Yet another MORE ME question

[THB_bassman]

Hi,
I don't get out on the forums much at all, so pardon me if I seem to be a stranger, but looking through the posts about IEMs and you all seem to be very knowledgeable.
My thing: 3 piece rock band- guitar, bass, drums. Only guitarist and me (I am bass) sing. Only our vocals in our monitor mix.
Guitarist and me share same monitor mix but I have my own wedge. Drums has seperate wedge and mix.
(There is apparently only 2 monitor mixes available on this carvin 12 channel mixer/PA head.)
I always have a hard time hearing ME in the wedges. If I turn me up to where I can hear, it seems like really soon I am buried again. Makes my harmonies almost impossible, and it's darn frustrating.
This also has caused a general lack of confidence for me.
I think I could get by with a wired setup - a Rolls PM351 (or maybe that RockOn product) and a nice set of buds.
Any advice you could pass along? I mean as far as how to set up the Rolls or whatever so I could mix the other singer's vocals and my vocals MY OWN WAY...I only know that I NEED to control what I hear and cannot leave it to somebody else.
OH and this is probably important - the 2 other guys have zero interest in going IEM...

Thanks for reading...

 

[Rip Topaz]

With your PA head (if it's the RX1200L, I have the same system), it's easy to get "more me". Use the channel inserts to send your vocal (or bass) to the Rolls unit. If using a regular (non-TRS) cable, only plug into the insert until you hit the first click. That's the send.

I send the insert sends to a separate mixer. I don't use the Rolls but only because I already had an extra mixer. Mine is a Yamaha MX 12/4, totally more than I need but it works great. I've got several channels that I can mix for the perfect IEM mix.

I use a channel of my bass direct, my vocals, then the whole mix from the Carvin head (via the front panel XLR outputs, plus I add an ambient mic for stage and room noise.

Like I said, total overkill, but I can pretty much add anything I need to my IEM mix.and yes, my system is wired. I have no need for wireless.

 

[THB_bassman]

Thank you for the reply. I see a glimmer of hope now...it's encouraging.
The Carvin is the same as yours. The guitarist owns it with the rest of the PA...which he sets up and controls. The most I haver done is help string cables to and from it, yes - and plug in my mic.
He doesn't care what I use to obtain a better monitor mix for myself or how, as long as it doesn't affect his situation.
I'm going to get the manual and learn about using the channel inserts.
Thanks again.

 

[Rip Topaz]

The channel inserts are a huge help on that PA, just make sure whatever you're sending to your IEM mix is plugged into those first six channels and you're good.

I use those for any "more" needs, and use the front panel main XLR outs for the main mix.

And for Gods sake use BOTH earbuds!!

 

[MNAirHead]

IF using powered monitors.. you could use the rolls to have local "more me" control

 

[THB_bassman]

IF using powered monitors.. you could use the rolls to have local "more me" control

I don't understand. I am currently using a 12" floor wedge, as are each of the other two guys...but I want to get into something I can control, without changing anything the others have already got. I was hoping for a simple, maybe a wired earbuds method which won't take a lot of time to setup/tear down, or get in the other guys way.
Are you saying to use a hot spot type monitor? Cuz I haven't ruled that out at all.
I know this isn't as complicated as I think it is, but I just have zero knowledge or experience in how the PA mixer works...I have to go look up some of the terms you guys use all the time, just to understand what you are saying.

 

[MNAirHead]

Do your monitors have 2 cords (power and signal)

 

[EastCoastThump]

I don't understand. I am currently using a 12" floor wedge. . .

Right. If that wedge is self-amplified you could simply run one line from the Rolls to it, and also use the through functions on the Rolls to pass your mic signal (and if necessary your bass signal) to your band's powered mixer. That would give you your own monitor mix without having to get the rest of an in-ears rig.

 

[musicman7722]

You didn't mention if you use a bass amp or if you have you bass in the wedge?

Whay not run your vocal mike into the through channel on the rolls then to the board. Take a patch from you bass rig into the rolls and an xlr off the front of the carvins as suggested into the last channel of the rolls, I have owned that mixer in powered and non powered versions. Now you have pretty much total control and you don't have to fiddle with tapping into the channel inserts. It is a quick and easy setup. Sounds to me like your controling guitar guy might not like that anyway, the inserts I mean.

