The Steel Guitar Forum

I've been doing the IEM thing with my main band for about 7 years. We have the Aviom system, but I also use a little Rolls 4 ch stereo mixer, bringing in my Pod XT Pro in stereo in one channel for steel, my Pod XT Live stereo in another for 6 string, then I bring Aviom mixed in stereo in on another channel so this way I can do a stereo "more me" for both my steel and lead and the band at my fingertips. We used to put a large diaphragm condenser to pick up ambient sound and crowd response, but kept adding members and ran out of channels. We rarely touch the Avioms except when we have guests. I use the Westone molded 3-ways. I still do quite a few pickup gigs with amps, but am always chasing the sound I get with the IEMs. Playing with amps and moving air is still nice when you have a quiet drummer and low stage volume, but more often than not the pick up gigs are dynamic nightmares! I love the IEMs.

I use them occasionally, but don't own any. Also, when I mix for in-ears, I have to listen to each mix through headphones to dial it in because the adjustments required to balance in-ear mixes are much finer than they are for wedges. That said, eliminating wedge monitors does wonders for feedback and stage volume (at my church, we mike all amps backstage).

I hope I did not overlook something in this threat: I am wondering, what Pedal Steel Players prefer on ear plugs: there are earplugs on the market for Drummers, Bass Players, vocalists........
What would you recommend for Pedal Steel Players?
I messed around with a Shure PSM 600 and although the Sound is not as nice as real Stage Sound, it really helped a lot to hear my Steel and so play clean. I am planning on replacing the plugs and am interessted to hear what product do you prefer and why
Thanks

When I don't have an in ear mix handy I take a little zoom pocket recorder and plug my ears in the monitor out. Instant down and dirty in ear mix. I can't take loud stage volume anymore.

When I don't have an in ear mix handy I take a little zoom pocket recorder and plug my ears in the monitor out. Instant down and dirty in ear mix. I can't take loud stage volume anymore.

reconsidering all this, i think it's a woosey fad...
not necessary if you are playing with other pro musicians.

then again, i won't wear a bicycle helmet either...after 60 years of riding a bike without one.