To monitor or not to monitor

Subject: To monitor or not to monitor
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 03 Jan 05 - 12:44 PM

Last week I saw Eddie Walker do a gig at The Fishponds in Matlock.   of course he had pulled a devoted crowd - as he well deserves. But it was a barroom gig with no cover charge, and there were three very noisy twats at the back of the room, giving the room their wit and erudition at full volume. Loud enough to distract me, I don't know how it felt for Eddy.

I noticed Eddy didn't have a monitor. Instead his speakers were slightly behind his mike, and presumably he was using a very good quality unidirectional mike - which wasn't picking up the speaker sound. The main speakers were in fact acting as his monitor.

And I thought to meself - that's pretty neat. Cuts out carrying a monitor around, you don't get the wrong idea of what the volume or the reverb is from the monitor - which I sometimes have.

Any ideas, comments, thoughts on the matter. Things I ought to know before having a shot at this same system.....

all the best, al

Subject: RE: To monitor or not to monitor
From: wysiwyg
Date: 03 Jan 05 - 12:51 PM

Only been on a monitor once. The rest of the time, we've been able to hear ourselves fine. But that one time-- outdoors-- we needed it because the speakers threww our sond so far over our heads, we were a little disoriented till we got the monitor going. Then, it was a big help. As our singer, I appreciated being able to hear what the crowd was hearing-- didn't have to over-push the voice just to hear myself. I think I was able to sing more expressively as a result.

Can't wait to hear others' experiences-- we're considering adding one for our away-gigs.

~Susan

Subject: RE: To monitor or not to monitor
From: mooman
Date: 03 Jan 05 - 12:54 PM

Tend to use the same as Eddie and our gigs are not mega ones. The times I've used monitors they've often been a disaster unless the soundperson has been good.

Peace

moo

Subject: RE: To monitor or not to monitor
From: GUEST,petr
Date: 03 Jan 05 - 12:58 PM

of the times Ive played with & without a monitor, I much prefer the monitor, I dont need to work half as hard. Usually without a monitor
I find I have to try make more volume which doesnt work anyway and it tiring, if youre playing a dance for 3 hours.
Petr

Subject: RE: To monitor or not to monitor
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 03 Jan 05 - 01:17 PM

i only play in a band context..
string instruments plugged into onstage preamp/processor,
then direct to PA anp/mixer.

so without monitors i can never hear what i'm playing..
all my effort is totally drowned out on stage by the drummer..
ideally i'd use a little combo amp onstage so i could hear what i'm doing..
but its enough aggro carrying my instruments and overnight supplys bag
to gigs on UK public transport ..

most times in small gigs, the minute performance space demands
that the PA speakers are either side of us at ear level..
so i tend to position my self as close to front of a speaker as posible
just to get an occasional sense of if i'm playing in tune or time or not..

not such a sensible health and safety practise
in terms of inevitable tinnitus and hearing loss..

Subject: RE: To monitor or not to monitor
From: DonMeixner
Date: 03 Jan 05 - 01:18 PM

I have tried all the possible options. I am also deaf in one ear. The best by far has been the in-ear monitors because I can control the volume of the sound I hear.

Sound Men at jobs have always said" I can give you enough feed so you will be able to hear this wedge on the floor." They can't and never have. When we do our own sound we have either the ear monitors or Hot Spot on stands in front of us with the Front End sound so we can hear what the audience hears.

I sme venues you'll find the speakers slightly back option will be a feed back machine. In others it will be perfect.

My advice, use real stage monitors.

Don

And search the data base we have done this thread before a few times I think.

Subject: RE: To monitor or not to monitor
From: PennyBlack
Date: 03 Jan 05 - 06:16 PM

Hi Al and Happy New Year!

If you're working solo it's not that bad working without fold back.

What about an AER acoustic amp fed with your mic and instrument (Variax?) then DIed into a power amp//mixer/powered speakers?

Or (what I fancy) - Bose Personalized Amplification System. (that reminds me must buy a lottery ticket!)

Have used in-ear monitors with Ceilidh/Rock bands with success.

Might send for a couple of these and give them a try on mic stands.

like said above, I don't like speakers behind mikes - you never know when they're going to feed back - and mikes that are too narrow in pick-up pattern can cause even more problems unless you stay very still.

good luck -


PB