AKARSH SHEKHAR
WHAT MAKES
IN-EAR
MONITORS GREAT ?
IEMs are used both for recreational listening and as professional monitoring headphones in live audio situations , whether in broadcasts , movies , and TV or music performances . For live music performance , in-ear monitors or IEMs are the preferred monitoring tool . First , they keep a small profile , and secondly , they isolate noise particularly effectively .
The expansive foam ensures a perfect fit in the ear canal that is sealed from the outside environment . There ' s no question about it , the in-ear monitors are incredibly well insulated and soundproof . Here are some benefits :
Protection for your hearing Live music performers are exposed to tons of loud noise , that goes without saying . However , have you ever done a series to realize that you are slowly turning up the volume on your headphones ? Experiment with the volume of your headphones in a typical setting and listen in a quiet environment , you might be surprised how loud you press it . In a live situation with music coming from the main speaker system and monitor speakers , you just don ' t realize that the volumes are reaching dangerous levels . Live performers need their ears - wearing in-ear headphones helps protect them .
Better Monitoring It can be difficult to hear things properly through on-ear headphones for the exact reasons mentioned above , they are poorly isolated and ambient noise is filtered out . This may confuse you , where is the bass line ? Are those hi-hats coming from the monitors or from the headphones ?
Loud noise can be difficult to decipher , and poor control leads to mixing errors . The internal monitors mute everything and allow you to hear your mix internally as it plays through the mixer signals . With no outside interference , you can really focus on nailing the mix to perfection . If you want to hear the overall mix as your audience listens to it , simply turn on the master output signal .
Internal monitors vs . headphones In-ear monitors are headphones , but not all headphones are inear monitors . Headphones come in many shapes and sizes , from AirPods to bulkier models that clip over the ear . Headphones designed for recreational listening , such as AirPods or any other headphones with hard plastic earbuds , are not suitable for live music performances .
These types of headphones are not designed for use in very noisy environments , and while some are reasonably well insulated , they somewhat undermine the sense of using internal monitors . The internal monitors you want to look for are those with foam headphones . Foam headphones expand into the ear canal to provide the acoustic seal that gives IEMs their advantages over regular headphones .
Internal monitors can protect your hearing while providing an ideal monitoring environment with no background noise . However , they are markedly different from traditional on-ear headphones and getting used to them can be tricky .
Find Your Fit Internal monitors may or may not hook over the ear with their cables or a real ear hook . IEMs with this type of fit will stay in your ear as you move across the stage , but can rub the back of your ear . You may also find it difficult to remove your headphones frequently . That being said , the ear hooks are handy and don ' t need to be hooked every time you insert and remove the earbud .
In the case of DJs . forget about monitoring just one side - they often have one headphone on their head and the other off their head . This allows them to hear the monitor speakers and the mix . With headphones , it ' s best to leave them more or less for as long as you mix . Why ? Because this allows you to keep volumes in check while mixing , protecting your hearing and enhancing your monitoring experience .
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