Monitoring

[MartinCliffe]

Just curious what you guys prefer for monitoring when you're playing live? I've used big wedge monitors (pain to transport, don't look good at the front of the stage, but a useful place to put your foot during a solo), in ear monitors (easy to transport but kinda isolating and you're reliant on the guy on the desk not being a muppet) and I've most recently moved to little personal vocal monitors (small, discrete, rugged and they sound great, but very directional and not a huge amount of bass response). I sold my wedges to our local church, where they're used every week, and they're fine there... I'm now thinking of selling my IEM setup too as I just don't use it anymore - I gave up on them when playing with the metal band I was with for the last 2 years.

The TC Helicon VoiceSolo units I'm using now are the best option I've tried so far. They're small enough to fit on my pedalboard, very lightweight and pretty damn loud, plus I get stereo monitoring with my own mix controls (a "more me" control for my vocal mic). I just picked up a 3rd one for my keyboard player, and will probably get another when my IEMs sell, for our bassist. I just wanted to garner some opinion from the rest of you out there about what you use / prefer and why?

 

[qtcustom]

I haven't done much with in-ears on stage as of yet...but I've recorded live with them a few times and I don't like the isolation effect. Also, no matter how good the signal chain is, I always miss the bass and low mids that make you feel the tone...still like the big ugly wedges best, for the same reason I gig guitar with a Mills 4x12 whenever possible. It's not for volume, it's for "spread of sound." I learned a long time ago that I the more I feel "surrounded" by the music, the better I perform, and the lower the overall onstage volume can be. :geek:

 

[rjmmusic]

I voted no monitors, but only because I work so much I don't get to play out. :cry:

We're in an industrial space, so when I do play, I can play at any volume level I like, though! :twisted:

 

[4x4uk]

I voted for big old wedge monitor

just because thats what I have, keep meaning to try in ear monitors but never got round to it

I learned a long time ago that I the more I feel "surrounded" by the music, the better I perform, and the lower the overall onstage volume can be.

I must admit I tend to agree but whether my playing is any better or not is another thing but it feels better

 

[joe web]

InEar for me, but you need a total split of the signals for an extra monitor mixer on stage, so that you can control the signal on your own.
and of course the IE mix should be in stereo.