Loudspeakers: Monitor Loudspeakers Pt. II

Monitor loudspeakers can solve many sound system problems. Often, people don't know monitors can improve their sound. This article explores the needs, uses, types, techniques and set-up options for a monitor system.

What is a monitor loudspeaker?

A monitor is a loudspeaker that helps a singer or musician hear the music. For instance, trax are often used for accompaniment during musicals. Without a monitor system, the instrumental trax are only played over the main system. The problem is, in order for the director and children to hear the trax, the trax are played too loud. And, the audience can only hear the trax, not the children. That leads to upset parents! A monitor system easily solves this dilemma. The trax can be sent to the monitor loudspeakers at an adequate level. The trax level in the main system can be adjusted so the audience (including parents) hear an appropriate balance of singers and trax.

Figure 1

What are some monitor uses?

Like the musical example, soloists need to hear the accompaniment trax. If your facility doesn't have a monitor system, the soloist may not hear the trax well enough to keep the pitch or tempo.

When a church uses both piano and organ it creates a unique problem. To maintain architectural symmetry, the piano and organ, are often on opposite sides. This makes it difficult for the organist to hear the piano. A monitor at the organ is needed.

Similar to the organ, electronic keyboards have the same needs. The keyboard produces no acoustic sound of its own. A monitor enables the user to hear the keyboard.

Further, today's vocal groups often want to spread out when they present a song. That's how they see the pros do it. However, it makes it very difficult for each singer to hear the others. And, if amplified instruments are used, it becomes impossible to hear each other. The only answer is a monitor loudspeaker system. In fact, it may take two or three monitors to do the job right (see Figure 1).

Figure 2

How about techniques?

It is easy to let the monitors get too loud. This needs to be watched because, as the monitor level goes up, the clarity of the house system goes down. After the sound from the monitor reaches the singer, it continues to bounce off walls. The sound ultimately gets reflected back to the congregation (Figure 2). The sound quality of the reflected signal has deteriorated, and this effects the main sound. In fact, it is possible for the monitor reflections to be louder than the main system.

This problem is not easy to solve. The system operator needs to talk to the musicians about the problem. Both need to understand the other's concerns. First, correct selection and placement of monitor loudspeakers can solve many too-loud monitor problems. Second, set the balance of the main system, then add the monitors. This will help keep the monitor levels low. Only add enough monitor level to provide presence and clarity to what the musicians hear.

What types are available?

There are basically three types of monitor loudspeakers. They are often called in-the-ear, personal and floor monitors. In-the-ear is the best monitor system available. Unfortunately, this type is expensive.

Figure 3
Personal monitors are used like the name implies (Figure 3). The loudspeaker is usually small and mounted on a stand. This allows the loudspeaker to be very close to the listener. Now, the volume of the loudspeaker can be kept relatively low since the loudspeaker is close to the user's ear. The monitor also sounds clearer, since the signal-to-noise ratio is quite high.

Floor monitors are placed on the floor in front of the user, as in Figure 2. They are often shaped so the loudspeaker can be directed at the musician's ears. However, since the loudspeaker is farther away, more volume is needed. If one monitor needs to cover a larger group, the monitor loudspeaker needs to be far enough away so everyone is in the high-frequency coverage pattern of the monitor loudspeaker (see Figure 1). Floor monitors may have one or two 10, 12, or 15 inch bass loudspeakers plus high frequency tweeters or a horn and driver. Generally, larger monitors are capable of producing more volume.

Floor monitors are available in many finishes and sizes. Several manufacturers market compact models with a nice wood-grain finish.

What are some set-up options?

The most common monitor system uses an aux output from a mixing console. The mixer can be simple or complex, but it needs to give the operator the ability to send a different signal to the monitor and house systems. The Aux Out is sent to an amplifier which feeds the monitor loudspeaker(s).

Figure 4

Another, simpler option, is for the monitor output to feed a powered loudspeaker. A powered loudspeaker has a built-in amplifier. This is a good option when loudspeaker cables would be difficult to install. An extra microphone cable to the platform would feed the mixer's Aux Out to the powered monitor. If your mixer doesn't have a monitor output, you could split the cassette playback signal. One split would feed your mixer and the other would feed the powered monitor (see Figure 4).

There are several ways to provide a monitor system. The actual method is dependent on your needs and present equipment. If you have problems like these, please call and we would be glad to help you reach the solutions!

by Ron Huisinga © 1996 Internet Sound Institute (www.soundinstitute.com). This articles is for personal use only. Any commercial reproduction is not permitted without permission. To obtain permission, contact ISI at hopi@soundinstitute.com

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