In-Ear Monitors In a Dive Bar? My First Time Using IEMs!

Video Transcript

Note: a machine made this, so it’s not perfect, but if you’re hearing impaired and have any questions about what we said, please feel free to ask us in the comments or send us an email with the form below. 

[00:00:00] Emily: Welcome to get offset. My name is Emily and, um, I use my inner monitors at a dive bar last night, first time ever using any ears. And I decided to use them at an 85 cat venue. And I’m going to tell you all about how it went. The first one to tell you what I used. I used these a U E reference remastered.

[00:00:23] Let’s see, it’s going to focus on them. Maybe, maybe, maybe, maybe. Oh, probably not. If I hide them. Well, fair enough. Sorry about that. Uh, these are the reference remastered ultimate ears. I did buy these. I did get them at a discount. I’ve done marketing for them, a full disclosure there, but yeah, I did buy these and I just, so you know, everything and this video, nobody asked me to make this video.

[00:00:53] These are all things that I did buy for personal use. Um, so even though I did get these at a discount, it is because I wanted to use them and I was just asked real nice. Uh, I also got and bought with my own money at full price. The X-Files. Euphoria transmitter and receiver, which I bought because it looked like the absolute least expensive, a transmitter and receiver.

[00:01:25] So I was like, if I’m going to do this and it’s going to be an absolute bus, I’m going to spend as little money as possible failing. So that was my, uh, that was my. So, uh, the X Vive is, has six channels. So a, if you have a six people in your band, each person can have their own individual monitor mix. And, uh, so I just handed the transmitter to the sound person.

[00:01:53] His name was Nathan at the blue moon Tavern, Seattle Washington last night, uh, made sure that both channels were set to one and, uh, had the set to line and, uh, just turned them both on. Hi, I’m plugged my in your monitors into this, had these whoops, and these are just so you know, if you’re familiar at all, ultimately yours has two fits.

[00:02:16] They have their pro IAM fit, which has to be fitted by an audiologist. Um, I have the CSX fit, which is fitted, uh, via an at-home fit kit. So these only go to the first bend in the ear canal. These are problems. Probably more popular with like audio files, um, people who are mixing in studio. I didn’t really plan on using them live really.

[00:02:45] I planned on just using them in demos for mixing, recording, stuff like that. Uh, I didn’t get the deeper, uh, the pro ones. They go the second bend in the ear canal. These only go to the first. But I was talking to someone at UIE and he said like, unless you’re doing backflips on stage and he’s probably will stay fit.

[00:03:03] This probably will say, put just fine. And this is, I hadn’t had any problems with them. Like becoming dislodged really. Um, at home I’m like moving around and stuff. I was like, yeah, that, that probably will. So, um, I’ll get back to you. And the second half of the video. I’ll tell you what, uh, how it worked out for me.

[00:03:25] But, um, before I do that, I’m going to cut to some footage. I shot at the blue moon, um, before, before the show and during the sound check, and maybe even during the show. So, uh, check that out and then I will give you a full senior port, uh, How, how everything went. I mean, is it, are there stages too small to use IMS?

[00:03:58] Because personally I’ve always associated them with, with really big acts and just kind of wedge monitors with smaller venues. I’m sure that I’m not the only one who feels that way. So check out the rest of the video. I’ll see you in a Jiffy. So I’m here at the blue moon. Seattle Washington has an 85 capacity venue and hopefully the background doesn’t get this video, the monetized, but I have my oops, my Youi our ours here.

[00:04:32] I have my Y. You for receiver. This is kind of just my test unit and transmitter. And, uh, honestly, if I can use IMS here with my DEI base rig, I can use them anywhere. So we’ll see how this good goes tonight. Um, I have a backup just in case it doesn’t. I think it’ll be fine. Honestly. I don’t foresee any problems.

