Off Topic The Next Step - In-Ear Monitors (IEM)

[ScoobySteve]

So lately my ears have been getting fried. Whether playing a gig or venue at a local joint or simply just playing on stage for a church or communal event, my ears are starting to take abuse from the typical on stage wedges. Since I have no direct control over these monitors they generally keep em moderately high and over time cause some serious ear wear.

So...... I'm thinking about the switch to IEM. Anyone have experience with them? Would mind offering a youngen who's stepping into these waters for the first time with some cautions or wise sayings?

It would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

 

[catdaddy]

They are a good thing Steve. I have had good luck with Shure, but Sennheiser makes good stuff too. We talked about them not long ago: http://www.ernieball.com/forums/music-man-guitars/36595-ear-monitoring.html
PM me if you still have questions.

 

[Bassey]

Hi ScoobySteve

As catdaddy said they are awesome. I recently switched to an Ultimate Ears UE-5 system (custom molded 2-way speaker system) and I never looked back since!

Sure, it is a big investment, but you should ask your self what's the price you want to pay to keep your ears in good health. I made the choice to go for the custom mold since I thought I might as well do it right the first time. I have no experience with the prefab models such as Shure or Sennheiser but if you have any questions feel free to ask (you can also pm me ).

Oww by the way: I have to warn you: If you don't use your In-ears with a little bit of common sense you might fry your ears faster than you would with a normal monitor I use my own mixer so I can keep all levels the way I want to and I am not dependant from the FOH/Monitor mixer.

Good luck and let us know how it turns out!

Bas

 

[ScoobySteve]

Thanks for the responses, it really helped out! Getting my ears fried all the time was becoming a big problem as of late.

There are just so many system mixers and receivers to choose from, ranging in HUGE intervals price wise, I'm simply not sure where to dip my toes into.

I've been told numerous times that few companies offer custom fitted and molded ear pieces for perfect fitment to maximize sonic integrity and ear comfort.

I definitely want to have my own mixer so I'm not dependent on the main. I'm just a little tech goofy, and I always seem to miss a thing or two when our sound tech is giving me lectures on how to work the audio system.

I guess overall, I'm just intimidated by having to learn a whole new system. It used to be just a monitor speaker in front of me and thats it. Now gotta learn about mixers, receivers, ear buds, how to integrate it all, etc.

Thanks for the reply guys!

 

[Purple ASS]

I use my own mixer so I can keep all levels the way I want to and I am not dependant from the FOH/Monitor mixer.

I have bought some recently, although not a hugely expensive system, I got the JTS setup but I am very pleased with the results and it seems very well built. I am interested in the quote above regarding using my own mixer. I would love to control my own mix as opposed to just the volume. What would I need and how would I integrate it into the system ?.

 

[Mikey]

You could also try custom fitted ear protection (e.g. Hearsafe) in combination with the standard monitoring first. With those you can choose the desired noise reduction by replacing the filter inserts in the molded ear pieces without frying your ears by in ear monitoring. They have a very transparent sound and if you are not pleased with them you can fit special headphones in the earpieces. No worry, this is all plug and play.

cheers!

 

[Bassey]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bassey
I use my own mixer so I can keep all levels the way I want to and I am not dependant from the FOH/Monitor mixer.


I have bought some recently, although not a hugely expensive system, I got the JTS setup but I am very pleased with the results and it seems very well built. I am interested in the quote above regarding using my own mixer. I would love to control my own mix as opposed to just the volume. What would I need and how would I integrate it into the system ?.

It's real simple. You can use a XLR splitter (or build one yourself so you can fit it in a rack or something like that). Just google XLR splitter

Let's just say you have your guitar cab miced. You plug your mic into your XLR splitter. One end goes back to the stage snake/FOH and one goes to your own mixer. Do this a couple of times (with kick, snare, vocals etc.) and you can have the mix you like.

It's safe to split a microphone signal into two separate signals without amplification. Don't split it in to more than two signals since you'll be getting impedance mismatches and there will not be anything left of the original signal.

I use an Allen & Heath Zed 14 mixer. not to expensive, build quality (for a chinese product) is excellent and it has 4 auxes so you can basically make 3 full stereo mixes. (Aux 1 and 2, 3 & 4 and the Main out L&R)

You could also try custom fitted ear protection (e.g. Hearsafe) in combination with the standard monitoring first.

