Re-Head is a headphone mixing plugin by Blue Cat Audio that simulates a studio monitor environment, using a head response model, EQ, and impulse responses to reduce ear fatigue.
Purpose
Re-Head addresses the unnatural sound and ear fatigue commonly experienced when mixing on headphones. It models how your head and skull affect sound from speakers, creating a more natural listening experience. This is particularly useful for distorted guitars and other instruments that tend to sound overly present in headphone mixes.
The plugin doesn’t replace studio monitors but eases the transition between speakers and headphones. By simulating a mixing room experience, it helps you make better mixing decisions when monitors are unavailable. It is suitable for tracking, mixing, and critical listening sessions.
Core Processing
At the heart of Re-Head is a head response model that mimics the acoustic effect of your skull. You can adjust the position and angle of virtual speakers, as well as the brightness, to tailor the sound. Stereo processing helps avoid the hard-panned effect typical of headphones, making the stereo image more speaker-like.
Additional tools include a built-in EQ, a spectrum analyzer, and an impulse response loader. The IR loader lets you import a representation of your favored mixing room, or an IR of your actual headphones for correction. You can also flip left and right channels.
Workflow and Controls
Re-Head is designed for straightforward integration into your mixing workflow. Its intuitive interface provides direct access to all controls, from speaker positioning to EQ and IR loading. The built-in presets manager allows you to save and recall your favorite settings, while copy/paste of plugin state between instances speeds up session setup.
Full MIDI control and automation support, including MIDI Learn, lets you automate parameters dynamically. The plugin features a smooth bypass for noiseless activation, and a customizable UI with transparency and zoom. It supports any sample rate and ensures no CPU load when idle.
Practical Applications
Re-Head is best for mixing sessions where speakers are not an option, such as late-night work, travel, or shared spaces. It helps you create a more reliable mix on headphones by simulating a room and reducing the tendency to over-process. Use it when recording guitars to prevent a harsh, in-your-face tone.
The IR loader expands its usefulness: load an IR of your studio to feel at home, or an IR of your headphones for flatter monitoring. This makes it a versatile tool for critical listening and consistent translation to other playback systems. It is not a substitute for monitors, but a practical alternative.
Key features
- Head response model for natural tone
- Adjustable virtual speaker position, angle, and brightness
- Built-in EQ and spectrum analyzer
- Impulse response loader for room and headphone correction
- Left/right channel flip
- Full MIDI control and automation with MIDI Learn
- Smooth bypass, undo/redo, presets manager
Best for
Mixing and recording with headphones when studio monitors are unavailable. It helps achieve a more speaker-like sound and reduces ear fatigue, making it ideal for all-night sessions, travel, or home studios. Use it for critical listening and to ensure your mixes translate well to other systems.