IEMs... Please edjumicate me.

[MDBass]

As some know, I've recently been asked to play with in a wedding/corporate band. I auditioned for them using amps and a PA in a studio, but they told me they now rehearse and perform using IEMs only. No other monitors. And they play to loops and tracks, so the monitors are 100% necessary.

First and most importantly - my main concern. I have HORRIBLE tinnitus. It's easily set off by certain frequencies, and when it is, it lasts for days. I never perform or go anywhere there's live music anymore, without stuffing my ears with the thickest earplugs available. Even a quietly played drumkit will set me off and make me miserable for days to come.

Is that going to make this gig an impossibility for me? Or might it make life easier?

Do IEMs function like earplugs cancelling out outside noise, or do they blend with it? I'll be using ones they purchased as part of a system. Also, I know they make custom IEMs. Would I be able to get ones that WOULD block out everything else? And if so, what kind of investment would I be looking at, for ones that would really work well?

Please tell me anything else I might need to know, remembering that my main concern is the tinnitus. I don't care about getting used to the lack of punch, stage volume, or any of that.

Custom fit molds offer more ambient noise reduction than even the thickest foam earplugs, and you're looking at around a $500 minimum for custom molds.

If it's at all possible I highly recommend swinging by NAMM in January so you can try as many different brands and models for yourself and figure out what you like.

 

[Ross W. Lovell]

As some know, I've recently been asked to play with in a wedding/corporate band. I auditioned for them using amps and a PA in a studio, but they told me they now rehearse and perform using IEMs only. No other monitors. And they play to loops and tracks, so the monitors are 100% necessary.

First and most importantly - my main concern. I have HORRIBLE tinnitus. It's easily set off by certain frequencies, and when it is, it lasts for days. I never perform or go anywhere there's live music anymore, without stuffing my ears with the thickest earplugs available. Even a quietly played drumkit will set me off and make me miserable for days to come.

Is that going to make this gig an impossibility for me? Or might it make life easier?

Do IEMs function like earplugs cancelling out outside noise, or do they blend with it? I'll be using ones they purchased as part of a system. Also, I know they make custom IEMs. Would I be able to get ones that WOULD block out everything else? And if so, what kind of investment would I be looking at, for ones that would really work well?

Please tell me anything else I might need to know, remembering that my main concern is the tinnitus. I don't care about getting used to the lack of punch, stage volume, or any of that.

Your tinnitus frequency sensitive?

Are there any frequencies that could be cut to lessen your issue?

 

[RCH]

I went to Dr. Glick in Manhattan for custom IEMs. She made the custom ear molds and sent them to Jerry Harvey Audio for the finished product. She had me try out everything from non-custom to custom with 1 to 8 drivers each. A custom fit blocks out most ambient sound so I have to have the drums and bass in the monitor mix along with the vocals so I can sing harmony. The price varies a lot depending on the number of drivers. My experience was that I wouldn't go for less than 3 per ear. I had used generic Shure buds and these are soo much better. I opted for the 8 driver version (2 treble, 2 mids and 4 bass) per ear because they are the best for listening in general, like from my phone or high def device. I think they're worth every penny. I can hear things in the music that I miss with good headphones. I would definitely go back to Dr. Glick if I had a problem. BBTW, I'm not a paid endorser, I just thought she was great.

 

[Joe Nerve]

Looks like 10 of the Shure "olive" foams (5 pair) is about $17 on Amazon

If it's at all possible I highly recommend swinging by NAMM in January so you can try as many different brands and models for yourself and figure out what you like.

Know any bands that need a bass player for NAMM . Or companies that want to band to help them out ? I love NAMM, and would love to go, but have no access or reason at the moment.

Your tinnitus frequency sensitive?

Are there any frequencies that could be cut to lessen your issue?

Yes, absolutely. It's why I'm now starting to get excited about having this kind of control. Wind instruments destroy me, at any volume. A lot of keyboard tones do it too, even at the lowest volume.

