Has anyone used a single IEM with just their amp at a gig?

[romanianreaper]

I know a lot of folks gig with an IEM in a whole band context and was wondering if anyone has used an IEM for their own guitar tone during a gig just to be able to hear themselves?

We wear earplugs anyway and was wondering if i just had my own IEM and had a small bit of my tone coming into the plugs, if it would help me be able to hear myself better and would still hear everyone else. Just curious. I am the singer as well but would have to figure that part out as well.

 

[VonBonfire]

I know a lot of folks gig with an IEM in a whole band context and was wondering if anyone has used an IEM for their own guitar tone during a gig just to be able to hear themselves?

I would quit if I had to use an IEM.

I don't wear earplugs either. I prefer to go deaf doing things the right way, turning my amp up as loud as it will go.

 

[BeZo]

I use a Rolls PM50S and run my vocals into it, with the thru going to FOH. Then I have a headphone cable snaked with my guitar cable to plug in some Westone AM Pro ambient ear buds. We play loud enough that it counts as hearing protection with added vocals when I sing.

If you wanted guitar, I would get the PM59 with two XLR inputs and two Thru feeds. Then you bring a couple XLR cables and plug your cables from the mics to your headphone amp, and the FOH cables get the Thru feed.

The Ambient buds are the key though. As long as you keep the volumes low enough to match what comes through the ambient ports, it'll work.

 

[grimmchaos]

I would be hesitant to ever run just a single IEM - they work doing what they do because they help block out the outside noise so you don't have to crank them in your ears. If you only run a single IEM, you will have to turn it up that much louder to hear what is going on... and with the drivers so close to your ear drums, it's a really easy way to ruin your hearing if you aren't careful.

I normally use IEMs these days and have just gotten used to hearing the guitar in my ears. It's not ideal, but neither is not hearing my background vocals or spending the next day with ringing because the cymbals are too loud and right in my face.

 

[gibson5413]

I use these for my IEMs. They have built in ambient microphones so I can dial just the right amount of stage/venue volume while still maintaining my sealed guitar signal. Best of both worlds for me and they sound fantastic.

https://www.sensaphonics.com/products/3dme-bt-gen2-music-enhancement-iem-system

 

[tjnx]

Good way to go deaf. In an ideal situation you'd mic everyone and have enough aux mixes and a monitor mixes you could dial in to fit your needs. You'd need a digital mixer for that like the xr18.

I've been looking at a cheaper option of just setting up 1 or 2 Behringer room mics. You'll need a mixer / pre for the mics and your guitar signal. A cheapo mixer could do it or you could get a personal monitor. I've been looking at combining these but the problem is when everyone else wants to do it too you create cord spaghetti and then its better / cheaper to just get a xr18 to begin with.

** Edit - oops just noticed I said the pretty much the same thing as above.. gotta read first. Here's the stuff anyway

personal mixer:
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/PM59--rolls-pm59-dual-personal-monitor-amp
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/de...nyx-1202sfx-12-channel-analog-streaming-mixer

ambient / room mics:
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/ECM8000--behringer-ecm8000-measurement-condenser-microphone
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/C2m--behringer-c-2-matched-studio-condenser-microphones-pair



I haven't done this yet but people seem to like it, obviously ambient in ears are nice but they're expensive. The issue with both of these options is that you're relying on the ambient mix to hear everyone else instead of a mic'd source. So depending on the room or levels it could be muddy or just fine. Noting that you're the singer an ambient mic would be a good way to feel more connected to the audience.

If its just you and you get a little analog mixer like the one above you could add you, your guitar, the ambient mic and an overhead drum mic or whatever.