#1962123 - 06/24/08 06:01 AM
Professional Monitoring,
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rossi46
Senior Member
Registered: 08/12/05
Posts: 34
Loc: Nottingham England
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Still on my quest for perfect stage monitoring...
Anyway, I was watching an Elton John DVD the other night and noticed that he didn't have in ear monitoring ( It was a 2004 or 05 concert ) and was using what looked like one big wedge monitor on the floor to his right hand side (closest to the audience)Presumably this in mono, or if it is stereo then it's width s very small.
How do other major rock pianist's set-up their monitoring systems when they are no in-ear?
Has anyone any photos of certain setups?
Ta,
Edited by rossi46 (06/24/08 06:03 AM)
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#1962171 - 06/24/08 08:10 AM
Re: Professional Monitoring,
[Re: rossi46]
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timwat
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Registered: 11/21/01
Posts: 385
Loc: Concord,CA,UNITED STATES
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The recent 2 part Billy Joel article in KB noted he also doesn't use in-ears (can confrim from when I saw him live recently in Sacramento). Rather he uses floor wedge with small mixer box right on his piano-he controls volume himself of voice vs. piano.
I assume there must be some reason when a singing pianist starts playing huge venues that these two guys prefer wedge over IEM. For the small church I play piano and sing at, I prefer IEM.
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#1962195 - 06/24/08 09:01 AM
Re: Professional Monitoring,
[Re: timwat]
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Sven Golly
MP Hall of Fame Member
Registered: 11/12/03
Posts: 4512
Loc: Toronto, ON
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I assume there must be some reason when a singing pianist starts playing huge venues that these two guys prefer wedge over IEM.
Perhaps its because these guys have been doing it that way for 30+ years, and maybe they can't adjust to IEM?
IEM's are not for everybody... I love them, but I know just as many players who don't, for varying reasons.
The definition of 'perfect stage monitoring' is only perfect for one person. You. What difference does it make how Billy Joel, Elton John, Billy Payne, John Medeski, or anyone else monitors themselves? Their ears aren't your ears, their likes/dislikes aren't yours.
You have two choices when monitoring; IEM or speaker. Pick one of those, then find something that sounds good to your ears, and go with it.
Edited to add: you can get the story of why Elton prefers monitors here. Google is, indeed, your friend. 
_________________________
Without music life would be a mistake. ~Nietzsche
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#1962203 - 06/24/08 09:32 AM
Re: Professional Monitoring,
[Re: Sven Golly]
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Dave E
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Registered: 03/12/07
Posts: 152
Loc: San Antonio, TX
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Elton wears molded ear plugs with 20db filters. There's a guy here in SA who has fit molded ear plugs for a bunch of big name folks. Lots of the music stars in Mexico come here to have Ralph fit them with plugs.
Anyway, Elton lost his plugs before a show in Austin, so he sent his private jet to SA to pick Ralph up with his tools to create some new plugs. Ralph had the funniest name-dropping line I'd ever heard: When I asked him "How'd did Elton John hear about you" he said "Oh, Eric Clapton recommended me".
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#1962210 - 06/24/08 09:49 AM
Re: Professional Monitoring,
[Re: Dave E]
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Joe Muscara
MP Hall of Fame Member
Registered: 02/21/05
Posts: 2159
Loc: Houston, TX
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Huh. I wonder what "Ralph" does different than an audiologist one might find anywhere else. And now that I think of it, how would he have gotten Elton plugs right away? He must be making these himself instead of sending the molds to someplace like Westone. Maybe that's it.
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#1962289 - 06/24/08 01:00 PM
Re: Professional Monitoring,
[Re: Joe Muscara]
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SpaceNorman
Senior Member
Registered: 12/07/06
Posts: 380
Loc: Michigan
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Wedges vs IEMs? How about nothing? I worked stage crew for a small sound company that provided PA for Ray Charles at the Lansing Civic Center (Lansing MI) back in the early 80's. Although the rider didn't specifically call for it - we spent some time placing and tuning a pair of monitor wedges at the grand piano with what what we thought was a good representation of the vocals (the vocals included a small "choir" that were on risers on the far side of the stage from the piano.)
We were surprised as hell when Ray arrived for soundcheck - heard the heards - and directed us to strike them. He went on to play the entire show in a decent sized venue (I'm guessing 8,000-10,000 seats) without monitors of any sort.
_________________________
The SpaceNorman 
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