[David Hines]

Yup, you need to check your mix in what \are likely to be the final product playback conditions. While it’s true that starting with good quality will play out, to some extent, in the end, I find this is mostly true in the original tracks. Crappy mic technique is forever; there is not such thing as “fix it in the mix”, really (all fabulous remastering tech included, there is a limit). Solid, reliable habit, but has a limited effect upon the end listener’s experience.

It might be apocryphal, but it’s an instructive anecdote anyway… Supposedly, back in the early seventies when studio lock-outs lasting several weeks was normal by big dolllar acts, among them was Stevie Wonder. He and his crew would, supposedly, check studio mixes by taking cassette dubs out to their respective cars in the lot and listen. Majority vote of good sound in those cars determined the final mix.

Also, those awful Auratones were in pro studios for a _long_ time for good reason.

— TRG7, San Francisco