HEADPHONE LAB - DAW software plug-in FAQs

HEADPHONE LAB – FAQ

1.Introduction: What is HEADPHONE LAB & what problem does it solve?

What is beyerdynamic HEADPHONE LAB?

HEADPHONE LAB is a software plug-in for digital audio workstations on macOS and Windows that optimises beyerdynamic DT studio headphones for mixing and mastering applications. It is compatible with all major DAWs such as Pro Tools,Logic Pro, Cubase, Ableton Live, Studio One, FL Studio and many more.

Who is HEADPHONE LAB for?

HEADPHONE LAB is aimed at professional and semi-professional audio creators who work in acoustically imperfect or changing environments and still need to make reliable mixing and mastering decisions. The plug-in is particularly suitable for:

- Audio professionals without access to an acoustically optimised control room

- Users who do not want or are unable to spend several thousand dollars in room acoustics, studio monitors and subwoofers

- Mobile professionals who travel frequently or regularly work in different, hard-to-control environments (e.g. hotel rooms, project studios, temporary setups)

- Home and bedroom studios with limited space or acoustic treatment

- Users who need to work independently of location, or at unusual times

- Anyone who needs a consistent reference monitoring environment - regardless of room or location

HEADPHONE LAB provides a reproducible, virtual reference studio environment over headphones, enabling precise work even where traditional loudspeaker monitoring is not feasible.

What are the benefits of using HEADPHONE LAB?

HEADPHONE LAB ensures that your mixes and productions translate consistently and convincingly across a wide range of playback systems - whether they are shared with clients, colleagues or friends.

Are there advantages to mixing with headphones compared to studio monitors?

If you have an acoustically well-treated room and full-range professional studio monitors, you already have excellent conditions for mixes that translate well.

However, if either the loudspeakers or the room acoustics are not of a high standard, a high-quality headphone solution in combination with HEADPHONE LAB is often the better choice. Productions, mixes and masters created with this setup translate reliably across a wide variety of playback systems.

In addition, you benefit from maximum mobility: this setup works anywhere - in a hotel room, a bedroom studio or on the road.

There is also a significant economic advantage: a pair of high-quality nearfield monitors with integrated DSP can easily cost more than five thousand, with an additional two thousand or more required for acceptable acoustic treatment. In contrast, the investment required for a professional mixing headphone is considerably lower.

2.Basic understanding: What does the plug-in do conceptually?

What are the main functions of HEADPHONE LAB?

HEADPHONE LAB fulfils two core functions:

- Calibration of the frequency response of supported DT studio headphones to a more neutral target profile for precise mixing

- Simulation of the listening experience of studio monitor loudspeakers in a professional studio environment

Does HEADPHONE LAB make my headphones sound like other headphone models?

No. HEADPHONE LAB optimises your DT studio headphones towards a more neutral, mixing-ready tuning while always preserving the characteristic sound of the respective model.
 
3.Workflow & practical use

What does the workflow look like? How do I use the plug-in?

The workflow is straight forward: insert HEADPHONE LAB on the channel in your DAW that feeds the headphone output (e.g. a dedicated headphone bus or the master bus).

- Select your DT studio headphones

- Activate frequency calibration (recommended for mixing applications)

- Activate speaker emulation to work as if using studio monitors

- For reference checks you can switch back to pure headphone playback at any timeIf no direct comparison is required, the plug-in window can be closed and run in the background.

Where should I place HEADPHONE LAB in my DAW signal chain?

HEADPHONE LAB should be inserted either on a dedicated headphone output bus or as the last plug-in on the master bus.

Can the plug-in be used as a standalone application?

There is currently no standalone version of HEADPHONE LAB.

4.Technical deep dive signal processing

What exactly does HEADPHONE LAB do technically?

HEADPHONE LAB provides two core functions:

- Headphone calibration to a neutral sound target

- Speaker emulation using a crossfeed filter model

How does the crossfeed model work?

When listening on loud udspeakers, each ear hears contributions from both channels, shaped by reflections, interaural time differences (ITD) and interaural level differences (ILD). Headphones, by contrast, deliver an isolated signal to each ear, which can result in an unnaturally wide and hard-to-judge stereo image.

