How to use in ear monitors?

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  • Опубліковано 28 гру 2024

КОМЕНТАРІ • 85

  • @SalAvenueNJ
    @SalAvenueNJ 5 місяців тому +16

    I'm a NYC subway busker, and I'm very glad I started using in ear monitors. First of all they protect my ears from the subway noise. Another reason is I play with recordings of me playing acoustic guitar. With these monitors I can hear the tracks playing even when a train is flying by me.

    • @DavidMarkThomasMusic
      @DavidMarkThomasMusic  5 місяців тому

      @@SalAvenueNJ That is sick! Yeah that’s something I never considered for buskers, the noise must be insane especially when you cannot hear yourself! Glad it’s worked out for you 🙌🏼

    • @mrskint55
      @mrskint55 Місяць тому

      Trains flying wow lol 😂😂😂

    • @guydouglas6094
      @guydouglas6094 23 дні тому

      I'm curious - so you have your own small PA with an aux mix to your iems mixed with accompanying backing tracks? how do you get your passing-by audience sound levels right? when wants to speak to you, you have to pull out one iem to hear them? Thanks. Subway noise would be hard beat, wow!

    • @SalAvenueNJ
      @SalAvenueNJ 23 дні тому

      @@guydouglas6094 For the first few songs I play without the monitors in. Also, the rig I have has a phone app that lets me keep presets. I can save the levels for each station.
      And yes, if someone talks to me I have to take the monitors out. It is worth that trouble to keep my ears from getting beat up.

  • @jevvvNZ
    @jevvvNZ 18 днів тому

    Excellent, and just the info I needed thank you!

  • @NeoWinter-l5u
    @NeoWinter-l5u 14 днів тому

    nice vid mate, about to buy in ears, not too sure what to buy, e.g. in ears sure SE215 of course, but with what wireless pack? Thanks for pointers on set up.

    • @DavidMarkThomasMusic
      @DavidMarkThomasMusic  13 днів тому

      Thank you man!
      Yeah there are cheaper options to the Shures but I will say, I think they’re genuinely much better than the cheaper options, some people use some from Amazon and say they’re just as good, they’re really not, but they’re a great alternative!
      In terms of a system, the xvive has been serving me really well, there’s a link in the description and maybe I’ll have to do a review video on them but yeah they’ve been great for me!