I have done this many times. I currently use a spitter snake into a presonus 16.0.2

chris

 

[THB_bassman]

Do your monitors have 2 cords (power and signal)

Thanks...The way I understand the Carvin PA head (MODEL RX1200L) - after looking over the owner's manual, is there are two monitor outputs on BACK and two more on the FRONT. The ones on the back are powered by the internal power amp of the PA head. The ones in front are not, and they are meant to go to a powered monitor? or seperately powered monitor? Terminology ?
The signal goes from the BACK of the Carivn PA head, to the guitarist's wedge, then to my wedge. So no, my wedge does not have 2 cables, the guitarist's wedge does...one in from the Carvin PA, and one out to my wedge.
I use an amp on stage but do not run it into the PA, so yes I could use a input on the ROLLS for a bit of that in my mix...
I appreciate the help guys. Excuse my ignorance...

 

[THB_bassman]

Right. If that wedge is self-amplified you could simply run one line from the Rolls to it, and also use the through functions on the Rolls to pass your mic signal (and if necessary your bass signal) to your band's powered mixer. That would give you your own monitor mix without having to get the rest of an in-ears rig.

Thanks, man. I think I am beginning to see it...from all of you helping me out.

 

[THB_bassman]

Right. If that wedge is self-amplified you could simply run one line from the Rolls to it, and also use the through functions on the Rolls to pass your mic signal (and if necessary your bass signal) to your band's powered mixer. That would give you your own monitor mix without having to get the rest of an in-ears rig.

Thank you...I am pretty darn sure the monitor wedge's power comes from the PA head, but I have been wrong a couple times before.
I appreciate your input. I realize I didn't give y'all a lot of detail on the gear we use, so I appreciate the help, and what I am doing is piecing ideas together from what you all are saying, (I hope)

 

[THB_bassman]

You didn't mention if you use a bass amp or if you have you bass in the wedge?

I use an amp on stage, but we do not put the bass into the PA for fear of overloading those speakers...from what I understand...and the only thing in the monitor mix as it is NOW is both our vocals.

Whay not run your vocal mike into the through channel on the rolls then to the board. Take a patch from you bass rig into the rolls and an xlr off the front of the carvins as suggested into the last channel of the rolls,

THERE IT IS...!
I think that's exactly what I need to do. One more thing...When you say,
"an xlr off the front of the carvins" does that mean the "mains"? Because that'd be cool too; we have a kick drum and an ambient mic for snare/cymbals etc in the mains as well as our vocals and of course the guitar.

I have owned that mixer in powered and non powered versions. Now you have pretty much total control and you don't have to fiddle with tapping into the channel inserts. It is a quick and easy setup. Sounds to me like your controling guitar guy might not like that anyway, the inserts I mean.

I have done this many times. I currently use a spitter snake into a presonus 16.0.2

chris

I ordered the Rolls PM351 and the mic stand holder for it, and it's supposed to be here tomorrow, so hopefully I can take it to practice in the evening. I don't have a good set of buds yet, but I have these red things which came with my HTC rezound which sound pretty sweet, and maybe they will work until I can score some real ones?
Yeah, definitely appreciate all the good inputs, gentlemen.

 

[Rip Topaz]

I used my iPhone earbuds through my church's Aviom for a service while I waited for my Ultimate Ears TripleFi 10's to arrive. It wasn't perfect, but it sure was better than the stock Shure buds that the church had.

Less than $180 on Amazon, great bass response. I love these buds.

Btw, my suggestion on the inserts was probably a bit more than what you need, but if you find yourself missing anything in your monitor mix, the inserts are a great way to get a few extra sends out of that PA head.

 

[THB_bassman]

I used my iPhone earbuds through my church's Aviom for a service while I waited for my Ultimate Ears TripleFi 10's to arrive. It wasn't perfect, but it sure was better than the stock Shure buds that the church had.

Less than $180 on Amazon, great bass response. I love these buds.

Btw, my suggestion on the inserts was probably a bit more than what you need, but if you find yourself missing anything in your monitor mix, the inserts are a great way to get a few extra sends out of that PA head.

Hey Rip - I absolutely appreciate your input here as I do everybody who replied. The way I see it, each reply is useful, and if any single thing in our present gear setup was different, each reply could be the one I need.
I look forward to trying this stuff out for the first time, and to have this much control makes me feel pretty good.
I might have been too broke to get the buds with my "new" Rolls PM gear but I am researching what all you folks like in a set of earbuds, and just based on their popularity amongst you guys, I have already tentatively settled on the TripleFi 10's.
There's my plan, for better or worse...and again, to all of you here, thanks a lot.