Off Topic In ear monitoring

[Purple ASS]

Does anyone have any experience with these ?. I play in a 9 piece band. With 4 horns as well as keys as well as the usual bass and drums I am constantly getting pee'd off with being told I am too loud when I cannot hear myself through everything else going on on stage. I like to hear everybody, but with a number of loud acoustic instruments on stage, the on stage volume gets unbearable sometimes. I'm sure I make my own contribution to the problems , but whenever I am loud enough to hear myself I'm accused of being too loud. I really hate my guitar signal coming up the floor wedges as it never sounds anything like my amp. I've never tried InEars but wonder if it may be a solution fo me. I have seen some setups which are loads of money, but have seen the Trantec S4000 for under £300 which I'd be prepared to give a go. Are these things designed for monitoring vocals only or will they handle guitar competently ?

 

[catdaddy]

Kev, they are the best thing since sliced bread. Everybody in your band needs them. If you have a monitor mixer you can dial in just what you want to hear. A lot of feedback problems caused by mics picking up floor wedges is eliminated. Everybody can play at lower stage volumes so the sound man will love you. Vocals and harmony will be much improved. I know it's a big investment but it is absolutely worth it.

 

[Purple ASS]

Kev, they are the best thing since sliced bread. Everybody in your band needs them. If you have a monitor mixer you can dial in just what you want to hear. A lot of feedback problems caused by mics picking up floor wedges is eliminated. Everybody can play at lower stage volumes so the sound man will love you. Vocals and harmony will be much improved. I know it's a big investment but it is absolutely worth it.

Thanks
The singer uses them all the time, but I did wonder about how they would be for guitar. Presumably I will not be totally isolated from everything going on on stage ? If I had only the guitar signal coming up the IEM's I could adjust and mix the volume from the beltpack ? The Trantec S4000 system is coming in just under £300 as is the JTS SIEM-101. Both seem quite good systems. I don't want to spend megabucks incase I don't get on with them and I worry that I will lose all the feel and ambience of the usual method but I can't put up with the whinging much longer (mostly from the bass player actually ;^)

 

[catdaddy]

I generally use one bud and tuck the other inside my collar. I still like to hear some "air" instead of everything coming through the earbuds. I am on the end of the stage so I usually set my amp up at my left shoulder firing across the stage instead of at the audience. That's the earbud I leave out. I have my combo amp elevated on top of its road case. Those tilting amp stands also work well at directing your speakers directly at your ears. It's amazing how much a few degrees can make... and also not getting too close right up on your amp. When you're too close sometimes you can't hear a thing you're playing and the guy across the stage can hear you loud and clear.

 

[TNT]

Yeah, "placement" of gear is critical. Stage sound/volume arrangement is for the BAND only, NOT the audience.

Sounds checks are for the BAND, (then lastly the audience), which is a simple matter of mains positioning and volume (assuming your going out the PA, which is really the only way to go)!

As mentioned by Catdaddy, his amp was set up for the band NOT the audience. If you cannot hear yourself on stage, it's not necessarily a voluime issue, it's an organizational issue, then the entire band needs to re-organize and do the sound check (for the right reason - the BAND!)

The monitors need to be up in your ear, not on the floor, although that application can be correctly implemented too using several floor monitors.

Drums always set stage volume, then guitars (rhythm), then bass, then vocals (in the mix, slightly above or high above).

 

[Jack FFR1846]

We work with a pretty wide stage (60 feet across) and during one rehersal, our piano player was far left, drums, me, bass far right. The piano player had never used a monitor and was totally out of phase with the drums. The sound travelling and bouncing off the walls threw it off totally.

We use an Aviom system and I've tried the ear buds and between them not fitting well and falling out, I gave up and went to my own headphones. I am able....with the aviom system....to set volume from every instrument (something like 6 for drums) and each singer separately. I do my own mix for what I hear and the sound guy does the audience. It works well because I can play what sounds right for me and the sound guy separately sets what's heard in the audience.

jack

 

[Purple ASS]

I am able....with the aviom system....to set volume from every instrument (something like 6 for drums) and each singer separately. I do my own mix for what I hear and the sound guy does the audience. It works well because I can play what sounds right for me and the sound guy separately sets what's heard in the audience.

jack

That would be a perfect solution for me, but sounds incredibly expensive. How do you find the sound of your amp reproduce through the IEM's ?. I hate hearing it up the floor wedges

 

[catdaddy]

I'm using Shure SCL3s which are about $150 ear buds and I think they sound pretty good. They have a single driver. You can get SCL5s for $400 and they are dual drivers. I can't bring myself to pay that much for something I am afraid of tearing up. I guess your guitar cab mic would figure into the equation too. Remember, I'm not using the earpiece on my guitar amp side for "ambience's" sake. I do have my guitar in my monitor mix and my vocal and and a little bit of everything else too.

