My In-Ear Monitoring and Playback Rack for 2024

[@JeremyLeech]

I did the same thing with my Behringer mixer, flipped it around so the cables don't hang out, and like you stated better routing. Love these types of videos! Scott Uhl did a video on combining 2 units for one antenna. But I remember him saying you have to get a different cable for the units you have. I have 2 sennheiser IEM's and 2 sennheiser wireless mic/guitar so I combined them each. so I only have 3 total antennas instead of 6. Also same thing we did with my drummer, he's on wireless instead of always having to setup a wired feed. Makes things easier. And I also added a 3u rack drawer for wireless packs, and we use an APACHE 5800 for our cables.

[@BrandonWells]

Ah nice dude! I wonder how that works for different brands using different frequency ranges. I picked different bands for each device to hopefully have stronger signals for each device lol

[@calummartin6989]

Great video. One suggestion - The wireless kit. If you change the cheaper units for the same IEM system that you are using, you could use the Shure antenna combiner. Have you thought about running wired IEM unit to the drums? In terms of mixer, you could upgrade to the XR18 as you mentioned. If you still need more i/o you may need to look at the larger X32 rack, where you could add a stagebox if you need more than 16 inputs. Allen&heath have some great options. The QU-Pac, or QU-SB, older units, but they give you more i/o options. Hope this helps

[@BrandonWells]

we used to have the drums wired with its own personal mixer, it was just annoying to have to pack more XLR cables and a mixer and for that when it was just easier to get another IEM set for it. I mean, literally all that gear is on my wish list already....it's just all expensive af and I can't justify the cost yet lol. I've already sunk a lot into this right now, and it's operating fine with what I have. especially difficult when it's only me making these investments because it's my solo project. the band are people that I hire out

[@jemsophia]

such a great video! I've watched so many IEM/playback rig videos the past month but this one stood out, thank you!

[@BrandonWells]

thanks for watching!

[@KLRCAT]

Awesome video man! I have an XR18 that I use as my main mixer for gigs and events/conferences/weddings. I have 4 PM1 belt-packs for wired IEM's, but I am looking to get the HA8000 V2 headphone amp, so that I have more headroom and can have up to 8 wired IEM's. I also managed to snag 2 P16's at 50% off during the black Friday sales (and a day before they all sold out) so I can add on more IEM's if needed. For Wireless mics I have 3 Sennheiser G2 receivers with an antenna combiner (took me ages to source), 2 G2 Handhelds (my 3rd one stopped working) and 3 G2 Body-pack transmitters. I also have 2 ULTRALINK's for a 16 channel isolated split for sending to FOH or for getting separate recordings. Unfortunately all of this is either loose, or in separate cases, but I'm looking to get a wheeled rack to mount it all in.

[@BrandonWells]

Ah nice! having it all tidied up in racks is such a time saver for setup/teardown at a gig.

[@TheFacelessOne87]

Great video! I like seeing a bit of jank since that's the reality and thing won't ever be perfect. Makes the dream of having wireless IEM setup for my band seem a bit closer 👍

[@BrandonWells]

agreed 🙏

[@dominiclee6187]

great content!! imo if the drummer can live with wired IEM instead of wireless then u can use the headphone out from... Fx send maybe? then the wireless save it for the bassist the IEM...i think RF venue make some combiner about it too but overall great stuff!

[@brendanm1245]

When it comes to antenna combiners, look into RF Venue combine 4. You can mix brands of IEM’s, and combine ranges of 470 mhz all the way up to like 950 mhz I believe. I used that for a long time before my band switched to all Sennheiser, but RF Venue makes amazing stuff

[@BrandonWells]

oh I haven't seen this one before! its actually a decent price too. thanks man!

[@MartinFellerMusic]

thanks!

[@vincentwilkinson6347]

Thanks for sharing - just at the start of my journey- we have an old rcf 18 channel wifi mixer so looking to base the system on that still only 6 outs though😅

[@BrandonWells]

ah nice! those still seem to come in handy

[@nedward5871]

There's a company that makes a 2-prong to a flat for wall warts to save power strip space, or also I've got 2 6" 3-prong extension cords.

[@BrandonWells]

what's the company????

[@nedward5871]

@@BrandonWellsit was Dr. Ferds wall wart eliminator but they’re no longer made. Multiple people do sell 6” extension cables which do the same thing. I keep one of those in my work backpack for plugging in a MacBook Pro charger without taking up 2 sockets.

[@LiamTully]

This was so informative, thank you for sharing! I already have a wireless sennheiser mic and receiver, and looking to eventually do wireless guitar and wireless in-ears all in the same rack. Do you think they would definitely need an antenna combiner? What’s your experience been with that? Thanks again! 🙌

[@BrandonWells]

thanks for watching, glad I could help! I think because they're different kinds of units, they wouldn't run on the same antenna system. I could be very wrong tho. the mic/guitar is transmitting, and the in-ears are receiving (or vice versa depending on which end you're looking at first)

[@richardcifuentes6031]

If you need one more stereo aux mix on the XR16, you can use the headphone out on the mixer. Internally you can route aux 5-6 to that output to make it its own dedicated stereo mix.