  • @LuisRodriguez-ij2fx
    @LuisRodriguez-ij2fx 27 днів тому +1

    Great video thanks

  • @nevillede-hoedt6520
    @nevillede-hoedt6520 Місяць тому +1

    Hi David Mark Thomas,
    Just accidently came across your site (channel) and anything to do with in ear monitors kinda intrigues me.
    I'm definately old school, is my back ground.
    There was none of this technology available in my
    early years as a muso back in the early 60s (1963) when I first started playing guitar in bands.
    PA systems were 2 small columns styles speakers with an oval shaped speaker in each, being run by a 30 watt amplifier, with 4 channels allowing us to plug 4 mics in, barely audible, but we got use to and learnt to make do with this PA.
    We couldn't afford anything better, mainly because there wasn't better around to be had.
    Guitar amps were anything from 10 to 15 watt amps with 2 inputs, and a volume, bass, treble knobs built in.
    Built into some of the better 30 watt amps, like Fender, Vox, Ampeg, Goldentone, may have had an
    echo, tremelo and if it was more advanced, a fuzz box, all builtin, with a switch button foot switch on a cable, that may have reached the floor.
    Bass amps were not so readily available, unless you could afford a Vox, or Fender, and even then, the bass sounded like fuzzy, distorted, unclean, and to have a cleaner more defined sound, the volume had to be kept to a minimum, which mean't the bass not being audible enough.
    Enough about the ARK.
    I continue to play and tour with bands, have had quite a successful career from it, having travelled all over the country playing to heaps of people.
    Something must be working for me to still be able to be enjoying this.
    I have worked with backing tracks with various bands, and for me personally, it isn't had work, infact very easy to work with.
    Unless you are a musician that hasn't got his or her (chops) together, and are relying on the backing tracks to cover up their ability to play very well, then that is the main problem that can, and is going on.
    When playing in a tribute cover band, or in a good cover band, using tracks, there is one thing that each member of that band needs to do, so that the quality of the show is the very best it can be !
    The one and only requirement for each member to do, is not to not waste each other's time, by doing their home work (at home) not at band rehersal.
    If everyone does this, then precious time isn't wasted, and the show can be put together without worrying if everybody knows their parts.
    Working with backing tracks is not difficult, if everyone knows their parts to play, and have learn't their parts from listening to the original recording, and know how the arrangements go, from start to finish, then they should be able to play with the backing track, as long as the backing track is exactly the same as the original artist recording.
    Back a few years ago, we were very fortunate to have a lead guitarist vocalist, who wrote (created) the tracks himself, so we could have them transposed into the required keys, as some songs were out of key for our lead vocalist's, so it was good to be able to recreate tracks just for our singers.
    Sometimes, some extra backing vocals we could go to his studio and record the backing vocals into the tracks.
    He was very accommodating with doing that for us.
    Today, there are some very good professional tracks can be purchased for a fraction of what it use to cost us to make them, especially with time being the essential requirement.
    All these tracks can be manipulated according to desire, each track can be adjusted accordingly.
    Something isn't audible enough, it can be brought up to level.
    These tracks are really just glorified Karaoke tracks.
    I know artists who work on their own, so this allows them a freedon to present what type of show they intend, without worrying about band members and personel, and as some keep telling me, no hassels with personalities.
    The in ear monitors I have been looking into for the past 10 years now, as an option, to floor and side fill monitors.
    I do worry about having my eardrums blasted by a frequency that may take off, it can hurt.
    Our drummer usually has the click in his ear, which we can't hear, only he can, plus he counts us in for each song, the the click count is set up first for him, then he counts us in, and the band comes in at the right place.
    The backing track intrumentation happens along the course of the song, as if these other players are on stage with us.
    It's a great feeling when it all comes together.
    We never had any issues or problems, and relied on the backing tracks to make the songs sound right, as they should be.
    Even though in your video, you seem to be giving counts and cues to the others, but why? don't they know the songs properly?
    The big bands on tour, like Paul McCartney, Taylor Switt, Rolling Stones, Metallica, Michael Buble, and the list goes on, they are all using backing tracks during their whole live performances.
    These Elvis and Beatle tribute bands, are all doing exactly the same thing, they might tell everyone they are doing it all themselves, but believe me, they can't afford mishaps.
    Thanks for listening.
    It costs a lot of money to put on a show!

    • @DavidMarkThomasMusic
      @DavidMarkThomasMusic  Місяць тому +1

      Hello there! First thing, thank you for watching I really appreciate the watch and thank you for the comment. The whole reason I started this channel was to engage with as many people as possible to so thank you for putting in the effort to leave such a comment!
      Wow playing in bands in the 60's must've been incredible!
      It's funny you should mention, my only amp I believe is modelled on a '58 blues breaker and has 2 inputs and I believe is only 17 watts but there's not another sound like it!
      I think your point about everyone knowing their parts and working with the track is spot on! This is why most acts I play with will use click tracks just because it lightens the load so to speak for the musicians, all we need to do is to get our bits right and the jobs a good un!
      As for the cues in this particular band. It's basically made up of professionals that maybe do this show 3-4 times a year. So jumping back in is easier when we've got tracks with cues and usually I'm not listening to Britney Spears in my spare time so it just means when it's time to play the show again we've got reference, hope that makes sense!
      But, thank you so much for your comment and your time I really do appreciate it. Keep on rocking and if you need anything else from me let me know!

    • @nevillede-hoedt6520
      @nevillede-hoedt6520 Місяць тому

      @@DavidMarkThomasMusic
      Thankyou Mark for your reply, as you say, you haven't got your ear stuck in the tribute artist you are doing
      24/7.
      I've always been a stickler for working with good professional players, who can be relied upon to do their parts without having to ride them to do the job.
      It should be an automatic expectation in todays world.
      Yes, I get that, and the other thing, as I play bass in the bands these days, more than guitar, because Rhythm Section between drums and bass is more important to keeping the basics together.
      Click track does help, but the drummer needs to stay in strict time with that, or it is all over the shop.
      Believe it, or not, not a lot of drummers can play with click track, and get out of time with it, causing speeding up, and slowing down! which makes the situation worse.
      Overtime, I have to ignor those drummers, and just listen to the backing track in order to stay in time with the arrangement.
      Either that, or try to persuade the band to get a better drummer.
      I know that sounds terrible, but when it comes to playing in bands, friendship unfortunately has to go out the window, for the sake of the band.
      Not everyone has the goods,
      and right attitude.
      I've had players say to me that "we want to have fun when we're out playing", (ofcourse that is the whole reason of being in bands)
      But if the music isn't being played right by certain individuals in the band, then the fun goes out of it very quickly.
      Even though you try to sort it when together, and the same senario's keep happening, these things need to be nipped in the bud quickly.
      (As I said earlier, "No time for time waster's")
      Also it helps a lot if there is a leader in the band who can be spokes person.
      Not all bands have such a person elected for that task.
      No one wants to step on another's (ego)
      I'm going to 'Billy Hyde's Music' and look into these in ear monitors soon, next time I'm headed to the city, they have a huge store there, to see what they have.
      Might be able to start trying them out, because we use quite a few on stage powered floor monitors, & side fill, but slight stage feedback is always an issue at times.
      Stage mics tend to pick up all extra frequencies floating around.
      As you say, these may reduce a lot of that. Cheers

