Monitoring Systems

Wedges & Side Fills

Wedge is a classic monitor use for a stage and one can say that it is positioned, facing upwards and so sound would go from the floor level. It consists of low frequencies and a compression driver with horn. 

Martin Audio LE400C is a classic example. One can place the wedge in different places, this depends on how much distance the performer would be. This example is either left-hand or right-hand models. This means that these come in stereo pairs. 

When using monitors one need to notice that the audience needs to hear the performer and the performer needs to hear him/herself. 

FOH stands for Front Of House Console. Front Of House Console, controls so that the audience could hear the sound. Instead using the traditional monitoring one should use an in-ear monitor. A Disadvantage of In-Ear monitoring is that the performer ends up isolated the performer in his/her performance.

Feedback

What would live sound be without feedback? An undiluted pleasure, many sound engineers would say. But feedback is a fact of life and engineers have to deal with it, monitor engineers included. As is commonly known, feedback is caused by sound from a loudspeaker entering the microphone and being amplified back to the speaker again. If there is any gain in this loop, that familiar howl will be heard by all. The problem for monitoring is that the speakers are very much closer to the microphones than are the FOH speakers. So the FOH engineer doesn't have too hard a time combating feedback, but it is the bane of the monitor engineer's life. And if the monitor engineer allows feedback to occur, the FOH engineer will want to have words, because the audience and the promoter will think he messed up. The keys to avoiding feedback are these:

• Place the microphone as close to the sound source as possible.
• If the sound source is loud, that helps.
• Position the speaker as far from the microphone as possible.
• Angle the mic away from the speaker, and the speaker away from the mic.
• Keep the level from the speaker as low as practical in the circumstances.
• Equalise out the worst-offending frequencies.

David Mellor, 2005. Stage Monitoring & Monitor Mixing. [online] Available at: <http://www.soundonsound.com/techniques/stage-monitoring-monitor-mixing> [Accessed 21st November 2016].

This quote explains how feedback monitoring works. Here also shows the positioning between the mics and the speakers.

Hereunder are some examples regarding monitors:

Auratone 5C Super Sound Cube

Auratone 5C Super Sound Cube is a single - driver monitor. This speaker was very popular in the 70's and 80's, used for pictures of classic studio sessions. Some advantages regarding this monitor are single-driver, crystal-clear stereo presentation and excellent depth of overview. A disadvantage for this monitor is, that it is a mid-range balancing tool.

ESI Unik 05+

ESI Unik 05+ is a type of an active monitor. This type of monitor is valuable to buy, nowadays. The ESI monitors, are usually used in small studios and something which helps the user to use is that they would let you know if something which is wrong with the user's mixes. Some advantages for this type of monitor are; as I said above, it is valuable to buy, it is useful for a performance using a small monitor and it is detailed, this means that it announces sound. A disadvantage for this type of monitor is that it gets auto-standby and so this means the user must be cautious while using it. 

Shure P3R

Shure P3R, wireless body receiver is type of a monitor system. This enables one to adjust either left or right, which are two channels. These are audio or stereo mode. This type of monitor offers approximately six hours of usage. Lastly one can say that this type of monitor is not that expansive.

Positioning Of Monitor Console

Monitor console

A monitor console can be positioned at any side of a stage. The position of the monitor engineer could be ideal to make it for example closer to a specific musician. It is positioned in a specific place so that the musicians would communicate well.


A video how to ring out stage monitors and control feedback:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_cWECV8MfU