 

[Purple ASS]

Would it work out of the slave output on my amp ? (Lonestar). I know I'd only have guitar through it that way, but at least I'd have total control of my own needs.

 

[paulstew64]

I use Sennheiser system and it's great. I also use custom ear phones. I would suggest you hire a set and try them because they are an acquired taste.

You'll need to set levels for each instrument including vocals from the desk. I have my vocals slightly louder than the lead vocalist so I can get harmonies right. Guitar is way up there in the mix at the same level as my vocals.

I have on occasion only used one ear phone and therefore I can hear the rest of the band more clearly.

Overall, I think they're really good but you've got to be patient otherwise you'll quit on them.

Trantec system is a good started system. Look around though as there's usually lots of second hand systems on ebay worth a try at the right money.

Big tip - don't go cheap as you really get what you pay for.

Good luck.

Paul
Radiance red Luke

 

[Jack FFR1846]

That would be a perfect solution for me, but sounds incredibly expensive. How do you find the sound of your amp reproduce through the IEM's ?. I hate hearing it up the floor wedges

I'm plugged into my effects pedal which goes into the house system. The Aviom is owned by the house and there's a perminant sound system/amps that I don't even deal with at all. Some of the guys do use floor wedges and the sound guy mixes what's coming through them.......they're always complaining that either they can't hear themselves...someone else or are getting blasted by someone else. I can reach down and change anyone anytime in my ears.

The sound guy "owns" the sound from the amps.

jack

 

[catdaddy]

Would it work out of the slave output on my amp ? (Lonestar). I know I'd only have guitar through it that way, but at least I'd have total control of my own needs.

Kev, I believe that slave output on the back of your Lonestar is too hot to go straight into the transmitter. I think it's not a recording out but is used to drive other amps. You'd probably need to come out of your channel on the mixer to get a line level signal.

I would just try to figure a way to hear my amp better. It's a Boogie and that bad boy ought to cut right through the din. Put yourself on the end of the stage and have it shooting right at your ear.

Get a tilted amp stand. Check out the 6th one down, it's got a built in boom for your mic: amp stand Search | Musician's Friend

 

[Purple ASS]

Kev, I believe that slave output on the back of your Lonestar is too hot to go straight into the transmitter. I think it's not a recording out but is used to drive other amps. You'd probably need to come out of your channel on the mixer to get a line level signal.

I would just try to figure a way to hear my amp better. It's a Boogie and that bad boy ought to cut right through the din. Put yourself on the end of the stage and have it shooting right at your ear.

Get a tilted amp stand. Check out the 6th one down, it's got a built in boom for your mic: amp stand Search | Musician's Friend

Yeah, I did wonder about the slave out being too hot, although it does have a pot on it. I guess I will just have to trust the sound guy with my hearing. I've picked up a used JTS system off Ebay to see how I get on . I have one of their wireless systems which I am very impressed with, not that I can be bothered to use it much. I have one of those Genesis stands somewhere...must empty my garage and find it. I can make my Boogie cut through the din alright, it's just that it upsets everybody else in the band ! ;^) Thanks for your help.

 

[catdaddy]

Good luck Kev! Let me know how it works out. Incidentally, I play in an eight piece with three horns so we've something in common.
Al

 

[Purple ASS]

Good luck Kev! Let me know how it works out. Incidentally, I play in an eight piece with three horns so we've something in common.
Al

Thanks Al, I will. You will appreciate where I'm coming from then lol . We have two trumpets which are freaking loud !! PM me and tell me a bit about your band, I'm always interested. Cheers.

 

[Sticky1973]

Just wanted to say I found this thread really interesting, guys.

I was watching a mate play live with his band during the week, and the chat you have posted is really helpful

 

[catdaddy]

Thanks Sticky. Just send me some Isle of Jura single malt.

 

[Sticky1973]

Nice

I'll tuck some Irn Bru in there too, for the morning after

 

[catdaddy]

Hair of the dog! No, a Scottish soft drink! Love to try one.

 

[Sticky1973]

Some swear by it's healing power when yer head is left unhinged after the night before.

It's great stuff