Karaoke Forums

Do you run music through your monitors or just vocals?

I've always run music through my monitor, but recently someone told me
I shouldn't. My main speakers are out in front of the stage and of course the monitor is on stage. I personally would never not run music through my monitor. I don't understand where this person is coming from. Am I missing something?

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Do which ever works best for you and your singers....Every room is different and so may be how you set up your mains....As long you and your singers can hear the music well enuff, then you need less, if any in the monitor mix....The more you can reduce stage volume, the less chance of feedback thru the mics, especially low range feedback.

Babs I have been in big venues where the stage was " boxed in" behind the mains.  Without a stage monitor it was impossible to sing.. I usually run the vocals a little hotter but I absolutely need music I usually dont read the graphics and for timing  I need it (the music you hear is reflected back in a big venue this does make a difference) and if there is heavy chorus and a song Im really not that familiar with I need it to harmonize with the background singers.  Also the stage monitor should not have any fx..  When the stage monitor is set right there is a sweet spot where the singer can hear only the monitor and a spot where they can hear the monitor and the mains equally or move from the monitor and hear full mains or fx only.   Feedback permitting run the eq on the monitor heavy in the middle (vocal range) If you are set up right you satisfy all preferences..

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i run music through the monitors, but very little.  maybe 15%.  the singer has to be able to hear where they are in the song.

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All work and no play make Homer something something

Now those are some intellegent answers. I knew I could count on you guys.

I have a regular that comes to the bar that runs the audio for the House of Blues.
He of course acts as if he knows everything. I realize my little system is nothing in comparison to what he is used to, but I don't think he has the knowledge of how to run a smaller system. He is the one who told me not to run music through my monitors, so I took it to heart.
I totally lost confidence in him last night when I was singing he got up on stage and started changing things on the powered mixer. He kept getting feed back as I was singing. It was so distracting I actually pushed him off stage.
I may not be a professional audio technician, but I know my system inside and out. I very very seldom ever get feed back. I told him he was fired. We laughed it off. I don't think he'll do that again. He meant well I know, so I am not mad.

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I don't use monitors. There is not enough room on the bar for them

When I sing at a place that has the stage type setup with a monitor I like music with the vocals at a much lower level than the main mix.

I think Crank's approach is good.  The singer should be able to hear a little of the music as directly as possible without  the added, natural reverb or echo caused by the room.  That way the singer should have less problems with pitch and timing.

no monitors? How are you set up?

I'm going to be in a tight situation soon. They are rebuilding my little stage, so I'll have to set up in front of that. I'm going to have to keep it contained in a small area.

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I always run a mix of music & vocals, but the monitors are independantly operated so if someone wants the music off, it won't affect the main mix, same with people requesting no vocals & more music in the monitor.  It's all a matter of preference, some people like to have the full mix, while some don't.  Even in bands, each monitor will often have a tailored mix for the person in front of it, most singers (in bands I know) prefer to have vocals, guitars & drums - usually.

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They are trying again to get it state wide here in co..

We are in Greeley about 40-50 east of the front range.  It is rare when you can see the mountains from here. When I go over to Fort Collins its like driving into a haze (the smog comes from Denver north along the foothills).  Driving down college ave in collins I get a headache...   An automobile sucks about 50 gallons of air a minute.  But boy we are all going to be safe with nobody smoking on the streets..  It is a smoke screen ....


Oops wrong thread.....

We never use monitors.  We set up in a way you can hear the music very well.  My gallery shows a typical set up.

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Timberlea- I really couldn't tell buy your pictures how you are set up.
Could you explain - pretty please. Nice collection of discs!

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Babs heres how we setup

pic 1
pic 2
pic 3

The discs are my partner's.  Once speaker is in front of the  mixing board "tower".  The other one is on the other side of the stage and slightly behind the singer.  Far enough away that there's no feedback.  In fact we've had mics in front of the speakers and not get feedback.  The Yorkville's I believe have a built in compressor.

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cool pics

I believe we have the same speakers - JBLs

What kind of monitor is that? I use a JBL eon as a monitor.

Most monitors are so darn heavy, but yours looks like a cute little one.

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Its  the eon10 g2 I have actually used it for a main in a small bar.. Well got o go to work...

Babs, are you saying he got on stage and started messing with your system?!  i'd have kicked his a$$ off the stage the minute he got up there!  NO ONE and i mean NO ONE touches my equipment unless i ask them to!  he has alot (excuse me crystal) a lot of nerve to do that!  as you say, running a small system and running a club system are completely different.  for one, the club systme is set up specifically for that room where-as your system changes each time you set it up.  there's no comparison to the two.  hopefully you set him  straight ( in a kind way) not to mess with your stuff.

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All work and no play make Homer something something

He actually is a really nice person. I'm afraid I embarrassed him enough by pushing
him off stage. I don't think he'll do it again, but I know what you mean.
The last guy that did that I stopped the song in the middle and banned him for the night.

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How do you know he's not "acting" as if he runs audio for "House of Blues" ?

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2 main speakers and a sub. The mains are on each side of the room and the sub under the main closest to me. I use wireless mics people can walk around and sing from where ever they want.