In ear (headphone) monitoring approach

[Cesare Bezzi]

My second post and first question on a forum being read/consulted since 2010. A forum that made me decide (not regretted at all) for investing in the Behringer X32... so this user group has had its useful effect so far :razz:.

I'm heading to improve live recording conditions in our venue. Boutique conditions: 40 sq meters stage in 170 sq meters live room (70 seats), with 6 monitors on stage. Montors are compact coaxial pretty powerful (DBT or some "higher" made in china, I can't remember but that's not relevant I believe, 8)~~). Various bands on stage, various genres (from brickwall metal to softest brushed jazz). Different situation every weekend.

The fact is that in some conditions the bleed on stage is so high that the multitrack (excellent from the X32) is almost unusable for mixing.
Bleed from dums (back central on stage) is relevant for the main vox usually: would be solved with some special plexy screen - planning that to filter highs and keeping the kick going through.
Bleed from guit amps (back side on stage) are mostly not noticeable after proper eq-ing.
What worries me (and gets to the recordings) are "special" cases: miked keyboardists (worst case, with a wedge on the side that shouts to the microphone), or wind players that "can't hear themselves" most of the times. So the wedge is turned up to the limit and shouting to their ears (and to their mikes).

Thinking of cheap solution (considering that the plexy screen is getting most of the budget).
- convert some wedges to headphone amp. Conversion would be done "on the fly". Found this model on Thomann, that gets balanced XLR and can switched to mono:
Superlux HA3D - Thomann Italia
sturdy enough, cheap enough (I would buy maximum 4)
- rig the "special player" with headphone attached to the amps. Now sturdy cheap headphones is a challenge. Same brand as above has very cheap stuff but I can't predict longevity... but who would care for a 20 eur headphone...? Semiopen or closed, I would give some choice:
Superlux HD-681 B - Thomann Italia (example for semi-open).
- I would avoid in-ears to maximize durability and improve hygiene (several different users per month).

Questions:
- how is it going to work when "forcing" some band members (presumably the "sit" ones, drummer and keybdists) to get the headphone instead of the standard stage monitor?
- is this really going to drastically decrease bleed to acceptable?
- What would the plexy screen do the drum miking. Jamming it up and reflect unwanted frequencies back? Or just dumping snare and cymbals (that would be the objective)?

Any feeling/thoughts/experiences?
apologies if this has been covered in the past.

best regards :razz:

 

[Luigi Chelli]

Re: In ear (headphone) monitoring approach

Ciao Cesare,
i had some experience with indoor clubs and small venues…

here are some hints:

double the vocal channel so you can send uncompressed sound to the wedge

put hpfs on the monitors, clearing all the mud will result in a better intelligibility

avoid the reverb on vox….much better to use delay fx

don't fear to use cans instead of wedges, be professional and explain to the artist why are you duoing this and that the overall sound of the band will improve.
since you have an x32 (like me ) you can let them play with their iphones or some p16's to do their mix…. they'll be happier and complain less.

usually the plexy is hated by the bands, but to me it was a life saver in many occasion.
if you want to avoid it consider this new cymbals: GEN 16 AE, and if they work do a report to us :lol:

the guitar cabs are always a matter of placement…. rise em if the guitarist doesn't hear himself.
remember that many times they're open-box, the polar pattern could resemble a fig-of-eight so you can aim them to avoid bleed in the mics.

hope i helped a bit.

cheers,
Luigi.


ps: where are you from? 8)~~

 

[Cesare Bezzi]

Re: In ear (headphone) monitoring approach

avoid the reverb on vox….much better to use delay fx
...
hope i helped a bit.
...
ps: where are you from? 8)~~

Great hints thanks. Eq-ing the wedges is NOW possible, yes...

You mean avoid reverb on wedges I believe. Yes, reverb is known to set the voice back (as well as in studio).

PS: working and living in Switzerland. The mentioned venue/studio is anyway north-east of Milano, where I also spend quite some time.j

 

[John Chiara]

Re: In ear (headphone) monitoring approach

Get plexi for guitar amps too. This can help tremendously and EVERY guitarist I have persuaded to try a shield has LOVED it and many ordered their own. I find that if I can construct an IEM mix ahead of time, making it stereo and panning things as the would appear to the artist in question, with effects and their own instrument up the middle and clear.. The culture shock is greatly reduced.