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Budget IEM Rig – Setting up In Ear Monitoring on a budget!
Introduction
We think that every function and corporate band should be playing using IEMs! They help improve sound quality, make volume easier to control at functions, and allow you to hear yourself a whole lot better! However, IEM systems can be expensive to set up, so we have put together some ideas to help you set up a budget IEM rig for yourself! The aim of this article is to help you set up a budget IEM rig for your band, with the goal of keeping costs down while maintaining high quality!
For this article, we are going to use a 5-piece band (Drums, Vocals, Guitar, Bass, and Keys) and set up a rig around that-keeping in mind that any of these tips can be used for bigger or smaller bands. So let us first spend some time going through the requirements and goals of this virtual project.
The Requirements & Goal
So, before we start getting into this article, we must first set some rules and requirements for this task. What do we want to achieve, and what do we want the goal to be? Of course, being on a budget, we are going to have to skip some things, but we will need a few critical components. So let us specify some requirements that we have to meet.
The biggest thing with this budget IEM rig is that it needs to have good-quality audio! It doesn’t have to be the best audio, but it needs to be good enough that it’s comfortable to play with during gigs and rehearsals-and every member of the band must be able to adjust their own mix. We’re also going to say that as many band members as possible need to be on a wireless pack. Lastly, it has to be easy to upgrade, fully self-contained, and ready to transport and set up for both rehearsals and gigs.
So, with those requirements in place, let us dive right into the gear and talk about what we’ve picked and why. Believe it or not, the IEM system isn’t the most important part at this stage-it’s the mixer! So, what have we picked?
The Mixer
There are loads of mixers on the market, and if you want the best bang for your buck, then you’re going to have to look at digital mixers. These are small, light, and full of useful features! Without sounding like a broken record, the mixer we would recommend is any of the XR series from Behringer (XR16, XR18, and X32). These are amazing mixers that pack loads of features into them! They are fairly compact and can be fitted into a small flight case, ready to go quickly.
Personally, I use the Behringer XR18 mixer. It has plenty of inputs and allows for 6 aux mixes-so you can have up to 6 different IEM mixes. For most bands, this would be plenty! There isn’t a built-in screen, so to control anything you have to use the app (the X32 mixer does have a screen, so you can make some adjustments there). The Behringer XR18 mixer is often on sale as well and can be picked up for around £300–£500. However, do check various second-hand platforms, as people might be selling them even cheaper.
If you do go down the digital and wireless router route, then make sure you buy an external router! These mixers do have built-in routers, but let’s just say-they aren’t the best. The signal will be weak, and dropouts will be frequent! So invest in a small and affordable external one, and everything will be fine.
The IEM Systems
Behringer P2
If you are after a wired option, then I think the Behringer P2 is your best option! They are super affordable and simple to use! They are fairly small, so you can throw one into your gig bag and grab it if you ever need it! In fact, everyone should get one just to keep as a backup in case they ever need it! You can pick them up from most music shops, but we have put some links below to our preferred retailers.
Gear4Music IEM System
The next step up would be wireless. This is where the price increases; however, Gear4Music have a super affordable wireless system that we have personally used and experimented with a lot. It is decent quality and affordable. You can buy the kit, which comes with one transmitter and two receivers. A unit at this cost does come with some drawbacks though. This isn’t really a rackmount system! Also, you can only run three of these at once! So if you were planning to buy these for all your members, then you won’t be able to.
The upside is that you can run as many receivers on one transmitter as you like! So if you aren’t fussed about individual mixes and just want 3 mixes, then this is a good entry point for a budget IEM rig.
XVive U4 Monitor System
The XVive System is super popular and used by so many people all over the world, giving musicians an affordable IEM system that is good quality, small in size, and has a range of 27.5m. With its tiny bodypack size, it adds no weight or bulk to your body and allows you to perform as if you didn’t have anything on at all!
There are a few drawbacks. They run on the 2.4GHz frequency, which means if you have a lot of wireless gear in the room (phones, routers, mics, computers, etc.) you can pick up some interference and noise. This will only increase the more units you switch on! If you are already running a lot of Bluetooth and other wireless gear (not on radio frequency), I would consider going another route, as your packs might pick up some extra noise. Speaking of packs, you can have up to 6 units switched on together-which should be plenty for any band using a budget IEM rig.
