Loudspeakers: Monitor Loudspeakers Pt. I

The answer is, "A monitor loudspeaker system." Now, for the championship round, what is the question?

Coming up with the right question is often the real challenge. Let's explore some of these problems and discover the correct questions and answers.

A relatively recent trend is for singing groups to use accompaniment trax. Accompaniments are available on cassette tape, reel to reel tape, and digital compact disc (CD). A soloist, small group, or even the large choir can sing along with the songs, usually called trax, which can provide a full symphony orchestra for the accompaniment. Best of all, the vocalists can practice anytime or practically anywhere without having schedule rehearsal time with the orchestra or even the pianist. In our busy world, using trax can be very attractive. However, the use, or desire to use, background trax often brings with it a set of problems.

A Trying Tryout

First of all, background trax must be played on something. Often a facility has a cassette deck, but it's designated for recording. It is not possible to record and play back the trax at the same time. This problem can be solved by buying another cassette deck or bringing one from home.

The next step is to get the trax hooked up to your sound system. This may be simple or very difficult depending on your particular system. Let's assume you get it hooked up and you can get the music to come over the loudspeakers.

At this point, the sound quality may or may not sound very musical. That is very dependent on the quality of the sound system. However, let's again assume the background trax sound acceptable and you start to practice. The sound operator starts the cassette deck and sets the right balance between soloist's voice and the background trax. The soloist begins to sing; but there is a problem. She/he can't hear the music. After singing a few measures, the soloist stops and asks for more trax volume. At that point, the sound operator says the balance is fine in the seating area. The sound operator goes on to say, "If the trax is turned up any louder, it will over power [the soloist's] voice."

What can be done? The soloist can't sing well without hearing the music. The audience can't hear well with the trax turned up any louder. What can be done about this problem? The answer (I'm sure you guessed it) is to install a monitor system.

The Monitor Solution

Figure 1	Figure 2
Floor Monitor loudspeaker	Overhead monitor for the choir

A monitor system allows the vocalist to hear the background trax from a loudspeaker that is usually on the floor in front of him/her (Figure 1). A small personal monitor could also be set on a stand in front of the singer. Or if conditions permit, the monitor could be hung from overhead and aimed toward the singer(s) (Figure 2) . This method works well for the choir.

With any set-up, whoever is singing would be able to hear the background trax so they would be able to sing their best. Usually, the level of trax sent to the monitor loudspeaker is independent of the level coming from the main loudspeakers. That is important, because the sound operator can adjust the trax to the proper level for the audience and the singers.

Monitor loudspeakers have many uses and applications. Sometimes a talker cannot hear the main sound system very well. This can cause some uneasiness. A monitor loudspeaker can solve this problem by putting the minister's voice into the monitor loudspeaker.

A word of CAUTION: Extreme care must be taken to prevent the sound system from having feedback (usually a loud ringing or howl). Feedback in the monitor loudspeakers can be a problem if the vocalist or speaker needs a high level. The monitor system may require an equalizer to help achieve more volume. The equalizer should be a one-third octave equalizer or a parametric type equalizer, or even both.

More Monitor Usage

Instrumentalists may need a monitor so they can hear each other. If the piano and organ play together and are placed on each side on the platform, the organist may not be able to hear the piano. Electronic instruments, such as synthesizers and guitars, will need monitor loudspeakers to hear themselves and each other. As the number of musicians grows, the need for more monitors also grows. Some churches use many different monitor mixes or systems so that different instrumentalists or singers can each hear only what they need to hear. This enables the musicians to do their best.

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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