The emulation sets in Realphones 2.0 include emulations of real studios, domestic environments, cars, concert halls and clubs, various acoustic systems, and consumer devices. The first four sets on this list form a special group of emulations that offer a comprehensive and complete set of tools for mixing.

Reference Monitoring is a set of neutral emulations designed for critical listening and the most demanding stages of working with mixes. This set represents our current vision of reference monitoring with headphones. We studied numerous monitoring systems and determined what the frequency balance should be for natural sound. As a result, we developed the dSONIQ Balanced target curve, which represents the response of idealized far-field monitors in an acoustically treated room, free from artifacts and sound coloration.

The set includes three modes: Phones, Normal, and Ambient.

If you're used to working with headphones and prefer a dry sound, use the Phones monitoring mode. This mode provides tonally corrected headphone sound without spatial emulations. It’s perfect for editing before mixing, allowing you to focus on fine details like clicks, noise, and other artifacts. It also offers an alternative spatial perspective, helping you check how the mix will sound for end consumers in headphones. Although the dry sound of headphones is inherently clear, detailed, and wide, it doesn't convey how your track will sound in rooms.

Normal is an emulation of near-field monitors with a balanced blend of direct and reflected sound. It offers an optimal balance between the dry sound of headphones and a neutral space. Use this mode when you need a studio emulation with high detail, neutral tone, and without excessive reflections. The Normal mode is similar to near-field monitors but with full low-frequency coverage and an analytical sound presentation. It’s based on reflections from Studio 21, which we and our users consider the most neutral studio. This is a good choice for starting work on any material.

If the Normal emulation sounds too dry and close, we recommend using Ambient for a more distant, spatial, and lively sound. This mode emulates far-field monitoring with a pronounced room coloration.

Any of these modes can serve as your primary reference monitoring tool for most mixing tasks. We recommend using all three emulations throughout your work, switching between them periodically. This will help you assess your mix from different spatial perspectives. Use this set to control the foundation of your mix, balances, and proper instrument placement in the space. Compared to far-field emulations of real studios, frequency coloration is minimized.

Reference Monitoring is the most neutral and tonally balanced emulation set in Realphones, creating minimal influence on the sound engineer’s decisions. The three modes allow you to evaluate your mix from different spatial perspectives commonly found in studios: headphones, near-field, and far-field. Regularly switch between them during work to refresh your perception.

The acoustic space in Reference Monitoring is based on the control room emulation of Studio 21A, developed in collaboration with our Chinese colleagues from DingDong Audio. Studio 21A is a high-end studio with neutral and clean sound, making it ideal for working on mixes.

In studio work, there is often a need for monitoring other than neutral. We analyzed and interpreted three of the most common scenarios you might encounter in studio monitoring and presented them as the Mix Focus set. The ability to focus on different aspects of the mix during mixing helps reduce ear fatigue and increases effective working time.

Vocal - an emulation with low-frequency limitation, allowing you to ignore the low-end components of the mix. The natural attenuation of high frequencies and a boost in the mid frequencies help focus on the vocal range of the frequency spectrum. This effect is similar to what is classically achieved with Yamaha NS-10 monitors. The changes in sound implemented in this emulation are strong but not extreme, maintaining an objective view of the mix. With the Vocal emulation, you can work on the main elements of the mix, balance them, and focus on vocals and mid-frequency instruments. Additionally, this emulation helps replicate listening conditions without deep low-frequency support, a common situation for listeners without subwoofers or with systems incapable of detailed low-frequency reproduction.

Clarity - an emulation that smooths out some of the discomforting elements of neutral sound, making it more comfortable. You get a pleasant, soft sound with plenty of high, low, and spatial details. This allows for longer work sessions without ear fatigue, which is crucial when working with headphones. This emulation is excellent for composing arrangements and sound design, as it provides a bright sound and a boost of pleasant emotions while writing parts.

Groove - a sound familiar to far-field monitors with prominently emphasized low frequencies, forming the mix's foundation. This emulation mimics the sound in a spacious room with many reflections. It is perfect for listening to grooves and controlling the bass and kick drum at higher volumes.
The emulations in the Mix Focus set are designed not for mastering but specifically for typical scenarios of listening to mix elements.