"You can get deep into EQing and spend time carving out each instrument and adjusting every detail—which is something you should eventually look to do.s"
The Software
For software, every mixer will have its own app (if you go down the digital route). However, we strongly recommend that you download and pay for the mixing license for Mixing Station. It is an amazing app-super easy to use and massively customisable! You can create custom layouts and designs and make the app look exactly how you want it to!
I was using the Behringer XR app for months, and I thought it worked well. It wasn’t until I saw a video on the Mixing Station app that I gave it a go-and let me tell you, everything just got easier! I set up custom layouts, and custom buttons to do specific tasks when I pressed them! Plus, their mixer support is massive, and I’m sure that if you own a digital mixer, they’ll be able to support it.
With all that in mind, the most important thing to remember is to learn the software, whatever software you decide to go with! Study it, experiment with it, and really get to know it! This way, you’re ready for anything, and if someone wants something changed in their mix, you can easily adjust it. Learn it so well that it becomes second nature to you-an essential step for running a smooth budget IEM rig setup.
The Setup and Routing
So how would you go about plugging it all in and setting it all up? Well, we have put together a quick diagram to help you visualise the flow and cable routing. It can be massively daunting when you have all these cables, inputs and outputs, and other band members wondering why they can’t hear anything! So putting together a diagram will help you work out what goes where and how everything plugs in. We always like to keep a diagram of the inputs and outputs with the mixer! This way, anyone can look at it and figure out what is going on!
So this first diagram explains all your inputs and outputs. As you can see, all the green text represents inputs, and the red lines are Aux Sends and your main outputs. You may have fewer or more inputs than this, and they may be in a variety of formats-but just remember what goes where and what you’ve plugged into each input. Please remember that this is the basic layout, but as we go through a few different options, the sends will change!
Next up we have the Aux Sends out. This is what feeds your in-ear monitors. This version assumes every band member has their own mix. They could be using something like the XVive U4 system. We are also assuming that the drummer is on a wired send. This is the perfect scenario! Everyone gets their own mix, can make changes, and only affects their own mix.
Only 3 Mixes
This is the same setup but with only 3 mixes for your band-a rhythm section, backline section, and the drummer’s wired mix. This cuts down on gear while still giving you a good in-ear experience. However, it will take more effort to make sure everyone is happy with the mixes, as you are sharing them.
Easiest Option
Lastly, this is if everyone was on one mix! For example, if you only had a small mixer with two Aux Sends. In this situation, we are using a Behringer headphone amp, which has a few headphone outs with individual volume controls. This will be limiting and make it hard to keep everyone happy-but it is a starting point for your budget IEM rig, and it will cost you hardly any money! You could set this up in just a few days, as it takes almost no effort to get going.
Few Tips
Please keep in mind that IEM systems are not cheap! Setting them up will mean a big outlay of money at the start. Of course, you can start with a wired option, which will cost less. However, if you want to go wireless, then you will have a bigger expense upfront. I would say: budget most towards your mixer! Mixers can last for years, and you’ll be able to use them with almost any IEM system-so when you want to upgrade your budget IEM rig, you won’t have to buy a new mixer! We have recommended the Behringer X-Air series for this reason-it is used by thousands of bands! There are loads of tutorials and walkthroughs out there if you get stuck!
We have a few other articles going over the basics of IEMs, from getting better mixes to deciding whether you should go wireless or wired. If you are looking into IEM systems for your band, then I would highly recommend that you check out those other articles, as they may answer some of the questions you might have about IEMs!
Final Words on IEM’s
With all this considered, we would strongly recommend that you look into IEMs. Being able to hear yourself play makes you play so much better! Also, it helps prevent hearing damage, as you don’t have 4–8 extra floor monitors blasting around the stage! Pair this with the fact it’s less gear to carry around, and it’s winner, winner, chicken dinner!
A lot of people will try to put you off IEMs, saying they don’t feel natural or sound rubbish. These people haven’t spent enough time with them or haven’t learned how to set them up properly. Once you have them dialled in, it is heavenly to play with!
Conclusion
That is our final article about IEMs and IEM systems! Hopefully, these articles have helped answer any questions you might have about in-ear monitoring and wireless systems, and also given you some ideas on how you can get set up and start using them yourself. Below are all the links to the other articles we have done if you want to check them out as well.
Does your band use IEMs? Are you looking to get into them? Let us know over on our Contact Page. Plus, if you have any questions or need any advice, please feel free to email us, and we will help out as much as we can!
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