• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Dealing with In-Ear Monitors?

R

robnatt

Sep 14, 2005
64
0
#1
The church band I play with is just switching to an Aviom In-Ear system. Today was the first gig with the new in-ear monitors. It was soooo different. The bass seemed to lose all of the feel.

I play a Modulus Q5 through an Eden WT-400 and an Eden 410XLT. I have grown so accustomed to the stage volume, especially through the 410XLT. The feel of all of that air moving and the physical vibration seems like such a crucial element of the bass.

We are planning to use Shure E3 & E4 monitors with custom ear molds. Ear molds will arrive next week. Today I used AKG tudio headphones, since the E3's I tried seemed to have a hard time handling the bass. I'm hoping the E4's will work well once the molds come in.

Do you guys have any experience with this stuff. How do you deal with it? Does anyone use those Buttkicker stage/seat "silent subwoofers" to recreate that stage vibration?

Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks!

 
#2
We're using the Shure in ear system. The custom molded ear plugs will make a huge difference, allowing for bone conduction. The E3 and E4 phones are great. I had to make an adjustment from the previous high stage volume as well, but have not gone the buttkicker/platform route. My stage position is right next to the FOH stacks and with the Meyers 18" subs a few feet away, I'm not missing any of the low-end feel. Wait until your molded earplugs have been fitted before you decide this isn't for you.
 
#3
lowfreqguy said:
We're using the Shure in ear system. The custom molded ear plugs will make a huge difference, allowing for bone conduction. The E3 and E4 phones are great. I had to make an adjustment from the previous high stage volume as well, but have not gone the buttkicker/platform route. My stage position is right next to the FOH stacks and with the Meyers 18" subs a few feet away, I'm not missing any of the low-end feel. Wait until your molded earplugs have been fitted before you decide this isn't for you.
Click to expand...


+1

Give it some time. It takes a little getting use to and then all of a sudden you'll be loving it. If you are not setup close to a sub get a ButtKicker and have it mounted or setup next to you. It'll make a big difference. You feel the low end more than hear it and fooling your ears by using something like this really works.

I know they are more expensive but you should really try the E5's. They are dual drivers rather than singles and it makes a huge difference in what you HEAR. They are much better suited for singers, drummers, keys and bass as the frequency spectrum is much wider.

Guitarist can get away with single drivers. If this the route you guys are going spend the extra money!!!
 
#4
lowfreqguy said:
We're using the Shure in ear system. The custom molded ear plugs will make a huge difference, allowing for bone conduction. The E3 and E4 phones are great. I had to make an adjustment from the previous high stage volume as well, but have not gone the buttkicker/platform route. My stage position is right next to the FOH stacks and with the Meyers 18" subs a few feet away, I'm not missing any of the low-end feel. Wait until your molded earplugs have been fitted before you decide this isn't for you.
Click to expand...

I agree with you. I'm using a Shure E5, without custom molds. It took some getting used to but if you sing, especially with tight harmonies, there is nothing better than an in Ear mix. I get plenty of sub low from the P.A. and have adjusted to the feel. I think you will like the custom molds. They are next on my to do list.
 
#5
BigMikeW said:
+1

Give it some time. It takes a little getting use to and then all of a sudden you'll be loving it. If you are not setup close to a sub get a ButtKicker and have it mounted or setup next to you. It'll make a big difference. You feel the low end more than hear it and fooling your ears by using something like this really works.

I know they are more expensive but you should really try the E5's. They are dual drivers rather than singles and it makes a huge difference in what you HEAR. They are much better suited for singers, drummers, keys and bass as the frequency spectrum is much wider.

Guitarist can get away with single drivers. If this the route you guys are going spend the extra money!!!
Click to expand...

+1 on the E5's. IMHO, they are worth the extra money, especially for bass.
 
#6
Thanks.

I am not really close to any subs. Most of the speakers are suspended from the ceiling. In the past Ijust had wedge monitors and the 4x10 cabinet. I'm definitely going to talk with our sound engineer about the Buttkicker things for bass and drums.

