Live Sound & Production

[MrKnobs]

Originally posted by franchelB
We use the PSM 400 with 2 receivers and 2 different channels in our church band. While I like using the PSMs, the thing I'm not crazy about is the "click" sound that I hear while the music is on...as if the transmitter is trying to "find" a clear channel

I'm not sure what that is, as I've not experienced it. Maybe Matt can comment?

I do know the PSM400 doesn't "channel hop" on its own. Shure has instructions for finding the clearest channel(s) where you do switch around, but only during setup.

Terry D.

[Sugarfried]

franchelB: I'm not sure what "when the music is on" means. Is there background music playing? Or do you mean "when the unit is on"?

Terry is correct, there is no channel hopping going on. Depending on how many channels of wireless are running, it may be interference. That's why we put in the frequency locater.

For PSM 400: turn all transmitters off. Make sure your receiver is off too. Hold the receiver, press in both buttons, and turn the unit on (while holding the buttons). The antenna on the LCD screen should start scrolling. Plug in the earphones, but don't put them in your ear just yet.
Scroll the cursor to FREQ, and start changing frequencies. out of the earphones you should start to hear white noise. This indicates that the channel is clean/usable. If there is no sound, or intermittent sound, stay away from that channel. If you can't tell, put one of the earphones in your ears with the volume all the way down, the turn it up a tiny bit - it's loud. Again, consistent white noise indentifies clean channels.

-Matt

[franchelB]

Originally posted by Sugarfried
franchelB: I'm not sure what "when the music is on" means. Is there background music playing? Or do you mean "when the unit is on"?

....

-Matt

Hi Matt,
Yeah, I mean while we're playing music.
We're using 2 receivers: One is Channel A for the instruments, one is Channel B for the vocals...
I'm on Channel A because I play lead guitar. Now, I know my transmitter isn't hopping to other channels; plus it even reads "A" on the LCD.
BUT, I do hear "clicks" every once in a while...I don't know if it's a sign of battery usage or switching frequencies or whatever...like it's trying to find a clearer reception.:confused:
Limiter, EQ, and Mix are all lit up in my transmitter...plus, I keep the mix knob in the middle; though I don't think any of those would contribute to the intermitent clicks. I change batteries every 3 weeks. :confused:

[Sugarfried]

I fear that you're hearing the clicks as a result of wireless interference. That's why I wrote the instructions on the frequency locater. Try that, and let me know if it changes anything.
-Matt

[4midori]

The only complaint I have is the extra time it takes to run the cables from box to box when we setup

You can get a cheap Ethernet "splitter" box, split the signal coming out of the main box, and then run a separate ethernet cable to each mini-mixer.

-B

[stierage]

I use some cheap Sony noise cancelling earphones (About £30), a headphone extension lead and a headphone amplifier, and send the monitor mix using the aux sends from a Mackie 1604 VLZ3. Are you telling me that professional in-ear monitors e.g Shure\Seinnhesier are significantly better to warrant the additional cost?

[samkokajko]

A professional in-ear system will have a couple benefits.

1. Built-in limiting to protect your ears from any accidents (feedback, clipping, etc) one mistake can be disasterous, especially when using in-ear buds which are closer to your ear, and harder to knock off your head. But even with over-ear headphones it can be very dangerous.

2. Wireless, not neccessary with drums, keys, or other non-moving instruments, but nice to have.

3. Better sound, most likely in-ear buds will provide a better sound than your headphones, I have a pair of SCL3 buds which are on the cheap side, bud I definately like them more than any of my headphones (several models of nice Sony and Sennheiser headphones). For some things I prefer my HD-280Pro phones but that's it. You will need to get used to the feel of them though.

4. Better isolation from exterior noise, especially if you get custom molds made. I don't have custom molds yet but I get a good fit with stock tips and the noise reduction is 10x more than any over-ear phones I've used.

5. Appearance. This might not be high up on your list, but headphones aren'y pretty on-stage, earbuds are slightly better. Unless you're in to that kind of thing.

