Need a Sound Tech.
 

Anybody have any experience or comments on the "Hear Back System"

We are struggling to get everything dialed in.

bump for anyboody

What is your problem? I have not used the Hear Back system but what are you having problems getting dialed in?

Doesn't everyone have their own monitor mix so they can dial it in the way they want it?

supposedly.....I'm usually the service leader so my sound is from a wedge monitor sitting next to the pulpit.

We are continuosly battling with hearing the bass. And while the sound man is only supposed to control the volume of the house mix each time he turns it down it effects the volume in the ear monitors.

So far I am not a big fan of the system.

What is feeding the signal to your hearback system? AUX out? Mono out? Y split from your main mix?

I'll get our sound man to post when he comes on later

He's a member here

I do my monitors simple.. Mains on the left channel and monitors on the left channel. That way we hear the same thing that everyone else does... if the sound man has a good mix for him, you should have a good mix also... I've been in churches where they mixed each monitor and personally didn't think it worked very well... everyone was trying to tell the sound man how to mix their monitor, it was a mess...

In theory that is a good idea. Rarely works though. I don't have a problem giving individual maon mixes. Most boards have at least 4 aux outs which allow for seperate mixes for say, musicians, singers, speakers, or preachers. in simple setups, the house mix is fine. In more complex, meaning more people and instruments, you have to have a seperate mix.

That is true. Having a monitor board is also the best way to control the monitors as opposed to running monitors from Aux off the FOH board.

A common problem is that lots of people run mains as left and monitors as right but you will never get a decent mix on mains or monitors doing that. I try to help churches where I am preaching with any sounds issues they have because it will help me while I am there and will help them when I am gone.

If you can't hear the bass, perhaps he has too much bottom in the house...

The whole purpose of this system is so that each individual can have his mix the way he wants it. The guy running the FOH board should have absolutely no control over your system.

Are you using in ear monitors or are you trying to use this system with wedges?

If you are using the wedges and the soundman turns down the house then you are probably thinking he is turning down your mix when all he is doing is lowering the house mix. This is a very common problem when singers or musicians can't tell the difference between the house mix and monitor mix.

Your best solution for 95% of all monitor mix problems is to lower overall stage volume and let the soundman push the house. You can spend thousands of dollars on monitor systems when all you really need is for your drummer, bass, or organ to turn down just a little.

Amen!! Wonder where you came up with that idea?:friend

Myself, fool!

:clap

the problem is that we have a really small sanctuary. The other problem is that I hate that solution. Even though it may be right.

The drummer has toned down.......the bass is sometimes non-existant. The main problem is that they cannot hear themselves, especially the base in their personal mixes.

What you said earlier about confusion between the wedge monitor mix volume and house volume may be partially true. Being really small it wouldn't be difficult to mistake a decrease in volume from one source to another.


I'm still checking on the feed question. One thing the system has done and that is taken the "live "aspect from our musicians and that has proven very difficult to get used to on multiple levels.

I would seriously not reccomend this system to a lively church, but rather the employment of a quality soundman.

You could be a pastor with that mentality, take someone else's idea,theory,plan,words, etc.....and make it your own.:nod

No matter how good the mix is, 9 out of 10 times the mon mix will never sound as good as the house. If the mon mix ever sounds better than the house well, the platform is dictating too much. You need a strong soundman that cares 70% about the house and 30% about the platform. If you can ever get the house to not be battling the platform you got a good formula there. At my old church it took me about 6 months to beat into the heads of the platform that its not about you, it about the people on the pews. Give the people on the pews good quality and most of the time the rest will work itself out. Its a matter of quality over quantity. You can have all the quantity in the world and if the mix stinks all you will do is run people out of the building. If you have a qualified sound man, give him the leadway to get the house right. The he can get the mon to back up what you are hearing from the house. I know every setup is different and this advice might not be the best for your situation but, consider lowing the overall stage volume. Once the platform gets used to lower volume you have something to work with then. IMO
DS

Maybe you could tell us about your musicians. And what they are needing.
Does the bass player have an amp or is he going through the house.

One of the things that I have learned to deal with as a musician, is that what you are hearing from the monitor mix isn't what the folks are hearing from the house. You have to be able to trust your sound guy to deliver a decent mix.

Also, you will spend way to much time trying to get a perfect monitor mix when all you are trying to do is hear yourself and others. If you have a cordless mic try walking out and listening to the house mix while you play if you don't trust your soundman. You will find that is probably sounds pretty good.