I’m using QC with a Behringer PM1 wired transmitter and Shure SE215 in-ear monitors. I understand this isn’t a super high-end setup, and I’m not expecting amazing quality sound.
However, the sound I’m getting is really not good. I mean, it’s manageable, but my band wants to switch to IEM fully for shows and rehearsals too. And the IEM sound just kills all the joy of having a great sounding device…
I have a feeling that presets made to sound good through a speaker at a distance in a room simply cannot simultaneously sound good in in-ear monitors. What do you think?
I’m curious if any of you have managed to get your presets — the ones you use for live gigs — to also sound good in in-ear monitors without any extra tweaks or processing.
Any insights or experiences would be much appreciated!
My first in ears were SE215s. Great for the price, but very hifi with little mid range. Even a more expensive set sounded quite fizzy for the sound the FoH engineer wanted.
My solution is a low pass on the guitar signal going to my in ear mix, with 4k at 6db oct. We use Pro Tools for our own in ear mix, so I just add it to the guitar monitor return.
The reason this works is that you would never listen with your head against a speaker cab, but the FoH sound is heard through speakers at a distance.
As you as you have good IEMs (and a proper mix), presets that sound good in FoH should sound equally good in your FoH. I have custom Earsonics (french brand) molds which sound very good (much better than the Shure SE425 I used previously and now lend to my keyboard player).
My QC actually made using IEMs an enjoyable experience. With analog gear, I always disliked using IEMs, as I hated the rawness of a 57 stuck in front of a cab with little to no processing, and hated that I never sounded the same from night to night. Both issued are cured by the QC. Plus I know I’ll always sound exactly the same (and the way I intend to) in FoH as well, which is a liberating experience.
And lastly, I can get a perfect mix at much lower volume, which translates to less ear fatigue.
Note that all my presets are “fully baked”, with a couple of IRs, low and high pass filters (90Hz HPF, 7-8kHz LPF usually), a touch of EQ to soften the 4k range, and FX added after the cab, studio-style. I also have a pre-IR split driving a poweramp and a 2x12 cab onstage, so I can get more sustain and natural feedback.
Same signal feeds both FoH and IEMs, and my FoH engineer told me “I only need to bring up you faders, no EQ needed”. As should be the case as long as your presets are properly dialed in.
I’ve only used IEMs on a handful of occasions, but this is 100% what I would do. (I differ on cab vs. FX placement though.)
For the OP, a good in-ear monitor mix has mostly the same principles as a good FOH mix. Understand where your instrument fits in the mix with everything else, and EQ appropriately.
I’m heavy on modulation effects, so I like to add a small amount of compression at the very end of the chain to keep everything tidy volume-wise. The SSL comp in the QC, with a ratio of 2, is great for this. Got this tip from Ryan “Fluff” Bruce’s YouTube channel and it helps a bit.
Unclear from the original post if you’re downloading presets or making them from scratch. Just keep in mind, downloaded presets should only be viewed as a starting point for dialing in your sound, not the destination.
I don’t use IEMs but I always do a reference tweek of my live presets on studio monitors and ATH-M50x headphones so I assume they’d sound good through some reasonably flat in-ears. I, too, use high and low pass filters to trim mud and fizz and help my guitars sit well in a mix. How does the rest of the band sound through your in-ears? If your board has master EQ for each monitor mix, perhaps you can improve your experience by EQing your monitor send to compensate for the response of the SE215s
I’d recommend a better-quality in-ear set—at least three drivers. It really makes a difference. Even some of the cheaper ones on Amazon are surprisingly good for the price and better than the entry-level Shure models.
