In-ear monitor goons, need recommendations!

[romanianreaper]

I'm 800 years old and basically a cavman. I've never bought or used in-ear monitors and feel like a dumbass, like I've been in a bubble. I don't even know where to start but my bass player said we should think about those versus on the floor monitors.

Was wondering what you guys think of them and also good, cheaper solutions? Thanks!!

 

[JackBootedThug]

I’m a troll living under a bridge so I can’t help you bro.

 

[marshallmel]

I bought a budget kit that works pretty good but I upgraded the “buds” that it came with. My suggestion would be to not drop too much money until you decide if you like them/can get used to them. It’s tough at first because you feel really isolated from the rest of the band. Plus your guitar tone won’t be the same coming through your in ears as it is in the room. It’s better if you guys have a way to control your own mix instead of relying on a sound man.

 

[romanianreaper]

I bought a budget kit that works pretty good but I upgraded the “buds” that it came with. My suggestion would be to not drop too much money until you decide if you like them/can get used to them. It’s tough at first because you feel really isolated from the rest of the band. Plus your guitar tone won’t be the same coming through your in ears as it is in the room. It’s better if you guys have a way to control your own mix instead of relying on a sound man.

Thanks man, great info! I'd rather have wedges personally but considering them.

 

[BeZo]

The Westone AM Pro series has ambient ports that work like hifi earplugs with nothing else in them. Then, you add a little of what you want or need to hear in a mix, and it's the best of both worlds. I'm sure Westone isn't the only one doing it, but I can vouch for them. They don't have the pronounced bass due to the fact that that they don't fully seal, but guitar and vocals come through great. I hear kick enough with them.

Just don't sacrifice stage volume on your quest. Hear it and feel it!

 

[Manxmofo]

Lengthy response alert!!!

I’ve been using in ears for about 5/6 years now and wouldn‘t go back but it’s a rabbit hole, so items of note:

- The do slightly detach you from the audience, I say slightly because if you have enough mics running, including a drum overhead then you general still hear the noise from the crowd which leads me to my second point;
- You need to mic up most of your band, at the bare minimum I mic guitar, DI bass and put a kick and an overhead on the kit, even if I don’t end up putting the overhead in the foh mix, I still use it for my monitor mix to help with timing and it does pick up crowd noise
- If you’re micing your cab and you’ve never heard that before you might be surprised, what you’re hearing in iems is mostly speaker and you might find that you don’t like the sound of your speaker with no room interaction, mic placement helps a lot here and playing around with mic positioning works wonders
- To me controlling your own mix is paramount. Get a digital desk and using iPads/tablets to do your own mix, gives you control
- Don‘t go cheap on the ear buds. Yes, a good wireless unit makes a difference to the sound quality but the ear buds have a big influence, especially when it comes to sound stage and bass reproduction
- If you can get a unit that does stereo, even if you never pan it gives a bigger sense of space

if you’re looking for equipment recommendations I’d look at Sennheiser wireless, their g3 is an old model but still good and reliable. As far as headphones look at 64 Audio or JH Audio.

 

[VESmedic]

- get professional molds done. You will hate in ears until you do this.

- the detached from the crowd phenomenon is an easy fix if you have enough inputs: put mics on each side of the stage facing the crowd, and route that mix to your in ears, done.

-if you decide to go down this road, I’m sorry but you can’t skimp on it. You will absolutely hate them unless you get a decent pair with Atleast 6-8 drivers. It’s just like anything, you get what you pay for and if you don’t half ass it, you stand a great chance of loving it.

-JH audio. They rule, great customer service, great people, phenomenal in ears. I’m biased because they are in my backyard as well though ( Orlando)


-literally every single guitar tone you’ve ever heard is the sound of a microphone on a speaker, don’t forget that. Literally every single one. You are used to hearing a mic on a speaker, you just need someone who knows how to EQ.


-listen to this. His guitars sound pretty great if you ask me. Of course, he has an amazing monitor tech, but it can sound great is the point.