in ear monitors

[measedd]

I am bass player new to using custom in-ear monitors. My monitors are custom made by Fidelity Custom Earphones. Here is my issue: my Church uses the Aviom 16. I can't seem to get my bass to sound full enough in my monitors. When I run the gain up on the Aviom, I get distortion in my monitors. I play on a Pedulla Thunderbass with active Bartolini pickups. It has a beautiful sound throug an amp and cab or FOH system.

Q: Should I expect my bass to sound as full in the monitors as it does on the FOH system or throug a bass cabinet?

Many Thanks!
Dennis Mease
The Woodlands, TX

[cmchamp]

Welcome aboard.

1: RE distortion, probably due to an impedance mismatch.
2: RE full sound, should be close, but it depends on the above.

C.

[matthewah]

It depends on what you are referring to as “full sound”. A lot of people in this situation are looking for the frequencies you can feel as well. You might want to look into a Buttkicker (http://www.thebuttkicker.com/musicians/index.htm) system to plug into the Aviom. You’d be amazed at what the mind perceives as “loudness” when you can feel the frequencies again.

[Gracetech]

I also second adding in some tactile transducer. Although i generally stay away from the butt kicker it is still better than nothing.

I would also suggest a amp modeler. You will have to play with different modelers out there to find the best one to your ear. What most people miss in the amp bass sound is the resonance of the cabinet or just the frequency flavor it adds. Also if you can get the sound peps to add some compression to your bass in the aviom feed it will help as well.

Most of the bassist i've run into over the years have the hardest time switching over to in-ears. Usually they just overcrank them and just end up blowing their ears out. What i always suggest to them is getting comfortable with the inears. practice with the inears so that you get used to the sound of them. Practice at low volume!! When you get ready for full band practice turn every one down. Set your volume just above as low as you can stand it, run scales to make sure you can hear every note well. Then add in your favorite timing element, usually high hat or snare. Finally add everything else under what you have established as your base mix. Make sure that you constantly go back and check your bass level so as to keep it out infront just enough. Give it some time and you will get used to it, trust me they have been doing it for years in the studio.

It's new and different, you can either embrace the new sound or seek to find a way to bring your amp sound to your ears.

BTW make sure that your inears are sealing good to your ear canal. They don't work well if they are not seal properly. I assume that your customs are sealing well but i just had to say it.

crt

[measedd]

Thanks for the information. I appreciate your suggestions and I will definitely give it a try. This is probably a dumb question but would an "amp modeler" be inserted between the Aviom and my in-ear Monitor?

[Gracetech]

It would be inline between your bass and D.I. or in some cases replace your D.I.


crt

[tedanderson]

Are you using earbuds or do have a set of full sized headphones that completely enclose your ears?

I've been amazed at how far earbuds have come quality wise but IMO nothing beats a good set of $150-$200 over the ear headphones.

[bravex]

it also depends on the setup of you in ears, there are some that use
one low/mid driver, one high driver or
two lows, one high
two lows, one mid/high
two lows, one mid, one high

I am going after the latest Quad driver, it is designed to put more bass

there are several companies so, a good research is needed.

[Tim Padrick]

A friend has sent his CFs back twice - once because of a bad fit, and once because the bass ports were blocked, resulting in no low end. He's not yet received them back, so the jury is still out.

I have a set of the (now discontinued) M-Audio IE-10, and I find that they are very good all across the spectrum.

[STEALMYBUCKS]

Check your Aviom power supply. We don't have the pro power supply, and our Aviom system cracks when the bass or keyboard are played loud. If you have an extra power supply around, try using that instead of the power coming through the Cat 5 cable. It may be an Aviom problem.