In-Ear Monitors

In-ear monitors (IEMs) are devices used by musicians, audio engineers and audiophiles to listen to music or to hear a custom crafted mix of vocals and stage instrumentation for live performance or recording studio mixing. They are often custom fitted for an individual's ears to provide comfort and a high level of noise reduction from ambient surroundings.

Ultimate Ears Custom In-Ear Monitors

It takes most singers a while to get used to IEMs but if you get a good system, with good buds and a good monitor engineer you will be fine. More than likely you won't want the house mix as your monitor mix, especially in ear.

• Does anyone have any experience with in-ear monitors for singing? •

The frequencies I like to highlight in my voice, along with a little reverb and compression, tend to cause nasty feedback with on-stage monitors (very occasionally and unpredictably). Since I don't want to change the sound I'm getting, the obvious solution would be in-ear monitors.

My only concern with that is the fact that I'll be singing with earbuds in my ears, cutting off air passageways and changing the way my voice sounds and feels. Do high-end IEMs account for this somehow? Is there a kind made specifically for vocalists? You'd be amazed at how little Google had to say about it.

"It only took one song with them to realize the benefits. First thing you notice is how much attenuation of volume they give you. Then you notice how crystal clear your vocals are, you can hear yourself so much better."

The folks that use both ear buds always have a pair of audience mics (usually set-up downstage left/right pointing towards the audience) to get that ambiance they miss when both ears are plugged up.

A few tips; have a crowd mic (or two) running to your IEMs. It can really help with getting used to the things that much quicker. Also have a pair of monitors tuned with your mix dialed in on the floor in front of you that way if anything does go to shit all you have to do is rip your buds out and you still have functioning foldback !

Some singers like to use only one IEM because they want to hear the live stage/audience sound.

It can be a problem to have the in ears when you're singing because of the reason you mentioned: it sounds different to sing with your ears plugged.

You should be able to get used to it and sing "normally" after a small amount of practice. The monitor mix is crucial for that. If something isn't working, change the monitor mix! Usually it's an issue of not having the right balance between other tonal instruments (keys, guitars) and your voice.

If you're serious, take the time to research custom molds and multi-driver buds. As with most things we do, the transducers are everything. Listen to Shure, Westone, Ultimate Ears and so forth in stores to get an idea of the differences in response, tone and SPL. I'd recommend either a CD player or uncompressed files (no mp3) from an iPod as source material. When you find one you like, find a custom shop to do your molds. Start at: Ultimate Ears Home - Headphones Noise Isolating Earphones In-Ear Custom Monitors ; - In Ear Monitors - Ear Impressions - Mic's - Monitor Systems - - Home ; Alien Ears Custom Molded In Ear Monitors & Eaplugs

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