In-ear monitors are popular audio gadgets that many musicians use to give an incredible live performance. The in-ear monitor consists of a transmitter, receiver, and earpiece. The transmitter outputs either one stereo mix or two mono mixes. The receiver is connected to the artist so they can properly hear whatever is transmitted in the mixer. They can listen to this through the earpiece. The earpiece must have a comfortable and ergonomic design because the artist will wear these in-ear monitors for a prolonged period.
There are many benefits of using in-ear monitors as compared to using other traditional gadgets like floor monitors. If you are a musician, this article will outline all the reasons why you must invest in an in-ear monitor today. But before going to the pros and cons of an in-ear monitor, let us go back in time and learn more about the history of in-ear monitors.
Jerry Harvey is an American Sound Engineer who is credited with being the inventor of in-ear monitors. He invented the in-ear monitor with Carl Wright. So how did they come up with the design? During a rehearsal of the popular band, Van Halen, Alex Van Halen complained to Jerry that the noise stage during their Balance tour was too much. The noise was so loud that they could not hear each other, negatively impacting their performance.
Being a sound engineer, Jerry started to think of ways to lessen the noise level on stage. First, he used tiny electrical components from Japan and the speaker in a pacemaker to create the In-ear monitors. Next, he connected the small receiver in Alex’s belt, where the receiver picked up the wireless signal from the sound engineer’s mixer. How the in-ear monitors operate separates the high and low frequencies of the bass and treble. As a result, these in-ear monitors blocked out ambient noise and effectively isolated noise so the Van Halen band could successfully give an excellent live performance.
From then on, Jerry Harvey’s in-ear monitor invention was a game-changer in the music industry. More and more artists and bands used the in-ear monitor during practices, audio recording sessions, and even live performances.
Pros of Using In-Ear Monitors
Now that you know all about what in-ear monitors are, including an overview of their history, you might be excited to learn more about their benefits or disadvantages. Here is a list you can check for the pros and cons of using in-ear monitors.
Freedom of Movement
One of the benefits of using in-ear monitors is that you have greater movement on stage. Remember, these handy gadgets are wireless, so you can move from one end of the stage to another without being limited by those pesky cables.
Conventional floor monitors are okay, but it also requires the artist to stay within a predetermined range on stage. This is constricting, especially if you want to give a good performance and connect with your fans or the audience by going nearer to them. Therefore, you should be equipped with in-ear monitors so you can freely move on the stage and give a fantastic musical performance.
Less noise on stage
By investing in in-ear monitors, you are doing you and everyone else a favor by having a less noisy stage. There will be lesser interference on stage where the musicians can hear more clearly to give a superb performance that their fans deserve.
The Mixes will not interfere with each other.
You can appreciate this benefit more during rehearsal time, where every band member is practicing their own thing. If your lead guitarist wants to blast their volume at its maximum, they can go ahead without disturbing you or any of your bandmates.
No monitors bleed on the microphone.
When you use floor monitors, there is a lot of monitor bleeding that can negatively affect the overall sound of your band or even your voice. By using in-ear monitors, you can expect that there is no monitoring bleeding on the microphone. This allows you to have a better and fuller sound that both you and your audience can appreciate.
No feedback
Another reason why you should invest in in-ear monitors is that they offer no feedback. Other audio gadgets will provide annoying feedback, especially if you turn them at their maximum volume. The sound engineer may already push the volume as high as 32 dB, and the musical solo artist (or the band) can still not hear what they are supposed to hear. This will save your show as feedback amid an energetic performance.
Hearing Conservation
For manufacturing factories with noise manufacturing operating floors, a course they need to take is hearing conservation. In the same way, they also need to have proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as earmuffs to reduce noise that can negatively affect their hearing.
In the same way, even though in-ear monitors are not earmuffs or earplugs per se, they are designed to protect the artists’ ears and to hear from the excessive loud noise. One of the features of in-ear monitors is that they have a noise reduction and sound isolation feature. This means that the artist will only hear what they want (usually their voice, the music, the band, or additional instructions from the director) clearly without listening to the racket onstage, such as how loud the audience is or other musical instruments not related to the music.
Only one frame of Reference
Your in-ear monitors are plugged in your ear canal. This means that you can hear regardless of where you are on stage since you only have one frame of reference. With this, you are also helping the sound engineers because they will no longer focus their efforts on transmitting sound. Instead, they can focus their efforts on the mix.
Cons of Using In-Ear Monitors
With the many benefits of using in-ear monitors, there are also some advantages to using them. However, do note that the pros outweigh the disadvantages. You can refer to the list below to know more about the disadvantages of using in-ear monitors, but many of them can be resolved quite easily.
Operation Cost
One of the major disadvantages of using in-ear monitors is that it is more expensive than traditional gadgets like floor monitors. You would expect that the in-ear monitor system entails purchasing fresh batteries (that you need to refill). The operations cost is manageable if you have a smaller band or a shorter show. But imagine if you have fifteen musicians on stage that are expected to put up a show for about four hours (including sound checks). This will lead to a hefty price tag in terms of operations cost.
Losing the Signal
Another downside of using in-ear monitors is that you may lose your signal while you are on stage. Remember, those in-ear monitors are wireless and commonly use the Bluetooth procedure. There are many interferences with the signal, such as mobile phones of the crowds, security, and TV and radio broadcasting, among others. Do not forget to check the frequencies and tweak your system accordingly to minimize this risk.
Feeling like inside a Box
Having your ears plugged while you are in a room with hundreds of people can be a peculiar feeling. You will be isolated, alone, and cannot connect with the energy of the crowd. You can minimize this by adding ambient microphones so you can have a genuine connection with your bandmates and your audience.
Conclusion
Investing in in-ear monitors is excellent, mainly if your job line includes live musical performances, audio recording, church choir, or big speeches. Yes, they can be expensive, but you get value for your money with the benefits it offers. There will be less hassle on stage, less noise, and clear communication when needed. With all the benefits in-ear monitors provide, you get to give the best performance that your audience deserves.
