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Monitors: The Key to a Successful Service
The ability to hear yourself while onstage is priceless. It doesn't matter whether you're the pastor, the vocal soloist, or the drummer, when you can hear yourself, you're more likely to stay on message and in tune. This article is intended to introduce you to the various types of monitoring options available. As always, give us a call at 1-800-222-4700 when you have more questions about monitors.
Stage Monitor Types
Floor Wedge
A wedge can be thought of as a regular speaker cabinet that's had its back cut off at an angle and set on the floor. The angle provides two benefits. First, the sound points up at the performer's head so that they can hear more effectively. Second, the low profile makes the wedge unobtrusive so as not to block the view of the congregation. One example of a popular stage wedge is the Peavey Sanctuary Series SSE10M. Stage wedges come in various sizes, with drivers generally ranging from 10" to 15" and beyond. Sweetwater sells wedges made by Peavey, Samson, JBL, and others.
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Side-fill
Though not extremely common in worship sound, side-fill monitors are generally larger, full-range speaker systems placed off to the side of the stage. The purpose of a side-fill is to provide the performers a more enveloping and well-balanced sound. This allows all performers to hear a good rough mix of the whole band, while still allowing for individual mixes to be provided for individuals at their position on the stage via wedge monitors. An example of a speaker that's effective as a side-fill is the Mackie SRM450.
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Stand Mounted
As the name implies, these are much smaller, unobtrusive monitor cabinets that can be mounted on a mic stand and placed closer the performer's ear for better intelligibility and less overall sound pressure on stage. Good examples of popular stand-mounted monitors are the Galaxy Hot Spots.
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 Benefits of In-ear Monitoring
| In-ear monitors can reduce the volume both onstage and in the sanctuary. |
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The concept of in-ear monitoring (IEM) is actually quite simple. Introduce a high-quality signal to the musician's ear that allows the user to clearly hear the mix at any chosen volume. The benefits of in-ear monitors (IEM) to the musician and engineer are immediately apparent: better sound, improved stereo imaging, less vocal strain, protection against hearing damage, portability, increased gain before feedback, and lower on-stage volume. Shure's economical PSM 200 series in-ear monitors are finding a home in houses of worship of all sizes across the country.
Reduced Stage Volume = Clean Mix
IEM systems are best known for their ability to reduce stage volume. When each band member hears vocals or instruments through wedges and instrument amplifiers, competitive monitoring (individual band members turning up to hear themselves better) often results in a loud stage. Since most houses of worship weren't built to accommodate the music - not to mention the volume - involved in modern worship, this has the effect of muddying the house mix and causes excessive overall volume as the volunteer audio staff is forced to turn up the mains to compensate for stage levels.
Compact and Convenient
A well-thought-out IEM system can replace the speakers and amplifiers in a monitor system with a single rack of equipment. Besides protecting your hearing against high sound pressure levels, IEMs offer other advantages, such as improved and consistent sound quality and reduced feedback. In addition, you can easily bring an IEM system to every rehearsal and service; pre-adjusted from the last time you used it.
 Personal Monitoring Systems
Another advantage of IEM is their effectiveness when used with personal monitoring systems such as the Aviom A-16ii or the Hear Technologies Hear Back. These enable musicians to control their own monitor mix on stage. The performer can have any mix he/she desires, at any volume. Singers can independently increase their voice's volume and separate it from the band mix, reducing voice fatigue and the risk of hearing damage.
Ultimately, there is no one monitoring tool that renders others obsolete. Just as a musician's physiology determines instrument choice and playing comfort, personal preference and need are factors in determining whether a wedge, side-fill, stand mounted, or in-ear monitor is right for your situation.
For example:
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A drummer and bass player's performance could benefit from hearing and feeling the beat on stage, as provided by a side-fill speaker. |
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Keyboard players might benefit from a stand-mounted monitor to hear themselves cut through the mix. |
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An acoustic pianist or other acoustic musicians whose instruments play in a lower or wider frequency spectrum could benefit from a larger full-range speaker. |
The goal is to find the right monitor system that is best suited to your house of worship's individual needs and comfort, and the individual needs of your ensemble members as well as the volunteer audio staff.
A good monitoring system is essential to a good performance and a comfortable congregation. If you have to fight the sound system to hear yourself, your frustration will translate to the audience, as will the volume. If you're unsure about which monitoring system or combination of systems will work best for you, then the wisest course of action is ask your Sweetwater Sales Engineer, who is experienced in configuring live sound systems for houses of worship. Call us at 1-800-222-4700 for more information.
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