I've also thought about in-ear monitoring. But unless you're playing really big stages you're putting up with some discomfort for nothing IMO.

What do you currently use for monitoring?

Unless you are doing stadium stuff In Ears will be totally stupid to get....
If you realy need in ears you also would be getting the AKG's not the cheaper (not so great other ones)

Bands think in ears will make their music sound better, meanwhile on 99% of the shows you do in SA you wil not need them, or benifit from them.

I know we are going to get in ears for our church... Reason being that the MD will have a mic and communicate with the band as we play.

Jacquesg4j wrote: I know we are going to get in ears for our church... Reason being that the MD will have a mic and communicate with the band as we play.

you can do that with normal monitors. Jutst make sure they're not louder than the FOH sound...

if you're keen, rather get something like this http://www.mymixaudio.com/

you can mix your own monitor sound and record it on a SD card.... now THAT is worth the investment.

In-ears do help the sound engineer keep a clearer mix - less bleed into stage mics and more volume before feedback. it also lets you play at lower volumes than wedges allow, potentially saving your hearing. The downside is that everything has to be miked up - including crowd noise if you want more audience ambience and less of an "isolated" feel. So cost (not only for the wireless, but also in mics, cables and a mixing desk capable of handling all the mics and enough monitor mixes) is usually the main limitation for a smaller band.

I feel that - like wireless mics - if you go IEM, you do it properly and don't scrimp. There are just too many things that can go wrong with a cheap system, from sound quality or wireless frequencies issues to backup if something goes wrong.

Donovan Banks wrote:

Jacquesg4j wrote: I know we are going to get in ears for our church... Reason being that the MD will have a mic and communicate with the band as we play.

you can do that with normal monitors. Jutst make sure they're not louder than the FOH sound...

if you're keen, rather get something like this http://www.mymixaudio.com/

you can mix your own monitor sound and record it on a SD card.... now THAT is worth the investment.

Yes you can, but then also you can't hear, we have done that. When you put the MD's mic louder you do get a flow over to in house. Way better to get the in ears, and our auditirium is quite big and we are getting a bigger one... current is 3000 seater and they are building a 6000 seater! So we will have all the meanest sound you can think off!

thanx for all the comments, my band http://www.facebook.com/mobileprotection#!/bicyclethiefsa just want consistant sound. Our drummer plays with a click and we looking to use backtracks. We havn't played big venues yet, but we would like to get used inn ears. Any other suggestions????

ANYTHING and I mean ANYTHING that "IMPROVES" Your experience on stage or in the studio should OF COURSE be considered! The benefits of in-ears FAR outweigh the pitfalls to a REAL musician, it has NOTHING TO DO with the size of the venue, or anything. It's ALL about making your soundman and the rest of the band happy. I'm in a 70's band that plays A LOT of 3,4 & 5 part vocal harmonies and the in-ears we use are invaluable in the smallest clubs to the outdoor stadiums we play. They ELIMINATE stage volume bleed thru and are a soundman's dream during sound-check. My bandmates love it because the soundman can "dial in" their very own personal mix!

There's a system called mymix, not sure of manufacturer, will find out later.
It helps you set up your own personal monitoring mix and you can even record that to SD card.

its expensive and not entirely necessary but worth a look surely?

Our church is using the MyMix system and it works really, really well.... But there are still wires from the mymix to the earphones. Are there any cheap ways to get a wireless signal from the mymix to the earphones (like a bodypack receiver?). The Shure and Sennheiser ones are soooo pricey...!

ZLV wrote: Our church is using the MyMix system and it works really, really well.... But there are still wires from the mymix to the earphones. Are there any cheap ways to get a wireless signal from the mymix to the earphones (like a bodypack receiver?). The Shure and Sennheiser ones are soooo pricey...!

Where are you guys based? I'd love to see it in action.

In Josie > Midrand

My (less than 5 cents worth) I think there is some value to be had at smaller venues too. For example, I sing harmonies. This throws our lead off, because he is hearing my monitor. If it's turned too low, I can't hear it once the audience settles in and joins in...

Our singer uses jts wireless system with shure in ears.

The wireless system set him back R2400 last year, and the shures were R300 on sale

Works good for him

in ear monitors are not stupid, who wants to lug wedges around, lighten the load and go with the the ear monitors