Unfortunately, the end listener's listening conditions for mixes often differ from ideal or even optimal. Sometimes they can be extreme – consumer audio devices and listening environments can cause significant frequency response distortions. We created the Mix Check emulation set to highlight typical problems found in common home audio systems.

Although this set of emulations replicates real-life scenarios, it is based on psychoacoustic research. Unlike the Mix Focus set, which simulates real studio scenarios, Mix Check recreates listening scenarios in various non-studio environments.
The Mix Check set is not intended for primary mixing work but is useful for checking issues in high, mid, or ultra-low frequencies.

Sibilant - this emulation mimics small consumer devices where the highs and upper mids sound hissy and harsh. The sound of this mode carefully highlights sibilants, making it suitable for their adjustment. Unlike real devices, this emulation does not have a strong low-frequency cut. However, the existing drop in low-frequency components allows you to focus on the high frequencies. The Sibilant emulation is a versatile and straightforward solution to understand what will happen to your mix if played on a small device with an elevated high-frequency level.

Boxy - this emulation resembles the sound of small cube speakers. They lack pronounced low and high frequencies but retain an unpleasant midrange. Since the mid frequencies are very important in a mix, Boxy is very useful for identifying problems in this frequency area.

Deep - this emulation highlights the lower range of low frequencies, which are usually difficult to "catch". It exaggerates the deep low end for checking the bass, which is even lower than the mix's foundation. We do not recommend performing the entire range of mixing tasks with this emulation, but we know it will be useful for checking the mix for errors with the kick drum and bass.

The Mix Check emulation set is useful for checking mixes and for short-term work with individual elements to make critically important decisions in the final stages of mixing. Additionally, this set allows you to avoid the mandatory use of non-studio acoustics emulations: clubs and bedrooms, phones, and cars. Mix Check is a convenient tool for quickly checking your mix.

The Headphone Targets emulation set is primarily designed for those who love the sound of headphones but need frequency response correction. When listening to this set, the sound will be perceived differently than on studio monitors. This is useful because many end users prefer to listen to music with headphones. Headphone Targets is suitable for checking how a mix will sound in "ideal" headphones without studio space emulation, with neutral and balanced sound.

This set provides three emulations, considering different approaches to headphone correction and the diversity of perceptions and tasks.

dSONIQ Balanced - this is the most balanced dry sound from dSONIQ. It is the flattest and most natural option in the set. Its sound is based on the frequency response of a good acoustic system in a good control room.

dSONIQ Comfort - uncomfortable frequency ranges are attenuated in this emulation, and more pleasant inspiring frequencies are enhanced. The emulation has a more comfortable sound than linear monitoring. This emulation helps reduce ear fatigue and allows listening to music at higher volumes.

Harman Target - this emulation has more lows and highs than Balanced, so it sounds more pleasant and less informative than studio monitoring. However, the sound is not as colored as in dSONIQ Comfort. It is a popular target curve, and certain headphone manufacturers use it as a target for their headphones. When listening to Harman Target, you can feel the energetic sound of drums without noticeable coloration.

We recommend using the Headphone Targets set during the mixing stage and referring to it for decision-making. Sometimes it is useful to look at the track from a different angle, as music is perceived differently in headphones than when listening through monitors. This set will help you gain more information about the details of your mix.

This group of emulations described above is entirely self-sufficient and allows you to accomplish the full range of tasks in mixing and mastering. It can be used both for reference monitoring and for checking mixes. If you want to spend more time and "polish" all the nuances of your mix to perfection, we recommend using other emulations in Realphones 2.0 in addition to this set, as they provide additional perspectives on your mixes.

Reference Monitoring - critical listening for mixes, offering reference monitoring with the most neutral sound.

Mix Focus - monitoring often used in real studios, with pronounced frequency accents and characteristic coloration that help you focus on different aspects of the mix and reduce listening fatigue.

Mix Check - monitoring designed to check the final mix's translatability and fine-tune individual elements.

Headphone Targets - different headphone correction options without additional emulations. This set is useful for those who need "dry" frequency response correction and the ability to check how the mix sounds in "ideal" headphones.

The dSONIQ team and the emulations they create are not affiliated, endorsed, or licensed by Yamaha.