In-Ear Monitors

[wideload]

We are considering an in-ear setup. At this point I would probably still use my little combo (Peavey Bam210) for front fill and rely on the house PA for coverage (not all that different than now, really). The goal is a cleaner sound and no more Harbinger Death Wedges to move! Anyone using this kind of setup, or have a strong feeling one way or the other? Thanks!
Larry

[dadabass2001]

Hi Wideload,  
I know Bela Fleck & The Flecktones use in-ear monitoring. It's quite visible on their Live at the Quick DVD, which is brilliant by the way. Victor Wooten uses Ampeg 410 and 1 15 cabs as backline, but their on stage level is probably not that loud, allowing  great interplay with Bela's banjo, Jeff's saxes, and Futureman's acoustic instruments (played along with his synthax drumitar).  
 
Also, one of our German brethren is using in-ear as well. Perhaps he'll join this thread.  
 
I just play in bars at this point (you know - almost no cash).  
 
Mike
 
(Message edited by dadabass2001 on April 21, 2004)

[keavin]

yes,yes,!!!i play vegas & reno alot and in the casino circut the bands goes through the house PA in most of those big rooms & the in ear monitors are the standard, and i fell in love with them riteaway!,one positive is thing is that they're total stereo and crystal clear, you can adjust individual levels (instruments)in your own ear set according to your own liking,you can turn your self up or whoever & its great !i highly recomend it!!!plus alot of big stars are using them now in concerts.

[dannobasso]

I had some custom molded Westone dual driver Elites made. They sound great and are extremely comfortable with an air tight fit. I'm still researching about a rack unit for wireless use. You still have to rely on someone who can actually mix your monitor sends. What kind of board are you using? How many sends? The big plus is that you can control the volume going to your ears. But if there is no stage monitor mixing console you have to leave your unit up by the house board.  
Danno

[edwin]

I have been using in ears now for about 7 months. I hate it when i can't use them. I have the cheap Westone's and use an Acme B2  for a little low end fill. I also have a Mackie  mixer so I can mix my bass signals (stereo main and a mono loop line from my Jamman) as well as a vocal split of my own microphone and a mono send from the PA. No bass cabinet I have found can give me the clarity of in ears, plus I can hear the glorious stereo sounds of the Lexicon G2 perfectly. As an added bonus, I never have ringing ears after gigs any more. I highly recommend this to anyone.
 
From what I understand, the Sennheiser 300IEM G2 is the best of the less expensive wireless setups. I am wired right now, but intend to get one of these pretty soon. I do understand that the Future Sonic ear buds they come with are not as good as the Westones. the best price I have found is at http://www.northernsound.net and they also have the original version at a good discount occaissionally.
Don't bother with Carvin or other low priced setups. The just don't have the fidelity.
 
Edwin

[mattheus]

Hi there,
 
I've been using In Ear monitors for about 7 years now. In the beginning I usd Garwood systems (at that time the only one) and nowadays I use Sennheisser. Sennheisser is not very expensive and works very well. I've tried several moulded earpieces and ended up with using cheap Sony 'walkman' earpieces. I only use one ear, an onstage I fill it up with a little sub-bass from an Ashdown combo. The big advantage is that you don't have a loud stage volume, and every member of the band has his own monitor setting. As a mixing-console onstage we use a Yamaha O1v, which works very well. Once you have a great monitor setting, you save it and you almost never need to do a soundcheck again. Which gives you more time to hang around this site and watch all those wonderfull pictures......
 
 
Mattheus

[essenceman]

Hi,
 
I have been using the Sennheiser IEM for about 15 months and, like Mattheus, use Sony Walkman ear buds, which cost about 30 pounds here in the UK. I love the clarity of sound you get and the ability to get your own mix, but...
 
...on-stage communication is a little more difficult, as I am somewhat isolated from the rest of the band. I play in a function band that plays for weddings, anniversaries, company functions and the like. Our main job is to get people dancing, so quite often we, particularly the singer, have to think on our feet in order to get people onto theirs!! The problems arise when the singer calls for a different song than we have written on the Set List. I can miss this call as he obviously makes the call off-mic. You learn to be a pretty good lip reader!!
 
Just something else to consider before you take the plunge into IEM, but that aside, it is worth the expense for the clarity and the protection of your hearing.
 
Cheers
 
Rob

[wideload]

Thanks for relieving my anxiety! They may yet drag me into the '90s! What, I missed it??!
 
Larry