Shredder
81 posts
Dec 26, 2009
6:59 PM
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Hey there harp friends, I'm looking in to getting a small personal stage monitor so I can hear my self better over the stage mix. Iv'e heard of one called a"hot spot".
I'm not ready to spend the $ on the in ear monitors Shure has out. I'm looking for a small mic stand mounted powered monitor I can adjust to the sound level I like and not over power every one else on stage.
I normaly use my Amp. as a monitor but some times I'm not always in front of my amp.
Any suggestions of brands to look at are welcome, this is all new to me and I would hate to buy some thing that dosn't work as advertized.
Mike
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djm3801
280 posts
Dec 27, 2009
8:07 AM
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There was a long thread about hearing issues and something like this would be good for the hard of hearing who want to perform.
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Greg Heumann
203 posts
Dec 27, 2009
8:49 AM
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We use a hot spot for the keyboard player in my band - they're good monitors. But any time you have a monitor that close to you (pretty much anytime you have amplified harp in a monitor ANYWHERE) you're going to have to fight feedback issues. My experience, and I've tried a lot of things, is that if you need to hear yourself better on stage, the best solution is getting your own amp up higher, or getting a larger amp.
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/Greg
BlowsMeAway Productions
BlueState - my band
Bluestate on iTunes
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MrVerylongusername
731 posts
Dec 27, 2009
9:01 AM
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In ear monitors do not have to be wireless. If you find you don't move around on stage too much, you could try hooking up a headphone amp near to you on stage, taking a feed from one of the monitor sends on the desk. The Behringer Micromon looks like it'd be OK. A good long headphone extension lead and you have guaranteed feedback free monitoring for far less than the cost of a hotspot .
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Shredder
82 posts
Dec 27, 2009
11:57 AM
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Hey fellows, I tried the head phone setup at practice the other day. It works but some times I move from one end of the stage to the other and don't want another cord to drag around. I was concerned with feed back having the monitor close at hand as in the hot spot. I have a 30 Watt amp., it's loud enough most of the time but I have to stay close to hear it like I want it.
Looks like all the roads are leading to a wireless in ear monitor, Damm I don't need to spend that kind of jack right now. I guess I'll have to deal with it for a while longer.
Mike
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LittleJoeSamson
175 posts
Dec 27, 2009
2:46 PM
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I go with what Greg said: Lift the amp up. 30 W should be plenty loud to hear.
I use one of those folding wooden snack tables. Should provide better sound projection for almost any room, too.
I've seen others use good milk crates as lifters, too.
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Greg Heumann
204 posts
Dec 27, 2009
5:52 PM
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Here's the thing from my POV - unless you have a sound guy to MIX you a headphone mix, you will NOT be able to hear the band properly. Good music is 90% listening and 10% playing. I've tried ear plugs, headphones, etc - they might work for someone whose instrument doesn't resonate in their ears, but as a harp player I find them completely distracting. You can't tell how loud you are relative to the band. Hearing yourself better at the expense of hearing the band is not a good solution. Figure out how to hear your amp.
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/Greg
BlowsMeAway Productions
BlueState - my band
Bluestate on iTunes
Last Edited by on Dec 27, 2009 5:54 PM
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walterharp
158 posts
Dec 27, 2009
8:58 PM
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One issue with getting your amp up off the floor is that it tends to loose some of the low frequencies that many harp players work hard to emphasize (tone may not sound so fat) Is it tipped back? that helps. Also, weber beam blockers will disperse the sound more. I have also flared out the speakers in my 4x10 a bit to broaden the sound output and minimize the really hot spot right front and center where the sound waves from the 4 speakers intersect and there is a spot more prone to feedback.
the hot spot monitors are certainly more prone to feedback, we have had that issue, for some reason they have ground loop issues that are difficult to solve as well, probably because they are powered monitors
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Shredder
83 posts
Dec 27, 2009
9:33 PM
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To answer a few questions that were brought up. I have an amp. stand that raises the amp about 2 foot off the floor and it tilts back aprox. 20 to 30 degrees.
Our sound man is the lead guitar player, we get along well and he is very particular that each musician has the mix they personaly like.
I was concerned the hot spots would feed back, looks like I was right.
I agree that the ear buds or head phones are a distraction, Iv'e tried head phones and didn't care for them. I agree with the feeling of being seperated from the band and not knowing how loud I am in respect to the others.
The bluetooth transmitter and reciver looks like it would work, not sure of the mix verses my harp to the ear buds?
I guess there is no magic pill so I will work with positioning floor monitors and my amp. for now.
Thanks for the input guy's,
Mike
Last Edited by on Dec 27, 2009 9:39 PM
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Gray
93 posts
Dec 27, 2009
9:38 PM
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Hey.I use a self powered speaker= RCF Art525 (light weight neo magnet inside at 400w)as my amp and I have no issue with feedback.They (RCF) also do a smaller speaker called ART310a or there cheaper version is Quest QSA200.Check it.
Note:I dont go for that Little Walter sound.
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congaron
363 posts
Dec 28, 2009
10:55 AM
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Is the stage mix really loud? This is very common, especially with bands using tube amps, mic'd into the PA or not.
If the guitar is too loud, he should be using an attenuator to get his tone at a lower volume. This is an extremely common problem with guitarists and tube amplifiers. Without attenuation, a guitarists insisting on "my tone" can force a stage monitor volume that is so high it comes outi into the audience as out of of phase music that ends up sounding like poop. The sound guy loses all control of the bands sound and the mix becomes horrendous in the front of house (foh). The band may be hearing exactly what it is used to hearing at practice and the audience hears mush.
Frequently, when a harp player can't hear a 30 watt amp on stage, the rest of the band needs to turn down. In a larger venue, it is common for a 30 watt amp to need micing in the FOH mix, but you should still be able to hear it on stage if the drummer is not over-hitting and forcing a loud stage mix. This is solved by reducing the drummer's monitor level so he has to play softer to hear the band. A good drummer has no trouble with this and will often be mic'd so the soundman can adjust his levels as needed in the FOH.
I am willing to bet you have a stage volume well in excess of 100dbc. Our band always shoots for a maximum of 95 on loud passages. 90dbc most of the rest of the time. A stage volume like this makes playing together enjoyable and makes the band very conscious of each other all the time, therefore very tight.
A 30 watt amp should be a fine harp monitor and can be mic'd for front of house if you need to turn it totally toward you to hear it. If you do, drop a blanket over the back if it's an open cab, to avoid cancellation and mud in the first few rows of the audience.
Getting the sound right with tube amps is a challenge that begins with attenuation of the guitar amp and correct monitor levels for the drummer, in my experience running sound for blues/rock/Christian contemporary bands. Hope that helps.
BTW, I play through a 5 watt valve junior and 2 12 inch jensens. I am wireless and roam the stage freely, using that setup as a monitor..mic'd for the FOH. My guitarist attenuates and my drummer plays so he can hear his monitor ...which is not super loud.
Remember, more speakers on stage carrying your mic'd harp introduce additional feedback opportunities. There is a possibility you are already in the other monitor mixes if you are micing your amp. You might think about roaming the stage to where you can hear those.
Last Edited by on Dec 28, 2009 11:00 AM
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bluedogg
27 posts
Dec 29, 2009
5:53 AM
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I use a Fender Pro Jr. as a monitor (on a tilt back stand) I use a '59 bassman RI as my main amp with a H&K redbox, but split off to the Pro Jr. up close and personal. Small stage setups i just leave the Bassman at home and come back through a wedge, but you never know when the wedge monitor will be gone when using different sound guys so the PJ is always with me except for open stage gigs
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