Adam Neely - The Secret to Better IEM Rigs (for touring bands)
The video outlines the development of a 32-channel IEM rig designed to address issues faced by the band Sungazer during tours. Traditional sound checks are lengthy and inconsistent, so the band developed a system using analog audio over Ethernet to streamline the process. This system allows for consistent in-ear monitoring, reducing setup time and errors. The rig is lightweight, crucial for touring, and uses a CAT rack from Sound Tools to split audio signals efficiently. The CAT rack sends analog audio over Ethernet, reducing the weight and complexity of traditional setups. The system is designed to minimize errors and setup time, crucial for festival and opening slots where time is limited. Despite its advantages, the system has quirks, such as the need for meticulous planning and the cost of breakout boxes. However, it has proven effective in providing consistent, lightweight, and error-proof monitoring for the band.
Key Points:
- The IEM rig uses analog audio over Ethernet, reducing weight and setup complexity.
- The system ensures consistent in-ear monitoring, crucial for touring bands.
- It minimizes setup time and errors, essential for festival and opening slots.
- The CAT rack from Sound Tools is central to the system, providing efficient audio splitting.
- Despite its benefits, the system requires careful planning and can be costly.
Details:
1. 🎤 Introduction to the Innovative IEM Rig
- The rig is a 32 Channel IEM with analog audio over ethernet passive mic split.
- Designed to address issues experienced by the band Sungazer with their previous IEM setup.
- Aims to provide easier, shorter, and less stressful sound checks.
- Offers more consistent in-ear monitoring, enabling better self-hearing during performances.
- Developed from practical lessons learned on the road, resulting in a unique approach to IEM rigs.
- Intended to educate others on the benefits and usage of analog audio over ethernet.
- Highlights the importance of defining the problems faced before designing the solution.
2. 🎧 Traditional Sound Check Challenges
- Traditional sound checks can be lengthy and tiring, requiring coordination with house audio engineers for in-ear monitor balance, which can be inconsistent across venues.
- Bands are addressing this by using in-ear monitor rigs, allowing them to bring their own rack mixer for consistent sound each night, reducing reliance on house engineers.
- To accommodate frequent travel and tight tour budgets, bands need lightweight equipment, making personal rigs essential for minimizing weight and setup complexity.
- Touring environments demand error-proof equipment due to limited setup time at festivals and opening slots, where setup errors are more likely.
- Consistent, lightweight, error-proof rigs are critical for efficient touring, enabling bands to maintain sound quality and reduce setup errors, ultimately enhancing performance reliability.
3. 🔧 Upgrading to the PreSonus 32R Solution
- Upgrading from PreSonus 24R to PreSonus 32R increases channel capacity from 24 to 32 in 2U of Rackspace, accommodating additional needs such as playing with big bands or guest musicians.
- The PreSonus 32R allows stage signals to be split into two copies, one for the mixer and another for the front-of-house engineer, streamlining sound mixing processes.
- Previous use of ART S83 mic splitters presented challenges due to weight (almost 5 lbs per 8-channel unit) and complexity in patching, increasing risk of mispatching in live settings with 32 channels.
4. 🎛️ Modular Snake System Implementation
- The modular snake system reduced three points of failure down to just one, enhancing reliability.
- Implemented a system where pre-patched stage snakes connect directly with stage boxes, simplifying setup and reducing potential errors.
- The system enabled setup and soundcheck completion within 15 to 20 minutes during a 24-show tour, demonstrating efficiency.
- The setup functioned flawlessly throughout the tour across the United States, proving its reliability.
- Heavy system components required an additional checked bag when flying, though Australia allows musicians to check extra bags for free.
- The system was particularly beneficial for touring bands doing opening slots, offering consistency and error reduction.
5. 🛠️ SoundTools Cat RCK: A Game Changer
- The SoundTools Cat RCK offers 12 channels of mic split in a 1U rack unit, providing a lightweight and compact alternative to traditional systems like the Arts8.
- It employs analog audio over Ethernet, enabling four channels of analog audio transmission over a single shielded Cat 6 cable, which mandates the use of STP cables for optimal performance.
- Effectively functioning as three breakout boxes in one unit, the Cat RCK transforms into a passive mic split by delivering an identical signal copy output.
- This design significantly reduces the reliance on multiple XLR cables, simplifying stage setups by functioning as a streamlined, lightweight stage snake.
- The system introduces only one potential point of failure at the front of house engineer's patching, thereby minimizing risks of mispatching, which is a common issue in live performances that can delay sound checks.
- Designed with a focus on preventing mispatching, it addresses a critical issue that frequently causes delays in sound checks, enhancing efficiency in live performance settings.
6. 🖥️ Detailed Design and Setup of the Rig
- Utilizing low-profile right angle XLR cables allows for efficient cable management and fits 32 channels into two U of rack space using PreSonus 32r, which has eight inputs on the back.
- Four leftover channels on Cat racks are used as monitor sends, optimizing existing resources.
- A D series pass-through panel simplifies connectivity, making it easier to manage connections on dark stages.
- Shielded Cat 6 cables are used for wiring inputs and outputs into pass-through jacks, providing reliable data transmission.
- The rig deploys a 24-channel version that worked flawlessly on a European run, showing consistency and reliability night to night.
- Ethernet cables are used instead of traditional audio trunks, reducing weight to less than a pound and making the rig extremely lightweight and easy to transport.
- Color-coded panels reduce errors and simplify setup, enhancing user experience and minimizing mistakes.
- Audio over ethernet stage boxes are directly integrated into the playback rig, streamlining the setup process.
- The rig's design is simple, consistent, lightweight, and error-proof, although it may have quirks that limit broader adoption.
7. 💡 Navigating System Quirks and Costs
- System setup demands careful planning of physical space to ensure proper patching and connection of inputs and outputs.
- When dealing with different breakout box manufacturers, be prepared for pinout variations that can lead to troubleshooting complexities.
- Consider the cost of breakout boxes, with premium brands like Sound Tools and Radial priced over $100 each, impacting budget.
- Ethernet cables are prone to damage with frequent use due to fragile RJ45 connectors; opt for Ethercon cables which, despite being heavier and pricier, offer durability for road use.
- Explore alternative breakout box options to mitigate costs, and develop a strategy for handling pinout issues to streamline setup processes.