Custom in-ear monitors fit differently than earbuds or universal IEMs. They are designed to seal against the walls of your ear canal. Getting that seal right on the first try takes a little practice. Most people have it figured out within a few sessions. Here is exactly how to do it.

How to Insert Your Custom IEMs: Step-by-Step

1. Identify left and right — your monitors are labeled. Getting them in the wrong ear is the most common beginner mistake.
2. Pull up and back on your outer ear with your free hand — this straightens the ear canal and makes insertion significantly easier, especially in the first few weeks.
3. Insert the nozzle and gently rotate the monitor forward while pressing it into the canal. It should feel like it is seating, not forcing.
4. Press lightly on the face of the monitor to finalize the seal once it is seated.
5. Test the seal — snap your fingers near each ear. You should hear the same level of reduction on both sides. If one ear sounds more open, reseat it and try again.

What a Proper Fit Feels Like

• Your monitors should sit relatively flush with your outer ear. Depending on your ear anatomy and the model you selected, they may extend slightly. That is normal.
• You may notice minor discomfort for the first few days as your ear canals adapt. This is common and typically resolves quickly.
• A properly seated monitor will feel secure even when you turn your head. If the seal breaks when you look sharply upward or shake your head aggressively, that is generally within normal parameters unless those movements are part of your performance.
• If you press your palm flat over your ear and push gently while wearing the monitor, the seal should stay intact.

Why You Should Never Wear Just One IEM

Wearing one IEM in and leaving the other ear open is one of the most common and most dangerous habits in live performance. Here is why.

Before an IEM can deliver great sound, it has to be a great earplug. A properly inserted custom IEM reduces outside noise by approximately 26dB. When you then play your mix through it, the volume only needs to be above that reduced noise floor which is a safe level.

When one ear is open and one has an IEM, the two ears are receiving vastly different volume levels. Your brain tries to balance them. To hear your IEM clearly over the open ear, you need to turn the monitor volume up to a level above the stage volume. That is louder than performing with no monitors at all. It is a significant hearing hazard and defeats the entire purpose of wearing monitors.

Rule: both in, or both out. Always.

Troubleshooting: What to Do If the Seal Is Not Right

• Try reseating using the pull-up-and-back technique. Most seal issues resolve with a better insertion angle
• Make sure the cable is looped over the ear and not pulling the monitor forward out of the canal
• Check for earwax buildup in the canal. Significant wax can prevent a good seal
• If the fit was good and has recently changed, your ear canal shape may have shifted slightly.Contact us and we can advise on a refit

Questions? We are happy to walk you through it. Email us or reach us on Instagram.