Re: In-Ear Monitor Quandary

On Sep 4, 4:57 am, "JoeSpareBedroom" <dishborea...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
If you can follow this, you're as confused as I am. Or smart.

The singer and two guitarist-singers in my band are all excited about the
in-ear monitors they'll be getting for our upcoming gigs. (Not sure about
the drummer). IIRC, they're talking about Shure units. At the moment, my
budget for toys is precisely zero, so the issue is academic for me, except
that they're talking about having no floor monitors on the stage. In one
club where we'll play, this may not matter, since the owner is nuts about
equipment, so he's got his own monitors hung all over the place in
interesting positions. We can use some, all or none. But, in the other club,
they provide nothing but the subwoofers mounted beneath the stage.
(Actually, they're mud woofers, and I'll be chatting with the sound guy
about that when we play there).

But anyway....

Even if I could afford in-ear monitors at the moment, I have concerns &
questions:

- I've read various sources which say that all else being equal, X decibels
of sound from an open air headphone will be less harmful than the same
levels with an earpiece stuck right in your year. Fans of in-ear monitors
counter this by saying that due to the nature of the device, you don't need
to turn them up as much anyway. (I mention open air headphones as the
closest analogy to a floor monitor, for purposes of this discussion). Any
comments?

- Significant, accurate bass from headphones, earphones or other undersized
drivers is totally imagined - a leap of faith, if you will. Since I'll be
fairly close to the drummer, it seems I'd have to crank in-ear headphones
pretty loud in order to really hear my own sound. On the other hand, I'll be
standing 10 feet in front of my own amp....

- If, as the band claims, it'll be much quieter on stage without floor
monitors, perhaps I could get along with a powered monitor just loud enough
to hear the vocals.

Total confusion here. Talk to me.


My band is currently using a Carvin IEM system, when we use IEMs. We
run it in stereo and each have our own volume controls. We run Line 6
gear, so no stage volume but for drums and singing.

A good stereo mix allows us to hear everything at the global volume of
our choice since I can adjust that in my ears. I do not run "hot". I
run at a level that is comfortable and sustainable for up to three
hours.

--Fletch

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: In-Ear Monitor Quandary
    ... At the moment, my budget for toys is precisely zero, so the issue is academic for me, except that they're talking about having no floor monitors on the stage. ... I've read various sources which say that all else being equal, X decibels of sound from an open air headphone will be less harmful than the same levels with an earpiece stuck right in your year. ... Since I'll be fairly close to the drummer, it seems I'd have to crank in-ear headphones pretty loud in order to really hear my own sound. ... If, as the band claims, it'll be much quieter on stage without floor monitors, perhaps I could get along with a powered monitor just loud enough to hear the vocals. ...
    (alt.guitar.bass)
  • In-Ear Monitor Quandary
    ... The singer and two guitarist-singers in my band are all excited about the ... that they're talking about having no floor monitors on the stage. ... of sound from an open air headphone will be less harmful than the same ... Total confusion here. ...
    (alt.guitar.bass)
  • Re: In-Ear Monitor Quandary
    ... At the moment, my budget for toys is precisely zero, so the issue is academic for me, except that they're talking about having no floor monitors on the stage. ... I've read various sources which say that all else being equal, X decibels of sound from an open air headphone will be less harmful than the same levels with an earpiece stuck right in your year. ... Since I'll be fairly close to the drummer, it seems I'd have to crank in-ear headphones pretty loud in order to really hear my own sound. ...
    (alt.guitar.bass)
  • Re: How many singing drummers do we have?
    ... I run the sound for our band for just that reason. ... owner could/would never give me enough monitor. ... Seperate mon. mix into a headphone amp with limiter, ... either headphones or in-ear monitors, ...
    (rec.music.makers.percussion)
  • Re: Kinda OT - Those small pole-mounted monitors
    ... They used a clamp to mount off the side of a mike stand. ... My dad's band used them exclusively for years - and they weren't ... monitors, and getting their pitch off the back wall reflection. ... anyone silly enough to put instrumentation through them is ...
    (alt.guitar.bass)