Simple question: What is the best mixer for in-ear setup?

mattsk42 · #1 02-24-2007, 12:43 PM

I need minimum of 10 channels, preferably 12 for singers, drums, guitars, and me. I'm NOT using it for a PA or anything, just my own mixer for my own in-ear setup. Only catch is that I want to keep it under $150, and a quality brand that is very reliable.

I'm just running all of their outputs into this mixer, then headphone out to my in-ears. What would you suggest? Thanks!!!

Oberg · #2 02-24-2007, 02:31 PM

Tapco By macie is my first choice, i use the 10-12 channel mixer and its SO good! :P

http://www.tapcoworld.com/products/mixseries/index.html

mattsk42 · #3 02-24-2007, 04:50 PM

What about one of those Aviom things? I can get just the control unit thing if I want, but do I need anything else? Or will it work just like a mixer would?

IanStephenson · #4 02-25-2007, 05:54 AM

Can you clarify the set up? You're going to mike up a set of drums, singers and guitars JUST for your own personal in ear mix!!!

I presume you're actually planning to tap into an existing system. In which case the main problem is how to hook in. Does your main mixer have loop through outs? Balanced/Unbalanced? How much cabling are you going to need to tap into all of this?

Ian

mattsk42 · #5 02-25-2007, 10:49 AM

Good question, I should have posted that.

The singers, guitars, etc. are already mic'd and going into one mixer. Then, that mixer is going to a poweramp then to a cab (the Patterson I have for sale, actually).

I want to take all of the signals going into that mixer and use their individual OUTPUTS to go into MY mixer so that I have an in-ear mix. They don't care too much for in-ear or volume right now, but I have some, so I want to use them.

Or, I could just split the original signal coming from all of them and go into each mixer.

AREA · #6 02-26-2007, 10:28 AM

If everyone wants it´s own InEar Mix you have to have enough Aux Sends and Retutns
We bought a Digital 19" Mixing Console for our InEar Monitoring Rack, so we can save Scenes for different Room Sizes....

JackANSI · #7 02-26-2007, 12:11 PM

I have two Behringer MX882 mixer/splitters in the back of my bass rack with a 2U patch panel I use for mixing my different basses, in-ear, and effects. Works great for anything I have thrown at it.

I usually don't find many places that have line level sends coming back to the stage, except going to the monitor amps. Finding sound guys that are cooperative to this is also hard as it adds alot of time to setup and you messing with levels yourself. The main thing I do is I mic the kick and the snare/hi-hat myself, send that and myself to my in-ear. Works great especially since I like to run about in the crowd during some songs.

mattsk42 · #8 02-26-2007, 01:17 PM

OK thanks for that tip, do you ONLY mic the drums and you? what type of music do you do?

Also, I'm the ONLY one who wants in-ears right now or will be using them. Maybe more down the road, but just ME right now. So I'm looking at a mixer or Aviom mixer. I don't know what the difference is in JUST the Aviom mixer thing (not the whole system) as opposed to a standard mixer.

JackANSI · #9 02-26-2007, 01:37 PM

If I'm really lazy I'll put a mic near the singers' monitor if they have one, they normally like to have a close-to-FOH mix there. Experiment at rehearsal with a few configurations till you get what you want, took me about 3 or 4 tries till I found that I liked just the drums or a complete mix

Mostly covers but when everyone else takes a break I do some stuff on the bass, solo, sometimes I get behind the drums, then play something on the bass into the looper and go nuts for a few alternating between drum and bass and just bass... (Just so there is very little dead space)

Covers from: no doubt, evanescence, kelly clarkson, journey, AC/DC, rage, MC5, guns n roses, Mr. Bungle, Groovezilla, etc. Just some odd ball mix of stuff that our two singers (one guy, one girl) can do. But hey, it pays $$$.

Barisaxman · #10 02-26-2007, 02:18 PM

First question...or maybe assumption...does your current mixer have enough monitor sends to give you your own mix?

mattsk42 · #11 02-26-2007, 02:29 PM

Well I don't really get that part (sends, aux out, main out, etc.), but I'm guessing no. Here's what we have now.

http://www.alesis.com/product.php?id=40

All 3 mics are running into it, and nothing else. Then we just took the "Main Mix Out" and ran it into my poweramp then to a bass cab.

I was just planning on taking that mix and going to my OWN mixer so I could adjust each instrument/vocal independantly and EQ each and send it to my in-ears.

Barisaxman · #12 02-26-2007, 02:36 PM

Ahh...gotcha...so your in your current situation your are using the mixer for vocals only, no drums, guitars, bass, etc. at all going to the PA system. Just three mics to the mixer, then to the PA. Correct?

ntimkovich · #13 02-26-2007, 02:37 PM

yeah, your main concern is gonna be getting sends from the main mixer, either FOH or Monitor-land. in my opinion, unless you are a big act and can set up waaay in advance with your own sound man (or a really nice, extra punctual house man), you're not in luck. separate sends to do your own mix would take a long time to set up, even on a fully functional PA installation.

the best thing is to take the mix that is being sent to your monitor and run it into your IEM module. the sound guy will be happy to do that, cuz it's less volume on stage, and therefore less feedback chances. my drummer does this, and hasn't had a single problem or complaint yet. he just yanks the XLR out of the powered monitor, and plugs it in his IEMs.

the set up you are mentioning really doesn't seem feasible, especially at your price point. in my opinion, there are very few passable 12 channel mixers out there for $150 anyway.

even extra mics on stage running into your own board seem like overkill, but that's just from my experience. neat idea, though!

best of luck,
nick

mattsk42 · #14 02-26-2007, 02:46 PM

First, yep you're right, that's what I'm doing. Second, So for what I have right now, what OUT should I connect my in-ears to? Or what would you suggest? I really only want to barely hear the singers. We practice in a small, small room.

Barisaxman · #15 02-26-2007, 02:51 PM

You should be able to go from the Aux A send on the Alesis board to your inears. You can then adjust the Aux A knobs on each channel to adjust how much of each mic you hear. If I read the correct manual those are pre-fader levels so they are completely separate from the master faders (in this case knobs) at the bottom of each channel.