In Ear Monitors - help needed...

[EBS_freak]

Blame accepted.

And it sounds like you are keeping LD in business! Is Fiddy taking the leap too?

You'll notice that the backline volumes will really drop - it'll almost become a competition to see who can be quietest! As I've suggested, the backline will be neither here nor there to you if what you are hearing in your ears is spot on. The biggest thing you'll notice is that your back will thank you not for carrying a load of wedges...

Sleeves? You see, you are already on the path to spending more money... OK try this on for size... £120 for ACS moulded tips... or £190 for a UM reshell....? (Also take into account you'll be adding on the cost of ear impressions for both of those options unless you can wangle a freebie...)

[DaytonaRik]

One of the biggest musical revelations I've ever made was swapping to IEMs - I took the leap around 8-9 years ago - I never looked back and I still have the same DB2200 system, albeit with Shure earpieces as opposed to the original Sony buds. I tend to run the system n mono and have a vocal prominent band mix in one channel and my bass in the other which allows me to blend the two channels to my preference and to make adjustments on-the-fly. I find it works well for me. I also add a couple of ambient mics to add some 'atmosphere' into the IEM mix

Edited December 3, 2013 by DaytonaRik

[EBS_freak]

[quote name='DaytonaRik' timestamp='1386081204' post='2295434']
I never looked back and I still have the same DB2200 system, albeit with Shure earpieces as opposed to the original Sony buds.[/quote]

What is a DB2200?

EDIT: Found it!

Edited December 3, 2013 by EBS_freak

[DaytonaRik]

A really useful feature of this model is the front mounted 'Engineer Out' headphone socket which can be used to run a wired feed to a 2nd band member - usually the drummer.

[EBS_freak]

[quote name='DaytonaRik' timestamp='1386084354' post='2295496']
A really useful feature of this model is the front mounted 'Engineer Out' headphone socket which can be used to run a wired feed to a 2nd band member - usually the drummer.
[/quote]

Alot of them do nowadays - agreed very good feature.

In other news...

ACS have made an announcement that their ambient packs are available! Shall hopefully get one to review!

[tonyf]

[quote name='DaytonaRik' timestamp='1386084354' post='2295496']
A really useful feature of this model is the front mounted 'Engineer Out' headphone socket which can be used to run a wired feed to a 2nd band member - usually the drummer.
[/quote]

That's what we're using on mine and the guitarists mix on my LD Systems MEI1000X to feed the drummer's wired buds. So useful.

[tonyf]

Had impressions for my ACS custom sleeves for the Shure SE535s taken yesterday. As I do BV's, they had to take an "open mouth" impression. With the start of a cold coming on, lordy, that wasn't exactly a pleasant experience #dribble #drool

I've an appointment to go back in a couple of weeks to pick them up and whilst I'm there, I'm having a hearing test. TBH, after almost 30 years of playing in bands, I'm not looking forward to the results.

Edited December 4, 2013 by tonyf

[EBS_freak]

Called in via ACS on the way down to a gig... did a gig on my ACS T1s with an ambient pack... but more on that later.


[quote]
I've an appointment to go back in a couple of weeks to pick them up and whilst I'm there, I'm having a hearing test. TBH, after almost 30 years of playing in bands, I'm not looking forward to the results.
[/quote]

I had a test not too long back - still better hearing than the majority of people my age... and thats with tinnitus (gained when I had a pretty horrific ear infection when I was 21) in my left ear!

Edited December 5, 2013 by EBS_freak

[mr zed]

[quote name='EBS_freak' timestamp='1386214029' post='2297337']
Called in via ACS on the way down to a gig... did a gig on my ACS T1s with an ambient pack... but more on that later.

LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING HOW THIS WENT. HOPING FOR A EUREKA MOMENT.

I had a test not too long back - still better hearing than the majority of people my age... and thats with tinnitus (gained when I had a pretty horrific ear infection when I was 21) in my left ear!
[/quote]

Had a test myself not long ago. Investigations are progressing - CT scan booked for 19th Dec.

Edited December 5, 2013 by mr zed

[EBS_freak]

[quote name='mr zed' timestamp='1386265735' post='2298021']
Had a test myself not long ago. Investigations are progressing - CT scan booked for 19th Dec.
[/quote]

Best of luck with the scan! I remember mine - found out I had a vascular loop in my left ear. I remember saying to the specialist - well that doesn't look right!! Turns out that it's harmless but looks pretty cool on a scan.

