Another way to work with two mixers is to have a separate mix for the drummer. Drummers want to hear more drums in their monitors than the singers and other musicians do. Also, drums can be played acoustically, especially in small venues.
Three mixes:
Assuming the vocalists agree on a mix of the vocal microphones when they share the same mix you get a good vocal blend. The lead vocalist could have an individual mix.
A great solution is to place some of the backup mics in the “instruments” mix and adjust the vocal mix to satisfy the lead singer, even if that means you must add some instruments to the “vocal” mix. This way you have an individual mix for the lead singer, a mix for guitars and keyboard that includes their vocals, and finally a drum mix that can include the bass player.
How many mixes does your console have?
Monitor mixes are created using auxiliary (AUX) sends from a mixer, either FOH console or a dedicated monitor console. Usually, a console of small format should have at least four AUX sends which are also used for effects. How many available sends that your console has will determine how many monitor mixes you can have.
Will you go with stereo or mono?
Most personal monitoring systems can go either way. Stereo requires two channels of audio so two sends are required to create a stereo monitor mix. It takes twice as many sends as a mono mix and it will quickly use up your AUX sends. If your mixer has only four sends, you can only create two stereo mixes. Mono can save you a lot of money.
How is your budget?
You can spend several hundred to several thousand dollars for good church audio gear. It is a good idea to start gradually with one band member at a time. It may take a while for all of the members to adjust to IEM after years of standing in front of a mic.
Conclusion regarding in ear monitor system for church:
To determine what kind of system will work best for you/your church, first assess your needs and those of the musicians and singers and the type of mixing console that you have. Consider:
- Who will benefit from it?
- Do you want wired, wireless or both?
- Do individuals need their own monitoring system, or can they share?
- How many mixes does your console have?
- Do you want stereo or mono?
- How is your budget?
With all of these things taken into consideration, you will be able to make the right choice as you enter the exciting world of personal monitoring systems.
This article on an in ear monitor system for church originally appeared here, and is used by permission. Discover other great article about church audio gear HERE.