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Only one in the band with IEM's...

JJP_1984_LB50

JJP_1984_LB50

Gold Supporting Member
Aug 22, 2004
722
859
63
North Canton, OH
#1
That's the position I find myself these days. I've been using Alclair Tour Customs for about two months now, and I'm really growing to like them, but I'm still hauling my amp and cab around. So I'm wondering if there are other people in the same predicament, and what they're doing....

My current setup is...

Sadowsky UV70 to Mesa M6
Mesa M6 Tuner Out to Sansamp (for a little warmth)
Sansamp to one side of a PSM200

Speaker out on the M6 to an Epi-210
 
#2
so the sansamp is just for you to hear, but the house gets what, the DI out from the mesa? seems a little weird to me, like you wouldn't know what you actually sounded like to the outside world.
 
#3
I also am the only one in my band using IEMs. The others are all older guys who are used to the stage volume and can't or won't play any other way. Since our PA can handle the bass, I have been experimenting with different DI sources. The last gig I had my amp on stage with the volume completely turned down and no one even realized it. They caught enough sound from the PA and drummers monitor and I had a great mix in my ears. I have a VT Bass Deluxe on order that I think will finally free me up from carrying an amp around. It is harder being the only one using IEMs, but you've got to protect your ears.
 
#4
I started off being the only one with in ears. The idea just always made sense to me.

With the big band outfit I play in, the whole rhytmn section is now using them. With the rock band, the singer/guitar player has being using one headphone only for about two years. I finally convinced him to try using both and take some time to get a proper stereo mix. Last Sunday he played the whole gig with both earpieces in and he loved it. The other guitar player has used them with other bands and he'll be on board soon. The drummer cannot afford a decent set of IEMs yet but he is willing to use them.
 
#5
Me only as well. Everybody else is a fossil when it comes to forward thinking. Funny thing we lost our drummer a year ago. He left due to music choice differences. Anyway he used VDrums but wouldn't use headphones or budds. he just joined a new band. All you kids and they all use buds and NO amps so he had to get fitted for buds. Now he says he loves them?

I can't win :(
 
#6
walterw said:
so the sansamp is just for you to hear, but the house gets what, the DI out from the mesa? seems a little weird to me, like you wouldn't know what you actually sounded like to the outside world.
Click to expand...

Well, I get a lot of compliments on the tone coming out of the M6 DI. I just didn't like the tone I was getting through the tuner out in my IEM's and tried the Sanamp in-between. It was better, but seemed cumbersome: one more thing to carry and use up batteries...

I guess I was wondering if people were dumping their amps and letting the other band members fend for themselves through the monitors or FOH or what...
 
#7
JJP_1984_LB50 said:
Well, I get a lot of compliments on the tone coming out of the M6 DI. I just didn't like the tone I was getting through the tuner out in my IEM's and tried the Sanamp in-between. It was better, but seemed cumbersome: one more thing to carry and use up batteries...

I guess I was wondering if people were dumping their amps and letting the other band members fend for themselves through the monitors or FOH or what...
Click to expand...
No, you need to respect your bandmates and provide them with the amount of bass they require to play well.
Too many people ditch their onstage volume for IEMs and totally hose everyone else on the team.
 
#8
KeithAlanK said:
No, you need to respect your bandmates and provide them with the amount of bass they require to play well.
Too many people ditch their onstage volume for IEMs and totally hose everyone else on the team.
Click to expand...

I use a wired IEM system so I have no need for batteries. It has made loading of from the gig without a PA much simpler.

We also have a really good PA system with good wedges, so the rest of the band are either happy enough to hear me through wedges or are moving towards IEMs themselves.
 
#9
I noticed last night on "The Voice" that when all four judges were singing together, Blake Shelton was using two floor monitors and Usher had IEMs. I think Adam Levine also had IEMs. Couldn't tell if Shakira had IEMs. So to the point of this thread, even the superstars play in mixed IEM/monitor scenarios. Guess it comes down to what you like.

I did note when the Swon Brothers had finished one song and were hearing judges' reactions, both had their IEMs pulled out of their ears and were dangling by wires on their chests. Thought that looked pretty cheezy.
 
#10
Ukiah Bass said:
I did note when the Swon Brothers had finished one song and were hearing judges' reactions, both had their IEMs pulled out of their ears and were dangling by wires on their chests. Thought that looked pretty cheezy.
Click to expand...

Because if you don't pull them out, you can't hear the discussion. Go to any local club gig where the band uses in-ears, and you'll see them dangling on their chests during breaks..... It's pretty standard.... To difficult to re-feed them down your shirt each break.
 
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#11
Eric Moesle said:
Because if you don't pull them out, you can't hear the discussion. Go to any local club gig where the band uses in-ears, and you'll see them dangling on their chests during breaks..... It's pretty standard.... To difficult to re-feed them down your shirt each break.
Click to expand...

I understand this. To laymen, it might look kind of gross to see something that was inside a person's ears to be resting outside their body. Or not. Just as long as there isn't ear wax clinging to the IEMs. :ninja:
 
#14
smeet said:
I don't use IEMs, and I'm curious. Your setup will let you hear yourself nicely, but how do you hear the rest of the band?
Click to expand...

Depends on your setup. I have the entire band in my own mix, we use the same soundman at every gig and I have my own AUX send from the board with the blend of everything just how I want it.

I have my vocal mic, bass, kick drum and hi-hat pretty prominent, and everything else a bit more subdued.... just my personal preference.
 

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