For those that don't have to deal with this - trust me when I tell you that there's tinnitus, and then there's TINNITUS. I've had ringing in my ears most of my life. It wasn't until about 8 years ago though that something went really wrong. Ringing is one thing, unbearable screeching that drowns out everything around you and lasts for days is an entirely different thing. For gigs I have to squash out as much volume as I possible can, it's the only thing that works. I got used to it, but yeah... my life has been compromised.

If and when yer not using monitors, do yerselves a favor and make sure you're wearing plugs. Even (or especially) if you already have tinnitus, but feel you can cope with it. It can get waaaaaaaaaaaay worse.

 

[trevcda]

Custom molds will generally be the best isolation (lower volumes), the best seal, resulting in better bass response and the best over-all comfort, resulting in a better experience meaning you're more likely to stick with them. I often read people writing about how much they don't like IEM and it often ends with them admitting that they set themselves up for failure by cheaping out through out the process and/or not having their own mix. Something else that will be a factor that hasn't been mentioned yet, is the occlusion effect. That's the sound you hear from your voice through bone conduction, rather than through your ears. If you sing, you will need to mix around this as well. Put a finger tightly in each ear and talk or sing. The sound you hear is the occlusion effect. As someone else mentioned, when you start with them start with everything very low. Just like your brain/ears will adjust to very loud music, they will also adjust to the lower volume, making excessive volume unnecessary.

 

[Manticore]

From what you wrote about the gig, you'll be playing quite a bit. The fit of the IEM will be very important to you given you'll be wearing them 16 to 25 hours a week or more.

I found that for my ear canal even the smallest of Shure's buds were too large making my ears dully ache after four sets. I had my audiologist fit custom earpieces to four-driver speakers. It's expensive, but well worth it. Your IEM is a very important piece of gear for the new gig, so it's best to spend on them accordingly .

 

[Ewo]

No experience with IEMs (can't help there) but I've used the ACS Pro earplugs for about a year now, and they've worked well.

Mentioning that because they've sent me emails about a sale this weekend, and they make IEMs. And they have an office at SIR in NYC.

 

[BigNotes]

Don't know why we haven't heard about the medical side -- that extreme level of tininitus calls for a hearing specialist, que no? Re IEMs: if you get a personal mixer and can pan the tracks it is awesome since you send each channel to a different stereo location. EQ each channel to make it fit its own space. If you can control EQ then you can address the frequencies that set it off. The economics of good IEMage may not be in your favor....

 

[iTzPrime]

I got very sensitive ears, and i take the "Paul Gilbert" approach. I use in ears, and i additionally use construction hearing protection. Looks stupid, but at least my ears are good.

 

[micguy]

Custom molds are fine, but..kinda pricey. You can get very decent isolation (more than enough) with universal fit earbuds, providing you find the sleeves that fit your ears well. I won't suggest brands, because, although I'm the guy you really want to ask, I have a vested interest in a particular brand, so I'll disqualify myself.

Mix wise, I start with very little in my ears. No matter what you have in terms of earbuds (customs or universals), there will usually be enough drums leaking through that you can hear them OK. I mix in just bit of snare and kick (usually quieter than that coming through the air - the signal from your earbuds will arrive sooner than that through the air, so that little bit of intentional signal helps improve timing. After that, enough lead vocal to follow that person, and enough guitars and keys so you know you're playing the right notes, and you're good. It gets considerably louder if I take off my ears, and I play on some pretty quiet stages.

Your mix is about cues for where you are in the song (lead vocals), timing, and pitch. Everything else is gravy, and sometimes you don't want gravy.

 

[cheapimitation]

For earbuds, I have had excellent results with Etymotic mk5 Isolator: Invalid Link Removed
I much prefer them to the custom molds I used to use -- better isolation especially when singing. Hard custom molds often move in the ear when singing, breaking the seal, but these do not.