+1

I have been doing this for a long time and it sure helped saving my ears But I have to say that the custom mold speaker systems give you a far better sound and it also helps reduce the sound produced on stage (believe me the FOH engineer will love you! perhaps he might even try and make your guitar sound good in the venue )

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I still haven't found out how the create these quote boxes where you can see the original poster's name,sorry

 

[TNT]

It's cymbals that fry the ears!!! Floor monitors should be only loud enough to hear over the "rest" of the sound coming from the stage.

Instrument cabs/speakers should be pointing in towards the band, not out to the audience. In any case iem have different concerns in the sense that you may be a dedicated vocalist or a instrument player.

They are very difficult to get used to if you've never used them (or wore ear plugs while giggin'). Personally, as a guitar player, I do not use them (too much isolation and removal from the reality of the live sound, and no real necessity for them), instead, floor monitors that are correctly placed and mixed.

JMO

 

[mikeller]

I have been having the same problem - tinnitus all the time, much worse after gigs. Yesterday I picked up a pair of Westone Musicians Plugs with 15db reduction. They are custom molded to fit and are advertised to offer equal attenuation over all frequencies. After leaving the audiologist office, I left them in for the ride home and had the CD player cranked in the car (listening to the latest Travis Larson disc btw) I am happy to report I could hear everything well, just not as loud...

 

[ScoobySteve]

I have been having the same problem - tinnitus all the time, much worse after gigs. Yesterday I picked up a pair of Westone Musicians Plugs with 25db noise reduction. They are custom molded to fit and are advertised to offer equal attenuation over all frequencies. After leaving the audiologist office, I left them in for the ride home and had the CD player cranked in the car (listening to the latest Travis Larson disc btw) I am happy to report I could hear everything well, just not as loud...

I might entertain this option to, just as a budget deal for the time being.

However, being able to hear the different mic'd elements on stage, to my desired settings is something I would absolutely love to have!

The problem of course, IS the investment.

I noticed ahead about XLR splitting, I'm thinking this might be a useful idea, cause I'm thinking of getting an isolation cabinet for home/live use as well. Since I'll be mic'd up all the time, this might be an option to consider.

 

[ScoobySteve]

It's real simple. You can use a XLR splitter (or build one yourself so you can fit it in a rack or something like that). Just google XLR splitter

Let's just say you have your guitar cab miced. You plug your mic into your XLR splitter. One end goes back to the stage snake/FOH and one goes to your own mixer. Do this a couple of times (with kick, snare, vocals etc.) and you can have the mix you like.

It's safe to split a microphone signal into two separate signals without amplification. Don't split it in to more than two signals since you'll be getting impedance mismatches and there will not be anything left of the original signal.

Would this work the same with an isolation cabinet? The one I'm looking into houses 2 speakers, and mounts 4 XLR mics inputs and the isolation cabinet which can operate mono or stereo.

4 mic inputs, splitting towards the FOH and to my mixer? Kinda sounds like a cable nightmare!

Maybe I should just go back to the standard 4x12 and mic it once -_-

The options!

 

[beej]

Do you need IEMs? What about good quality fitted musician's earplugs? I've got the 15 db ones, they drop everything to a reasonable level and are a heck of a lot simpler than having to worry about dialing in your own mixes, etc.

 

[ScoobySteve]

Do you need IEMs? What about good quality fitted musician's earplugs? I've got the 15 db ones, they drop everything to a reasonable level and are a heck of a lot simpler than having to worry about dialing in your own mixes, etc.

It helps, there's a distinct advantage to them. Sometimes, depending on the stage, space availability, and layout, I'm not in a position to hear myself that well, especially if I'm using an isolation cabinet.

Noise reduction is just a small part of the whole equation. Being able to dial in what I want to hear at my discretion is simply an outstanding advantage.

 

[Bassey]

It's cymbals that fry the ears!!! Floor monitors should be only loud enough to hear over the "rest" of the sound coming from the stage.

TNT is definatly right (as with the rest of his post). As is Beej with his post.

If it was an option I would like to wear no earplugs at all and have a couple of floor monitors right in front of me (Just check the Toto DVD Falling in Between live and get an idea )

But the problem is my band doesn't play large venues were this is possible to achieve (yet ).

