The IEM (in ear monitors) Bible thread - a guide to help every musician

[Kirky]

1.  Yes, Cat 5 from the desk (we use a PD-16) as there's two of us using P16s.  And then connect your P16 puts to your IEM transmitter.  2) all channels are live unless you mite them.  Switching the channel on makes that the live one you are adjusting, unless you solo you'll hear the whole mix.  

[dave_bass5]

36 minutes ago, Kirky said:

1.  Yes, Cat 5 from the desk (we use a PD-16) as there's two of us using P16s.  And then connect your P16 puts to your IEM transmitter.  2) all channels are live unless you mute them.  Switching the channel on makes that the live one you are adjusting, unless you solo you'll hear the whole mix.  

Ah cool, thanks for the info. I think what threw me was seeing images of the HQ with multiple buttons lit up green. Wasn’t sure why. 

It does look like a cool device, im going to get one maybe over the weekend or next week. 

Edited yesterday at 16:59 by dave_bass5

[Woodinblack]

2 hours ago, dave_bass5 said:

1. Can I now not bother plugging my IEM system in to the desk, and just plug in to the P16?

 

Yes

 

2 hours ago, dave_bass5 said:

2. I get that the buttons along the bottom represent 16 channels coming from the XR18. 

 

Note that there are two P16, as there is a new one just come out, I have only used the older one, but might get a new one.

 

Each green light lights up when there is a sound coming through that channel. if you have nothing selected you can turn the volume / bass / treble etc up. If you select a channel, you can change the volume (and tone) of that channel, and its left / right balance. It is really simple and obvious to use.

[Woodinblack]

5 minutes ago, dave_bass5 said:

Ah cool, thanks for the info. I think what threw me was seeing images of the HQ with multiple buttons lit up green.

 

Because there is sound coming from those channels I guess. The red one is the one you are adjusting (or I think on the HQ, the one that has gone yellow).

[dave_bass5]

19 minutes ago, Woodinblack said:

 

Because there is sound coming from those channels I guess. The red one is the one you are adjusting (or I think on the HQ, the one that has gone yellow).

Ah, so instead of the LED’s on the old one, the HQ version (which is what im intending to get) has the actual button flash? This is what im talking about. So pressing one will turn it red and it’s selected? Seems simple enough once it’s explained to me. 

Thanks 

 

Edited yesterday at 17:24 by dave_bass5

[Woodinblack]

The Old p16 had two LEDs, a green one for activity and a red one for select. From what I read (and this was one of the complaints) the LED in the new P16 is a combined Red / Green so instead of seeing red and green when it is selected and has a signal, you see yellow as both red and green are on at the same time

[dave_bass5]

46 minutes ago, Woodinblack said:

The Old p16 had two LEDs, a green one for activity and a red one for select. From what I read (and this was one of the complaints) the LED in the new P16 is a combined Red / Green so instead of seeing red and green when it is selected and has a signal, you see yellow as both red and green are on at the same time

Hmmm, that makes sense and yeah, i guess that could be a problem for some. 
 Cheers, I’ll report back what i think when i get mine. Have just ordered it but using slow delivery so might not arrive until next week (seeing as it’s EVRI, maybe never lol). 

[Muppet]

21 hours ago, dave_bass5 said:

Jumping in here about the P16. Never used one, never thought id find a use for one, now I want one. 

Im going to order one tomorrow, and will read up on it etc in the meantime. I get what it does, but I have two questions. 

 

1. I assume I dont need to do anything at the XR18 end other than plug a Cat5 cable in? Can I now not bother plugging my IEM system in to the desk, and just plug in to the P16?

2. I get that the buttons along the bottom represent 16 channels coming from the XR18. Say I want to turn one of the guitars up, do I have to click on that channel button and move the volume knob? what im getting at is it looks like I have to have the buttons enabled first to get the sound going to the IEM's, or do I mute what I dont want to hear, but all the buttons will un illuminated unless I engage one to adjust its level? 

