In Ear Monitors?

[Saeven]

Hey everyone! I was considering getting some Shure SE846 for use on stage. I've never used in-ears, do these have some kind of "passthrough" so you can still hear the band?

I'm tired of lugging an amp around, and most venues have DI boxes ready to go; was thinking I could get some headphones and call it day. What's your experience with gear like this?

Thanks for your advice!

[gsbe_com]

Does your band use a digital mixer like a Behringer X32? If so, converting your stage setup to in-ear monitors is pretty straightforward. Here are some suggestions:

1) run wired IEMs instead of wireless. Keyboard players generally aren't roaming, so this is easier for us
2) Hit up Amazon to try out some of the better-rated wired IEMs like the Moondrop Aria or KZ x Crinacle CRN ZEXPro (both are great, IMHO)
2) use the inexpensive Behringer P2 personal monitor amp and a couple of AAA batteries. It works fine
3) consider running stereo if you can - this is a much better experience if your keyboard patches have any stereo stuff happening in them.
4) SEMI-PRO TIP: add two mics on either side of the stage that point at the crowd. Only use these mics for your IEMs to help you hear what's going on in the crowd
5) FULL-PRO TIP: use a stereo pair of mics over the drum kit. Adding these four mics to your regular stage setup will allow for effortless multi-track recording straight from the mixing console at every gig.

The Behringer P2 can run in stereo mode with a single XLR cable which is very cool. Search the web for dual-mono XLR to stereo adapter cables for plugging this in at the mixer so you can run a single XLR across the stage to your ears. (http://silentsky.net/wordpress/archives/930)

Setting up your IEM mix to where you like it takes some time, so expect to spend rehearsal time getting it right. I highly recommend it! Once you get the sound right in your ears, you'll never want to play amplified on stage again

[Saeven]

Thanks for the great response!

The band isn't running a board, we're typically at the mercy of the venue which just has DI boxes strewn all over. I was thinking I'd need something fairly flexible, so that I just steal a monitor out and coax the engineer to put my own mix into it.

Would it truly be that simple in this case? Steal a monitor line from the venue, jam it into a P2 - duct tape that thing to the keyboard stand and I'm off to the races with some wired IEMs?

I'd debated a system where I could steal the venue's monitor line, and insert it into a mixer so that I can get on-stage control of my in-ear-mix (e.g., channel 1 is the band/stage, channels 2/3 are my stereo mix) and then this goes out to the headphones...

[Saeven]

For example, grabbing one of these guys:
https://www.behringer.com/product.html?modelCode=P0A0H

Line 1: Monitor feed from the board
Line 2: Sub37 (mono)
Line 3: Nord L
Line 4: Nord R

Then on the bus side:

Line 1 + Line 2 + Line 3 + Line 4 -> Phones
Line 2 + Line 3 + Line 4 -> Main

Lastly on outputs:

Phones -> IEM
Main -> DI boxes

Edit: Looks like it's an either-or situation (can't post to both buses). Might need a two-mixer situation eh.

[cgrafx]

Thanks for the great response!

The band isn't running a board, we're typically at the mercy of the venue which just has DI boxes strewn all over. I was thinking I'd need something fairly flexible, so that I just steal a monitor out and coax the engineer to put my own mix into it.

Would it truly be that simple in this case? Steal a monitor line from the venue, jam it into a P2 - duct tape that thing to the keyboard stand and I'm off to the races with some wired IEMs?

Depends on what you mean by monitor out... if your talking about line level outputs from the mixing console, then yes.. If your talking about the speaker output from an amplifier, then you will have to have a box that can properly level convert an amplifier/speaker level signal into a line-level signal.

[MarkJames]

4) SEMI-PRO TIP: add two mics on either side of the stage that point at the crowd. Only use these mics for your IEMs to help you hear what's going on in the crowd

This is interesting and something I’ve never considered. Is the intent to also get FOH in the mix?

I use an XR18 to submix my keyboards, so I could easily add a mic and feed it into the IEM bus.doesn’t even have to be stereo.

[ajstan]

Here is a previous topic that covers a lot of ground.

post97341.html?hilit=iem#p97341

[Saeven]

Welp - I got my Shure SE846 today - right ear piece had insane amounts of distortion (left ear was really nice). Tried several jacks and instruments - it's the headset. Hopefully second pair's a charm!

[analogika]

4) SEMI-PRO TIP: add two mics on either side of the stage that point at the crowd. Only use these mics for your IEMs to help you hear what's going on in the crowd

This is interesting and something I’ve never considered. Is the intent to also get FOH in the mix?

No. The in-ears block outside noise, so you get little to no audience feedback. This can be really irritating for artists.

The mics are for audience noise in the in-ear mix.

[Latebloomer]

Hey everyone! I was considering getting some Shure SE846 for use on stage. I've never used in-ears, do these have some kind of "passthrough" so you can still hear the band?

I'm tired of lugging an amp around, and most venues have DI boxes ready to go; was thinking I could get some headphones and call it day. What's your experience with gear like this?

Thanks for your advice!

Be sure to get in ears with a good seal. Meaning blocking out as much sound as possible.
A good seal is the only way to get a realy good in ear mix, and it also is a must for safty as it prevents you from turning your in ears up too loud.

I never do my own mixes, just get in ear mix from FOH. In touring situations theres always wireles setups available for everybody. On more random gigs with in house sound techs I use one of the wired behringer packs and get a stereo mix from FOH. Sometimes that can be challenging I admit, but most of the time it works out just fine.