drag and drop. It’s only a few dollars for a track.

Adversely some interfaces do “loopback” you can do it that way or as other people are suggesting, send the music to one set of outputs, even if its the main out, then take those cables and pass it to the input, but make sure you’re not input/record monitoring as you’d create a feedback loop that may destroy your speakers, headphones or interface.