How To Setup In Ear Monitors (IEMs)

In this video we show you how to setup an in ear monitoring system and give you some recommendations on equipment that will work well for you.
EQUIPMENT FEATURED IN THIS VIDEO:
Shure PSM 300 Wireless Monitoring System: currentprice.io/shure_psm300
Wired In-Ear Monitor Amp: geni.us/xK8Dh
Shure SE425-CL Sound Isolating Earphones: geni.us/LK3ns
Allen & Heath QU-16: currentprice.io/qu16
Allen & Heath QU-PAC (Rackmount Console): geni.us/K2oWfP0
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CHAPTERS:
0:00 Introduction
0:22 Benefits of In Ear Monitors
1:25 Use A Digital Audio Console!
2:25 Wireless vs Wired In Ear Monitors
3:12 Types of Headphones/Earphones
4:00 Setup A Limiter
4:44 How To Setup In Ear Monitors
7:05 Audience & Ambient Mics
7:35 Final Thoughts
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[@jasonsingh3183]

Probably the first video I've ever seen with all this technical jargon that I watched from start to finish. Great video!

[@geordiepom]

Thanks for the great info. Can you reccomend a mic to get a stage wash sound, so I can hear the other members of the band in my iem?

[@theandiller]

This is the best explanation ever. Thank you so much!

[@kettnercreative]

Glad it was helpful!

[@InvisionLabsAdam_Kobyshev]

He didn’t even explain how to hook it up😅

[@jillcatherinenewmandigital4105]

For the audience mics, you’d require another couple dedicated outputs from the board. Do most psm systems have 4+ inputs? Which systems have basic submixers so the vocalist can design her own mix?

[@sagarbantawarai672]

Thanks for your video 👍wanna learn more in ear monitoring method🙏

[@kettnercreative]

Thanks.

[@goodsamaritanworshipcenter9355]

Can you show us step by step how set up ear monitor pls

[@chatelinolivier2187]

Hi Jordan, congratulations for all these very informative videos. I have a request for a video about the Allen & Heath QU16. Great thanks

[@kettnercreative]

I've been really tempted lately, but right now we're focused on the smaller format interfaces for people who are stuck at home. I'm sure once real events start happening again that I'll pull out the QU and start doing some tutorials for it.

[@FysicsTheBand]

@@kettnercreative I used a QU16 at a show a few months back, thinking about getting one for my own band. Anything in its price category you'd recommend over it, before I make the jump? either way, great video, thank you!

[@kettnercreative]

@@FysicsTheBand take a look at the Yamaha TF1. I used both extensively. They’re very different, but you may like it as well. I’d still choose the QU16 though.

[@FysicsTheBand]

@@kettnercreative word, thanks!

[@thammons5]

I have 2 JBL PRX One speakers that we use for live shows and was wondering how to add in ear monitors to them since the have a built in 7channel mixer

[@kaitlynchen7133]

Is there a mixer that you recommend that has at least 3 outputs? Preferably on the cheaper side.

[@drewmajor9378]

Would you be able to do a video on Limiters in these digital consoles and how to use them for an IEM setup? I'm having a hard time finding information on how to set this up so that my band is safe when using our IEM system. Really afraid of a loud sound or spike causing hearing loss. Any resources you could point me to would also be helpful! thanks!!

[@escobarda]

Hi Jordan. Thanks a lot for all your great videos. They have been really useful for me. I am in the live coaching and conferencing business and I reviewed all your Yamaha MG10XU videos. I was stuck with de MG06X without any USB interface (the solutions put a lot of digital noise into the mac and pc computers). So I upgraded to 10XU. There's a point I still have to cover. I am very happy with the results of the USB interface, but for my conferences and coaching online meetings, it is not the best and elegant solution to monitor myself and the conference with big stereo headphones (I've got the AKG K72) when I am live in the camera. I would love an in-ear monitoring plugged into my 10XU (phones jack). ¿What is your recommendation for that solution? Besides, ¿Is there a wireless option? Thanks for your videos and your help. You really are adding me value to my business.

[@andrewrwhitfield]

Hi there. Newbie here. For IEM mixes, why would you use a physical mixer over a sound card, software mixer? For instance, I have an RME interface with ADAT rack unit. I figure I could create various sub mixes and send directly out of the interface to the iem transmitters. Am I way off base with this idea? Thank you 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@mitchelldaloisio3080]

Thank you for the video! Im finding jt tough to find specific explanations for IEM set ups. Are there any videos out there about how each IEM is tied to an individual mix? I dont understand how the mixer monitor channel goes out to the transmitter and then each IEM can get its specific mix. I havent found anything online explaining this. Thanks again!

