VOCALS + AUDIO
TOP 10 TIPS FOR A BETTER OPEN SPEAKER MONITOR MIX (PART 2) | Grant Norsworthy
With the welcome resurgence of the emphasis there’s enough of your voice in the room through
on congregational singing as the imperative, the FOH, just use the monitor to bring some
churches who have not yet made the switch clarity and immediacy to your sound.
to in-ear monitors (IEMs) are tempted to hold
too much.
4K and 5K are the most important frequencies
to get right in order to have natural monitor
onto their open speaker monitors - at least for 4. KNOW WHAT YOU’RE AIMING FOR sound that can inspire and have clarity without
their vocalists. Many - especially the leaders of You want a monitor sound that is as close to any excess of volume. We must get the EQ right
congregational worship through songs - are a natural sound as possible. Monitors should before we make any volume level adjustments.
actually ditching their IEM’s and going back to simply make the sounds a little louder so as to “old fashioned” floor wedges. match the level of the instruments around you. 2. TURN DOWN (NOT UP)
That’s what will be most inspiring. Stop. Listen. Don’t ask for anything to be turned
This might seem like a regression to some. Why
up (especially your own voice) until you have
would anyone reject the conventional wisdom Here’s a great thing to do: Have your vocalists fully explored turning other things down. Quite
and undeniable advantages of the newer form an inward facing circle away from the frequently, it’s the drums (especially snare drum
technology? microphones. Without instrument, sing a chorus and cymbals) or electric guitar amps that are
of a song that you all know well. Listen deeply in competition with the register of the human
Sure - not everyone will agree. To each their and intentionally to how that sounds. It might voice. Sometimes it’s other vocalists, especially
own! But the alternative thinking flows along help to shut your eyes and concentrate. Then if you’re sharing a monitor mix. Open speaker
these lines: immediately move to the mics and sing again. monitors work best when the overall platform
Your monitor sound should be very similar. volume is low. Everyone needs to be on the
“If my role is to invite the Church to sing truths, Amplified and coming from the floor, sure, but same page with this. Selfless choices will have
prayers a nd praises to God, then I need to it should still be a natural sound and an even to be made.
hear how well they’re doing that. IEMs create blend.
1. REJECT THE EGO-CENTRIC MIX
a physical and sonic barrier between me and
the most important people in the ‘band’ - the 3. EQUALIZATION (EQ) This is the best piece of advice I was ever given
congregation. I need to share the vibrating air - You don’t need to become a tech nerd, but it’s about setting a monitor mix: “You don’t need to
the sound in the room - with the people!” going to really help if you learn some EQ language hear just yourself. You need to just hear yourself.”
that can be understood by the audio technician. Don’t set a me-me-mix. Have a well-balanced
Last month I gave the first 5 of my Top 10 Tips Listen - really listen - to the sound of your monitor mix where your sonic contribution is part of the
for a Better Open Speaker Monitor Mix. If you and find words to describe what you hear. You overall “picture”. Not the dominant feature.
missed it, you’ll want to go to the previous issue need to communicate effectively so the tech can and check it out. But, without further ado, here make the necessary adjustments. Adjectives like If we’re going to use open speaker monitors,
are the last 5! “harsh”, “boxy”, or “brittle”, are great. As are let’s do it right this time! There’s no place for
sentences like, “It sounds like I’m underwater!” “Everything louder than everything else” volume
5. REINFORCEMENT or “under a blanket”. Audio techs know what to levels as we worship God through songs. For
Don’t try to use your monitor as the only thing do with that information. a practical demonstration on this same subject,
you’re listening to. Instead, use the monitor
watch this short video.
speaker to augment what you would be hearing And if you really want to speak the tech
without it. Just fill in gaps! Yes, you should have language, here’s what’s carried me through
a sense of all the elements that are coming decades of asking for monitor EQ adjustments:
together - from the band and congregation - to The sound of “ch” (like in “chicken”) and the “ss”
make our overall sound. But you probably won’t (of “sausage”) are pretty much isolated to “4K”
need bass guitar in your mix. It can be “heard” (4 kilohertz) and “5K” (5 kilohertz) in audio geek
on your skin and through your feet. If there are speak. Make those sounds into your mic. Listen
unshielded acoustic drums or a guitar amp on to your monitor and ask for adjustments to 4K
the platform, you probably won’t need them. If and 5K as needed. You don’t want too little or
June 2018
Grant Norsworthy
founder of MoreThanMusicMentor.com providing
training for worshipping musicians.
MoreThanMusicMentor.com
WorshipMusician.com
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