The sound quality and other things may not be enough to warrant the switch but weigh in your hearing a.k.a. your lively-hood and it is well worth getting the right thing to do the job. At very least put a limiter in the chain and set it up properly.

[J the D]

You get what you pay for. I spent $500 on just the E-5 ear buds.

[SkyhighRocks]

I use the psm200 with SCL3 buds (custom molds). I love it except for the guitar part...everything sounds fantastic but I'm still having trouble adjusting to the guitar sound. It's hard to go from a 4x12 to having that sound pushed into a tiny speaker in your ear. it's definitely made my playing fall off a bit...mainly leads because notes just decay in my ears when they're still sustaining from the cabinet.

[jwlussow]

I use the psm200 with SCL3 buds (custom molds). I love it except for the guitar part...everything sounds fantastic but I'm still having trouble adjusting to the guitar sound. It's hard to go from a 4x12 to having that sound pushed into a tiny speaker in your ear. it's definitely made my playing fall off a bit...mainly leads because notes just decay in my ears when they're still sustaining from the cabinet.

That is still so weird to me. I use the same setup and the sound from the in ears is the same as FOH (as far as decay, fall off, etc...). I was hoping you had that figured out already.

[SkyhighRocks]

That is still so weird to me. I use the same setup and the sound from the in ears is the same as FOH (as far as decay, fall off, etc...). I was hoping you had that figured out already.

Nope it's still different. It's better at some venues but still gives me problems. It could be that I have so much going into my ears that it's overloading at times. But that doesn't answer why the guitar tone itself sounds different

[ShizzelDizzel]

I've experienced exactly what you are going through. Although I never used a huge cabinet on stage, the sound directly from the amp is different "feeling" than what comes through the IEM's. I've had one gig with my new Sennheiser 300 G2 IEM's coming from the Shure PSM 200 and honestly, I don't know how I even got through a gig with the Shure. The Senns provide the sound they way it's supposed to be heard although the guitar feel is still not there. I will be getting some custom molds made and sending them off to Fidelity Custom Earphones and hopefully that will improve the dynamics.

I use the psm200 with SCL3 buds (custom molds). I love it except for the guitar part...everything sounds fantastic but I'm still having trouble adjusting to the guitar sound. It's hard to go from a 4x12 to having that sound pushed into a tiny speaker in your ear. it's definitely made my playing fall off a bit...mainly leads because notes just decay in my ears when they're still sustaining from the cabinet.

[stierage]

Thanks for all the responses guys. You've convinced me to try some IEMs, but don't want to start with the expensive ones. Has anyone tried the LD Systems MEI 1000's? You can feed 2 mixes in, so that you can hear your own mix slightly above the main mix. Sounds good in principle. Ear buds are probably not the best, but if the wireless works well, I could always replace them.

[jwlussow]

I wouldn't start too cheap. We did that and it was a nightmare. We wasted hundreds on cheap units that really never worked. Check out the Galaxy or the PSM200s if you want to start cheap. Anything less then that will be a waste of money. We are very happy with our 200s but we started so low that the 200s sounded awesome compared to all the other cheaper units. I'm going to give the Sennheisers a try just to see if they are really that much better then the Shures.

[Dega500]

Do you know if the Galaxy units have limiters?

[ShizzelDizzel]

I wouldn't start too cheap. We did that and it was a nightmare. We wasted hundreds on cheap units that really never worked. Check out the Galaxy or the PSM200s if you want to start cheap. Anything less then that will be a waste of money.

We are very happy with our 200s but we started so low that the 200s sounded awesome compared to all the other cheaper units. I'm going to give the Sennheisers a try just to see if they are really that much better then the Shures.

It is a night and day difference going from the 200's (no headroom at all) to the Senns. You can still get the Senn 300 G2 for under $600 new on Evilbay. Do it.

[jwlussow]

It is a night and day difference going from the 200's (no headroom at all) to the Senns. You can still get the Senn 300 G2 for under $600 new on Evilbay. Do it.

I'll check it out.

[jwlussow]

Do you know if the Galaxy units have limiters?

Yes they do.