[bluGill]

Trained ear means one where you have good speakers (headphones may be better) and listen to the same thing on several different microphones. It isn't hard to train your ears if you want to spend the time.

[beAbU]

Do you listen to the music, or do you listen to the mic that it was recorded with?

[bluGill]

When I'm making the music it is important to get the details right. When I'm listening to what someone else made it doesn't matter.