  • @MrTwulf
    @MrTwulf Місяць тому

    I use customized in-ears in my hobby rock cover band, but I usually only have them in my left ear so that I'm not completely isolated. As I also sing, I have my microphone and guitar relatively loud in relation to the other voices and instruments. I don't want to play without in-ears any more because, depending on the position on stage, a wedge wouldn't be enough.

    • @DavidMarkThomasMusic
      @DavidMarkThomasMusic  Місяць тому

      Hello there! Yeah absolutely same here! Louder vocals and guitar and one ear in, against my better judgement sometimes I think 😂 Do you ever struggle when you come off stage with feeling a bit dazed when one ear has had all that sound going in? I know I do

    • @MrTwulf
      @MrTwulf Місяць тому

      @@DavidMarkThomasMusic Yes, sometimes it whistles in my ears - but I have adjusted the volume on the in-ear to the overall volume.

    • @officialWWM
      @officialWWM Місяць тому +1

      That’s very bad for you hearing to only use one ear. People tend to turn up that single ear too loud and it causes damage.

  • @Steve_W5IEM
    @Steve_W5IEM 25 днів тому

    Not sure how this showed up in my feed but I'm glad it did. Quite interesting.

  • @steveNWUK30
    @steveNWUK30 Місяць тому +2

    Good Video mate. We are in the verge of using a full IEM system but we pride ourselves on a live energetic performance and we are worrying that it will take away from that live stage sound we get from backline and wedges. Also, I never see anyone who uses cues looking remotely like they are performing like they should on stage. Looks like they are plying in their bedroom to a UA-cam video.

    • @DavidMarkThomasMusic
      @DavidMarkThomasMusic  Місяць тому +2

      Yeah very good points man!
      The cues in my experience have been good for like when I’m jumping on a gig, not really for when I’ve learned something inside out. I’m so busy in and out of different shows it gets confusing sometimes if you get me?
      But, what you can do is introduce maybe a stage microphone and blend that into your in ears to get some of the crowd sound or use wedges as well as the in ears, thanks for commenting dude appreciate it!

    • @steveNWUK30
      @steveNWUK30 Місяць тому

      @@DavidMarkThomasMusic Totally get your angle when performing in different bands mate and the cues would be vital then.
      Thanks for the tip on the stage mic and wedges to create more of a live sound. Much appreciated

  • @PapaBaush
    @PapaBaush 20 днів тому

    Hey bro, can you show where you go to adjust bus eq please? I have this same desk (Midas mr) and would like to adjust eq to my ears but can’t find it. Cheers

    • @DavidMarkThomasMusic
      @DavidMarkThomasMusic  20 днів тому +1

      Hiya mate!
      So when you click the bus you’re editing. There’s an EQ just above the master fader and if you click through the different buses you’ll see that the EQ is independent to each bus. So you can adjust it just above the master fader 😌

    • @PapaBaush
      @PapaBaush 20 днів тому

      @ wow, how embarrassing lol. Thank you so much bro

    • @DavidMarkThomasMusic
      @DavidMarkThomasMusic  20 днів тому +1

      @ no problem at all man! Honestly with some pieces of gear it takes so long using it I still struggle with our mixer from time to time like! Need anything else drop me a comment or message man x

    • @PapaBaush
      @PapaBaush 19 днів тому

      @ thanks dude, you’re a rockstar

  • @OntCanGuy
    @OntCanGuy 28 днів тому

    Wow, so complicated. Congratulations to everybody participating in live music shows!

  • @nuthinbutlove
    @nuthinbutlove 8 місяців тому +2

    Great info. Thanks

  • @martinclayton7260
    @martinclayton7260 Місяць тому

    It seems very complicated. I just always followed the drummer. I've played live in a few bands over the last thirty odd years, and we've just always belted it out!