[00:05:01] So. Here’s hoping everything works out the way that I think it will, but I already have my channel aligned. They should already be connected both to one, got the volume, got them charged up. It should all be. Pretty simple. If this works really well, I think I’m just going to start using, I am live again, 85 have video.

[00:05:29] If they work here. I can’t imagine they wouldn’t work anywhere. That has like a normal mixing board with multiple channels. So I don’t know. I can’t really wink right now. We were sound checking right now.

[00:05:50] so cool.

[00:05:56] Droughts to take her off my mind. I am so thankful every day.

[00:07:54] Welcome back. Um, as you can see, I didn’t really sit still, but let’s talk about the experience. Um, so blue moon has been reopened for just a few weeks now, so it’s pretty, pretty new board. Um, next thing system, I think, is a digital mixing system for the sound person. So there’s a little bit of a trial and error.

[00:08:16] Just getting things set up for the most part. It was pretty easy. Once we got everything. Um, got my mics set up. It was mostly me. I wanted some keys. I want some main vocals. I want some rhythm guitar and a little bit of kick. So once I got all of that, it was pretty, pretty easy. And I’m going to, as you can see, from, from the, the, the video on, on the stage, you could hear it at all.

[00:08:41] I was. Giddy during soundcheck. I, and the big thing was, and I like, the more I thought about it is I felt like my ears didn’t have to work as hard. And I feel that way when I’m like listening to music with the, the, uh, referencing remastered, because they are pretty, you know, they have a lot of drivers. I think it’s like a three-way three-way crossover.

[00:09:07] Perhaps my ears didn’t have to work as hard because I was getting exactly what I wanted. Right here. I wasn’t having to pick them out of these shared wedges. Uh, even when I play some slightly bigger than using, get my own wedge with Neumos. Um, if I were to move around, I would lose my necks, which would stink.

[00:09:28] But, uh, when you’re playing a smaller venue, you have to share one or two wedges with everybody else. So you’re really just getting one mix and that. That’s it, them’s the breaks kid. And so your ears have to work harder to pick out just you and whatever else you want to hear. So I felt like it was almost effortless to hear those things I needed to hear, especially myself and I was playing direct.

[00:09:58] So I was like, I had my poly tune into my ground control. Serpens a compressor. Um, and boost into my, uh, Mazet lower drive into my calves, just mano. And that was it. And everyone else had me and know the wedges enough of me, how should we, that they really need. And, and, um, I had as much of me as I wanted and I could turn myself up feeling.

[00:10:32] Volume control or down, depending on how I felt. And it was like, I didn’t have to bother anybody else with my mix. So it was really cool. I get felt so effortless. And I just, I know I keep saying it, but sure. So that was the biggest, that was the biggest thing. And I felt so present. Because I wasn’t having to work extra hard to hear things, to fight through the mics.

[00:10:59] I wasn’t having to like turn myself up at all in the amp, which I’m sure the sound person appreciated. He could just do his job and worry about like where like the overall mix through the PA. Um, so I felt, I felt really good. It was one less thing for me to worry about and that I, I was shocked that it works.

[00:11:22] Honestly, like I had this little $200, this little $200 system and it just worked there. So it felt so stupid. I know, I shouldn’t be saying that. Sorry, little X XY, but it’s just, it’s so stupid that it just worked in an 85 capacity venue. I felt so bougie with my ear monitors and my little X five system.

[00:11:49] At the blue moon have heard in Seattle, but you know what it works for me. And I was, I knew I was protecting my hearing cause I’m right next to this loud drummer, I’m getting my 26 decibels volume reduction next to him and only getting the sounds that I need in my ears. Take care of your hearing friends, especially the younger ones, like get the custom invest in your hearing and the customer.

[00:12:15] Earplugs now, before it’s too late, it’s never too late to like help your hearing a little bit, but certainly gonna get harder. So like seriously, what custom earplugs are like 200 bucks. Just do it now. Just do it now. Do it now. Um, just do it now. That’s my recommendation. Um, so I felt like. I felt great. I really felt great about it.

