Please pick apart my IEM idea...

[BrentD]

...so that I may improve upon it:

I'm currently playing guitar and singing in a three-piece alt rock band. We are hoping in the future to play some small local shows, and in order to keep our ears safe I'm considering putting together a budget-friendly IEM rig for the three of us. To serve the budget and to avoid battery headaches, I'm thinking a wired IEM system is the way to go.

Currently I'm playing through an Orange head and cab for guitar, and the bassist is using a PF-350 and a pair of PF cabs. This is the potential setup I'm thinking of:

Vocals --> TC Helicon Mic Mechanic
Guitar --> Tech21 Oxford
Bass --> Tech21 VT Bass
Ambient Room Mic

All of these to a small mixer.

THEN

Small mixer --> Comp/Limiter (for protection) --> headphone amp --> to band members' headphones via cables, which can be run alongside instrument cables.

The mains out of the small mixer will go to the PA, and will be turned up only loud enough to balance the acoustic drum kit. If quieter is necessary, we'll run an electronic kit into the mixer as well. If louder, well, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.

 

[BrentD]

Let me add that if band members wanted personalized mixes, we could try replacing the mixer with something like those JamHub tools.

 

[s0c9]

My $0.02?

Don't SKIMP!
Do it right !!
BUY ONCE, CRY ONCE !! (and any other similar analogies one cares to use).

Why? Musicians will spend much $$ on gear, instruments, etc (getting their "sound") then CHEAP out on the whole "save your hearing" part!

Your solution will absolutely work.. for now!! You will quickly find that a single mix (wired or not) is NOT going to work for you. The drummer will want more kick.. the vocalist will want more vocals and less kick + bass and if you sing and play guitar, then..... the more me syndrome on without wedges!

[FWIW - I speak from experience with the following approaches as I've been there done all of them before ending up at #3.]
#1 - as as "step up" from your initial approach... If you are going the wired route with headphone amp, I recommend a mixer that has at least 4 aux sends. You can use each AUX to mix what you each want to hear and feed AUX 1-3 into headphone amp so each of you get your own mix, leaving AUX 4 for effects. You will also need a limiter ahead of each mix, like a cheap 4-ch compressor - extra $, extra piece-parts to store, setup, carry. Once you figure that out, you will then realize that spending a few more $$ would have allowed you to upgrade ... to

#2 - wired but using the Behringer PM system (Aviom equivalent) or jamhub config. Simpler with an X series mixer (X, XR, X32, etc) but do-able with others. For non-X series mixers, direct outs from mixer into the P16I sending unit. CAT5 from there into each P16M giving you full control over 16 channels. Limiter is built in. Wired from P16M into your ears. Jamhub is similar approach, but I've never used one live.. just at rehearsals. for is bit more, you can go....

#3 - wireless using a mixer with multiple main (or AUX) outs. Each "out" can have your own mix and consoles such as Presonus (studiolive), A&H (QU), Behringer (X, XR and X32), Soundcraft (SI) - among others - all support EQ, limiters, etc. on each output buss. Go from console out into wireless transmitter, use iPhone/iPad/Android app to control your own mix, or mix from console on stage.

Yes, you can combine portions of 1, 2 and 3 to get what you need. My current band is at #3 (X32 to wireless IEM, mixed via own iPads) and it works great. Power up and go... adjust the IEM mix on the fly.

To be sure, there is a cost differential between stages.. and I have been thru all 3... and have the gear and expense to prove it. I still own a Mixwiz 16 + 2 headphone amps + an Alto 4 channel compressor/limiter (#1), a Presonus 16.4.2 + Behringer P16I + 3 * P16M stations + 250 feet CAT5 cable, etc. (#2). The X32 solution is not mine, but is owned by my current BL - with input from me.

When you factor in the cost of getting to #3, I could have bought it TWICE over going thru steps 1 and 2. Obviously budget is ALWAYS a factor, but IMHO, you'd do better saving for a good system that will last and is portable.

Apologies for the rant, but.. like I said, been there, done that, got the T-shirt collection.
YMMV

 

[morgansterne]

I've gone ampless with IEM's. never been in an entirely ampless band though.
you need good earbuds to get a solid bass response when there's no amp behind you to fill in the lows. wearing headphones for long periods can get a bit too sweaty.
you need a mixer with effects. totally dry vocals in your IEM's can be very weird to hear. allen and heath zed? I have a zed10 and they're really flexible and sound great.
If this is for rehearsal only, then wired is fine. If you wanted to perform ampless, I'd get the carvin em900 to have wireless IEMs.


you know what else would be awesome is a yamaha aw4416. I bought one when they were $3000, now they go for under $500. but there's 4 aux outs which can double as headphone jacks, a dedicated headphone jack, built in compression/limiting, fx . . .
only caveat being there's only 2 xlr jacks, the other inputs are 1/4 inch balanced, but you can still plug mics into them.
I'm sure some other digital recorders would work as well, but I can vouch for the old yamaha.

 

[FatBoutedGirls]

Wired didn't work for me, too cumbersome, went back to wedges. To save my ears I've worked on controlling stage volume, which our crowds also enjoy.

 

[buldog5151bass]

What he said ^. Solves numerous problems.

 

[Rocksolid]

Do you already have a mixer? If so I would use something like this:
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You can take a standard mix to all 4 channels and balance a 2nd source into it (vocals, bass etc).

Also - I am using a Rode M3 over the drums as an ambient drum overhead and it's awesome

 

[s0c9]

Do you already have a mixer? If so I would use something like this:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

You can take a standard mix to all 4 channels and balance a 2nd source into it (vocals, bass etc).

Also - I am using a Rode M3 over the drums as an ambient drum overhead and it's awesome

This is part of my #1 solution above... however, limiters are still needed (somewhere in the chain) to protect ears. We went from AUX sends to this [Alto CLE-4], then into the Powerplay XL above. Lots of patch cables required.