In-Ear Monitors

‍In-Ear Monitors (IEMs) are the professional solution to on-stage monitoring. Available in custom or universal fit models, IEMs are essentially earphones designed to provide uncompromising sound quality, consistent comfort, and durability to survive years of heavy use. Well-made and well-maintained IEMs can be the active musician’s most trusted and valued piece of gear.

What Do In-Ear Monitors sound like?

In an ideal situation, monitoring through IEMs in a live setting is akin to monitoring through headphones in a studio setting. You should clearly hear all the elements of your ensemble, including your own performance, without the annoyances of washy instruments/vocals and off-the-rails stage loudness. Besides the obvious need to put good sound into the stage microphones to get good sound out of the monitors, the quality of the monitoring experience though IEMs is dependent on three technical factors:

  • Quality of monitor mix

  • Quality and fit of the in ear monitors

  • Experience monitoring through IEMs

Do I need In-Ear Monitors?

If you perform solo or your group is acoustic and requires limited reinforcement, monitoring can as simple as listening to each other. Even with larger bands, if you are playing a few shows a year in small clubs with decent sound systems, you can likely get by with traditional wedge monitors. However, when more than the minimum signal is flooding the stage, many issues arise with wedge monitors that affect the performer as well as the audience's experience of your performance.

Performer Problems with Wedge Monitors: with an array of monitor speakers on stage, the band must contend with microphone bleed, feedback, washy/blurred transients, and high sound levels. Excessive sound levels force your auditory system into physiologic overdrive which can cause you to falter at basic tasks such as pitch perception and self monitoring.

Audience Problems with Wedge Monitors: Out in the house, the audience is hearing two competing versions of your amplified performance: the FOH (front of house) mix coming from the main speakers, and the stage wash coming from the monitor speakers. These two signals combine in unpredictable and often counter-productive ways to destroy clarity and impact of your carefully honed performance.

What are the Advantages of In-Ear Monitors?

For larger, more complex stage setups, IEMs far out-perform traditional wedge monitors.

  • Each band member can have a customized mix without worrying about the stage layout.

  • The performers can monitor at the level of their choosing and aren’t chained to the runaway train that is stage volume.

  • The audience can enjoy your performance with no feedback, wash, or FOH blur.

  • Finally, and arguably most importantly, the entire concert venue can maintain a lower sound level which will reduce the risk that your performance will cause permanent hearing damage to yourself, your audience, your crew, and the entire venue staff.

All this sounds like a dream for most bands who haven’t switched to IEMs, but it is a daily reality for those who have made the change.

What are the Side Perks of IEM Systems?

Access to a monitor system that is isolated from the audience’s FOH mix has some major advantages. In fact, the options are limited only by the technical abilities of the monitoring engineer and your creativity, but common uses of this isolated monitoring advantage include:

  • Click tracks

  • Backing tracks

  • Guide instrument parts (I’m looking at you, acapella intros)

  • Stage/song cues and talkback microphones

  • Mid-performance banter (who said we can’t have fun?)

Should I Invest in better stage monitoring?

In-ear monitors come in universal-fit (with pre-made foam or silicone ear tips) or custom models to match any budget. Though certainly an investment, an individual setup is often less costly than that new guitar, snare drum, tube amp, or microphone you’ve been eyeing. No one is telling you NOT to get that sweet sunburst late 60s Guild T100, but if you’re honest with yourself, will that new gear come close to giving you and your audience all the benefits that in-ear monitors can offer?

Contact Philadelphia Music Audiology today to discuss your situation and discover what options will work for you.‍