As for the ambient pack... Well, don't want to say too much until I've tested it in anger but yeah, it's certainly a pretty special piece of kit... I think that it's potentially a big game changer. I've done two gigs on it since I picked it up on Wednesday - pretty much gigging everyday in some capacity for the next two weeks in a variety of different places (corporate peak season what with Crimbo parties and the odd winter wedding) from pokey venues to huge venues so I shall be able to get a good feel for it by the end of it all. Of course, shall post my finding for you all as it may influence where you choose to go next.

Edited December 6, 2013 by EBS_freak

[EBS_freak]

Just to prove that it exists!

Edited March 12, 2018 by EBS_freak

[mr zed]

[quote name='EBS_freak' timestamp='1386321292' post='2298632']


Best of luck with the scan! I remember mine - found out I had a vascular loop in my left ear. I remember saying to the specialist - well that doesn't look right!! Turns out that it's harmless but looks pretty cool on a scan.

As for the ambient pack... Well, don't want to say too much until I've tested it in anger but yeah, it's certainly a pretty special piece of kit... I think that it's potentially a big game changer. I've done two gigs on it since I picked it up on Wednesday - pretty much gigging everyday in some capacity for the next two weeks in a variety of different places (corporate peak season what with Crimbo parties and the odd winter wedding) from pokey venues to huge venues so I shall be able to get a good feel for it by the end of it all. Of course, shall post my finding for you all as it may influence where you choose to go next.
[/quote]

Thanks Russ, much appreciated. I bottled out of the MRI scan - didn't know I was claustrophobic. Horrible experience. So CT scan next. Looking forward to hearing your views on the ambient pack and it good that you're giving it such a good workout.

[mr zed]

[quote name='EBS_freak' timestamp='1386328733' post='2298771']
Just to proove that it exists!

[IMG]http://i408.photobucket.com/albums/pp165/russ_h_photos/20131206_110336.jpg[/IMG]
[/quote]

Looks neat!

[DaytonaRik]

I suspect it's out of my price range and that the ambient SM58's will be staying for a while

[EBS_freak]

[quote name='DaytonaRik' timestamp='1386331303' post='2298823']
I suspect it's out of my price range and that the ambient SM58's will be staying for a while
[/quote]

It's certainly a pretty penny and you'd probably want to be gigging a great deal to warrant it - especially when you add up the complete cost of the radio setup, the T1 lives/T2 lives and then the ambient pack on top of that. Retail on the ambient pack is £450.

As for ambient with external mics, you'd probably notice a marked improvement if you considered using some condensors instead of dynamics such as the SM58... just keep them away from the drums!

[EBS_freak]

[quote name='mr zed' timestamp='1386328864' post='2298776']
Thanks Russ, much appreciated. I bottled out of the MRI scan - didn't know I was claustrophobic. Horrible experience. So CT scan next. Looking forward to hearing your views on the ambient pack and it good that you're giving it such a good workout.
[/quote]

Conversely, I must be quite weird as I am quite cool with going in an MRI scanner(!) Hope you the CT is less traumatic for you.

Yeah, I'm quite enjoying the ambient pack so far - I've actually got a night off and I'm going to a gig where I would normally be in the audience wearing ear plugs. I think my car will enjoy the break - according to it's trip computer, I've been in the car for 12hrs 40 minutes and done 647 miles in the last two days.

Tonight, I am going to be in the audience wearing the world's most expensive earplugs! Swappable filters? Nah! I can do that on the fly!

Edited December 6, 2013 by EBS_freak

[EBS_freak]

[quote name='mr zed' timestamp='1386328937' post='2298778']
Looks neat!
[/quote]

Quite impressed with their first release, it's a nicely made piece of kit and the software seems to be very well tuned. Now that I'm getting to grips with blending the ambient mix with my belt pack (I've tailored my radio pack mix slightly so it seems to work better with the output from the ambient pack) next thing to check out is the ALC on the ambient pack. I'm guessing that the software implementation here would have taken a lot of effort to get bang on.

Edited December 6, 2013 by EBS_freak

[DaytonaRik]

[quote name='EBS_freak' timestamp='1386332018' post='2298833']
It's certainly a pretty penny and you'd probably want to be gigging a great deal to warrant it - especially when you add up the complete cost of the radio setup, the T1 lives/T2 lives and then the ambient pack on top of that. Retail on the ambient pack is £450.

As for ambient with external mics, you'd probably notice a marked improvement if you considered using some condensors instead of dynamics such as the SM58... just keep them away from the drums!
[/quote]
Wow! But, if you're making a living out of the industry then it's worth every penny.

I do have a pair of ultra-discreet AKG PP416 condensor mics that would do the ambient job nicely - just park them stage right/left angled in...job done! Nice idea - thanks!