[@maxammo6282]

Nice rig! Seems like you want to upgrade your mixer. I just upgraded mine. I upgraded mine to Allen & Heath CQ 18. All the processing and effects on every channel. Well worth the upgrade, highly recommended.

[@BrandonWells]

nice! I got the xr18 a few weeks back

[@maxammo6282]

@@BrandonWells how are you getting along with that new mixer?

[@joker71779]

Def RF venue to combine all your in ears

[@kjplaysdrums2]

I ended up not getting a mixer and just using the digital mixer in the DAW with a giant interface with 18 inputs and 8 outputs. Most of the outs go to our IEMs and just like you three of them are tracks and the bass stems. I ended up having to mount a strange looking power conditioner where half the plugs face one way and half face the other way just to get most of my plugs to fit. It also has a couple of usb ports to charge my phone or something

[@BrandonWells]

sounds like a solution that works just fine!

[@maxammo6282]

@@BrandonWells that sounds like my old setup. Until the laptop started acting up during performances. Then I switched over to hey boss RC 500 looper pedal. For backing tracks and click

[@issy_dev]

With power conditioners I always use a model with IEC C13 outputs. That way I can cram a load of sockets in with no problems. Anything that has a wall wart I just tape an extension to the side wall inside the rack and plug them in there.

[@christothegreat1]

Brandon, for vocal fx, I love the TC Helicon VoiceLive Play GTX

[@jasno6734]

Ayo! Love the video. Couple questions if you don’t mind! 1. Has the PlayAudio12 still held up? Trying to find a used one (so hard to find), but hoping that the reliability is truly what everyone says it is. 2. Do your bandmates still use the Phenyx Pro ears? We’re about to buy a dual pack single transmitter unit to save cost since we are broke boys but we definitely want to make sure they’ll work for the small venues we typically play, especially without a RF fin at the moment. Thanks homie!

[@BrandonWells]

1. yeah I've never had any issues with it. not once! 2. yeah they're still on those PP ears. still the occasional random clicks or fuzz, but I imagine it's from all the antennas I have. overall they work just fine and it's stereo, so they're happy

[@MichaelNatrin]

Great video!

[@MikeJannino]

For those different sized wall plugs, I actually bought a pack of mini extension cords (grounded) so that I could gaff/secure the plugs to the wall, have an even plug-sized plug to go into my power conditioner, and be able to utilize all of my power inputs. I also have the XR18 and I'm thinking about moving our mono in-ears to stereo. How do you find bridging those aux inputs and main l/r inputs in mixing station/whatever software you use for the mixer?

[@BrandonWells]

I've basically done the same thing at this point. it's not really as clean as I want, but it's easier to plug into the power conditioners. as for the XR18, the outputs are pretty straight forward with your routing. for my ears, I use AUX 1 & 2, so you just configure the channel volumes independently for your left and right ears across those two AUX sends. If you have an IEM utilizing the main outputs, that one is just convenient in one channel instead of dealing with 2 separate sends.

[@camshash]

For building your own cables, if you havent started already, it;s not very complicated. Just watch some general safety and how to videos and start doing it! Make sure you buy/build a good fume extractor. I find a lot of people who solder don't emphasize the importance of a good fume extractor. I wear an n95 mask and use a fume extractor. You will save yourself tons of money and time by building you own gear.

[@0419210317]

you should just get a S8 3Way patch bay bro. FOH split at the front which is next to each input

[@BrandonWells]

what for?

[@0419210317]

@@BrandonWells you have 2U of rack gear for input and and split, a s8 3way would save you room. Just a suggestion lad

[@ParlorCityBand]

How do you like the rack case? I’m changing my rig and need to get a 12u case thinking of getting the one you have the price point is great compared to gator or osp…. Just don’t know anything about that company and can’t find reviews on it! Looks solid would you recommend picking one up?

[@BrandonWells]

so far its been dope! I kinda wish I had got one that's a bit more shallow, but then I couldn't really have the drawer on the back as well. but as far as build quality, I've stood on top of it during a live show and it was stable lollll

[@christiananderson6394]

How much does this weigh? I’ve got 2 smaller cases due to having to go up and down stairs

[@BrandonWells]

great question....i honestly don't know but I can't lift it myself for sure lol

[@GrahamSpice]

The 12U shockmounted rack empty is 80 lbs...

[@Gaba.Groove]

❤❤❤

[@RedRoom420]

Great video! Question - I've been considering the Behringer MS8000 as a splitter though I've seen reviews that say it can be kind of a noisy unit. What's your experience been like?

[@BrandonWells]

I did read that somewhere before I got mine a few years ago, but I can't remember the use case for why the noise would happen? I haven't really noticed anything. especially in the mix - if there is anything there, I can't hear it