What are In-ear monitors, their benefits, and why do singers wear them?

We have all seen singers wear those tiny earbuds during live performances. While you might think they are just a standard pair of earphones, they are so much more. They are called in ear monitors and are an essential audio tool for any singer or musician.

What are in-ear monitors, their benefits, and Why do singers or even drummers, guitarists use them? Do they deliver an altered sound?

Well, read on to get answers to all those questions and more. You might even decide to get one for yourself towards the end of the article. 

What are in-ear monitors?

In-ear monitors or IEMs are earpieces that musicians use to hear themselves during live performances.

While performing in loud concerts, it is hard to hear yourself; using in-ear monitors, musicians will listen to themselves. They also have noise isolation and cancellation to eliminate external noises.

Typically a singer wears these IEMs, which are attached to a receiver typically worn on the belt. This receiver is connected to a transmitter on the side stage which delivers the audio mix. 

These IEMs are not used just by musicians but also by sound engineers and even audiophiles. Anyone who wants sound delivered to them perfectly uses them.

Why do singers wear earpieces?

Singers won’t be wearing these earbuds just as a fashion statement, would they? No, IEMs offer so many benefits; we will try and list the most important of them.

1. Easy to hear yourself

Stages are noisy places. Loud booming drums, a roaring audience, and a riffing bassist are just some of the high-volume sounds. It is tough, if not outright impossible, to hear the human voice over these many loud sounds. Imagine singing in a noisy classroom or office; a stage is a million times worse.

Using in-ear monitors is a way around this. It will deliver a singer’s voice to themselves clearly and accurately without being muffled down by the surrounding sounds. Any singer knows how important it is to listen to yourself to deliver outstanding performances; with an IEM, you can do that easily no matter how loud your stage gets.

2. Mobility on Stage

Usually, when singers use wedge monitors to listen to themselves on stage, they are limited to only one section of the stage. If they move out of the designated area, they won’t listen to themselves.

However, since most in-ear monitors are wireless, they will be able to move all across the stage. It gives the singers a much greater stage presence. You are also less likely to trip as there are a reduced number of wires on the stage. Also, unlike large studio monitor headphones, these in-ear ones stay in the ear more stably and will not fall off no matter how much you shake your head. 

They are also incredibly portable; you can just carry them in your pockets.

3. Control over your sound

Singers usually rely on just one element of the whole musical entourage to sync themselves to the song. They typically hear the bass drum to stay in time while also listening to themselves to make sure their pitch is correct.

You can also adjust the volume of each musical element being played; you can hear yourself louder while setting the kick drum to lower volume. You can also add a click track or other audio cues if you want!

These IEMs also allow each musician to have his own mix. What this means is that each musician can hear just what he wants to hear. The guitarist might just want to listen to the drummer while the singer just wants to listen to themselves; this is perfectly possible with in ear monitors for drummers. Unlike yesteryears, where everyone had to hear the same thing, IEMs allow each band member to listen to what’s best suited to him.

4. Reduce vocal strain

Usually, singers will not hear themselves over the loud instruments being played, so they tend to sing louder to make themselves heard. This can lead to unwanted vocal strain!

With in-ear monitors, they will be able to hear themselves clearly, so they are less likely to strain their vocal cords. Their singing is also more accurate as they do not feel strained.

5. Good for your hearing

Concerts and any live performance, in general, are extremely noisy places. A singer would be constantly bombarded with a cacophony of loud sounds. When you are on stage, you are even more prone to loud sounds due to the giant speakers, loud band members, and of course, the roaring audience.

While the audience won’t suffer any long-lasting damage as they only go to concerts a few timesa year, a singer can suffer from long-term hearing loss or tinnitus as they are constantly in such loud environments.

However, these concerns disappear when you use an in-ear monitor. These babies cancel out all the surrounding noise, protecting your precious ears.

You won’t even be affected by loud instruments like drums as the sound engineer can block out or lower the sound of these instruments. You can therefore hear yourself at lower volumes and protect your ears.  Even celebrities like Ariana wears them while on stage. 

Where can I buy some good in-ear monitors?

Your local music store should have good in ear monitors. While you can find in-ear monitors in your local mall, they usually wouldn’t be the best. You should definitely try out eCommerce websites like Amazon as they have an extensive collection and tend to have lower prices. 

However, if you want the best of the best in ear monitors with custom molded ear-tips, you should check out some reviews online. 

Why do singers take them out during performances?

There are two main reasons as to why a singer might take them out during a performance. 

One, there is some sound issue. The singer might not be liking the mix they are hearing. There is no way a sound engineer will be able to correct the sound mid-performance, so taking it out is the only option. Another issue that can come up is that the in-ear monitor might just stop working out of the blue. The singer once again has no choice but to take them out.

Two, they would want to hear the audience. Using in-ear monitors will completely isolate the sound of the audience from them. This can lead to a lack of connection with the audience, making live performances more special. While some people use mics facing the audience to add some sound to the mix, removing the IEMS and hearing the audience roar is an exhilarating feeling for any singer.

Bio:

Hi, I am Danny. A Father, Hubby, Full-Time Drummer, and Part-time teacher. I have been drumming for 10 years and on average gigs 150 times a year. Drums are my passion. I play for local and some regional bands too. Aside from that, I write for Deboband.com.

What are In-ear monitors, their benefits, and why do singers wear them?