4. In-Ear Monitoring - The Basics

In recent years, In-Ear Monitoring (IEM) has been gaining popularity. This type of monitoring offers several advantages. With your monitor sound directly in your ear, you can hear yourself and your bandmates better, no matter where you are on stage. Additionally, the risk of feedback is significantly reduced, and when used properly, it helps protect your hearing.

Musician with In-ear Monitoring

An In-Ear monitoring system consists of an earpiece and its corresponding amplifier. In the case of wired monitoring, this amplifier can be stationary or portable. In both scenarios, the cable from the mixer connects directly to the amp. If you need more freedom of movement and prefer working wirelessly, you'd use a wireless system instead of the headphone amplifier. Here, the signal from the mixer goes to a stationary transmitter, which then wirelessly transmits to one or more receivers.

However, the requirements for professional stage equipment are different from those for Hi-Fi devices. Let's dive into the specifics below.