Bit the Bullet...going IEM

[ewill52]

Welp, not the NGD i hoped for, but probably overdue. We decided to go to IEM's. We're starting to get a few better gigs where it would be super handy to have better monitor mixes and the ability to mix your own monitors combined with having essentially the same monitor mix from gig to gig finally won out.

I used to play on the road with a guy that used IEM's....once I acclimated, I really loved them, hoping this transition is as easy.

 

[VESmedic]

Welp, not the NGD i hoped for, but probably overdue. We decided to go to IEM's. We're starting to get a few better gigs where it would be super handy to have better monitor mixes and the ability to mix your own monitors combined with having essentially the same monitor mix from gig to gig finally won out.

I used to play on the road with a guy that used IEM's....once I acclimated, I really loved them, hoping this transition is as easy.

Like alot of things, it’s going to depend on who is doing the mixing. I used nothing but IEM’s when I played for a living, but we also had a fantastic monitoring tech. If you are really invested in the band, then spend the cash on good molds, and good IEM’s, preferably with Atleast 6-8 drivers for full range. If you hate IEM’s more often than not it’s because of the guy doing the mixing, not the IEM situation itself. And that’s unfortunate, because you are 100 percent relying on them to do a great mix based on your adjectives and your ability to communicate what you need which can sometimes be difficult depending on the music.

 

[ewill52]

Like alot of things, it’s going to depend on who is doing the mixing. I used nothing but IEM’s when I played for a living, but we also had a fantastic monitoring tech. If you are really invested in the band, then spend the cash on good molds, and good IEM’s, preferably with Atleast 6-8 drivers for full range. If you hate IEM’s more often than not it’s because of the guy doing the mixing, not the IEM situation itself. And that’s unfortunate, because you are 100 percent relying on them to do a great mix based on your adjectives and your ability to communicate what you need which can sometimes be difficult depending on the music.

when i've used them in the past, we all connected to the mixer with an app and did our own mixes. I was able to dial in everything I wanted. it was great!

 

[BeZo]

If you're going to do it, and don't bring your own sound engineer to provide FOH feeds, it's well worth it to go with a closed system. I don't know that I would want different mixes every night depending on the venue, mics, and engineer. We just got a Behringer XR18 and a mic splitter and hook ourselves up every show. The FOH engineer just has to patch into our outputs and mix FOH, and we are ready to go. As long as we are the same levels, players, and sources, into the same mics and lines, we have the same mix every time. Some venues might have you tweak some bass or treble out, or fine tune a little bit show to show, but not much. Definitely build a rack and run it yourself.

 

[ewill52]

If you're going to do it, and don't bring your own sound engineer to provide FOH feeds, it's well worth it to go with a closed system. I don't know that I would want different mixes every night depending on the venue, mics, and engineer. We just got a Behringer XR18 and a mic splitter and hook ourselves up every show. The FOH engineer just has to patch into our outputs and mix FOH, and we are ready to go. As long as we are the same levels, players, and sources, into the same mics and lines, we have the same mix every time. Some venues might have you tweak some bass or treble out, or fine tune a little bit show to show, but not much. Definitely build a rack and run it yourself.

we stumbled into a good deal on an x32 rack, going to use a split snake. initially i was going to repurpose our x18 like yours, just couldn't pass up the deal on this one

 

[dawnofdreamx97]

we stumbled into a good deal on an x32 rack, going to use a split snake. initially i was going to repurpose our x18 like yours, just couldn't pass up the deal on this one

X32 rack is so much more powerful anyway. You'll be happy you did, you guys can have stereo mixes, more fx ,more power and flexibility overall.

What kind of iem systems did you get and what iem buds ?

 

[BeZo]

we stumbled into a good deal on an x32 rack, going to use a split snake. initially i was going to repurpose our x18 like yours, just couldn't pass up the deal on this one

We've been looking to upgrade to the X32 Rack also. We've definitely outgrown ours. Let me know if you find another sweet deal on an X32 Rack.

Also, we use the P16M mixers and love them. My drummer can't be bothered with his phone for a mix, so having knobs for him really helped him out a lot. Plus, it's just a CAT5E cable and he's good to go.

 

[ewill52]

We've been looking to upgrade to the X32 Rack also. We've definitely outgrown ours. Let me know if you find another sweet deal on an X32 Rack.

Also, we use the P16M mixers and love them. My drummer can't be bothered with his phone for a mix, so having knobs for him really helped him out a lot. Plus, it's just a CAT5E cable and he's good to go.

that's a GREAT idea for the drummer, ours doesn't love technology to begin with and the control surface may make it easier.

I'll keep my eyes out for another.

 

[dawnofdreamx97]

that's a GREAT idea for the drummer, ours doesn't love technology to begin with and the control surface may make it easier.

I'll keep my eyes out for another.

Do yourself a favor and go for the midas dp48 and skip the p16. Wayyyyyyy wayyyy better sounding box , way more output and headroom.

 

[BeZo]

Do yourself a favor and go for the midas dp48 and skip the p16. Wayyyyyyy wayyyy better sounding box , way more output and headroom.

Those weren't a thing when we made our IEM jump. How much better are they than the P16M?

 

[dawnofdreamx97]

Those weren't a thing when we made our IEM jump. How much better are they than the P16M?

Considerably better sounding, no need to make labels anymore either, built.in ambient mics , ability for the engineer to adjust the mix remotely and listen to your mix remotely. Can assign up to 48 sources to it as well. Biggest thing for me is the sound though, it's a massive upgrade from the p16....

 

[messenger]

It’s a hard adjustment. I go back and forth. You can simply move around on stage to hear more of this, or less of that. That’s my biggest issues. Sometimes for certain parts I need to hear the bass a bit better, or the other guitar better, or need to hear the hi hat

 

[messenger]

Most places we play are digital and you can link your phone to do your own mix

 

[Manxmusicman]

I’ve been on iem’s for years now, wouldn‘t gig without them. A couple of thing I’ve learnt; get good headphones, I’ve slowly upgraded and am now on 64 audio u12t’s which have opened up a whole new listening experience for me, amazing clarity, thunderous bass and most importantly, what feels like a massive soundstage to give the feeling of space. The other thing I’ve learnt is that having used them for so long I don’t hear guitar properly when I don’t use them (at reho) I’ve become so used to hearing my amp through iems that its Hard to unhear when I’m not using them.