in ear monitor..

Bob Grado · Post by **Bob Grado** » 15 Sep 2008 10:27 am

One of the problems I have with using an "in ear monitor" is that it keeps out the ambient sounds of the venue your playing.

This last weekend I played a gig using my POD XT,direct to the PA). Instead of using my Shure ear monitors I thought I'd give my IPOD earphones a try.

The result was a perfect blend. The IPOD earphones are designed to allow a percentage ambient sound to filter through to protect the ear.

My question is: Is there a quality ear monitor available that does the same?

Tks,
BobG

Richard Marko · Post by **Richard Marko** » 15 Sep 2008 12:20 pm

Bob - last band I was in I used the POD XT and ear buds also, Other than a nice clean stage I hated it !!!
All ear buds are designed to totally enclose the ear canal from outside ambient. That is where the cost and expensive lies.
I didn't have a good amplifier for the buds either ($50.00) so a good amp is important.
I hated making them stay put etc ...

What I ended up doing was buying a good pair of ear phones ($75.00 or so) and everything sounded better, this way you can remove one ear or slightly move it to open to ambient. Sometimes get hot though.
It was at this point I realized I wasn't in the mix outfront like I should of been, but that is another story and why I'm not with that band anymore.

Now I'm back to micing my amp and having it behind me to my left and very much happier !!!

Kyle Everson · Post by **Kyle Everson** » 15 Sep 2008 1:33 pm

Depending on how loud your stage volume is, those iPod earphones may not be protecting your ears as well as your in-ear monitors would. The way to get more ambient sounds without buying new molds is to set-up a couple of crowd mics at the front of the stage and have the monitor engineer blend in as much as you want. There are also manufacturers that make molds with filters that let some sound back in, but it seems to me that it would defeat the purpose of wearing in-ears for hearing protection.

Steve Hotra · Post by **Steve Hotra** » 15 Sep 2008 2:43 pm

I play with IEM's into my Pod X3L.
I recommend looking at Westone.
They are better than the IPod ear buds.
Works great with pedal steel.

Michael Hartz · Post by **Michael Hartz** » 15 Sep 2008 6:54 pm

Look at ultimate ears. I believe they have ear buds they have ambient filters you can put in or take out. "UE-5 Ambient Custom Studio Reference Monitors in or take out."

Jeff Valentine · Post by **Jeff Valentine** » 15 Sep 2008 8:09 pm

I always go straight from my Pod X3 into a board using westone in ears. I also have some triple driver ultimate ears ear buds, which just don't compare to the westones when used as in ears. I agree with Kyle about the danger of stage volume. Every now and then we do an amp gig and I realize how much I like the in ears. It's great to have that option.

-Jeff

Lynn Oliver · Post by **Lynn Oliver** » 15 Sep 2008 10:31 pm

Shure makes an adapter called the Push-to-hear Control that lets you control the level of external sound.

Richard Chapman · Post by **Richard Chapman** » 16 Sep 2008 6:21 am

I tried In Ears for a while also. I found that getting the right balance with the others so I could hear what I wanted in a balance I could play against was really hard for me in a small bar room act. I was spending way too much time and effort to get them to work for me, and I always thought I was trying to hit a moving target. But I needed something to save me from the volume. I have ended up using custom molded earplugs and a good monitor for vocals. I can hear the stage balance for my playing dynamics and get the vocals up to where I need them to sing accurately. Usually I use a Galaxy powered hot spot, but if I were spending the money today, I would get the Mackie. More versatile and much lighter. I run the monitor pretty loud but it works for me and my ears don't ring at the end of the gig.

Dyke Corson · Post by **Dyke Corson** » 18 Sep 2008 10:47 pm

Another vote here for the Westones, I think they are the best out there. We put an AT studio mic behind the singer in front of the drums. We bring that back in on a channel and it makes things sound more "normal", plus the singer can talk only to us through that mic for changes in the set and snide comments about audience members!!

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 21 Sep 2008 6:14 pm

Yes using a cheapo small mic aimed at the band
you can tune in a touch of the room sound at a
lower level than it exists, into your ear monitor mix.
Just takes a cheap micro mixer before your power amp.
Easy enough to use a $20 unblanced mic and the line in
or use a insert on your ear monitor amp.

Steve Hotra · Post by **Steve Hotra** » 22 Sep 2008 8:54 am

Richard Chapman wrote:I tried In Ears for a while also. I found that getting the right balance with the others so I could hear what I wanted in a balance I could play against was really hard for me in a small bar room act. I was spending way too much time and effort to get them to work for me, and I always thought I was trying to hit a moving target. But I needed something to save me from the volume. I have ended up using custom molded earplugs and a good monitor for vocals. I can hear the stage balance for my playing dynamics and get the vocals up to where I need them to sing accurately. Usually I use a Galaxy powered hot spot, but if I were spending the money today, I would get the Mackie. More versatile and much lighter. I run the monitor pretty loud but it works for me and my ears don't ring at the end of the gig.

I have the same set-up as well. PPOD X3L into the house, IEM's for vocals/band mix and a small powered Mackie 150 speaker just for my pedal and guitars. The Mackie just gives a little more of a "live" feel, but not overpowering.