Ear fatigue with IEM?

[dean owens]

We've switched over to IEMs. I play with my fingers but like a bit of top end riding on the notes. I grew up listening to metal players who used pics so that sound is still in my head. I don't want that sound exactly (or I'd use a pic)... but it influences the sound I try to get.

I've noticed that by a few songs in I don't hear the top end bite riding on my notes anymore. I never noticed this problem when playing with an amp and wedges. I just trust that everything sounds the way I set it up even though it's no longer sounding that way to me.

Does this happen to anyone else? Any tips? At times I wonder if there's something wrong with my setup but I'm pretty sure it's my ears.

 

[Dogbertday]

Can you turn your iem master down? The only time I've experiences ear fatigue with or without isms is when they're too loud. Some more isolating buds (don't know what you're using) will help keep the volume down with a good mix. There's also a cab vs. Di tone difference you sometimes have to compensate for. A preamp with cab simulation (bddi has this I think) will help that issue if that's it.

 

[walterw]

yeah jeez, the whole point of IEMs is to keep everything below "[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]" so your ears don't get tired in the first place.

 

[TedH]

What type of IEMs do you have? Ie, when you play without them in, do you get the sound, and then not when the IEMs are in? Could be a mix and/hardware question. I had to fiddle with my mix slightly to get what I hear from the amp.