IEM TRICKS - From Email requests.

[steve_rolfeca]

Originally Posted by MNAirHead

This is the reason I suggest people aclimate to mains+more me .... Least risk... Easiest consistent mix.... Easiest to consistently recreate (with different gear or staff)

Whether this is even possible depends a lot on what sort of stage levels and venue we're talking about.

In a small room w/acoustic drums, the mains may be almost totally without drums- not a good monitor mix for a bassist wearing isolating IEM's. In a guitar band with large amps on stage, the mains might be pretty much kick and vocals only.

[MNAirHead]

Originally Posted by KingRazor

And that's the point. If a guitarist hits a pedal that is way louder than the one he was just using, and instead of turning down the pedal he just turns down his channel in his ears, everyone else has to turn him down too in their ears. If he just adjusts the pedal, no one else has to adjust.

Razor----

In this scenario you just described.... This adds more credibility to using mains + more me

Couple of notes ---

Too many personal mixes----
using a bunch of personal mixes, the sound guy would probably correct on the mains and be clueless in the other mixes... There are plenty of monitor mix scenarios that don't get affected by the faders...

How many times have you seen a busy sound guy have,,,, know how to or use isolation headphones?

----

Standard Sound Guy Protocol
In your "too loud scenario" the sound guy probably would quick mute the channel.... Should have a limiter on the channel ... Every time I've sent too hot a signal I've been muted

I really doubt if the average non stadium sound crew would have a dedicated iem guy who would go through and correct all the sub mixes

If truely on a complex iem system the production engineer would tell the guitarist to trim his gain (through talkback) and then he'd be turned on again

For this--- ill stand by my mains+ more me suggestion

[MNAirHead]

Originally Posted by KingRazor

And that's the point. If a guitarist hits a pedal that is way louder than the one he was just using, and instead of turning down the pedal he just turns down his channel in his ears, everyone else has to turn him down too in their ears. If he just adjusts the pedal, no one else has to adjust.

As a side note/addition

The scenario you described is one that I'd use a wedge (from my car) connected to the psm351

----

For worship production, I'm a huge advocate for "only bring your guitar and cable- we have everything else"

Yes you'll have goofballs crying on the floor like babies --- they can bring their home toys (after they're tested and approved)

When I've been hired to "straighten up" a church band .... It commonly includes: cleaning up and identifying gear, simplification, standardization and eliminating variables ...

---

In your scenario, the sound guy should have known about the too loud pedal from practice (and removed it) .... And been gun shooter quick on muting the guitar in the mains

[MNAirHead]

Originally Posted by steve_rolfeca

Whether this is even possible depends a lot on what sort of stage levels and venue we're talking about.

In a small room w/acoustic drums, the mains may be almost totally without drums- not a good monitor mix for a bassist wearing isolating IEM's. In a guitar band with large amps on stage, the mains might be pretty much kick and vocals only.

You're right ---

In this scenario, I'd use an ambient monitor mic+mains blend..... Then add more me

AFTER getting the band to turn down

[MNAirHead]

Originally Posted by steve_rolfeca

Whether this is even possible depends a lot on what sort of stage levels and venue we're talking about.

In a small room w/acoustic drums, the mains may be almost totally without drums- not a good monitor mix for a bassist wearing isolating IEM's. In a guitar band with large amps on stage, the mains might be pretty much kick and vocals only.

To help.... "What microphone for ambient"

Cheap computer recording mics are omni and don't require phantom... Not the best sounding many times fast, cheap and easy

-----

My referred ambient mic is $10 on eBay

Search ebay "radio shack pzm mic"

They had a table top mic ... Black square with connected cord

This one uses a single AA battery to get phantom
Power ....

You can stealth tape it just about anywhere.... In a pinch I've taped it to the back of an upright bass

[MNAirHead]

Originally Posted by steve_rolfeca

Whether this is even possible depends a lot on what sort of stage levels and venue we're talking about.

