how to monitor playing with a loud band

Charles Fager · From: Novato, California, USA

I recently performed with a local country band which asked me to sit in on steel and it was a blast. The only problem was that several of the other musicians' amps were located right behind me on the small stage, and therefore, I could not monitor my own playing. I had to plug my ears several times with my fingers so that I didn't blow-out my eardrums...Any tricks to the trade on how to navigate this sort of situation?...CF

Will Hart · From: St. Croix, Virgin Islands

I have struggled with the problem of stage volume. I use the Bose noise canceling headphones. I have a small mixer that I plug into the monitor out on the sound board that brings the vocals into my headset. I also have my steel and dobro on the mixer and I can set the volumes for each. There is still some sound bleed through as the headphones are not perfect but it makes the sound much more bearable, and you can hear youself above the din which to me is necessary for good playing. Of course the simple solution would be to have everyone turn down which doesn't possible for some reason.

rodger_mcbride · From: Minnesota

I'm a big fan of in ear monitors. In a situation where just the vocals are run through the PA, the cheapest psm 200 hybrid wired /wireless coupled with a lavalier mic brings in enough room sound to hear the band plus the earphones don't fully block the bandstand sound. You can mix in the preamp out from the amp into the hybrid belt pack to monitor your playing directly. A little time calibrating the "loudness" factor and you're good to go. Saves your ears and it really helps to hear the vocals from the PA clearly as well.

rodger

"When I cook, it's usually Clam chowder"

b0b · From: Cloverdale, CA, USA

Earplugs are a good idea.

I run the PA in our band, and I often wear headphones to monitor the mix. Now and then I take them off and hear how bad everything sounds on stage. The front mix is good, though, and the headphone amp gives me control of the volume reaching my ears.
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Stu Schulman · From: Ulster Park New Yawk (deceased)

I have one of those Peavey session 400 wedge amps that sits right in front of my steel.this works great for me,I can hear myself as loud as I need to,and it's not killing people in the crowd,It has a D.I. out to the mixer.We have a bass guitar cabinet onstage that is way too loud,and that seems to be the hardest thing for me to fight.The other problem is the bass is a piece of crap and the intonation is always slipping on it.I wouldn't mind trying ear monitors,I'm a little bit behind the cutting edge up here tough!
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David Nugent · From: Gum Spring, Va.

Having encountered the same situation in a previous band, the best solution I found is a small powered monitor of the type that mounts on a mic stand. They can be run from the second output on your volume pedal and situated wherever they are most effective. These run about $250.00 but are well worth it.

Phil Morgan · From: United Kingdom

Hey,
Just insist to the rest of the guys that you want to be able to play your Steel properley and that means being able to hear it. Tell them to forget about their ego's. No one has to play that loud that it interupts another band members performance. Get them to show you some respect. Everyone on stage should comfortable and be able, if required, to hear everyone else -The loud bit is the out front bit!

Earnest Bovine · From: Los Angeles CA USA

Earnest Bovine · From: Los Angeles CA USA

Eric Jaeger · From: Oakland, California, USA

In-ear monitors! Best thing since electricity. You can set your own mix, hear the band and yourself in whatever balance you please (and turn down the lead guitar player Smile

). And save your hearing.

-eric

Bill McCloskey · Posted 5 Feb 2007 6:03 pm

"Do those things really work for you? I tried them out in the Bose store and for me they didn't cancel any noise at all."

Not only do they work, I won't get on a plane without mine. They are designed to work with consistent noise like an engine. It is amazing how much energy you expend listening to airline engine noise. When I wear the Bose, I'm more rested and relaxed after a long plane ride.

Jonathan Cullifer · From: Gallatin, TN

http://www.proplugs.com/

I've been using them for years. The sound curve is acceptable for live gigs. It doesn't seem to distort the tone too badly.

Will Hart · From: St. Croix, Virgin Islands

I read a lot of reviews of the Bose headphones before purchasing as they were so expensive, and the feedback by consumers was overwelmingly positive. But there were a few that they did nothing for. I had tried 3 other pairs of headphones on stage and the Bose were far superior. After a year of use I would say they were quite amazing. There is some bleed through, but they are great ear protection.

Dave Potter · From: Texas

I've never tried using them on stage, but, Active Noise Reduction (ANR), as a generic technology most definitely does work. I used ANR headsets for many years in the private aircraft cockpit environment, and would never use anything else after experiencing the advantages they provide.

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