[@onlyleejongsuk]

For a starting band singing group.. What are all required for singing and also for love performance.. Can u please tell me??? 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@johnboyc5]

What is the cheapest mixer I could get with just a minimum of 2 inputs that I could do this with? I just want to use in ears for my vocals at band practice

[@Zibo100]

First of all congratulations for your video it was really helpful for me.I was wondering if you could tell me in one psm300 system how many receivers i can attach?

[@0419210317]

You can run 2 mono sends with 1 psm300 transmitter or 1 stereo. Hope that helps

[@Zibo100]

@@0419210317 thank you very much you really helped me

[@rronster]

How does a keyboard player with expression pedals keep from varying the volume in the other musicians ears

[@dizzyboxnine2656]

Hi, do the in-ear-monitors serve a dual-purpose role? For instance, if I don't use them as monitors, will can they also be used as just earplugs? Also, does the venue usually provide the sure PSM system and body packs? Or does the artist have to bring these to the show? Thanks for a great video and any help you can provide.

[@lennyjayofficial]

I've been doing shows for 20 years and the venues never provides an in ear system, specially a shure psm, I would say that it's better to have yours.

[@philpants44]

well i was done as soon as he said to use a digital mixer lol

[@kettnercreative]

Unfortunately, it's by far the best option.

[@TonyMacaroni69_]

@@kettnercreative yeah but people like me are on a tight budget haha

[@umeshboer3384]

Me too 🫂

[@Wholen1one]

I agree 💯 no digital analog all the way but but I've tried the x32 and that's one digital board that is very close to an analog board

[@tru3nz]

😂😂 You and me both lol, but you can still use In-ears on a analog mixer. The only downside, there isn't any personal mix. So whatever is set on the mixer, that's what is heard in your in-ears. You can use fx/aux knob on each strip to control the volume of your instrument in your in-ears so that's alright

[@tonyvalenti6614]

Great video! I bought an Avid MBOX Studio Interface and an Xvive U4T9 Wireless IEM system. Can this be done? I have a male S/PDIF to male XLR cable. Can I output from my audio interface through the male S/PDIF side of the cable to the female XLR side of the cable connected to a male XLR Xvive Transmitter and have music output through the S/PDIF transmitter wirelessly to my IEM’s? I have two monitor outputs I want to use for monitor speakers and reference monitors. I also have two 1/4” headphone jacks I want to use for mixing headphones and a wired headset for a second drummer, hence my desire to use S/PDIF. BTW, this is all for home use drum practice and recording. No gigging. THANKS!! 👍🏻

[@david_stefan768]

Hi, I have a question.. Can I connect the output mixer to the Iem system using a Xlr cable?? or cause it's a line signal I must use a jack?

[@onzkicg]

Hi!, I’m a sound guy newbie and checking as alternative to using wired headphones when mixing/listening- have you tried using a bluetooth transmitter device plugged in at console HP output, and simple using a good IEM earphones with bluetooth enabled? Thanks!

[@phil76414]

Too much latency with Bluetooth.

[@aaronjames9660]

Hello, great video thanks for it. You mention this would be best with a digital mixer...however at my church we only have an analog mixer (albeit fairly new but still only analog). How can I set up an IEM system using this? I think it only has 16 mic outputs and 2 aux outputs which we use for 2 floor wedges...thanks!

[@AshbelReinhard]

do we really need headphone amp? can we directly connect our earphones to mixer aux outs i.e. have a xlr female -> 3.5mm female, xlr female to mixer and 3.5mm female to earphones...

[@freddienacion3100]

Hi can you pls tell us what we need to set up an in ear monitor for our church like the equipments we need pls, thank you and God bless.

[@henrydaniel]

Mister, you should connect the ear monitors, so your audience can see how looks like. Thanks

[@trevorbuchanan1054]

Hi can I use in ear monitors if I’m using MP3 tracks, and I also play live bass

[@austinstarr6811]

So I'm a drummer for my band and now do I have to have drums mics on my drums plugged in to the sound board and then I can set up in ear monitors so I can here my drums too?

[@violin_vampire]

hi there.. is there a way you can send me a photos of the types cable you used for connection and how those were connected? I am going to buy some soon and i just dont want some mistakes when i go shopping thank you

[@kettnercreative]

All the cables we use are linked in the description below.