    • @DavidMarkThomasMusic
      @DavidMarkThomasMusic  Місяць тому

      Yeah it is pretty complex but you get used to it!
      That definitely keeps the elements live

  • @BenAEMT
    @BenAEMT 2 місяці тому +2

    You mentioned worship bands - I've noticed they use queues a lot.
    Thoughts on that?

    • @DavidMarkThomasMusic
      @DavidMarkThomasMusic  2 місяці тому +2

      Sometimes worship bands will have Musical directors with a talk back that speaks to the band directly but queues are very helpful if you’re new on a gig!
      Sometimes they can be hit or miss they need to be done quite well I find to be effective!

    • @BenAEMT
      @BenAEMT 2 місяці тому +1

      @@DavidMarkThomasMusic interesting. Thanks for the reply and video!
      Growing up I would watch my dad perform from the sound booth, concert accordionist. Nothing like this was used but I have always been fascinated by everything behind the scenes.
      I will have to ask him if he ever used one of these systems.

    • @DavidMarkThomasMusic
      @DavidMarkThomasMusic  2 місяці тому +2

      @@BenAEMT that’s fascinating!
      Because I wouldn’t know a lot about his world either, isn’t that interesting? So many musicians although alike have so many different paths and things they’re used to!
      Yeah absolutely! Thanks for the comment 😌

    • @michaelhall9138
      @michaelhall9138 Місяць тому +1

      I absolutely LOVE the clicks and cues for our worship music. The lyrics/music sheets leave a lot to be desired! We have a worship leader that likes to go rogue on occasion and the cues keep him on track. As a bass player, I can set my mix much better than dealing with wedges; I like to hear myself above everyone else, the drums a little lower, e & acoustic guitars a little lower than that and the vocals the lowest. I only have the vocals in in case I start daydreaming and get lost 😊

    • @DavidMarkThomasMusic
      @DavidMarkThomasMusic  Місяць тому

      @@michaelhall9138 Love this! They definitely are a life saver on gigs. I recently had a theatre show with little to no time to prepare and having the cues on there really really helped! Thanks for commenting :)

  • @georgepoutine6843
    @georgepoutine6843 Місяць тому

    cool, thank you

  • @johannesdebeer
    @johannesdebeer Місяць тому

    Can you set your left right levels separately if you have one ear that has some hearing loss.

    • @DavidMarkThomasMusic
      @DavidMarkThomasMusic  Місяць тому +2

      Great question!
      So in my example in the video I’m using mono in ear monitoring.
      However.
      You can use stereo in ear monitoring by using a stereo in ear transmitter and by using 2 auxiliaries instead of the 1.
      This would give you flexibility between having more things in one ear or the other.
      Hope that makes sense or helps 😌

    • @johannesdebeer
      @johannesdebeer Місяць тому

      @ thank you.

    • @johnkilpatrick2343
      @johnkilpatrick2343 Місяць тому

      Yes, but not with every setup. Are you solo, backing tracks, in a band, using a mixing desk?

    • @johannesdebeer
      @johannesdebeer Місяць тому

      @@johnkilpatrick2343 none of the above yet. Just wondering if it's possible when someday I get to play with others.

    • @johnkilpatrick2343
      @johnkilpatrick2343 Місяць тому +1

      @@johannesdebeer it's possible but you might need a couple of extra bits & bobs. It'll depend on your exact setup what extra would be needed... but totally possible.

  • @scottb721
    @scottb721 8 місяців тому

    How do you initially sync your personal cue track with the song/rest of the band? (Not a muso but a band photog)

    • @DavidMarkThomasMusic
      @DavidMarkThomasMusic  8 місяців тому +1

      So basically I’ve purchased a cue pack online that has a lot of the cues there but you can record them yourself.
      And usually you’ll load them up in any recording software and then put them the same side as your click track and then make sure they’re fairly audible and then when the click track gets fed to your in ears the cues come and the same time too. So you basically pan all instruments the audience is going to hear one side and then you pan everything just the band is going to hear the other 😌 hope that explains it and thanks for commenting!

    • @PabloLaFrossia
      @PabloLaFrossia 7 місяців тому +1

      @@DavidMarkThomasMusic Can you provide a link to the one you purchased? Thanks!

  • @keithsnowdon8672
    @keithsnowdon8672 Місяць тому +16

    Sorry gave up. The background noise/music?,was a bit overbearing

  • @neilmeehan1305
    @neilmeehan1305 Місяць тому

    Hi David, What software were you using to set up and control your mixer?

