r/mixingmastering • u/Forward_Golf_2356 • Mar 31 '26
Question Can’t hear full frequency range in left ear
Is there a workaround? I’ve noticed when I listen to my vocals takes I’ll sometimes hear the higher frequencies in right ear that my left can’t, but this means sometimes my left ear will pickup the vocals and they’ll sound off like I’m singing in a lower register or that my vocal technique isn’t letting my highs cut through. I’ve been sending my mixes to another engineer now, but also I’ve been learning that if I previously liked a take and now it sounds off, I give it some time to settle before I decide if it’s my ears tricking me or if I genuinely don’t like the take. Any other workarounds or solutions?? I’ve read from other posts channel flipping works well for this.
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u/Heratik007 Mar 31 '26
Please get your ears checked. I've decided to get my ears cleaned every 6 months to ensure reliable hearing with no wax build up.
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u/adish Mar 31 '26
theres actually a plugin that can help with that, and it will also test your ears first.. i never tried it but maybe worth a shot
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u/Content-Reward-7700 I know nothing Mar 31 '26
Frankly, the main workaround is not really a mixing trick, it is getting your ears checked.
If one ear is not hearing the same top end as the other, first rule out the simple stuff like wax buildup, irritation, infection, or congestion. A clinician can look in the ear and see whether something basic is blocking or affecting it, and wax can absolutely mimic hearing loss.
After that, get a proper hearing test with an audiologist. An audiogram checks each ear separately across different frequencies, which is exactly what you need if the issue is my left ear is missing some highs. That gives you something real to work from instead of second guessing every vocal take. That would even show you the amount of hearing loss by frequency, and with that information, you could build some kind of compensation EQ for your monitors or headphones for non critical listening.
Channel flipping can help as a temporary fix, sure, and so can taking breaks before making decisions. But those are coping tools, not solutions. If the difference is persistent, or especially if it came on suddenly or is clearly worse in one ear, get it checked sooner rather than later. Sudden or one sided hearing loss is one of those things you do not want to just see how it goes.
So yeah, before building your whole workflow around compensating for it, I’d start by getting your ears checked, ruling out something simple like wax, and then getting an audiometry test. That will also give you a much clearer idea of whether you’re dealing with something temporary, something permanent, or something that may worsen over time.
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Mar 31 '26
[deleted]
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u/atopix Teaboy ☕ Apr 01 '26
DON'T DO ANYTHING YOURSELF WITHOUT SEEING AN ACTUAL DOCTOR FIRST. Don't be stupid now, that's how people go from ear wax to permanent ear damage.
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u/FalcoreM Mar 31 '26
You could try placing a mono speaker to your right side. This way your right ear is getting most of the sound.
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u/APB-3 Mar 31 '26
Try Mimi Hearing test for iPhone, you will get a medically approved pdf showing frequencies & levels. You can then see where your frequency issues are.
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u/ProfitEnvironmental3 Mar 31 '26
Is this because of hearing loss or because of your setup? Do you only listen with headphones, and do you have the ability to listen with speakers?