One of the most overlooked aspects is the fact that with IEMs you'll reduce the soundlevel on stage. Just do the math: No monitor that bleeds through (since you have it isolated "in your ear") plus you can dial down the sound of your guitar rig (And now I fear the comment "My guitar rig only sounds good when it's dialed to 11!" )

So...if your entire band uses IEMs the sound on stage will be a lot less. This means that in smaller venues you won't have as much bleed through to the FOH which results in a lower sound level over there...leading to less fans with hearing loss (and thus more fans that can enjoy your music) which in the end leads to more gigs

Scoobysteve: splitting 4 signals for just your guitar sound and then a few cables for the rest of the band is for sure gonna be a cable hell. But the isocabs are a great idea. (just use one signal or even 2 if you want to go stereo)

Recently I tried my IEMs in mono-mode (less stuff to worry about while mixing and less cables) and achieved great results. I have a gig with my band this saturday and I am going to play in mono mode again but now I am going to let the Sound engineer control my mix. I will let you know how it worked out!

Kind regards

Bas

 

[ivanmihaljevic]

I usually just put my vocals in my monitor and, if it's a large stage, a little bit of kick and snare drum too (but on smaller stages, it's just my voice). I crank up the amp enough so I can hear my guitar on stage without having it in the monitor.
So I guess, in-ear wouldn't work with this method, but I'm using earplugs to reduce the volume. I'm using Etymotic ER20 plugs - Etymotic Research, Inc. - ER?20 High Fidelity Earplugs

 

[ScoobySteve]

T
Scoobysteve: splitting 4 signals for just your guitar sound and then a few cables for the rest of the band is for sure gonna be a cable hell. But the isocabs are a great idea. (just use one signal or even 2 if you want to go stereo)

Recently I tried my IEMs in mono-mode (less stuff to worry about while mixing and less cables) and achieved great results. I have a gig with my band this saturday and I am going to play in mono mode again but now I am going to let the Sound engineer control my mix. I will let you know how it worked out!

Kind regards

Bas

Thanks for the post, and I look forward to your review!

Not utilizing all 4 mic inputs would certainly be more practical (ok lets be real here WAY MORE practical) but you know how we tone freaks are. 2 more mics in different positions = more dynamic tone. But yeah, for the smaller venues, may not just be worth it.

Keep us posted!

 

[Jack FFR1846]

In our church, we're looking at these for in ear:

Future Sonics, Inc.: Atrio Series (TM) brand by Future Sonics: professional earphones, canalphones, personal monitors

The Atrio is $200 and then the wireless to go with it is $1000. That then gets plugged into our present monitor setup that I'm currently using wired headphones with. Too rich for me...... I'd buy the headset if they buy the wireless setup.

jack

 

[paulstew64]

Yes, I've been using IEM's for over a year now. I use Sennheiser system with Ultimate Ears 7 custom ear pieces (sweet).

I do great an awesome sound and I can control the volume levels. But, here's what they don't tell you.

Customs ears allow you the option to shut out the sound completely or allow ambient sound. But, you've got to get your settings right or you won't hear what you want to hear. So, if you're going down this route either make sure you can get to the desk to alter settings or have a really good set of signals with your sound engineer.

PM me if you want more info - I'm happy to share.

Paul
Radiance Red Luke

 

[Bassey]

Yesterday I had a gig with my band as I mentioned a few posts earlier. I gave the wireless to the sound engineer and he made my monitor mix for that night. My mix was just a mono mix but it soundend great. sure as hell saved me all the hassle from setting up my own mixer and pluging everything in

I only had the most important things on my monitor and left out as much as possible. Endend up having my guitar (electric and piezo), my vocals. Lead vocals, backing vocals from keyboard player and keyboard in the mix.

Stage was pretty small so I could still hear the Drums and Bass. apart from very slight volume changes (i.e. keyboard player's sounds aren't all the same volume) it was the best monitor sound for a small stage in years!

Only thing I forgot was to turn on the wireless for the first song And the most lame part was that the first song was overture 1928 by Dream Theater and this songs doesn't have any rest points in it to turn the bloody thing on I could still hear myself because of my backline but it was a relief when I turned on the monitors.

Scoobysteve if you have any questions feel free to ask! I hope that my posts could help you! Good luck with your choice!

Bas