Playing live with amp model / IEM type setup - clue me in

[BassyBill]

How many of us have experience of this? What gear are you using? And how’s it all working, on stage and out front? How many people are using this sort of setup, with no conventional amp / cabs, for actual gigs? And what sort of gigs?

Maybe I should also be asking these questions in the “Live Sound” forum?

 

[two fingers]

I haven't used a modeler yet. But for smaller stages/gigs I will use my Mesa TT800 head as a "fancy DI box". We run IEMs and I LOVE them. (We do lots of three-part harmonies and it REALLY helps with blending our voices.)

Here's the thing. NOBODY will EVER pop in IEMs and love them right out of the gate. They require some experimentation. Your band will need to take some time in rehearsals to dial them in. You'll want to try to seal your IEMs as best you cen. I'm still running Westone universals with Comply tips. They're working for me so far. I've gotten close to popping for custom/molded IEMs a few times but haven't done it yet.

Where they really shine is in situations where the band/venue has a digital mixer that will allow you to log in and control your own mix.

One advantage we have is that our drummer generally isn't ridiculously loud. He will get loud a few times per show when the music really builds up. But it's rare and tasteful/appropriate. If your drummer and/or guitar player are stupid loud, even the best of IEMs won't solve that problem.

Here's something that has worked for ME recently. I have been turning my belt pack all the way up so that I can turn individual channels down. For me, this allows for more clarity. If there is any bleed over of (for instance) drums into vocal mics, it's less of a problem when that vocal mic channel is turned down. It's hard to explain, but it works for me.

As for your main topic (going without a speaker) it wasn't a hard transition at all for me. I bring one when it works, and leave it at home when it doesn't.

 

[Jefenator]

I'm trying amp & cab simulations for the first time for an amp-less theater show, and will be curious to hear from longtime users.
They've been pretty addicting thus far, dialing in sounds at home. (Transforming a dry, sterile response into something less hi-fi but more interactive & musical.) If that holds up at the venue, I might be a convert!

 

[BassyBill]

Thanks, guys. @two fingers - that’s a really helpful post, exactly the sort of info I was after. Thank you very much for taking the time to write such an excellent reply.

If you can be so kind, I’d love to hear more about the digital mixer concept. How does that work?

 

[DirtDog]

SansAmp RBI direct into the bass channel on the mixer for me. Wired IEM - Westone AM30.

I had 15” powered mains so that they could better accommodate bass frequencies compared to the 12” models.

I retired from gigging and sold all of that off…except for the Westones. I still use those for jamming and recording sessions.

 

[two fingers]

Thanks, guys. @two fingers - that’s a really helpful post, exactly the sort of info I was after. Thank you very much for taking the time to write such an excellent reply.

If you can be so kind, I’d love to hear more about the digital mixer concept. How does that work?

We have a Midas X18Air mixer. Everything on it is wireless (except running XPR cables to mics and DI boxes and whatnot, of course). It's about the size of an okd school Stanley lunchbox. The main mix is done with a iPad from anywhere in the room. Each member of my band has the Midas app on our phones. We are each able to log in to the mixer's wifi and manage our own monitor mixes. I keep my phone plugged into a charger during the gig so the screen can stay on the whole time without running my battery down. It takes sconds to look down and find a channel I need to boost or cut. It's ridiculously small and convenient.

 

[BassyBill]

Thanks again! How many people in your band?
@two fingers

 

[two fingers]

Thanks again! How many people in your band?
@two fingers

5 on stage.
Male singer/keys
Female singer
Drums
Guitar
Bass and vocals (me)

Our guitar player was the last to give IEMs a real try. He finally sees the light after a few gigs. We played Saturday night and he told me afterwards he was glad we kept hounding him to give them a try.

 

[KaseOfBass]

I’m always on IEMs nowadays and go back and forth between using just a pedalboard and an amp/cab setup. For pedalboard, mine is based on running the Ampeg SVT sim from an HX Stomp into a REDDI to our split snake (though I’m about to switch the REDDI out for a Khan SVDI to see how I like that). The tube DI really made the HX Stomp sound worlds better as it made it more like a tube amp tone rather than just the emulation of a tube amp from the Stomp.

We use Shure PSM1000s for our ears and an X32 rack with an attached Midas DL32. I’m not picky on IEMs, but having a true stereo setup is definitely better than mono (which mono is still always better than wedges to me). I keep my volumes VERY low and have everything but the bass, click, and our talkbacks panned how I’d hear them naturally on stage without the IEMs.

My IEMs are molded Westone EAS30 with the ambient ports. I don’t have much use for the ports anymore and normally just use them with the solid plug in rather than a filter.

When I was doing more fill-in work several years ago, I’d always carry my own Shure PSM900 system and run them from an aux mix from the band’s mixer.

I don’t have a photo of our IEM/wireless/mixer rack, but attached a photo of my current pedalboard setup.

 

[ColonelZulu]

Either my Line 6 HXFX or HX Stomp (settings loaded for the particular gig), into a Radial Stage Bug. They have IRs loaded.

I either take a pack from our sound guy or use my back up Xvive U4.

Worst case scenario, like when I’m filling in and they want an amp, I have plenty of options.

But, for me, I love IEMs.

I very rarely need an amp.

 

[elvinator]

Been using IEMfor a couple years.

Simple rack set up.

Ampeg SVPCL
Korg tuner
PMA headphone amp
Shure 535 buds

I run a stereo mix from our own console.

I can finally hear myself in the mix and go home without ringing ears.

Getting set to go wireless on both iem and bass .