    • @DavidMarkThomasMusic
      @DavidMarkThomasMusic  Місяць тому +2

      Hello there!
      It’s called the Behringer X-Air app which is used for the Behringer X-Air line of mixers!
      Great thing about it is you can actually download it without needing the mixer to have a play around and get familiar if you wanted to 😌

  • @sl1ght
    @sl1ght 7 місяців тому +7

    Cool video! but be careful with 1 IEM out bro - it is going to wreck your ear drums permanently if you do this regularly during shows

    • @DavidMarkThomasMusic
      @DavidMarkThomasMusic  7 місяців тому +2

      Thank you very much! Totally agree man! It’s one of my weird comforts during shows 🤦🏻‍♂️ Usually I keep all brass instruments and drums to my left (the ear I keep in all the time) but yeah it’s definitely something I need to work on!

  • @GingerNinja1
    @GingerNinja1 4 місяці тому

    Great video! 👍

  • @chucksaeger7500
    @chucksaeger7500 6 місяців тому +1

    Excellent video dude!

  • @officialWWM
    @officialWWM Місяць тому +1

    Personally, I hate them. They take the fun out of live playing and make it feel like you’re playing in a studio. And god forbid if someone from the audience should try to stop you, cause you won’t be able to hear them!

  • @MichaelSorensen-bl3ec
    @MichaelSorensen-bl3ec Місяць тому

    Only used them once. Didn't like them. Found them distracting actually.

    • @DavidMarkThomasMusic
      @DavidMarkThomasMusic  Місяць тому +1

      They’re absolutely not for everyone. I struggled for so long with mine and to be honest, I actually use in ear in and one ear out (which is very bad for your hearing) but it’s my happy in between you know! Thanks for commenting 😌

  • @officialWWM
    @officialWWM Місяць тому +1

    Hmmm, maybe I could have a little voice in my head telling me the chords so I don’t forget all the time 😂

    • @DavidMarkThomasMusic
      @DavidMarkThomasMusic  Місяць тому +1

      You know what, I've never thought of that, that's genius 😂 There's definitely a market for something like this

    • @officialWWM
      @officialWWM Місяць тому

      @ lol, you’re welcome 😂

  • @rjgrp
    @rjgrp Місяць тому

    Xvive and Behringer…. the cheap route!

  • @Glensully
    @Glensully 11 днів тому +1

    and sounds the same everynight - boring. no improv, no getting crazy.

    • @DavidMarkThomasMusic
      @DavidMarkThomasMusic  11 днів тому

      So I would disagree. Just because I know from personal experience that I’ve never played a song the same twice even though bands I’ve played in play to a click.
      The musician shouldn’t be dictated by the click track. But the good ones can use it and play whatever they want

    • @Glensully
      @Glensully 11 днів тому +2

      @@DavidMarkThomasMusic YEAH BUT IT SAYS - chorus, break, this and that, tell u what part. you want to extend a part - tough - boring

    • @Q1776Q
      @Q1776Q 10 днів тому

      In huge concerts, it MUST be the same... the show depends on it. Everything is running off the click.

    • @Glensully
      @Glensully 3 дні тому

      @@Q1776Q metallica , foo fighters play arenas - no click track

    • @Q1776Q
      @Q1776Q 3 дні тому

      @@Glensully YES, you are correct...there are still a few

  • @EdithHazel-g9o
    @EdithHazel-g9o 4 місяці тому

    Hall Lisa Anderson Dorothy Jones Ruth

  • @RoostRider
    @RoostRider 6 місяців тому +2

    Yeah, next time you make a video about professional sound and your mic goes out, REDO the video!!!

    • @DavidMarkThomasMusic
      @DavidMarkThomasMusic  6 місяців тому +2

      Just something I have a lot of experience in, I am a professional guitarist that uses them week in week out, but I’m not a professional video maker 🤷🏻‍♂️ sorry I’ve upset you x

    • @themerlinsnest
      @themerlinsnest 5 місяців тому +1

      Lmao he should have just laughed in your face and told you to get over it.

    • @DavidMarkThomasMusic
      @DavidMarkThomasMusic  5 місяців тому +3

      @@themerlinsnest you’re my kinda folk. I wanted to deep down 😂😂

  • @GigGgles
    @GigGgles 22 дні тому

    Musicians today can't remember songs? They need reminders? Yeah bud.

    • @DavidMarkThomasMusic
      @DavidMarkThomasMusic  22 дні тому

      Literally me every gig 😂
      It’s more of a surprise when I actually know a song