I have been using a P16M for a few years and have just upgraded to the P16 HQ.  You need to configure the XR18 first. You have to set the routing in it, so you have to tell it to output channel 1 on the desk to channel 1 on the P16 and so on. It's pretty straight forward. You can choose pre or post fade and pre/post FX.  Then you need a cat5 cable out of the XR18 in to the P16 and then you route the output channels of your P16 to the input channels of your IEM transmitter.  The output of the P16 can easily overload the input of the transmitter, so you need to be careful of the volume controls. 

 

Changing channel volume is easy - press the channel you want, it lights up red (or orange if it is receiving a signal at the time) and adjust accordingly.  The last set of settings used are the ones stored when the unit powers up again.  You can also mute or solo channels if you like.  I really like it.  

 

The only issue I have is that you need to have your IEM transmitter close by the P16, rather than installed in your main rack (if you have one) otherwise you'll need to connect via a stagebox or similar.  I've got a heath robinson solution at the moment, wher the P16 and IEM transmitter are housed together in a 3U rack case - all I need is the cat 5 cable from the desk. 

 

 

[dave_bass5]

1 hour ago, Muppet said:

I have been using a P16M for a few years and have just upgraded to the P16 HQ.  You need to configure the XR18 first. You have to set the routing in it, so you have to tell it to output channel 1 on the desk to channel 1 on the P16 and so on. It's pretty straight forward. You can choose pre or post fade and pre/post FX.  Then you need a cat5 cable out of the XR18 in to the P16 and then you route the output channels of your P16 to the input channels of your IEM transmitter.  The output of the P16 can easily overload the input of the transmitter, so you need to be careful of the volume controls. 

 

Changing channel volume is easy - press the channel you want, it lights up red (or orange if it is receiving a signal at the time) and adjust accordingly.  The last set of settings used are the ones stored when the unit powers up again.  You can also mute or solo channels if you like.  I really like it.  

 

The only issue I have is that you need to have your IEM transmitter close by the P16, rather than installed in your main rack (if you have one) otherwise you'll need to connect via a stagebox or similar.  I've got a heath robinson solution at the moment, wher the P16 and IEM transmitter are housed together in a 3U rack case - all I need is the cat 5 cable from the desk. 

 

 

thanks, that's helpful.

I watched a few YT videos last night and think ive got the hang of it. Im assuming the P16 will already be set up for 1-1, 2-2 etc as default, but I know where to look if it's not. 

I quite like the idea of not having to plug my IEM transmitter in to the XR18. I have a small power pored at my feet so this can sit down there. I will need to figure out how and where to put the P16. I know it will go on a mic stand so I can do that, but im looking at a more compact solution if possible. 

One thing, can I route the FX returns to the P16 like I can thew Aux channels? At the moment we have a vocal reverb for FOH, and use a second for the IEM mixes. 
 

EDIT:  i see you did mention FX already. 

Edited 7 hours ago by dave_bass5

[Muppet]

1 hour ago, dave_bass5 said:

One thing, can I route the FX returns to the P16 like I can thew Aux channels? At the moment we have a vocal reverb for FOH, and use a second for the IEM mixes. 

Yes - you just use the routing interface in the XR18. As long as you have a channel free in the P16 then you can route anything you like to it. I have vocal reverb linked to one channel too. 

[Muzz]

OK, two channels negotiated for with the BL, they're going to be paired to the H1 headphone out of the desk. MS-02 ordered, stay tuned for progress... 🙂

[glassmoon]

Here is a question... In all your many experiences and opinions, which IEMs have the best bass response. Buuuut, don't cost the earth. Ultimate Ears would be incredible, but they're so darned expensive. 

 

My thanks in advance 

[woodyratm]

13 minutes ago, glassmoon said:

Here is a question... In all your many experiences and opinions, which IEMs have the best bass response. Buuuut, don't cost the earth. Ultimate Ears would be incredible, but they're so darned expensive. 

 

My thanks in advance 

I’ve got ACS just now, but they’ve failed twice. So I’d love to know too.

 

cosmic ears maybe?