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The use of monitors has been an issue for a long time in our P&W band. Even though I've placed the monitors right under the keyboard player and drummer, they're constantly wanting the volume pretty loud. This makes the onstage volume in general too loud. Trying to ween them off the high volume has been challenging. Anyway, we were chatting about this today and they are keen to use headphones, which surprised me, I thought they'd hate something like that, but since that's what they want, I'd like to run with it pronto.

So, what exactly do I need to do to make this happen? We have 4 monitors, 2 powered and 2... er... unpowered? ??? Passive? Anyway, we've been having issues with the amp that drives the passive monitors. Would it be possible to send a signal from the desk directly to headphones without the amp? Through whatever gadget/box that's needed for the headphones? I'm exposing my complete ignorance here.
A concern I have here is that my drummer plays an acoustic set. All my efforts to get an electronic set has been unsuccessful. I'm worried that wearing headphones may cause her to play even louder then she does now.
I was thinking of placing a condenser mic between the set. If she begins playing too loudly the desk guy can (if necessary) increase her drums to her headphones which should get her to back off ?
So, any advice would be great ?
    Sean wrote: We have 4 monitors, 2 powered and 2... er... unpowered? ??? Passive?
    Yup. Passive.
    Would it be possible to send a signal from the desk directly to headphones without the amp? Through whatever gadget/box that's needed for the headphones?
    Yes, exactly that. As many headphone amps as you want separate monitor mixes (most headphone amps have at least two headphone outs, with individual volumes). How many pre-fade aux sends does your desk have? That's the limit to separate mixes (although if you have spare buses on your desk, they can be used in a pinch too), as can any spare fx sends (although they are post fade). Headphone amps are relatively inexpensive too (at least compared to powered Monitors and/or power amps).

    Take a look at the Samson S-Monitor (2 phones) and the rackmount S-Phone (4 phones), which are about R1K and R2k respectively and are decent enough.
    I was thinking of placing a condenser mic between the set. If she begins playing too loudly the desk guy can (if necessary) increase her drums to her headphones which should get her to back off ?
    Exactly! One of the secrets of the trade that. ? She'll need her own dedicated aux channel, especially if you don't want any of the drum mic in the mix. An overhead usually works well (right over her head) as it tends to pick up more of the cymbals, which is exactly what closed-back cans tend to block best. Then again, open-back cans tend to be more natural on a budget and don't isolate the players as badly.
      Desk has 6 aux sends, 4 of which are pre fade. The drummer and keyboard player have their own monitors, so that should work just fine, thanks Alan.

      One more question, since the send signals will be going back directly from the desk, could I use two of the channels of the snake that are not being used currently as "sends"? The leads we're currently using for the 2 passive monitors are just awful and I'd like to get rid of them.
        Sean wrote: One more question, since the send signals will be going back directly from the desk, could I use two of the channels of the snake that are not being used currently as "sends"?
        You can, but remember the plug gender is wrong - you'll have to make adaptors.
          Alan Ratcliffe wrote:
          Sean wrote: One more question, since the send signals will be going back directly from the desk, could I use two of the channels of the snake that are not being used currently as "sends"?
          You can, but remember the plug gender is wrong - you'll have to make adaptors.
          There are no plugs on the unused leads. We got the snake 2nd hand completely stripped. So I can just put on the correct gender.

          Thanks Alan
            Alan Ratcliffe wrote: Take a look at the Samson S-Monitor (2 phones) and the rackmount S-Phone (4 phones), which are about R1K and R2k respectively and are decent enough.
            I'm struggling to find the s-monitor in stock anywhere, but Music connection has the S-Amp in stock which I'm told will do the same thing.
              Sean wrote: I'm struggling to find the s-monitor in stock anywhere, but Music connection has the S-Amp in stock which I'm told will do the same thing.
              Yeah, it will.
                Alan Ratcliffe wrote:
                Sean wrote: I'm struggling to find the s-monitor in stock anywhere, but Music connection has the S-Amp in stock which I'm told will do the same thing.
                Yeah, it will.
                It doesn't have the xlr options, and 3 unnecessary headphone outlets, but I don't really want to wait until they have the S-monitor in stock.

                Thanks again Alan
                  We run 1 S-Amp and 1 S-Monitor. The quality on the S-Monitor is way better than the S-AMP. But the S-Amp should be enough to get you going.
                    FRIX wrote: We run 1 S-Amp and 1 S-Monitor. The quality on the S-Monitor is way better than the S-AMP. But the S-Amp should be enough to get you going.
                    Well, it is for the drummer and the keyboard player... ? ?
                      Sean wrote:
                      FRIX wrote: We run 1 S-Amp and 1 S-Monitor. The quality on the S-Monitor is way better than the S-AMP. But the S-Amp should be enough to get you going.
                      Well, it is for the drummer and the keyboard player... ? ?
                      LOL. Agreed. ?
                        Okay. So I got the units. I'm busy with the wiring. I do one aux channel and a lead to the amp to check my connections between jack plugs and xlr connectors etc. I try it out using a keyboard. Only the left side of the headphone working. So I go over my wiring, making sure the 1, 2, 3 on the xlr connectors are correct, and that they're going to the ring, sleeve and tip of the stereo plugs correctly. Seems all is correct. So it dawns on me that the instrument cables all use mono plugs. I'm guessing they have to be changed to stereo? Or just the mono plugs used by the keyboards? Ay, I've not paid enough attention to this in the past. It didn't occur to me to test it with a mic, I was just too tired and wanted to come home.
                          Aux sends are typically mono on live desks and most headphone amps have stereo inputs. Simply take your hot and wire it to both tip and ring of the jack plug. Leave cold disconnected.
                            Alan Ratcliffe wrote: Aux sends are typically mono on live desks and most headphone amps have stereo inputs. Simply take your hot and wire it to both tip and ring of the jack plug. Leave cold disconnected.
                            Ah, will do that, thanks
                              Ha! Success. Will finish up the wiring and do the second one later. But it works just great. The guys should be happy.
                                Playing with in ears is absolute awesome once you get used to it. If at first they moan, just keep pushing them until they get used to it. It does wonders for reducing the on stage volume.
                                  Glad you've come right.

                                  BTW - you can still run balanced through the snake if you prefer (or if you pick up any interference on the aux sends). Just use a passive DI box "backwards" on the stage side to convert from balanced to unbalanced. Then it will only be unbalanced from DI to headphone amp.
                                    Alan Ratcliffe wrote: Glad you've come right.

                                    BTW - you can still run balanced through the snake if you prefer (or if you pick up any interference on the aux sends). Just use a passive DI box "backwards" on the stage side to convert from balanced to unbalanced. Then it will only be unbalanced from DI to headphone amp.
                                    Ah great, will keep it in mind
                                      Across our three campusses we run monitoring differently at each one... lol...
                                      Two of them have digital desks with layering or inear mix busses, meaning we send what we want to each inear channel... niiiiice...
                                      At the third we use this:



                                      We split the signal, sending one signal to the unit and another to the snake (as normal)... then we mix our own monitor mix on stage...
                                      you get extension boxes that plug into the unit with all the controls on also as well as headphone extensions. Not TOO expensive to get set up,
                                      but probably R10k? not sure... lol... maybe later you can look at something like this...
                                        I set up all the inputs to the PA and invite various members of the band to offer suggestions and finally after all is said and done done I bring up the volume to the monitors.
                                        As soon as everyone hears the monitors everything is suddenly too loud...too bright...to much bass... too much effects...blah blah blah
                                        whereas actually the monitor is flat with no added bass, treble nor effects... ???
                                        just ignore them and carry on as before ?