Edited December 6, 2013 by DaytonaRik

[EBS_freak]

[quote name='DaytonaRik' timestamp='1386333896' post='2298874']
Wow! But, if you're making a living out of the industry then it's worth every penny.
[/quote]

Of course, it all depends upon your situation - for example, I could do without an amp completely and put it straight through the PA. I don't need any monitoring on stage as it's in my ears. Given the cost of a decent bass amp, a couple of decent cabs, you could replace those with a wireless setup and a comprehensive inear monitoring solution. As I said to Tonyf, consider it as a Bergantino for your ears!

[quote]
I do have a pair of ultra-discreet AKG PP416 condensor mics that would do the ambient job nicely - just park them stage right/left angled in...job done! Nice idea - thanks!
[/quote]

Sounds perfect - just experiment with placement to see what you like best... being able to hear the crowd is always a nice thing to hear.

One of the things I like about the ACS ambient pack solution is the return of my spacial awareness - like the fact that when I walk towards the guitarist's amp, it gets louder etc... I know that sounds like something you don't want as it means your mix isnt as consistent... but it's about getting the mix between the two just right so you've got your staple mix from the desk and a sprinkling of ambience on the top... so it sounds natural. I'm getting there... I think.

[tonyf]

[quote name='EBS_freak' timestamp='1386332018' post='2298833']
As for ambient with external mics, you'd probably notice a marked improvement if you considered using some condensors instead of dynamics such as the SM58... just keep them away from the drums!
[/quote]

A couple of reasonable dynamics are the next of the list for us too. Over the past couple of gigs, I've been so aware of the crowd noise through Fiddy, Jo's mine and Brian's mics but it's just a bit too shy for me. Be nice to be able to pick up a bit more of the on-stage ambience too through the condensers.

[tonyf]

[quote name='EBS_freak' timestamp='1386328733' post='2298771']
Just to prove that it exists!


[/quote]

Hubba hubba #IEMperving

[tonyf]

All the buds have come in this week so tonight's gig at my work's xmas party will be the first Second City Soul gig done completely with the IEMs. Quite excited!

For me, Paul the guitarist, Dave the drummer and Brian the keyboard player, we've already had a couple of gigs under our belts with the erm IEM's attached to our belts. It's been such a step forward. I'm so excited for Fiddy and Jo as this will be the first show for them with IEMs. It'll probably take a little adjustment but I'm expecting the same jaw-drop smile that me and Paul had a couple of shows ago.

Quite excited. Oh, did I say that already? lol

[EBS_freak]

[quote name='tonyf' timestamp='1386337237' post='2298953']
Hubba hubba #IEMperving
[/quote]

Ha ha. Addict.

[EBS_freak]

[quote name='tonyf' timestamp='1386337536' post='2298962']
All the buds have come in this week so tonight's gig at my work's xmas party will be the first Second City Soul gig done completely with the IEMs. Quite excited!

For me, Paul the guitarist, Dave the drummer and Brian the keyboard player, we've already had a couple of gigs under our belts with the erm IEM's attached to our belts. It's been such a step forward. I'm so excited for Fiddy and Jo as this will be the first show for them with IEMs. It'll probably take a little adjustment but I'm expecting the same jaw-drop smile that me and Paul had a couple of shows ago.

Quite excited. Oh, did I say that already? lol
[/quote]

If you are a vocalist, it's the best. Defo. I hate singing without them now - the only thing that can catch you out as a vocalist is that because you hear yourself so loud in your ears, you tend to lay off the mic a bit... so especially on your lead singers, do a thorough soundcheck so they get used to singing on the mic and tailor the mix so they don't back off the mic... if you get what I mean.

[tonyf]

[quote name='EBS_freak' timestamp='1386337706' post='2298967']
If you are a vocalist, it's the best. Defo. I hate singing without them now - the only thing that can catch you out as a vocalist is that because you hear yourself so loud in your ears, you tend to lay off the mic a bit... so especially on your lead singers, do a thorough soundcheck so they get used to singing on the mic and tailor the mix so they don't back off the mic... if you get what I mean.
[/quote]

Good call, hadn't thought about that but I can understand it completely. I've noticed that I've stood a little further back from the mic over the past couple of gigs because I can sooooo much more hear myself now. Obviously what's going out front may well be a different picture to the mix in the IEMs so as ever, we'll probably concentrate on the out front mix firstly to get happy with the mix and then do the monitor mixes to taste.

Until we upgrade the desk, we're still limited by outs so we're splitting Fiddy and Jo into their own mix off the one transmitter and then me and Paul (and Dave through the headphone out) on the other transmitter will share the other mix. I think the vocalists always tend to rely on heavily vocal heavy mixes through the front wedges so there shouldn't be that much difference for them. Anyway, we'll be able to tweak it to suit within the sound check and first couple of tunes.