I
recently got hired as a guitarist for a new show in Orlando called DRIP (a
must-see show!). I’ve performed in small
music venues in the past, but this is the first time I’ve been exposed to using
in-ear monitors (IEM). Typically, stage
monitors, or wedges, are used for musicians to properly hear themselves on
stage. I’m going to compare the
differences of using stage monitors and IEM.
Stage
monitors are considered the norm in most venues. Basically, there is an individual speaker
sitting in front of each musician, which provides a way to hear themselves as
they play. While this may be the easiest
method of monitoring, it still poses some complications. With any system involving microphones and
speakers, you run the risk of feedback, which is when a signal is continuously
looped; microphone picks up a signal, which then goes through the mixer, to the
amplifier, out the speakers, and into the microphone again, this time only
louder. This results in that loud,
high-pitched noise that can be compared to the sound a banshee would make.
There
are several ways to avoid feedback.
Increasing the distance from the speakers to the microphone would be a
good start, making sure they are not directly facing each other. There can also be too much gain in the
signal. More advanced techniques involve
equalizing the signal by lowering the audio frequencies that are affected and
applying a noise gate.
Using
IEMs is also an effective way of eliminating unwanted feedback. Each individual mix is sent through special
headphones instead of speakers, preventing the signal from re-entering any
microphones. Other benefits with using
IEMs include more freedom to move around on stage; with wedges, musicians are
mainly confined to that particular spot.
It also protects the musicians’ hearing by using a lower volume than
that associated with using wedges. Bands
can also incorporate using a click track that only they can hear to help keep
tempo.
However, there are some
disadvantages to using IEM, as well.
Musicians usually feed off of the energy that is sensed in the
audience. When using IEMs, it’s
sometimes hard to hear if the audience is even cheering and applauding at
all. It could also be uncomfortable at
times. If the IEMs don’t fit perfectly,
musicians can spend a majority of their time fumbling with them.