 

[cheapimitation]

Also about the Etymotics: they come with various tips to try (I settled on the large 3-flange type), but there are also after-market foam ones available that work well and can be explored. If you get them and use the tri-flange type, lick them before inserting.

 

[Joeykun]

I just purchased the 64 Audio U4 IEM yesterday. Theses are the universal fit ones with the apex technology. These were recommended to me by our sound engineer as my band just recently went to IEM. Check them out. Right now they have a 20% off sale running thru Sunday. [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Good stuff on their site to read about ear fatigue, etc. Theses IMO are the way to go.

 

[MNAirHead]

There are way too many variables for us to credibly comment.

A few years back I wrote a very long how to technical thread on IEM

Overall... you should get a quality set of IEM and have them fit by an audiologist.

Figure $600 or so to have this done.

The rest is kind of governed by your band.

 

[blastbass]

I never use in ears or monitors, I play off the bleed from the pa and others' monitors. If you do decide to get in ears get the molded ones and make sure to keep the volume on the belt pack really low.

 

[HamOnTheCob]

I joined a band that insisted on IEMs about 18 months ago, so I bought a Shure PSM300 system (with the SE215 ear buds) and I was so disappointed in myself for not having it sooner! I have tinnitus as well (doesn't sound nearly as bad as yours though) and I was absolutely blown away the first time I finished an hour set, took out my ears, and the sound of just the crowd actually "hurt". Usually by the end of an hour set, my head would be pounding from the SPL of playing live. With IEMs, there's been no ear fatigue, no headaches, no hearing loss for a day or two, and the best part is, you decide what you hear. I sing a lot in my band, and having in-ears has dramatically improved my confidence with vocals because I can finally hear myself.

There are much nicer buds than the ones I have, but I've never felt an absolute need to buy more expensive ones. Your mileage may vary, however. There are countless companies that offer custom buds. My band has a good relationship with JH Audio, and my bandmates have nothing but great things to say about their stuff.

The PSM300 system I bought retails for $799 but I got it on sale for around $650 I believe. If money is tight, my drummer has a Galaxy Audio AS-900 system which costs a max of $199 (but is routinely on sale for $149 or less), and then added the SE215 shure buds (about $99) to it because the stock ones aren't great.

For what it's worth, you could even use full over-ear headphones if buds won't cancel enough of the outside noise. Brad Delson of Linkin Park has worn over-ears his entire career, and they've done okay for themselves.

Best of luck to you Joe! Feel free to shoot me a message if you have other questions.

Jacob

 

[foolforthecity]

My drummer is almost totally deaf in one ear and about 50% in the other. Got to the point where floor monitors weren't doing it for him. Since he couldn't afford anything to rectify this issue I did a bit of research and ended up buying him a set of SoundSprocket PA-1 and it breathed new life into the old dog. He swears by them now, and the band has noticed an immediate change in his playing and singing. Now the only thing we have to worry about is his occasional alcohol-induced backflips off his stool.

I personally did not try them but his boost in playing/singing is proof enough for me. Around $100.

 

[Moe Monsarrat]

I use IEMs a lot. I use custom ones made especially for bassists who sing by Alien Ears. They have four speakers in each side. They have the equivalent of an 18" sub + a 2x15" cab + a mid range horn and a high frequency driver. Don't expect good bass tone out of non custom ears. Mine has to have some mids taken out of the bass guitar by the soundman who EQs my mix but once we get that settled it's studio sound all night long! You can have them made so that you hear no outside noise or they can drill a hole thru the earpiece that lets in some ambient stage sound. I am also the lead singer for much of the show. IEMs make singing about 30-40 % easier for me!!

 

[lfmn16]

The search engine is your friend. This has been discussed in great detail many times.

 

[CryingBass]

How would you value your hearing? Priceless?

Then consider strongly some of the advice above and get ear molds and the highest quality customs that you can afford for noise isolation and sound quality. Sell a bass if you have to.

I know, it's easy for me to spend someone else's money. But you are going to be doing a lot of gigs.
I really hope this works out for you, safe travels!