In-Ear Monitor Mixing Question

[Armueller2001]

Hey guys My band and I are a couple weeks away from getting an In-Ear monitor system. There's 4 of us, the 2 guitarists and myself are going to use wireless systems and the drummer is going to use a wired system. We're probably getting the Shure PSM400's. Hopefully we can get 4 different monitor mixes, and control each instrument/vocal going into our mixes individually.

We have -

4 Mics
2 Guitars
1 Bass
Drums (Probably mic bass, snare, hat)
1 Synthesizer

So a total of 10 or 11 inputs. If we can combine the drums into one that is 9 inputs.

What kind of a mixer would we need to do this? Worst case scenario we need at least 2 separate monitor mixes if we all can't have individual ones.

Thanks!!

[Jerry Ziarko]

LOT'S of options out there for this purpose. For the $$ you can't beat an Allen & Heath WZ3 16:2 Mix Wizard. The board has GREAT sounding mic pre's, and be configured to do many different things. Even though you only need 11 channels and a 12 ch mixer would work, you might need more in the future. The 4 band eq section has overlapping freq. points which allows you to get some great eq for your IEM's for the bass. There are internal jumpers that make configuring the set up a piece of cake. I changed ALL 16 jumpers to make the aux channels post eq and pre fade in about 5 minutes. There are built in effects which sound quite nice. I use a bit of plate reverb on all vocal channels, and it sweetens up the mix nicely. The manual is very clear and easy to understand. New this board goes for roughly $1000, but they show up on e-bay used all the time. If you don't see one today, don't fret there will be 2 tomorrow. Best advice possible: BUY THE BEST YOU CAN AFFORD ONCE RATHER THAN REGRETTING YOUR DECISION LATER!!
If you do decide to go this route, feel free to contact me, and I'll give any help that I can.

[KPJ]

I use a Mackie CR1604VLZ. We have two wireless in-ears and two floor wedges. The Mackie is pretty flexible. we use the aux sends for the in-ears, plus there are four sub-groups that you can assign for effects or monitors. Used they go for between $450-700 depending on age and condition. a very versatile board.

[Armueller2001]

Well our guitarist is telling us that to get 2 mixes (front of house and monitors) we need to get a passive splitter snake with 16 channels in and 32 channels out. We'll put everything through it and run half to FOH and half to the monitor board.

[Pacman]

Incorrect! To get front of house and monitors you need a stereo board with one Aux send. You don't need a splitter snake yet (although they do help down the line when you want to buy a dedicated monitor console....)

[Jerry Ziarko]

Nope, If you want a separate monitor console than you do need a splitter or split snake. If thats the case, PM me and I can steer you in a direction that shouldn't cost that much. Otherwise the A & H Mix Wizard I mentioned, can do separate FOH , five or six monitor mixes, (depending if you want to use built in effects) all in one 10 space rack mountable package.

[Pacman]

Let me clarify my post - you need a split if you want two mixers, not two mixes.