The challenges of mixing in a home or project studio are many. From acoustic issues, to lack of speaker variety, to noisy roommates, we can find ourselves buried in headphones and turning out unbalanced mixes. The VRM Box from Focusrite is supposed to fix all of that.
The Answer To All Your Problems?
Since Focusrite is a company that makes great gear for pros and home users alike, I trust what they make. Plus this device has looked so unique as it tries to solve a specific part of the mixing equation. So I had to pick it up and use it. But is it a magic box that can instantly make you a better mixer? Below is my complete video review, including my final verdict of whether this is something you need.
Comments
Thanks for the review. What headphones have you used with the VRM, and what headphones do you prefer to use with it. Have you found any drastic change in the sound of your mix changing out your headphones using the VRM, or does it sound pretty similar.
I’m using KRK headphones. The KNS 6400 model. Nothing ever seems to be drastic, just subtle things that help improve the mix. The VRM box has been one of those tools that I think has given me more insight into my mixes and makes me focus more and make more accurate decisions some times.
Hi Graham, I got the VRM last week as a bday gift for myself. So far I do like it, especially the crappy PC speaker mode and the NS10′s (Japanese White Classic). So far I’ve mixed 2 songs on it and have notice the difference. I do wish they would have made a car stereo environment scenario since that’s what most of us usually use to check a mix. One thing I don’t like, and maybe it’s a user error, I currently have the S/PDIF plugged into my audio interface but for some reason when I play a MP3 on widows media I get no sound, I have to unplug the VRM usb and plug my headphones into my audio interface to get sound. Either way thanks for doing the product review, it’s always good to hear your perspective on gear I own.
Sounds cool Graham! I will definitely check this out (mostly cause the price is at an affordable level for what you get. Especially since it simulates studio monitors I can never afford LOL).
I do about maybe 200 bounces on one song when recording and mixing (A ridiculous amount because I don’t have high end monitors and I really want to make sure my mixes translate very well in the real world so I use speakers around my house..my car.. and of course my main headphones the HD 650.) I use a lot of referencing of tracks as a guideline (I think referencing familiar commercial tracks are more important than studio monitors myself, but that’s debatable. It at least helps me get commercial sounding tracks instantly since I am testing them on the same speakers and headphones I use for mixing and recording).
But seriously if this really does what I think this does I am REALLY EXCITED AND HAPPY THAT YOU SHARED THE NEWS (This might be a great time saver for me since I want things to sound real great quickly).
THANKS GRAHAM FOR THE REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! =)
I like the lateral connectivity you have with the VRM. It would work perfectly on the spdif outs of something like an Audiophile 2496.
Tempting as it is, it’s not enough for me to justify the purchase, since I already have the excellent Isone plugin from Jeroen Breebaart.
I really like the idea of having it setup on alt outputs, though. I’m going to have to figure out how I can do this with what I already have.
I’ve been using the VRM Box for almost a year now. I find it’s very useful but it took a while to understand how to use it. I wish Focusrite would update it with some more choices, especially room environments. Maybe from top studios around the world.
The biggest improvement to my mixing was building good sound panels and bass traps. Really taking the time to research and fully treat the room not just a little Auralex here and there. That and your 5 minutes to a better mix!
Focusrite has created a SoundCloud page with demos of the VRM. This gives a good idea of the product for those who want to check it out.
http://soundcloud.com/focusrite/sets/focusrite-virtual-reference/
Thanks, Graham, for the review. I’ve been reading the sales info – but wanted a trusted opinion.
Thanks, Lo Mei, for reminding me about the Isone plugin (and the rest of the Tone Booster family).
Thanks, Puneet, for the SoundCloud link. Definitely hear what they’re trying to achieve with speaker and room selection. When the LCD TV speaker simulation kicked in it was so jarring it triggered my tinnitus :\
Hi Graham,
Good review, I have also the VRM Box and wanted to mention it’s indeed a very good tool for checking your mixes, though when you use it with (expensive) “reference” headphones you can use it for mixing totally, for people that don’t can make any noise (@home).
) and do the mix its almost every time spot on, I also mix faster because I’m more focused.
I have 2 headphones, a cheap sennheiser hd200 and very expensive Denon AH-D7000 and when I use the Denon on the VRM Box (after I get over the sound
Unfortunately this means you have to buy a headphone like the Denon (1000$), but you get a hole studio with several expensive monitors in return
Regards
Mario @ Belgium
Gosh Graham, if you could, I’ve love to know, in just a few words why you chose the KRK cans over say a pair of Sennheiser’s? What exactly do you like about the KRK’s? Thank you so much for your time
They had good reviews and I know KRK makes great monitors so I picked up a pair. Nothing more than that
[...] Focusrite VRM Box (plus Graham’s video review) [...]
Hey, I’ve had the VRM box for a while, and I thought I’d share I review I wrote on it before. If you like what I had to say, let me know
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I bought this item primarily because I wanted a good, yet inexpensive converter for my headphones. The quality of the conversion from digital to analog can make a big difference (Or so I’ve heard), and I didn’t like the idea that I had a $160 pair of headphones being plugged into a consumer quality sound card on my laptop. With the VRM feature turned off, I compared my VRM Box side-by-side with my laptop’s sound card, and I wasn’t able to hear a noticeable difference. But I think must be doing something for the signal because the box does get a faint, barely noticeable warmth while plugged in.
Some posts on forums that I’ve read said that the box itself is just a volume knob, while the Virtual Reference Monitoring (VRM) feature is processed in your computer. I found this to be true because when I have a mix that has too much going on, and my computer can’t keep up (which some call ‘buffer underruns’), turning on the VRM feature will increase the number of underruns. Thus, the processing for the VRM feature probably happens in the computer, and isn’t processed inside the box.
The VRM feature is nice for mixing but it doesn’t make problems in the balance of a mix as noticeable as actually using real speakers in a real listening environment. Doing field tests by listening to mixes through the radio at work, the car and the PA system at church is irreplaceable. I opt-out of using the VRM feature when listening to music on my computer and mixing, because it simply makes my headphones sound like crap (i.e. full of fake room sound and skewed frequency response). But it’s wonderful as a quick check when there isn’t time to go jump in the car, and do field tests in real listening environments.