How To Set Up Simple IEMs | Xvive U4

Get better mixes, faster with my 3-step guide to perfect EQ:
www.offshoreaudio.no/eq
Simple In ear monitor setup
Get the U4:
e-line.fitzpatrick.se/SE/Star...
If you're mixing small bands with dodgy wedges, then monitors are hard. You need more vocal in the monitor, but it's feedback central, and your EQ already looks like a comb filter. You want to try IEMs, but you're unsure if they're for you and you're not willing to drop 1000 bucks on an entry-level pro system. But maybe a prosumer level system is for you. Xvive have been kind enough to send me their U4 wireless IEM system. I’ll show you how to set it up, give you an overview of the features, talk about the advantages and disadvantages when compared to pro systems, and share some best practices to get the most out of it.

[@obijuan8466]

I have been using the Xvive for over two years. It worked so well I talked my guitar and bass players into using them as well. No issues at all. No wedges, no guitar amps, no issues.

[@gregorykusiak5424]

You, sir, saved me the trouble of finding, downloading and reading the manual for these, so thank you. (I actually recommended them to several people over the past 2 weeks of shows - for me that’s 4 bands). When people do come in with them, I place them as close as possible to the people using them- generally a mic cable from the send on the snake/stagebox to their mic stand so when they’re playing, they’re within a metre or so of the Tx, and I can’t recall a channel problem so far, even in my busy wifi environment (at least 5 networks that I can think of in that band, including the one for console control so they can mix their own ears). Another thing to consider is that not everyone needs a wireless solution for IEMs- drummers, for instance (I carry a Behringer P1…the stereo one…and use a DC power supply rather than batteries). The biggest complaint I have about IEMs from newbies is that they miss the stage wash and crowd noise/reaction - solution is to put up stage ambience mics and/or crowd ambience mics. The biggest like I have for IEMs is giving control of mixes to the players so they don’t have to ask me to change their mix, and which gives me the leeway and time to focus on sounds and FoH mix and playing with effects.

[@gabopenav]

I use three of these for singers plus p16 with my Behringer xr18, great portable set up

[@craigloyd1546]

I like your review on this IEM. I have one person that purchased this item and so far doing very will. As always Andrew you help shin that light on things to watch out for. I have noticed that the receiver is left on the floor by his music stand. Thank you for your insights.

[@OffshoreAudio]

Hey Craig! glad to hear it's going well.

[@jimkegley]

Just last evening 4 of us had rehearsal. Three of us had these units and they were plugged into a DX-168 stage box 8 inches above the floor and the receivers were 3-4 inches away from each other. I will try elevating the receivers 6 feet in the air next rehearsal. My experience…don’t use more than one at a time. I’m selling mine and I’ll ask the other musicians what they want to do. Running 3 at a time in unreliable in my experience at a private studio rehearsal room…using an SQ5. Thanks for the review. For some time I’ve been thinking I need to pickup something else. Jim Las Vegas.

[@johnmcfarland1810]

Try using xlr cables out of the stage box to get the transmitter closer to the receiver for each. I’ve been able to use 6 of them together with no problems

[@jimkegley]

​@@johnmcfarland1810 Hey thanks! Good to know. Will try!

[@OffshoreAudio]

Hey Jim, shame they're not working out for you, but yeah, can't say I'm hugely surprised. If you have spare time I would take the shure wireless fundamentals online class, it's free. It really helped me understand how wireless audio works and why these entry level units are a little unreliable. For what it's worth I think the shure PSM300 would be my minimum spec for an IEM that I can rely on, though they are very pricey so that's not an option for everyone. Hope you find something that works!

[@jimkegley]

@@OffshoreAudio Thanks for the tip. Just signed up. Jim

[@SimonRose-sh8gb]

I too run 6 of these no issues with an sq6 I run them through xlr cables, I Velcro the transmitter to the base of the mic stand or music stand. I also try to turn off as many 2.4ghz networks and run 5ghz for all av networking.

[@TheDrfireball]

Hi - great video as always. I play in two bands and have used these without problems for two years or so. No more than three in the band (drummer and keys used wired IEM as they’re not moving. We use a UI24r and have had a good experience. As you said we use the mixer on stage and so transmitting distances are small. I’ve moved to a sennheiser G4 now and do prefer stereo but keep this as a backup. We use these weekly and it will be interesting to see how battery life degrades. I recommend keeping the receiver in a case as I’ve had the on switch move in transit and turned up with flat battery before. Fortunately I can charge it via the USB socket of the soundcraft mixer

[@OffshoreAudio]

Thanks! Nice to hear it's working out for you! Great tip about the case.

[@Axeltab]

Excellent review! I bought it a few months ago, and I must say that I'm very happy with it, for my needs. So far I haven't had any problems with dropouts or malfunctions, even in places where there were a lot of people. In short, for what it costs, it does an excellent job...and above all the sound quality is very good. I agree with you about the unbalanced adapter, I don't understand why they made this senseless choice! Who knows if an updated version will be released in the future, perhaps a stereo one. Cheers!

[@OffshoreAudio]

Great to hear it's working out for you!

[@robin_miller_music]

What's your thoughts about using one of these as an engineers monitor if you have a digital mixer and an iPad (or similar)? Probably routed through a standard xlr output, not the 'monitor' output of the mixer

[@OffshoreAudio]

I'm not sure I follow what you mean. If you mean so that you can solo channels and hear the artists IEM mix while you're stood in the crowd then I think that's a very cever idea!

[@robin_miller_music]

@OffshoreAudio yep, that's exactly it!

[@robin_miller_music]

@@OffshoreAudio I guess it would depend on the exact mixer whether the routing could be done for PFL through a standard output (as opposed to dedicated phones out)?

[@OffshoreAudio]

Yeah it'll vary from mixer to mixer, but you could always plug in into the headphone output and use the jack to xlr adapter that comes with it. It's a really good idea. I think it would be really worth trying. I'm on an ipad mixer in about a month so I'm definitely going to try that.

[@robin_miller_music]

@OffshoreAudio yep, if the plugs are in a sensible location 😆. Only drawback is that it would be mono, I assume? So not so good if people have stereo iem's