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Home Made custom IEM earpieces

buldog5151bass

buldog5151bass

Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
Oct 22, 2003
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Connecticut
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#1
The new band I joined uses IEMs, and I got a pair of Westone UM2s. Our sound guy sent me a youtube video on making your own custom earpieces from the Radian "mold your own" shooter earplugs (cost is about $10). This is designed for shooters, and full earplugs are rated at -26 decibels. You follow the instructions for the plugs, but while the stuff is drying, you put in the earpieces.

I made them this afternoon. It's interesting, and the pieces are still curing. After our next rehearsal Thursday, I will let you know how it goes.

 
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#5
I've done this using Sugru. Works fine: compared to the same buds in their starting (universal-fit) state, much better in terms of comfort and seal (and therefore, bass response). But the sound depends on the quality of the buds you start with, and I haven't tried it with TripleFis or any similar quality universals.
 
#8
I would imagine the process is the same with Sugru. So far I have only used it listening to music - very comfortable. I am getting some more and am making a second set, trying different things to see how best to get a seal.

I have rehearsal tomorrow night (winter storm permitting). When I get to use them on stage, will report back. I just started using IEMS after 30 some-odd years with wedges, so it is an adjustment for me.

The one thing that this video does not mention that I have seen on other videos. When you press the monitor into substance, there is a chance that it will get into the small hole. What I did was use some cotton, and twist the end to get a fine point to put into the hole to prevent this.
 
#9
It didn't work well for me. In fact, because radians do not come with the foam on a string that you put in your ear first before filling it with the radians putty, there's a good chance you can get some stuck in your ear. Ask me how I found out? I had some of the worst pain of my life until I finally was able to flush it out a week later.

You're way way better off either getting custom sleeves made for the headphones you have (sensaphonics can do it for some models, not sure if that includes yours), or getting real custom iems. You definitely get what you pay for and custom molds make a HUGE difference.
 
#10
mrufino1 said:
It didn't work well for me. In fact, because radians do not come with the foam on a string that you put in your ear first before filling it with the radians putty, there's a good chance you can get some stuck in your ear. Ask me how I found out? I had some of the worst pain of my life until I finally was able to flush it out a week later.

You're way way better off either getting custom sleeves made for the headphones you have (sensaphonics can do it for some models, not sure if that includes yours), or getting real custom iems. You definitely get what you pay for and custom molds make a HUGE difference.
Click to expand...

You don't jam it all the way in - you don't want in in the canal.
 
#11
buldog5151bass said:
You don't jam it all the way in - you don't want in in the canal.
Click to expand...

Custom molded iem's go all the way down, that's how they isolate. Anyone is free to try the radians of course, but it's nowhere near the same. I did it on my meeaudio m6's as a backup solution to my custom molds successfully, but there is almost no low end without going into the ear canal. My second attempt, to try to make them sound better, resulted in that issue, though thankfully no long term consequences. Nothing like spending your one hour break between the end of sound check and the start of a wedding on the end of Cape cod looking for a cvs to get something to try to extract it... I will say I have ADHD so sometimes my impulsivity gets the best of me. That was one of those times.
 
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#12
mrufino1 said:
Custom molded iem's go all the way down, that's how they isolate. Anyone is free to try the radians of course, but it's nowhere near the same. I did it on my meeaudio m6's as a backup solution to my custom molds successfully, but there is almost no low end without going into the ear canal. My second attempt, to try to make them sound better, resulted in that issue, though thankfully no long term consequences. Nothing like spending your one hour break between the end of sound check and the start of a wedding on the end of Cape cod looking for a cvs to get something to try to extract it... I will say I have ADHD so sometimes my impulsivity gets the best of me. That was one of those times.
Click to expand...

No, I understand. I do not expect these will be the same as a custom job, but right now I am not making enough where it is worth it. Maybe for Christmas.
 
#13
Farseer said:
Please explain how you do this with Sugru.
Click to expand...
Very similar to the vid that bulldogbass linked, except on three points.

1. I first wrapped enough Sugru around the ear-canal side of the buds to form the business end of the impression, then (w/ buds + initial Sugru still in place) packed in the rest of the Sugru.

2. During that first phase, I packed the end of the bud w/ cotton while wrapping the bud w/ putty. Then I trimmed off the excess (still soft) material and removed the cotton before putting the buds in to form and cure.

3. That let me play music through the buds while setting them, so I could adjust depth and placement to check that I was getting the bass response I wanted and that both ears were balanced. Probably unnecessary, but it worked for me.
 
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#14
did anybody do the thing where you put a bite block in your mouth while they set, so that the seal would be good while opening your mouth to sing? that's apparently what they do at the audiologist's.
 
#16
walterw said:
did anybody do the thing where you put a bite block in your mouth while they set, so that the seal would be good while opening your mouth to sing? that's apparently what they do at the audiologist's.
Click to expand...
That's absolutely what they do at audiologists.. assuming the audiologist has done IEM molds before and know what they are doing! :)
 
#17
Finally rehearsal tonight (drummer was sick) - no PA, just IEMs, so I will have a good idea how well they work, and will report back.

And I did not use a bite block, but moved my jaw during the hardening phase. I am getting some more of the compound to try it again, will try a bite block this time.
 

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