In a small room w/acoustic drums, the mains may be almost totally without drums- not a good monitor mix for a bassist wearing isolating IEM's. In a guitar band with large amps on stage, the mains might be pretty much kick and vocals only.

Your other truthful answer .... Sometimes the gear, band management or player talent level isn't available for iem

---

I see get email from too many folks who complain iem are an unsuccessful hassle

Commonly these folks havent though through their cabling, signal source options or spent time acclimating at home

[KingRazor]

In the scenario with the guitar pedal I would have simply reduced the gain. I wouldn't see any reason to mute the channel. But of course when he switched back to the other pedal his signal would be way too weak and then I'd have to chat with him about getting his levels right.

[MNAirHead]

Say it's the suggested 15-20 db change .... The industry protocol is mute.... Then correct.... Unmute when remedied

[MNAirHead]

Originally Posted by MNAirHead

Say it's the suggested 15-20 db change .... The industry protocol is mute.... Then correct.... Unmute when remedied

King do you have a tested & verified limiter accross all of your channels?

[F-Clef-Jef]

Originally Posted by KingRazor

In the scenario with the guitar pedal I would have simply reduced the gain. I wouldn't see any reason to mute the channel. But of course when he switched back to the other pedal his signal would be way too weak and then I'd have to chat with him about getting his levels right.

immediately followed by the merciless beating of that guitar player...
In ears are very unforgiving of incompetance. I'd be very leary when playing with strangers and rookies.

[MNAirHead]

Originally Posted by F-Clef-Jef

immediately followed by the merciless beating of that guitar player...
In ears are very unforgiving of incompetance. I'd be very leary when playing with strangers and rookies.

Good point ----

[KingRazor]

Originally Posted by MNAirHead

Say it's the suggested 15-20 db change .... The industry protocol is mute.... Then correct.... Unmute when remedied

I never mute a channel unless it is either not in use or is feeding back or making other unwanted/unintentional noise such as popping. If it's just too hot I turn the gain down. Muting won't affect the guitar player since he hears through his amp.

[KingRazor]

Originally Posted by MNAirHead

King do you have a tested & verified limiter accross all of your channels?

We have limiters available on the output channels that work. Don't really know of a way to know where to set them so I just leave them at the default setting.

[Rip Topaz]

Originally Posted by KingRazor

We have limiters available on the output channels that work. Don't really know of a way to know where to set them so I just leave them at the default setting.

This IS a bit confusing. What is the proper way to set a limiter for in ears?

[MNAirHead]

Originally Posted by Rip Topaz

This IS a bit confusing. What is the proper way to set a limiter for in ears?

Spike it with an inline spectrum analyzer or oscilliscope

[MNAirHead]

Originally Posted by KingRazor

We have limiters available on the output channels that work. Don't really know of a way to know where to set them so I just leave them at the default setting.

Here could be a dangerous situation other folks have suggested

You can wire your board so that the faders have zero effect on aux

(Same reason to mute an abnormal signal vs fader)

.....

Test #1
Put a powered monitor on your auxes..... Drop the fader to - infinity... Can you still hear your monitor

[Rip Topaz]

Originally Posted by MNAirHead

Spike it with an inline spectrum analyzer or oscilliscope

Ok let me rephrase. What's the "real world" way of doing it? Not everyone has an oscilloscope.

[MNAirHead]

Originally Posted by KingRazor

output channels that work. .

Just noticed this ....

What's wrong with your church's board & why don't you guys fix or replace it

When boards finally die - they commonly will send an uncontrollable signal

(Thanks king for the discussion & understanding I'm not picking on you - just furthering the talk)

[MNAirHead]

Originally Posted by Rip Topaz

Ok let me rephrase. What's the "real world" way of doing it? Not everyone has an oscilloscope.

Thx---
Does someone have access to an itouch or iPhone?

[MNAirHead]

Originally Posted by Rip Topaz

Ok let me rephrase. What's the "real world" way of doing it? Not everyone has an oscilloscope.

Can you get a recording device connected to a laptop .... Connected to the board