I had the fitting for the custom molds last week. They are scheduled to arrive Friday. Everyone was initially issued Shure E3's, so the molds are designed specifically for these. I am almost positive that the E4's will fit in the same mold, but I believe if I move up to the E5's, I will need to have new molds made. Please correct me if I am wrong. Not a big deal, just more time.
 
#7
You're going to learn to love the in-ears. The dual-driver models are an improvement as mentioned by others here, but I've found that the E-3 and/or the Westone UM-1's are both quality products as well - so if your church decides not to get them, don't worry too much.

I'm envious of the Aviom system you're getting....do you have the consoles to dial in your own mix on the fly?

Jay
 
#8
I prefer the Aviom, in ears/head phones & direct box in large churches as opposed to using an amp on stage. Don't worry about all that close proximity bass you're getting w/an amp. The audience will feel it, even more so if you're not using an amp on stage.
 
#9
robnatt said:
Does anyone use those Buttkicker stage/seat "silent subwoofers" to recreate that stage vibration?
Click to expand...
I recommend using the Buttkicker with headphones or in ear monitors. The Buttkicker platform limits your movement but I don't move around much in church services. I also recommend the Buttkicker amp, which so far, is pretty much indestructible. You must to be able to control the Buttkicker volume on stage yourself.

I have yet to mix the drums into the Buttkicker platform. Has anyone tried this?
 
#11
vicenzajay said:
You're going to learn to love the in-ears. The dual-driver models are an improvement as mentioned by others here, but I've found that the E-3 and/or the Westone UM-1's are both quality products as well - so if your church decides not to get them, don't worry too much.

I'm envious of the Aviom system you're getting....do you have the consoles to dial in your own mix on the fly?

Jay
Click to expand...

Yes. Everyone gets the Aviom 16 channel personal monitor mixer. What's really great is hearing who you need to hear, and not having to hear the others. I can also save presets for different types of tunes:piano driven, guitar driven, etc. The presets are also great for multiple users.
 
#13
I don't trust in ear monitors. I don't like the ida of the sound soure being that close to my ear. One bit of mad feedback and you won't be able to pull them things out fast enough. With moulded ear plugs everythings at a nice level and no sudden unexplained accidental noises to worry about.
 
#14
theshadow2001 said:
I don't trust in ear monitors. I don't like the ida of the sound soure being that close to my ear. One bit of mad feedback and you won't be able to pull them things out fast enough. With moulded ear plugs everythings at a nice level and no sudden unexplained accidental noises to worry about.
Click to expand...

Yeah, right . . . . . . that's exactly why they are pretty much THE pro standard.
Ever hear of a limiter????

- Tim
 
#17
theshadow2001 said:
I don't trust in ear monitors. I don't like the ida of the sound soure being that close to my ear. One bit of mad feedback and you won't be able to pull them things out fast enough. With moulded ear plugs everythings at a nice level and no sudden unexplained accidental noises to worry about.
Click to expand...

A dubious statement at best. If this were truly a problem, we'd be hearing about acts losing their hearing.

I can't count how many times I have used them and have never had a problem with them. Limiters tend to handle that problem. Plus, I don't know too many people fully cranking them either.
 
#19
i don't like the e3's. the sound i get just isn't that good. i've come to the conclusion though that in-ear's are only as good as the soundguy. avion kinda cut out the middleman there though. my suggestion as far as "feeling it": bring your amp anyway and turn up the bass and cut some of the other freq's. then turn the volume down from what you would normally have it. it may sound like crap by itself, but if you're getting a pre-eq signal it might just feel and sound great combined with the in-ear's
 
#20
Dual drivers are the obvious choice. However, when I used them we had the cheap E2's I think. I used a dedicated EQ to add some bass to my mix. It didn't help with the feel, but it did help. We had 4 18" subs so I felt quite a bit of bass.

You also have to change your thinking a bit. You aren' tgoing to feel the air move. The sound will be different. The good news is that it is so much better. You have so much more control.

I wish more people would go this route so it would be more accepted and easier to travel with.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back