[00:12:43] Uh, so I know the X five, it says again, not sponsored. I really wish that it was, but it’s not, uh, OSHA was, was not, um, it’s, the batteries must last 22 hours. So I charged it before I left. Um, I, I turned it on, uh, as I handed it to the guy Nathan and I just left it on, uh, after soundtrack. And, um, last throughout the show.

[00:13:12] And I would probably do that before, before every show, just leave it on those are it off. Uh, so like I would personally prefer, you know, something that also has like a battery backup. I prefer the redundancy of a battery. At least I know they’re not as environmentally friendly, but you know, the thing is if, if your battery dies, you just, you don’t want your battery to die.

[00:13:35] So like, if nothing else. Have backups of these would be really handy, dandy, but you know, it just it’s so cool how it just worked and it made me feel really good. I felt it made me feel really confident. I could hear myself so much better than I’ve ever heard myself in practice. Even at home. I felt like I could hear myself better than I, when I practice at home.

[00:14:02] Um, I could hear every note. I could hear every slide. Of mine and God, it was just such a positive experience. I was never, never had any doubt about what I was playing and what I was hearing. And I felt so in tune with the music. And I know I sound like a stupid commercial and I’m sorry, but.

[00:14:37] So those you feel really good on stage and last night it was one of those times and sometimes you feel really bad onstage. And last night was not one of those times. And part of the reason I felt so good is really because I could truly hear myself on onstage playing bass. And last time I played bass on stage, I could kind of hear myself.

[00:15:02] But sometimes you play bass on stage. You’re just, uh, you’re kind of a rumble, but last night I was clear. I was defined and I was, I was never in doubt of what I was doing. I, and I like, I, I really don’t feel like I messed up last night. I’ve never felt like I messed up less than a show. And I really, I don’t think it’s just the interiors.

[00:15:26] I think. The practice. And I know I hit bump. I know, I know I didn’t hit every single note. Like, listen, we played, what’s so funny about peace, love and understanding. And I am not Bruce Thomas. Like I know I miss some of those notes, but I felt great about my performance and, um, I think it’s cause I could hear it so well.

[00:15:47] So that’s all I got to say about it. I’m sorry. It was such a commercial. I’m sorry. I felt like such a commercial. Um, but that’s, that’s just the truth about how I felt about it. And, uh, I just really wanted to give you an honest, an honest vibe about what, how I felt like, yes, you are going to have to work with a sound person on it.

[00:16:06] You’re going to communicate things. The sound person might think you’re being a bit of a pain in the ass. They’re not used to it. And you probably got to expect some places are going to say there’s some sound, people are going to say. Probably if they’re not like absolute professionals and kind people, like I fully expect that some people are going to be like, no, not not doing that.

[00:16:29] I sure. I expect that. Um, I’m really glad that last night sound person was willing to work with us. And hat was an absolute abject professional, big shout out to Nathan for willing being willing to work with me. Uh, I felt great about it. Well, anyway, I’m going to stop blabbing. I had a great experience using any ears at a venue in 85 cap than you.

[00:16:54] So talk to the venue beforehand, make sure they feel like they can do it. Um, never just show up with something like this. Ask first, make sure that they know you have your own transmitter and receiver. Um, Yeah. And probably also do have your own transmitter and receiver. Um, what else do I have? Yeah, just, you know, do what works for you, but if you’re curious about them and you just don’t think you play big enough venues, I’m here to say I did it successfully in an 85 cap dive bar video.

[00:17:33] So, um, try it, try it. And the it’s an investment for sure. It’s also an investment in your hearing. And, um, I just had a great experience. So I hope your experience is just as positive as mine, and I hope I have more positive experiences in the future with it. So, uh, thanks for watching. Thanks for standing, please.

[00:17:56] Like comment, subscribe below. Um, check us out at patrion.com/get offset. Get offset podcast.com/shop until next time. My name is Emily goodbye.