Stage monitors vs in-ear monitors for location recording

[thefunkybeat]

Hey slutz,

Sorry if someone already covered this in another thread, but I couldn't find it in the search. If they did, please give me a link to the thread.

Anyway, obviously there are some benefits to in-ear monitors on location recordings;

- no monitor bleed into mics
- don't have to worry about monitor volume messing up your FOH mix
- don't have to worry about feedback
- don't need speaker management hardware (ie graphic EQs)
- don't have to have heavy speakers, amps, and speaker cables

The only down sides I can think of is;

- need to replace batteries
- need to worry about using the right radio frequencies
- small earpieces damaged more easily than stage monitors

So, my question is; Do you guys find that artists want to use in-ears or stage monitors more? How often have you guys worked with an artist who refused to use in-ear monitors?

[JGILL]

It really depends. What I have found is younger bands and artist are more willing to try in-ears. But most of your old ones who have been doing this for years seem to want the monitors and want them blasting!!!!!!! It's all defferent with each act. I still haven't decided if they want them because the like the vibe better or their just losing their hearing. Some say they can't get into the vibe with the croud some say in-ears keep them in pitch better. From an engineer stand point in-ears are the best, more work, but the best. And for remote recording in ears for sure. You just have to gadge your artist, and explain the +/- some will understand, and some will blow you off and say you don't know rock roll Oh well. haha

[Lori]

In ears are awesome!!! even if the band wants to hear the crowd, you can alway set up a crowd mic. Makes stage volume a whole lot less of a freakin monster!

[jasonraboin]

Some artists love in-ears and some hate them. For some, all they need is a little of the vocal or main instrument in their wedge, so why bother getting suited up with in-ears and then needing a full mix in the ears. You have to remember that once the ears go in, pretty much every channel needs to go in the ears. Musicians tend to get much more picky about tone and dynamics once they are on in-ears, so you have to be prepared for that.
The band I'm mixing now has 2 guys on ears and 4 on wedges. While I wish the lead singer would use ears, I understand his reluctance to use them. No matter how many audience mics you put up and how great the mix is, you are still somewhat removed from everyone around you.

[thefunkybeat]

Originally Posted by Lori

In ears are awesome!!! even if the band wants to hear the crowd, you can alway set up a crowd mic. Makes stage volume a whole lot less of a freakin monster!

I remember one show at a club where the band wanted the monitors REALLY loud. They just kept saying MORE, MORE, MORE!!! Just for fun I pulled down the FOH fader all the way down briefly and the volume barely changed.

I'm never giving in and just giving the artist stupid amounts of monitor volume ever again. I don't care if they don't like it. It damages their hearing, it f*&ks up my mix, and I'm not paying for blown tweeters in those stage monitors! tutt

[Roland]

Originally Posted by thefunkybeat

I remember one show at a club where the band wanted the monitors REALLY loud. They just kept saying MORE, MORE, MORE!!! Just for fun I pulled down the FOH fader all the way down briefly and the volume barely changed.

I'm never giving in and just giving the artist stupid amounts of monitor volume ever again. I don't care if they don't like it. It damages their hearing, it f*&ks up my mix, and I'm not paying for blown tweeters in those stage monitors! tutt

Sounds like some real amateurs. Great musicians usually just want a good mix where they can hear themselves and the others in the band. I concur with the others here, in ears can be great, but they need a spot on mix and unless they are used in the right situation with an engineer who knows what he's doing, they could easily end up with being worse than useless. As was previously stated, not everyone can get on with them either.

Regards


Roland