I'm a huge fan…your insights are always valued. I've only been using in ear monitors for a couple of years. I absolutely love it! My greatest struggle is that the soundman will typically want to control everything and usually sheds attitude when I ask to have him run a separate “house” signal to my live rig, especially if it's a good distance. All in all, I don't budge. I do find that I sing more accurately with in ear monitors but I suppose any singer does a better job when they can hear correctly.

I fully agree with beginning monitoring a performance at a nominal level so that it doesn't get turned up to dangerous porportions. Gain staging is key in almost any singal..right?! Start at the beginning and work your way up…common sense! The most difficult aspect of in ear monitors, when I first started using then, was the isolation from the audience. However, with time one just learns to improvise and come across in a natural way.

Early in this article there is mention made of conflicts between guitar and vox. No doubt, they hug similar frequencies. I've noticed a lot of local singers using multi-fx or guitar oriented fx processors for their vocals. Not only are many of these presets geared for different instruments but their EQ structures are as well. One think I truly love about by TC Helicon hardware is that it is specifically taylored to the voice. Immediately there is a noticeable difference when singing through my Voice Live 2 vs. anything less. You definitely get what you pay for.

I look forward to future articles from you and putting them into practice!

Namaste,

Brian

I closed my eyes and could've sworn I was listening to an old out take of an “unheard” song from Bobby D! I expected that voice to come out of an older, huskier individual. Nice color. It sounds like you know what direction your shooting for, an honest, grass roots approach to music…from reading your description of yourself = it fits. It's always best not to pretend when attempting to sing from the heart.

A huge part of performing live is engaging your audience. Although you're by yourself in a small room, try to envision a crowd of people in front of you and give 'em heck!!! True, it's just you, a guitar and the video camera…but…there are thousands of us out here watching you. Haha, or = an old “Broken Radio that we're gathered around?!” Either way, we're all out here listening :)

I noticed that you look away, toward the back wall, when you're not singing…look at us and mess with our heads.

There's plenty of tongue in cheek and punchy lyrics in your song. Let us in! We want to laugh and brawl with ya'! All in all, Steve, I really like your style and I think you have a rich future ahead of you if you keep at it. Do watch your pitch when you trail out a sentence…as you expend breath the pitch in these areas seem to wane a bit.

You'r young, fresh and engaging…keep at it; I'd love to hear more from you :)

Namaste,

Brian