The HEADPHONE LAB crossfeed model:

- Takes frequency-dependent time and level differences into account

- Uses industry-leading HRTFs (Head-Related Transfer Functions)

- Employs an innovative approach for excellent bass reproduction - completely free of artefacts or phase issue

What is the target for headphone calibration?

The beyerdynamic Studio Sound Profile, developed in collaboration with professional studios. It is similar to the Harman Target but specifically adapted for production environments.

How does HEADPHONE LAB differ from other virtual monitoring solutions?

HEADPHONE LAB uses a deliberately subtle room simulation without added reverb, preserves the benefits of headphone bass precision, and relies on ear-friendly equalisation without narrow-band filters in order to avoid phase issues.

How should the room simulation values be interpreted?

- Dry (0%): almost reflection-free

- Room (50%): realistic, controlled studio environment (recommended)

- Wet (100%) larger, more spacious listening environment

 

Which speaker angle should I set?

Ideally, use the angle of your own speaker setup. A standard setting of 60° is recommended.

 5.Calibration & precision

What is FACTORY CALIBRATION – and what are the benefits?

FACTORY CALIBRATION is the most precise calibration level in HEADPHONE LAB. It uses the original production measurement data of your individually manufactured headphone unit to apply the beyerdynamic Studio Sound Profile to your headphones as accurately as technically possible.

Unlike standard calibration, which is based on a so-called golden sample, FACTORY CALIBRATION works with the actually measured frequency response of your personal headphones. This compensates even the finest, completely natural material and manufacturing tolerances.

Where can I find the serial number for my headphone?

On the inside of the left ear cup, at the transition between the cable and the ear cup.

Which DT models support FACTORY CALIBRATION in version 1.0?

- DT700 PROX

- DT900 PRO X

- DT 1770 PRO MKII

- DT 1990 PRO MKII

Why can adjust ear distance and head circumference in HEADPHONE LAB?

For precise spatial localisation, individual ear distance is crucial, it significantly influences the perceived time differences between the left and right ear. Since this distance varies from person to person, the same speaker setup can be perceived differently by different listeners.

In HEADPHONE LAB, you can manually enter your individual ear distance and head circumference. Based on this, the interaural time differences (ITD) of the speaker emulation are individually adjusted. Your benefits:

- A more realistic and stable phantom centre

- More precise localisation of sound sources

- Improved depth perception and panning accuracy

The result is an even more authentic perception of a loudspeaker setup over headphones – tailored to your personal anatomy.

6.Compatibility

Which headphone models are compatible?

HEADPHONE LAB is compatible with all current beyerdynamic DT studio headphones as well as DT-series in-ear monitors.

My beyerdynamic headphones are not listed. Will my model be supported?

New models are generally added promptly.

Does the plug-in work with headphones from other manufacturers?

The speaker emulation can be used accordingly, but optimal results are achieved with supported beyerdynamic models.

Which plug-in formats are supported?

VST3, AU and AAX.

Which DAWs are supported?

All DAWs that support VST3, AU or AAX.

Which operating systems are supported?

Windows 10 or later

macOS 14 or later

Is HEADPHONE LAB available for iOS or Android?

No. HEADPHONE LAB was deliberately developed as a professional desktop plug-in for macOS and Windows.



7.Installation, licence & costs

How much does HEADPHONE LAB cost?

HEADPHONE LAB is free ofcharge.

Is the plug-in permanently free?

The current version is permanently available free of charge.

Does the plug-in need to be activated online?

No. HEADPHONE LAB can be used without online activation.

Is an account required?

No. No account is required - only brief registration.

Are there any licence or usage restrictions?

The licence and terms of use are transparently displayed during installation.

May I use HEADPHONE LAB for commercial productions?

Yes. HEADPHONE LAB can be used without restriction for commercial productions.

How do I install the plug-in?

The download is available via the HEADPHONE LAB product page. You can then install the desired plug-in formats (VST3, AU, AAX).

Is a special sound card required?

No. HEADPHONE LAB does not require a special sound card. However, for optimal results we recommend using a standard audio interface.

8.Support, help & updates

Is there a guide manual?

Yes. A comprehensive online manual is available at the following link:

https://www.beyerdynamic.com/beyerdynamic-headphone-lab-help

How do I receive updates?

Updates are conveniently available via the "Check for Updates" function directly in the plug-in or at any time via: www.beyerdyna mic.de