Live Players: What do you use to monitor your keys?

[Unknown2]

I usually get a mix from the desk (which I set up) through a set of Behringer wedges. When I am singing as well as playing I prefer this. If I just want to hear myself playing then I have a Shure SHR440 headset.
Another trick I have tried is using Zalman RS6F headphones (surround sound) and using each of the three stereo connectors for a different mix source. Handy when I was effectively working across a couple of separate systems at the same time.

[BrickPilot]

We use high-end earbuds or headphones with a set of Aviom 16-II personal mixers (each member has one), run from the Aviom 16-iM through the Aviom A-16D. Everyone controls their own mix. The XLR thru's from the 16-iM feed whatever house system or PA is available, but we always hear what we want. Having the stage sound noise completely disappear has made a HUGE improvement in the band's comfort.

Sometimes, if the gig is small and quick, I'll just feed through my MotionSound 3D (I don't use the rotary horn anymore now that I have the K88 with its simulated rotary being superior to an ACTUAL rotary!)

[ScoobyDoo555]

Looked at the Aviom stuff - quite pricey!!

No doubt it's good though. How do you rate it?

Dan

[amosdef]

Looked at the Aviom stuff - quite pricey!!

No doubt it's good though. How do you rate it?

Dan

If they ever release them, Behringer has a much cheaper alternative to the Aviom stuff "coming soon". I know I'm going to pick up a set once they're released.

[ScoobyDoo555]

Yep Amos, already seen em - look like a cheap alternative.....

But with Behringer, there's usually a sting in the tail..... like reliability!!!

Still, will be interesting....

[BrickPilot]

Looked at the Aviom stuff - quite pricey!!
No doubt it's good though. How do you rate it?
Dan

Yeah, it was way expensive but it's a writeoff, so 6 of one... Everyone can hear everyone else, exactly like they want it, in full stereo, with no compromises.

As far as the technology, I have zero complaints. The 16-i-M and 16-D boxes are bulletproof and add zero noise - they have exceptionally clean preamps, and the audio routing / insert options are quite adequate.

The 16-II mixers are easy to use (would be nice to have individually controlled treb/mid/bass), but they are very plastic. Aviom even sells a 'replacement button kit' for the mixers, and now I know why. One of the mixers took a 3' fall and now one of the button LED's fails to light - otherwise it's working fine. That said, I can overlook it due to the fact that we did drop it, so it's our fault.

The immensely dramatic change this setup has made to our band is breathtaking. The savings to our hearing has been priceless - worth every penny.

[ScoobyDoo555]

Yeh, I'm pretty much the only one in our band who want IEMs...... so the expense of the Avioms might not be worth it..... I've got a sort of compromise right now, but I'm in the market for something better....

Will try it either way Looks like it's working well for you guys though.

Dan

[BrickPilot]

Yeh, I'm pretty much the only one in our band who want IEMs...... so the expense of the Avioms might not be worth it..... I've got a sort of compromise right now, but I'm in the market for something better....
Will try it either way Looks like it's working well for you guys though.
Dan

FWIW, I upgraded to the Avioms from a set of HeadAmp 6 Pro's. They were a good solution - provides a general stereo mix and an aux signal you can splice into each channel allowing "more me". Not nearly as flexible as the Avioms though, but a much cheaper solution. I have the two HeadAmp 6 rack units available if you're interested.

[Fred S]

Varies: I usually run both boards through a KC 550. Sometimes I use the outs of the amp to the PA. Then use either IEMs or the amp itself as a monitor. Lately I've been micing the amp with a senheiser and audix and then using IEMs. Sometimes I use an EQ; either from the boards to the amp or from the amp outs to the PA. I rarely go from the boards directly to the PA. It's difficult for me to trust the various sound guys to get the accoustic piano EQ right to venue. I like the sound I get through the Roland, so carefully micing it has usually produced the best outcome.

[ronnfigg]

In ears are the way to go. My boards have never sounded better. Just remember, with a lot of isolation from ambient stage volume, you'll need to get a mix from an aux send to get some critical instrumments in your ears, like VOCALS, drums, guitar, etc.This gets tricky if you don't have control over the mix you get. I take an aux send and bring it back to my mix on a separate channel that won't feed back into the front of house. A good in ear system or your mixer/amp should facilitate this or you will have to get creative with your mixer/ amp. The Beringer amps support this function on one of the channels. I insist on (at least) moitoring my keyboards in STEREO. It makes for a more satisfying sonic experience. The rest of the mix can be mono. If you play with a LOUD band, it will be hard to get a satisfying mix of the other players, since just about everything will be bleeding into everything that is mic'd. It's a bit of an investment, but well woth it.

[ronnfigg]

PS- If you go with in-ears, you can ditch the amp. One less thing to lug around. But then it is good as a backup in case things go south. I had this happen to a drummer at a very important gig and he had nothing but drums in his mix. Why he chose not to pull atleast one of the "buds" out I will never know.

[danmusician]

I use the Bose L1 Model 1 for house and monitor. I usually play church sanctuaries and fellowship halls, seating 300 to 1000.

I occasionally play in gyms. I'm surprised at how well the Bose covers crappy acoustics.

Those of you using In Ear Monitors, do you worry about hearing damage? About 15 years ago, before the iPod craze, I had an audiologist tell me that there is no safe volume for in-ear headphones. He said the sound source is much too close to the eardrum.

Do you have to turn them up to hear your monitor mix over the sounds of the instruments around you?

[keyplayer14]

Currently a stereo feed from my keyboard mixer to 2 x Mackie SRM 450's, mono feed in of everything else I want to hear and stereo keys feed to front of house.

[Bruce Lychee]

Anyone looking for a relatively cheap, flexible wireless headphone setup should check out the Astro Gaming Mixamp 5.8. I hijacked my kid's and use it with either Sony MDR 7520s (which are excellent) or 7550s. It uses 5.8ghz frequency which results in a really stable and full audio signal. There is slight background noise because it is wireless, but you won't hear it in a live situation and barely at home.

You can get it for about $100 if you search for their internet discount code. Optical in and out, 2 USB ports which support audio, aux in and it can also process and simulate 7.1 which is surprisingly effective for games, but just for fun with any music monitoring. It can support 4 wireless headsets.

It seems a little weird to be using a setup designed for video games, but I happened to try it out and found it very effective and flexible.

http://www.astrogaming.com/mixamp-5-8

[ScoobyDoo555]

danmusician,
The advantage with the IEMs is that you keep them really turned down, as on stage sound doesn't get through the moulding.

Even more so if you get your ears injection-moulded anyway, as it totally blanks out the surrounding noise.


Thanks for the offer Brickpilot - I'll do some homework on them and have a think

Dan