Worship Leader Blog

I'd love to move our worship team from conventional floor wedges to in-ear monitors (IEMs), but after a few hours of research, I realize that I've got a lot to learn about this stuff. If you're in the same boat, read on, because later in this post I'm going to give you a list of links to online resources for information about in-ear monitors that might help you figure out what's right for your team.

I've been both playing live music and mixing live sound off and on for about 30 years, and if I had to pick one thing that has the potential for making things frustrating for everyone, it would almost have to be monitors. In all of those years, I've never had the opportunity to use anything but floor wedges for monitoring. Anyone who does this knows that monitors can be a source of great frustration for everyone involved, because it seems like they're never quite right, and about all you can hope for is to create a monitor mix that doesn't completely suck.

I'm probably overstating that, but if you've been on either side of that equation (as a performer or sound tech), or both, you know what I mean. It seems virtually impossible to mix monitors to the satisfaction of all the performers on the stage, or the monitors interact badly with the mains, or the EQ on the monitors is impossible to get right, or...you get the idea.

In-ear monitoring systems can potentially solve some of these problems. In-ear monitors can:

• Reduce overall stage volume for performers
• Provide each performer with a more customized monitor mix
• Eliminate problems with montors/mains interaction

That said, there are issues with in-ear systems as well:

• They're expensive, starting at around $600 per person
• They can be a little complicated to configure, compared with traditional stage monitors
• They can make communication between performers more difficult

I'm still learning about this stuff, and I've got a long way to go before (a) we're ready to jump into IEMs and (b) we're able to afford IEMs. You might be there, too, so in the meantime, here are some places you can learn more about this technology. Some of them are manufacturer-specific, so you'll want to take some of the content with a grain of salt, but there is still a lot of useful stuff in this list.

ABC's of Configuring a Personal Monitor System
Shure Guide to Personal Monitors (PDF)
January 27, Aviom Web seminar on Digital Snakes (and the Aviom monitor system)
In-Ear Monitors: Advantages and Disadvantages
The Art of Monitoring and Mixing with Headphones
Let's Hear It: Introduction to Personal Monitoring Systems (Shure)
Making the Wedgeless Transition
Focus Mode for In-Ear Monitors
Houses of Worship Podcast: In-Ear Monitoring
Grinning from Ear Bud to Ear Bud
In-Ear Monitor Tutorial (PDF)
Audiology Online: In-Ear Monitors for Musicians

If you've got links to other resources, please share them!