Monitors

LKap13 · December 18, 2011, 11:09:33 AM

So I have a question about the monitors that DT use on stage during concerts. I'm not really sure how they work, so could you guys tell me what exactly the members of DT are hearing in their monitors during a performance? Is it just their own instrument, or is it the whole band? Why can't they just play the show without monitors (i.e. stay in time just by listening to the other members play with their own ears)

DreamerTV · December 18, 2011, 11:28:55 AM

- They have no stage sound 'cause they use in ear monitors
- Every member got his onw mix (some instruments more than others, their own etc etc)

rumborak · December 18, 2011, 12:09:14 PM

You need monitors because you can't hear the other instruments on their own (most notably, the keyboard which doesn't produce any sound on its own), and you can't use the regular PA's output for that purpose because what you hear is the echo-y reflection of the venue walls.
In terms of mix, it will be a balanced mix overall, but the specific member's instrument turned up.

rumborak

theseoafs · December 18, 2011, 06:51:18 PM

Basically all of this^. Putting on a rock show in a large venue without monitors is pretty much impossible, as what they'd hear "just by listening to the other members play with their own ears" would have a non-negligible delay as the sound from the PA system bounces off the opposite side of the room and back to the stage; they'd basically play something and hear it a fraction of a second later, making staying in time impossible.

Monitors are also useful for hearing yourself better to improve your own playing, but that's sort of a secondary use as far as I'm concerned.

rumborak · December 19, 2011, 12:54:06 AM

No, that use is very important. When you don't hear yourself properly you make a lot more mistakes.

rumborak

jeebustrain · December 19, 2011, 07:00:59 AM

In ears monitors are one of the best inventions ever for a musician. I never play without mine (even at home). On sub gigs, I bring my mini rack with a headphone amp and plug the wedge monitor XLR straight into there. I have a lower end pair of Ultimate Ears and they still sound better (very clear high 15K+ range) than any earbuds I've ever used, plus have the added benefit of 27db noise reduction. It's so nice to be able to play and and your ears don't get fatigued after 45 minutes because you're straining to discern what is going on around you.

Hell, I even use them when I mow my lawn.

rumborak · December 19, 2011, 11:44:44 AM

Ok, I was initially gonna write "wtf, you wear wired headphones at a gig?!!!", but then I looked at your avatar. You're a drummer

rumborak

Systematic · December 20, 2011, 02:34:29 AM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhJ5mXBUjDM&feature=related

Here in 7:38-ish JR starts playing his sweeping lead WAAAY to soon. They manage to get back in sync after 50 seconds or so but it got me thinking.

Petrucci seemed to notice at first when Jordan started playing his sound many bars to early. And then it seemed like the whole band went to sync it with Jordan after some time. But LaBrie just did his race as he should have done according to the song, but it ended up sounding really weird since the other guys where way ahead of him in the song.

So, could it be because of the mixing in the in-ear monitors or just they/he having so much adrenaline that they didn't notice it?

tjanuranus · December 20, 2011, 02:40:44 AM

Oh man thank god I didn't get that train wreck the 3 times i saw them this tour! lol. That was nuts! Actually I've seen them a ton of times and only one time do I ever remember something similar to that. So one time out of all the times i've seen them ain't so bad.

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Monitors