How do IEM's work with the Venue's system?

[mambo4]

I've been reading for years that many here love their IEM's, but also noticed that many of them are in bands who run their own PA. in my area, we almost always use the house sound system.

Our vocalist recently switched to a small IEM unit that he simply inserts between his mic and the XLR cable going to the house PA, he adds his clean guitar to it and that's it. It's had a noticeable improvement on his vocals.

It seems like getting MY mix in that situation would be more challenging. I was wondering how IEM's on a bass rig would be set up if the PA system were being run by the house? Exactly where does the mix I receive come from? How would I alter my desired mix?

 

[xk49w]

I have done this using a Rolls PM351, what Rolls calls a "personal monitor system". Read the manual you can sort of imagine how it might be used. Basically it taps off and mixes XLR inputs, and 1/4" TRS into the headphone mix. Also provides XLR outputs.

 

[fokof]

What I do with my trio;

I bring my mikes and DI and pass them through a split snake so what I do doesn't interfere with the FOH sound (isolated split snake)
I use a MOTU 828MKIII and an Octopre as the board and just recall the preset to the gig. Perfect monitoring each gig and I let the FOH guy do his job.
All the kit fits in a two rack space.

Hope it will give you ideas.....

 

[musicman7722]

You can also get a special DI that will work off a speaker out and just plug it into one of the house's monitors and then send that through your IEM system. Signal is a bit weak, I run it into an inexpensive Alesis 6 channel mixer for more gain and to add some reverb to my ears.

Chris P.

 

[projectMalamute]

90% of the time people with IEM's just show up and expect me to provide an aux mix at the snake. Same as a regular monitor except the signal goes to his IEM system instead of my amp rack. Works fine.

I wouldn't count on such a thing with some guy I've never met running sound but apparently lots of people do.

 

[walterw]

i love my IEMs, but i couldn't imagine using them without a complete mix all to myself, tailored just the way i like it.

this means either doing your own sound with a mixer that has enough aux sends to give each player their own mix, bringing out your own monitor board that takes split signals off of each mic on stage, or having a real soundcheck with a real soundman on a real soundboard who can dial your mix in just right for you.

otherwise forget it, i'll just wear hearing protection and use wedges. that way, i can at least move towards or away from what i'm hearing.

 

[MNAirHead]

I own a few setups...

1-I either just get a monitor bus.. then plug into my setup.
2-If the entire band is on it, we provide a mixer.. our settings never change.. the multi send mix goes to the house mixer... .. we use recording decks.

If going IEM it takes time to acclimate.. the biggest hurdle is getting over wanting a personalized mix (that you never had before).. biggest benefit is boosting/cutting my vocals or bass in the mix..

 

[mkrtu9]

I own a few setups...

1-I either just get a monitor bus.. then plug into my setup.
2-If the entire band is on it, we provide a mixer.. our settings never change.. the multi send mix goes to the house mixer... .. we use recording decks.

If going IEM it takes time to acclimate.. the biggest hurdle is getting over wanting a personalized mix (that you never had before).. biggest benefit is boosting/cutting my vocals or bass in the mix..

what's a monitor bus?

 

[testing1two]

A bus is just audio speak for output. So monitor bus = monitor mix output.

In terms of IEM's through house systems, I tend to agree with Walter. A bad IEM mix is intolerable and risky considering that fact that hearing damage can happen much faster with IEM systems than wedges in the event of feedback/clipping, etc. If there's not enough time or console buses to give me exactly what I want, I'll stick with ear plugs and wedges.

 

[Petebass]

Like most people I use the send from my amp's effects loop to feed my bass one channel of the IEM (Sennheiser EW300).

In the other channel, I have the "band". If I can't get a signal from the FOH desk, I just use the cartridge from a Shure SM58 which is gaffa taped to the inside of my SKB rack to pickup the ambient stage/band sound. From there it goes to a cheap by surprisingly good alto Tube mic pre before going into the other channel of my IEM.

Add an ART 2 x 15 band graphic - one side for bass and the other for the mic, and i can EQ my IEM's independently of everything else. The rotary volume adjustment knobs make it very easy to adjust levels without having to reach around and adjust things at my beltpack. To the crowd that must look like I'm scratching my butt

The whole rack only takes up 2 rack spaces and weighs very little so it's very easy to transport. It takes all of 20 seconds to set up.......
__________________

 

[pasta4lnch]

so basically you'd need a box to send your bass through w/ a dedicated level, a thru-put so the bass can go to the house and a stereo input for the house mix.

or you'd have to rely solely on the house mix.

they make cheap boxes that'll do this - i think one was mentioned ^^ and it's easy to try out w/ a $20 25' headphone extension cable and a pair of buds before you invest in wireless IEM

 

[JumboJack]

If money is not a problem you can go this route.

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