Bad sounding bass in IEM's

[tekhedd]

"Getting enough bass..."

I think we generally agree that OP's problem is probably something with the transmitter/reciever or some other signal degradation, but when it comes to getting great low bass, earbuds will never quite cut it, and that's just life. We perceive very low frequencies largely by counting cycles in the ear and, to some extent, against the skin. So part of the problem will always be the "in ear" part. Bass doesn't happen just in your ears. I'm seriously thinking of adding a buttkicker platform to my in-ear rig... just for smaller gigs where I can't move around anyway.

On larger stages, it's not an issue. In fact, if "excessive bass on stage" isn't already a problem, it could be that your engineer hates bass, because bass is uncontrollably nondirectional. I know we sound good out front when the keyboard player starts complaining that he can hear the bass.

 

[Jon Mush]

The band I play with also uses PSM300. All of these aforementioned troubleshooting ideas are on the money.

If the bad sounds are confined to your (or a few) pack(s), there could be another possibility, if all the other things don't do it for you: Look at frequency coordination and antenna placement. (It's hard to zero in on the problem by the noise you're describing.) Churches usually have a bunch of RF going on and the reception works best if you keep a line of sight between the TX and Rx. Pressing the scan button on each receiver or transmitter is not a silver bullet and may even cause more grief. It's my understanding, that assuming a relatively open RF environment, that the Shure transmitters should all be in the same group. If your church has a bunch of RF going on, using proper frequency coordination software can go a long way to making sure you've steered clear of interference and intermodulation.

As with all things audio, it can be a combination of problems.

Don't forget to keep the IEMs clean. A bit of wax lodged in the tube can make things sound like their totally blown.

 

[Tedward]

The engineer worked on my monitor Saturday and has improved the sound. Still get a hissing sound when I play a note but it gets buried in the mix. It doesn't hiss in the background only when I play a note and, I have come to the realization that dual drivers should be used.

 

[hbabels]

Glad you're getting it sorted out.

I cannot overstate how much the low end and overall sound quality improves as you move to dual, triple and more drivers. It's HUGE improvement overall and that goes DOUBLE for the low end response.

If using IEMs is a regular thing for you. Buy the absolute BEST ones you can possibly afford!

 

[inanimate_carb]

The engineer worked on my monitor Saturday and has improved the sound. Still get a hissing sound when I play a note but it gets buried in the mix. It doesn't hiss in the background only when I play a note and, I have come to the realization that dual drivers should be used.

Notes doing stuff like that strongly suggest that there is a poorly/incorrectly applied noise gate being opened when you play a note. It could be a standalone unit, or a noise gate that's a part of a compressor or mixing board, or possibly even part of a wireless system. You can absolutely depend on non-pro sound guys to not know what they do. As it was hopefully mentioned earlier, you could have a pair of 47 driver inears that cost 10k, but if they receive a crappy source signal, they have no magic fairy dust inside that will make unwanted noises go away.

Since this is TB, of course the answer to any problem is new gear. Although a bassist will hear best with at least dual drivers, your issue is almost certainly downstream in the audio path. Enjoy your new inears, anyway.

 

[s0c9]

I think we generally agree that OP's problem is probably something with the transmitter/reciever or some other signal degradation, but when it comes to getting great low bass, earbuds will never quite cut it, and that's just life.

I have to disagree with the bolded part... It VERY much depends on the type of buds and number of LF drivers being used.
With universals, I would agree with single LF drivers.
With the right number of LF drivers in a set of customs. Not so! WAY better!!
With my 1964 Qi's (quad drivers) the bass was GREAT - I could get stupid, silly amounts of bass in my ears (ask @Geri O he has a set)!!
With the A8's I NOW use, I have TWICE the number of LF drivers, and I don't even need an amp.. There's SO-O-O much bass I can put in my ears, it's really quite ridiculous. I can FEEL it in my toes!
I have been ampless since last October and don't miss it at all.
Like most things - size (number of LF drivers) matters
YMMV

 

[Geri O]

I have to disagree with the bolded part... It VERY much depends on the type of buds and number of LF drivers being used.
With universals, I would agree with single LF drivers.
With the right number of LF drivers in a set of customs. Not so! WAY better!!
With my 1964 Qi's (quad drivers) the bass was GREAT - I could get stupid, silly amounts of bass in my ears (ask @Geri O he has a set)!!
With the A8's I NOW use, I have TWICE the number of LF drivers, and I don't even need an amp.. There's SO-O-O much bass I can put in my ears, it's really quite ridiculous. I can FEEL it in my toes!
I have been ampless since last October and don't miss it at all.
Like most things - size (number of LF drivers) matters
YMMV

Exactly what Steve sez...!

" but when it comes to getting great low bass, earbuds will never quite cut it, and that's just life."

Geez, just how much low end do you need? If you want yer a$$ to shake (thankfully, I don't, my a$$ has been through enough), then I guess earbuds won't cut it for you.

 

[inanimate_carb]

Good inears have plenty of low-end response. You can even hear sub-bass stuff. It obviously won't be felt in the chest as it would be at a club, but it's there.

 

[Johnny Crab]

"Getting enough bass..."
I know we sound good out front when the keyboard player starts complaining that he can hear the bass.

You are not alone!
I'm at about gig #8 or so with IEM's and great venue PA and engineers. Took 3 shows to iron out mix they send me(FOH L, FOH R, lead vocal center, my vocal at 1 o'clock, bass at 11 o'clock in a stereo mix) and another 1 to correct settings on the brick wall limiter being I use. Ampless on stage, with drummer's monitor being the only one getting bass. Keyboard/guitar guy has his own "mini PA" and complained about not hearing me. Told him to turn down or take a line from FOH and run it into his pile of stuff and said "I can hear me great, drummer can hear me great, audience can hear me fine. The FOH mix I have sounds great". Not about to carry an amp, no need for another loud box on stage.

PS: LOVE not having my ears ring any more after gigs!