Can just ONE band member use in-ear monitoring?

[ge9375]

I've read lots of great comments on in-ear monitoring, but I have a specific question:

Can I use a wireless monitoring system for my bass (and vocal) and still hear the rest of the band if they continue to use wedges?

I understand that a tight seal on the ear buds is important. Our on-stage volume is very loud, but I want to make sure that enough of that (including the noisy drums) make it into my ears. Will it sound similar to wearing ear plugs with just the addition of my bass and vocals being clear in my head? I'm just wondering if in-ear monitoring is an all-or-nobody affair with a band, or if I can just do it for myself.

[matskull]

This is an old thread but I've been asking myself and a couple of guys at the local store that same question with no answer.
Anybody?

[Petebass]

Originally Posted by ge9375

Will it sound similar to wearing ear plugs with just the addition of my bass and vocals being clear in my head?

That's my experience. If the band is loud enough, you'll still hear them, only quieter and with less "clarity". It takes some getting used to at first, but the benefits far outweigh the inconvenience of the adjustment period.

If you need to hear the band better, there are ways to fix that. But I won't even talk about those yet. Chances are you won't need to know......

[funkydanbass]

Of course you can... And theres no reason you can't have the same, (or a tailored), full band mix in your in ears. I've worked with many singers that prefer in ears, and have a full band mix.

[metallicafan18]

Omg. I have a HUGE problem about this. Our singer has one of these she says the rest of the band is too loud in her ear. so she turns us down an the sound board. Then she yells at the drummer do play softer. So being the curious kid I am, I go look ate the PA and the bass is OFF! the guitar is just about off, and the singer is about as high as it goes. So I ask her if I can use the in ear moniter, she says yes. So I use it, all I hear is her. I am being nice to her because I'm new to the band and I don't want to be kicked out, but if this happens at a show I'm cranking up the amp. Hehe

[lemur821]

Originally Posted by metallicafan18

Omg. I have a HUGE problem about this. Our singer has one of these she says the rest of the band is too loud in her ear.

Well, there's no reason you need to be in her monitors if she can hear you acoustically.

[Munjibunga]

Originally Posted by metallicafan18

Omg. I have a HUGE problem about this. Our singer has one of these she says the rest of the band is too loud in her ear. so she turns us down an the sound board. Then she yells at the drummer do play softer. So being the curious kid I am, I go look ate the PA and the bass is OFF! the guitar is just about off, and the singer is about as high as it goes. So I ask her if I can use the in ear moniter, she says yes. So I use it, all I hear is her. I am being nice to her because I'm new to the band and I don't want to be kicked out, but if this happens at a show I'm cranking up the amp. Hehe

Apparently your sound man doesn't know how to put a monitor mix in your IEM. It can be done even if all the instrument faders are all the way down if you use a pre-fader aux. It's not that complicated.

[Petebass]

Originally Posted by Munjibunga

Apparently your sound man doesn't know how to put a monitor mix in your IEM. It can be done even if all the instrument faders are all the way down if you use a pre-fader aux. It's not that complicated.

Yep! And once you've sorted out what YOU are hearing, you might want to do something about what the crowd is hearing........

[matskull]

Originally Posted by Petebass

That's my experience. If the band is loud enough, you'll still hear them, only quieter and with less "clarity". It takes some getting used to at first, but the benefits far outweigh the inconvenience of the adjustment period.

If you need to hear the band better, there are ways to fix that. But I won't even talk about those yet. Chances are you won't need to know......

So I'd still hear the band but kindda bassy compared to wearing plugs? we got really good gear but for vocals so it would suck not to hear it clearly...
Is there a brand you'd recommend, there is an m-audio model that only block 16 db, how do you think it is?

[Diggler]

Don't rely on ambient sound... get your own pre-fader mix, and YOU can determine how much bass, guitar, vocals, kick drum, etc. you hear. And tell everyone else to keep their mitts off of your aux feed.

[metallicafan18]

Originally Posted by Munjibunga

Apparently your sound man doesn't know how to put a monitor mix in your IEM. It can be done even if all the instrument faders are all the way down if you use a pre-fader aux. It's not that complicated.

Actually the "soundman" is the singers dad.

[matskull]

lol okok, so if I go in ear, I gotta get a **** load of mic and our good guitar and bass amp wont be as usefull, which sucks.....

[Pacman]

IME, with in ears, anything not mic'd will not be heard. I don't even bring an amp on the road anymore - it's great!

[matskull]

I bet it is, but I love my tubes and all my air pressure too much

[msquared]

You might not love them as much after using IEMs regularly for a while.

And nobody said you can't have tubes and IEMs simultaneously. Geddy Lee's rig uses tubes and he is 100% IEM live.

[Petebass]

Originally Posted by msquared

You might not love them as much after using IEMs regularly for a while.
.

Agreed. I have some fabulous sounding amps and cabs, all of which sounded nicer before I knew how good things sound with IEM. I used to try and make my amps sound like that perfect bass sound in my head. Now I try to get my amps to sound like my IEM's.

[matskull]

If I'd go with in ear I'd mic my amp cause I recently achived, aquired, the tone I always wanted. pbass american vintage through svt-vr and svt810e, its awesome.
I'm not looking to improve anything but vocal without ****ing up everything else.
I'll find a way.

[Munjibunga]

Originally Posted by metallicafan18

Actually the "soundman" is the singers dad.

Whew! Good thing I didn't say anything disrespectful. He needs to get one of these: