IEMs, monitor mixers, etc.

melkinsbass · #1 05-30-2011, 11:05 PM

The group I play with the most his/is moving to IEMs. We're looking for a way to use them with minimal fuss between venues. The casinos and some of the nicer venues usually provide sound, while a good chunk of our bar gigs don't. So, we're looking for something that doesn't reinvent the wheel between those two situations.

The Allen & Heath MixWizard 3 12M would be a perfect fit for us, but it doesn't have enough channels (we're running 16 to 17 usually, but sometimes we bring an extra man which adds 1 to 4 more channels).

I thought we could instead buy 3 ART S8's and a new mixer with aux to cover it. The problem I'm having is finding a board with enough channels and auxs; especially in a reasonable price point (would like like to keep the price of the board under $1000 if possible, we could go as high as $1500 possibly).

So my questions are this:

Is there something else like the MixWizard with more channels in a similar price range?
Do you guys have any mixing console suggestions?
Am I totally missing some obvious work-around here?

Thanks for your help!

TimmyP · #2 05-31-2011, 12:27 AM

MixWiz Monitor.

O1V96 with extra preamps and a splitter Poor Man's Splitter Snakes

StudioLive24 and a splitter

Two MixWiz Monitor (with summing boxes to combine the outputs - see Why Not Wye?).

GL2800M.

When PA is provided, you'll still need to take your mic/DI package, so you don't have to change all your monitor console settings.

melkinsbass · #3 05-31-2011, 08:11 AM

Thanks for the ideas. Unfortunately, most of those options are somewhat out of our price range. We were hoping for an option that would come in under $2500, or hopefully less. Two MixWizs or the other A&H option would be around $4000. The Yamaha board would be awesome, much better than our current FOH board, but that would be cost prohibitive as well.
The appeal of the MixWiz is the built in splitters and the price. It would be a nice neat solution. It's looking like our best bet is splitters and some run of the mill board with enough AUX. Any ideas on a board with enough around $1000 plus or minus?

zjanderson · #4 05-31-2011, 09:01 AM

This is likely above your budget, but a Crest XRM board should do the trick. Have one end of the splitter snake go to FOH, and the other go to the XRM.

steve_rolfeca · #5 05-31-2011, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by melkinsbass

...It's looking like our best bet is splitters and some run of the mill board with enough AUX. Any ideas on a board with enough around $1000 plus or minus?

Not in your price range.

F-Clef-Jef · #6 05-31-2011, 09:14 AM

Not sure if this would work for you, but we use a Shure Auxpander (8 x 8 matrix mixer) for mixing in-ears, works great. I think they go for about $400

melkinsbass · #7 05-31-2011, 09:29 AM

The Crest might do the trick. The one I just saw had built in splitters. That means money saved on not buying a separate splitter. I'm just not sure how the stereo channels would work for us. I just don't know much about it. I'll need to read up on it.
We looked into the Shure, but I don't think it'll work for what we are wanting to do.
Thanks! All your suggestions are helpful! Keep them coming, please.

melkinsbass · #8 05-31-2011, 12:01 PM

I think I'm leaning towards the Crest XR20m. It seems like that'll fit the bill. Anyone have any experience with them? Do you like them or have had any problems?

semiprohooker · #9 05-31-2011, 02:30 PM

looks like the xr-20 only has 12 mono ins. Don't you need more than 16????

melkinsbass · #10 05-31-2011, 02:42 PM

It has 4 stereo inputs that have splitters for each. I think those will work. 4 toms in two channels, two snares in one channel, and two keyboards in the last stereo channel. Do you think that won't work?

semiprohooker · #11 05-31-2011, 02:54 PM

just making sure you were aware of what you were getting into. I've made a hell of a lot more work with a hell of a lot less. Question is whether or not you'll be happy with it.

Side note: For feeding drums through the monitors we get away with Kick, 2 overheads, and sometimes a snare.

Never_grew_up · #12 05-31-2011, 03:18 PM

Are you looking for an additional mixer just for IEM/monitors or a mixer that will do FOH & monitors together? How many monitor sends are you looking for? If you're looking for a monitor-only mixer you could get by with fewer channels if you take subgroup outs from the FOH (Like for drums, background vocals) and only selected direct channel outs (lead vocals, guitar, keys, bass). The Allen & Heath ZED-24 or ZED-22FX might do nicely.

Never_grew_up · #13 05-31-2011, 03:21 PM

Or the Soundcraft GB2R -
Soundcraft GB2R 16 Compact Mixer and more Unpowered Mixers at GuitarCenter.com.

melkinsbass · #14 05-31-2011, 04:47 PM

The Soundcraft only has 16 channels. Great price, though. I know we could do submixes but we are looking for something that gives whatever engineer we're working with the most ease. Some engineers at some of the venues we work are not necessarily the most knowledgeable or competent, to be blunt. This way we keep the inconvenience factor low and and make it so that all they have to worry about is the FOH.

musicman7722 · #15 05-31-2011, 07:38 PM

Surely you can trim your needs down to 16 channels? Then either use the mix wiz with built in splits or use a poorman snake as I do. Send the mix the FOH guy and let him mix you while you focus on your ears oh and playing. We do that. This makes it easy no matter where we play (our FOH person or the clubs) our IEM never changes.

Gizmot · #16 05-31-2011, 07:51 PM

Don't assume that all mixers sound the same - they don't (it's not even close). So make certain and listen carefully as well as looking for something that has the features you need. The Allen & Heath is a very good sounding product.

D.A.R.K. · #17 05-31-2011, 07:56 PM

You could do a sub mix for drum kit with a small folio mixer and inject that into two channels, bringing 7+ inputs down to 2. Or sub mix toms, hat and overheads bringing 7+ inputs down to 4. I tour with the 3 12m and the built in split is ideal. However, there is always foh provided so we just run kick and overheads to the 12m for in ears and feed snare hat and toms to foh directly.

Wes Whitmore · #18 05-31-2011, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Never_grew_up

Or the Soundcraft GB2R -
Soundcraft GB2R 16 Compact Mixer and more Unpowered Mixers at GuitarCenter.com.

This is our current FOH mixer. We bought it when it wasn't marked down to this price. If you can get by with 8 channels (we only have 4 vox, 3 guitars, and bass in our IEMs-there is no need to have drums in your IEMs.), then you can make a cheap 8ch splitter snake for around $100. If you need 16 channels, just make two. That gets you pretty close to $1000for a great sounding IEM mixer with 6 post EQ aux sends.
Wes

melkinsbass · #19 05-31-2011, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gizmot

Don't assume that all mixers sound the same - they don't (it's not even close). So make certain and listen carefully as well as looking for something that has the features you need. The Allen & Heath is a very good sounding product.

Have you had bad experiences and/or heard bad things with Crest? I teach at a music store and found I can get it for a very good price; much, much less than the MixWiz.

melkinsbass · #20 05-31-2011, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by D.A.R.K.

You could do a sub mix for drum kit with a small folio mixer and inject that into two channels, bringing 7+ inputs down to 2. Or sub mix toms, hat and overheads bringing 7+ inputs down to 4. I tour with the 3 12m and the built in split is ideal. However, there is always foh provided so we just run kick and overheads to the 12m for in ears and feed snare hat and toms to foh directly.

My drummer seemed adamant about having everything in his monitors. But it seems like most people on here don't seem to think it's needed. I'm going to run it by him.