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Keeping your IEM volume in check

tbirdsp

tbirdsp

Sep 18, 2012
1,799
913
Chattanooga, TN
#1
This would seem simple (turn down your IEM) - but I'm finding I'm basically getting into "volume wars" - with myself:rollno: Setting IEM mix and can't hear something - turn that up, can't hear something else, turn THAT up, etc - until the whole thing sounds good but is so loud I'm getting ringing ears. Last gig I made a conscious effort to turn down my overall volume after I had the mix set - it was better but just didn't sound right/good to me. Any advice other than simply better "volume discipline"?
(Shure PSM200 so mono mix, using Westone UM30 Pro buds. Controlling mix myself with iPad from x32)
 
#2
How is the seal in your ear canal with the sleeve? If you aren't getting a really good seal, (and I mean really well sealed, like being underwater) that might be part of the problem. In my experience, I've never had ringing ears after using a properly sealed earbud. Try a triple flanged sleeve and seat it well. If you are experiencing any sound leakage thru a sleeve it will be more difficult to hear clearly and cause you to turn it up and hear distorted bass.
 
#5
Try the REV33 device ?
I'm using it and it certainly cleans up the mix.. I keep the volume REAL low.. I could hear the subs THRU my ears at my gig last night
 
#6
Yeah - I guess this was a silly question - I just need to turn down. I'm sure I have some hearing damage (lifetime of loud music, working on jet aircraft, and motorcycles). I do have some mild tinnitus.
s0c9 - I'm looking hard at the Rev33. More silliness - I already hate just wearing my stupid IEM pack - adding another big lump to it with the REV33 doesn't appeal to me.
 
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#7
I turn the master volume on my belt pack to the same thing every night.

to start I turn my bass to a volume I like.
second I check my mic, and make sure I can hear it over the bass.
We recently went to a digital board, so all my settings are saved night to night, so I haven't had to really do much beyond that in a while. But if anything prevents me from hearing my bass or mic, I turn it down. If I catch myself turning up more than 1 thing, I will try turning my bass down.
 
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#9
tbirdsp said:
More silliness - I already hate just wearing my stupid IEM pack - adding another big lump to it with the REV33 doesn't appeal to me.
Click to expand...
Understood.. I have 2 packs.. and the IEM one goes into back pocket of jeans.. or clips onto the pocket.
The addon of the REV33 unit is a bit of a pain, but does fit.. albeit bulky.
I have to agree tho'.. the best way to keep your volume down it to turn it down.. not really any better way! :laugh:
 
#11
Meyatch said:
I forgot to mention in the method I'm using you have to never turn your bass up again, its your reference point, set it before your ears are fatigued.
Click to expand...
I TRY to do the same.. it's fine when using the house system, but when it's our PA, the trim/gain on the channels MAY be adjusted... so setting the bass level is NOT the first thing I set.. tough to set levels when the rest of the band isn't playing..
but.. I DO not worry about beltpack volume (unless it's WAY too loud to start with) until I get a mix.. then I turn it down to the level I need.
ONLY minor adjustments usually..
 
#12
s0c9 said:
I TRY to do the same.. it's fine when using the house system, but when it's our PA, the trim/gain on the channels MAY be adjusted... so setting the bass level is NOT the first thing I set.. tough to set levels when the rest of the band isn't playing..
but.. I DO not worry about beltpack volume (unless it's WAY too loud to start with) until I get a mix.. then I turn it down to the level I need.
ONLY minor adjustments usually..
Click to expand...
the key is to do it early. even if you can't do it first.
 
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#15
EastCoastThump said:
Three keys for IEMs, IME: good seal, stereo IEM mix (panning helps make elements audible w/o being loud), and a selective mix (I don't need everything in my mix, particularly in bigger bands).
Click to expand...

THIS.

I've mixed IEM monitors for several dozen artists over the years and thought I'd migrate to actually using IEMs very well.

And I did, except for trying to have everything mixed in my IEMs as though I was mixing FOH. I finally learned to make a mix of what I needed to hear properly and play. Lots of drums and keyboards, a little guitar and vocals. Much less cluttered and fatiguing.

Out church tech guys occasionally come around just to see how folks are setting their Avioms. Even after my adjustments, they still tell me that my mix is the most FOH-like of anyone's.
 
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#16
The key (as others have said) is two things.

1) Foam inserts are not a good seal. They may feel "tight" but they allow a LOT more sound to penetrate than good molded ear buds. So first off you ARE still competing with stage volume.

2) It is not wise to try to make your ear monitors sound like the out front mix in your ears. You don't need "some of everything" in your ears. You need enough to keep your place and blend with the band. If you don't sing, you don't need all the vocals in your mic. Just a little lead vocals will get you done.

When I played with IEMs I only had all the vocals (I sang both lead and backups), a little bass, and a little bit of the softer instruments (acoustic guitar, fiddle, etc) and maybe some high hat in my ears. That's it.
 
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#17
The foam inserts as I have on my Westones are a VERY good seal. I pretty much can't hear anything that isn't being pumped into my IEM mix. Bass response is excellent. I have no seal problems. We have a stage mic mixed only to IEM for calling out set list changes, etc.
I'm a firm believer in NOT pulling one ear out. Our guitarist does it sometimes and I always tell him he shouldn't.
I don't know how anyone can play bass in a band without being able to hear the kick, snare, and hat. I do have the toms way down. I sing almost all of our backing vocals plus some lead, so I need a lot of my vocal and some of our lead vocalist. We are a 4 piece (drums, bass, guitar, lead vocalist who plays minimal keys). I have to have guitar and a small amount of keys.
 
#20
Not to insult but your Shure unit has gain issues. I had one and many people I know also had the same unit. We all found it very difficult to set up a nice mix. A little bit more cash will get you a pro system and your issues will go away. Your buds are fine
 
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