One of the most common frustrations musicians have with in-ear monitors is not the monitors themselves — it is the mix. A great IEM can sound terrible if what is going into it is not built right. And a lot of people have never been taught how to build a monitor mix from the ground up.

We brought in Will Doggett from From Studio to Stage, a world-class audio educator and live sound engineer, to walk through the process with Andy in the webinar above. If you are still figuring out which IEM is right for your instrument, start at our How to Buy page first, then come back here.

What Is an In-Ear Monitor Mix?

A monitor mix is a custom audio blend sent to a specific performer on stage so they can hear what they need to perform. Unlike the main mix going to the audience, a monitor mix is personal. Your instrument louder, the band balanced the way you need it, your voice or instrument at the right level.

When you move from floor wedges to IEMs, the mix becomes even more personal. You are now the only person who hears your mix which is both a superpower and a responsibility. A bad monitor mix you could tolerate with wedges becomes inescapable in an IEM.

How to Build a Great IEM Mix: Start to Finish

Step 1: Start With Yourself

Your instrument or voice should sit clearly at the center of your mix. Not so loud it drowns out the band but prominent enough that you always know where you are. When performers have trouble hearing themselves, they often respond by turning up everything. That is the wrong direction. Turn yourself up first, then build around it.

Step 2: Build From the Rhythm Section

Once you can hear yourself clearly, add the kick drum and bass guitar. These are the anchor elements of nearly every genre. You want to feel the groove before you add anything else. If you are a bass player or drummer, these are your primary elements. Everything else fills in around them.

Step 3: Add the Harmonic Foundation

Keys, pads, rhythm guitar. These define the harmonic content of what you are playing against. They do not need to be loud. They need to be present enough to give you the context to perform confidently.

Step 4: Add Lead Elements

Vocals, lead guitar, keyboard solos — add these last, and at a lower level than you might expect. The goal is to be aware of them, not immersed in them. Your own instrument should still dominate your mix.

Step 5: Add Click or Guide Tracks Last

If you are running to a click or a guide track, drop it in last and mix it to the minimum level where it is clearly audible. A click that is too loud creates fatigue and feels like pressure instead of support.

Common IEM Mix Mistakes

• Turning everything up — when you cannot hear yourself, the answer is turning yourself up, not the whole mix
• Too much reverb — reverb that sounds lush on stage monitors sounds washed and overwhelming in IEMs due to the proximity to your eardrum
• Ignoring the low end — if you cannot feel the kick and bass, you will drift rhythmically; get those elements in early
• Ambience that is too loud — a stage mic for ambient sound should be an accent, not a constant open-stage noise floor

Watch the Full Webinar

Will and Andy cover all of this and much more in the video above — from choosing the right in-ears to dialing in a mix that actually works for your instrument. Watch it through at least once before your next rehearsal.

Have questions about which IEM is right for your instrument? Start at our How to Buy page or reach out to us directly. We are glad to help.