[@davidstewart4149]

How do you select in-ear monitors to match the output of your system? I'm running a Zoom L-20R, and trying to figure out the best in-ears to use. The output impedance of the Ll-20R is 100 ohms. Not sure what in-ears to use with that--I looked at the Sennheiser IE-400 Pro, impedance of 16 ohms. Not sure that makes sense--I thought the IEMs or headphone impedance should be larger than the mixer output?

[@kettnercreative]

I’ve never considered impedance when selecting headphone using an IEM system. I’ve never heard of any struggling to get good output from a commercially available wired or wireless IEM system.

[@salesforceway]

Question: are those bose noise cancelling headphones good for ear monitoring purpose? Such as Bose Quiet Comfort 35ii which costs over 300$.

[@kettnercreative]

Not sure, I’ve personally never tried noise cancelling headphones on stage. All I can say is that it’s extremely uncommon.

[@glyngreenwood8377]

Hiya great information. I run yamaha mg10xu with karaoke, use sennheier radio Mike's, even tho sound is excellent I feel the music and the Mike's are too separate if that makes any sense, best settings to 'blend' better, any advice?

[@kettnercreative]

One of the best ways to "blend" or "glue" the tracks together is to compress the feed to the monitors. With a digital audio mixer, you should be able to add compression to the monitor channel, otherwise you may need an external/hardware compressor.

[@glyngreenwood8377]

@@kettnercreative thanks bud will experiment

[@yeps2468]

We have a few spare/ old devices that were used for wireless microphones. Can those be used/ reversed to be used for in-ear monitors too?

[@jonathanlee7253]

Yo what’s that awesome mixer

[@DingleDut]

So if I use a digital mixer using a Y splitter to split the signal, that means FH gets one mix (however they think sounds good) while us (the band) gets another mix using our own console? That would mean 2 different mixes?

[@lockalmomentorock]

Difference between Anleon 2 and shure psm300?

[@noelfernandes6386]

hi we are a 5 pc band and we have just picked up 4 nos of Sennheiser IEMs and i have a Shure PSM how can we hook all 5 units to a board considering that boards have a single monitor out or group out. do we need to get an xlr splitter like 5 in 1 or 2 out will be still be able to have individual balance mixes in each or our iem's

[@kettnercreative]

If you need individual mixers, you will most likely need a digital mixer with 5+ outputs.

[@WendellLive]

This really is more about why you need a digital mixer than how to hook up a PSM...little detail is provided.

[@kettnercreative]

What else do you need to know?

[@WendellLive]

@@kettnercreative thanks for the reply. I just got my PSM and it was much easier to set up than I expected. I'm not real familiar with mixers, but I figured it out. I'm all up and running now. Thanks again.

[@dhoffinatious]

Would my other band members need their own Sure psm systems

[@mcswipe16]

im a little confused. Is that Digital mixer mixing for the mains as well as the IEM?

[@kettnercreative]

That's how I typically run it. But you can easily split it and use it as a monitor only mixer as well.

[@mcswipe16]

@@kettnercreative thanks!!!

[@lanphanh]

If we setup monitor system for 4 artists. Do we need 4 (or 8 for stereo) output for each artist, or do we just need only 1 output, so all of them will listen to the same level?

[@kettnercreative]

It depends if they all want/need different mixes.

[@ferox965]

What about analogue mixers?

[@tru3nz]

Yeap it's possible, but the downside is, no individual mix. Whatever your FOH is hearing, your In-ears is hearing as well. If you're planning on getting yourself a digital mixer, soundcraft is the best budget digital mixer to buy

[@LolaBethmusic]

Why would you need a limiter? That would cut off a lot of the highs that are important in a mix.

[@prithviraj628]

Explain little deeper wat all & how many instruments can send in ear monitor

[@henrydaniel]

But I believed you would install it. Oh God

[@richieotu7859]

this is a video on how to plug it in not how to set it up

[@LynzuAnderson]

I have a question... why did i waste almost 7 minutes to not learn how to setup an in ear monitor system? Plug it in, that's all we got. No information on loading tracks, isolating them, etc, nope just plug it in and let FoH do everything. Rename or delete this video.

[@TheSenoarend]

This is NOT a setup demo..only talking.

[@kettnercreative]

What else do you wish it showed?

[@andrestrujillo4080]

Thank you Tobey McGuire

[@kunwerpratapsinger5746]

Fucking explanation......

[@batman6540]

Hes paid by some brands to bash other brands, not a good idea imo

[@kettnercreative]

Lol, I wish

[@HaharuRecords]

Hopefully the good brands choose him.😅

[@zhaoxie8928]

The reason why i really hate watching american turotials because of too much talk.. why dont go direct to the point base on ur title of ur video.. like in 4:55... Too much talk blah blah blah,, boring