Not liking in-ears

[spigmu]

IEMs are great as a solution for what they're solving. But I don't like playing with them, even if the mix is good. I don't play as well, or at least not like me. I want to hear myself and feel myself and resonate. It's like when you have to play direct to PA with no amp, even if it's regular monitors. I don't like my sound coming from over there, I want it to be coming from right back here next to me : ) Granted I have limited experience with them, and maybe if I had a Buttshaker/Pleasure Board at the time... But it was too sterile a playing environment. If I had to learn to get used to them I would, but it was kind of like 'good sound, nice mix, plenty loud. Don't like playing to it" : )

When I play out I don't WANT to have a great studio mix in headphones. That's why I'm playing out!!!!! : )

 

[badstonebass]

I played with them for years as our sound contractor at the time pretty much instested. Even though I olearned to get a decent mix I still never liked them. The isolation from the crowd sucked. As well I hated the limiters that stopped the volume at levels WAY below where I EVER listen to any music.

 

[Rip Topaz]

I'm torn. I REALLY want to make the switch to full-time in-ears, but as yet haven't found a way to completely get rid of my amp. I don't see much point to using in-ears if I still have my amp pounding away behind me.

I've been buying up all kinds of amp sims in the effort to go ampless, mostly started because when I play at church, we all run direct through an Aviom system. It's a great system (if the church would be nice enough to add limiters, OUCH!!) but no startup band is gonna afford the Aviom.

I've got some more gadgets delivering today, and am trying to decide between the Peavey HB2 and the Rockbox Limiter as a headphone amp.

As much as I hate em, I hate the thought of going deaf even more, so I'm not giving up just yet.

 

[edwinhurwitz]

For bass players using in ears, I highly recommend the Future Sonics MG6Pro (and if a little less low end is required, the 5Pros are also excellent). They have the low end impact of a Meyer subwoofer and are excellent throughout the rest of the frequency range. It's gotten to the point that using a cabinet is a big disappointment to me, although a fEARful is close enough. I should mention that I much prefer a very hifi reproduction of my bass, so if I loved the sound of my amp (i.e., liked the coloration of an SVT or equivalent), mic'ing the amp is a must. Not hard to do. I also should mention that I usually make my own mix via a Metric Halo rig that is usually my location recording rig. It sounds amazing.

Another difference between the 5s and 6s is the fact that the 6s are very very sensitive, so if you want to use them with an ipod or other similar device, an attenuator is necessary. Otherwise you get more background noise than signal. I have both and am using the 5s a lot more all around. However, the low end of the 6s is really an amazing experience. A good fit is crucial, as with all IEMs. Future Sonics will work with you to make it right.

Lastly, don't mess with a wireless system unless that's really what you need. It adds layers of tonal degradation and complications that are just not necessary unless you jump around a lot. I combined my 5 pin Alembic Series cable along with a headphone extension cable in a mesh cable cover that gives me one fat cable. Works perfectly and is very convenient. I just have to remember to unplug the ears before I take off the bass.

 

[gumbynotpokey]

Here's my experience. Previous church some states away before a big move was full of talent and very up to date in the pro sound area. We used Aviom and it was amazing. The switch to in-ears was quite difficult, but brief in terms of the adjustment period. We had a couple of sudden noise events in our system that sounded somewhere between a pop and a lightning strike. Hard to explain. Suffice it to say that my hearing was permanently damaged and the ringing has never stopped. I refuse to use in-ears as a result. I do not trust anyone or anything enough to do so and probably never will.

Current church is old-school. Direct box, stage monitors, and house. No amp for the bass rig. We have a small guitar amp mic'd but that's it.

Aside from the above incidents I described, I much prefer not to use in-ears. Why? I LOVE standing next to the kit and thumpin'/groovin' with the drummer. I want to FEEL the rhythm section. Our move to an electronic kit kills me in the same way that in-ears do overall: too detached and synthetic.

Just my opinion....

 

[bryan gibson]

I've gone ampless thru the wedges on several occasions, but never IEM. FWIW, I saw Foreigner recently-all ampless and IEM equipped, with no wedges on stage. Jeff Pilson spent probably half of the show standing next to the big JBL subs (on the stage wings). Even with their equipment budget, I'm guessing that the setup was still less than optimal. As usual YMMV, FWIW, my opinion and fiddy cents will buy ya a cuppa coffee...

 

[KingRazor]

The triple fi 10's sound great, but not completely flat. They have better bass response than many/most earbuds out there, except for some really high end ones or customs.

But the bass response does drop off a little. A little bass boost in the signal driving the inears would bring it closer to what a bass amp sounds like.

Note: make SURE you have a good seal. If there's very little bass response, you need to change the tips to get a better fit. The comply tips worked best for me.

Also consider www.inearz.com, they'll take them, along with ear molds, and make them custom IEMs, for around $100. Worked very well for me, and much more consistent fit.

Randy

+1 A tight seal is very important for bass response in IEMs.

 

[Duke21]

Shure SE215 IEM are cheap and have very nice bass response. They isolate very well and sit nice in the ear without being custom molded.

 

[walterw]

I often took one out to get some feel for the room. If you do that, rotate which ear you remove, otherwise hearing damage may result.

Ear damage comes from raising the volume knob to compensate on the in ear

yeah, that's like advising people to alternate which eye they use to stare into the sun

 

[Rip Topaz]

yeah, that's like advising people to alternate which eye they use to stare into the sun

+1,000,000!!

Worst thing you can do with in ears is to wear just one. Fastest way to permanently destroy your hearing.

 

[Keithwah]

The OP has the right ear buds for the job. Although I have thought about sending my IE's for custom molding, I find the Comply tips to be too easy to deal with.

The issue is the disconnect from the cabinet. I went through it, and yes I'd really like to get hit in the same way I do running my twin 4x10's and twin 1x15's at the same time. I really lave my stage sound, but. I am more than willing to compromise what I personally hear from my bass in order to create a better band sound and more importantly, to be able to cleanly and comfortably hear myself sing.

I run a Bass Pod Pro XT and get a great sound from it as the "mark king" preset fits me and my 5-string very nicely. Will I ever be able to get it to sound as good? Nah...but with the band on IEM's and a Presonus with JBL PRX boxes, set up takes 15 minutes. So for me, I get what vibration I need from the house subs and nobody is screaming at a monitor engineer screwing our show with feedback in the wedges ever.

Give it time. And agree to the guy that was suggesting getting your mix together at a lower level. Big rookie mistake cranking the crap out of your IEM's. Also make sure you have a live room mix mic running to the IEM mix. It's crucial!