We have a couple of Audio Techica M series In-Ear Wireless systems. We've both got through two sets of their earpices - these are not cheap either. This time around we've both dipped for Westone UM3X in-ear monitors. While not cheap at about $400 they have three drivers and are truly full range. I used to hear the bass from the PA subs but no more - with these stuffed in you get the real dynamics the people are hearing. One nifty thing the Presonus does is you can allocate 2 channels to your IEMs and with the ATs in stereo, utilise the pan and level to set up a stereo listening field in your head. This is SO useful - the click is way out on my right and my stereo guitar effects are in stereo along with the stems. Another cool thing about the Westones is that you can just unplug the cable from teh earpiece - no returning to factory for new wir.

I used to covet bands with Avioms. No longer - the amazing Presonus StudioLive mixers, their FW connect, the Universal Control program coupled with an ad-hoc wireless n/w and iPads and iPods let everyone control their own aux monitor mix (when permitted). The 16:4:2 has 6 auxes (+2 EFX at a pinch). That mean 6(8) individual monitor mixes.

We added a $180 Samson S-Phone 4 channel headphone amp for the static band members and a couple of wireless IEMs for the leaders.

After running this system for 2 weeks now I'm amazed what a difference it makes. No more running back to the mixer when George can't hear enough of himself.. get yer iPod/iPhone out yerself...

The PC/Mac Virtual Studio Live app - I don't touch it mostly - the iPad does it all. Oooh.. sometimes I really like starting at a new church :-)

The Problem - when leading worship yourself and at the same time controlling Live's stems (or loops or tracks or whatever), its not easy to be confident of Live's lingering on a say a chorus or talky bit. Until now I've done the usual tap-dance within the last few bars to set a section repeat, then furtively looked down to make sure it's taken. Sometimes I've unknowingly hit it twice or not at all with the ensuing confusion. Live's loop facilities help a lot but what I really want is to be able to tell Live, at any time before I get there, that I want to linger in the upcoming chorus or instrumental part or whatever.

My solution - insert a MIDI "control track" that contains "skip to last locator" commands. Have this track's on/off (mute) status controlled by a footswitch (I have this footswitch bracketed by some aluminium angle so I can reach for it without stopping the song). I use Bome's MIDI translator to achieve this. I insert simple, bright green, MIDI clips into the set where I might want to linger.

Result - if I want to linger a bit, it's easy to hit the pedal to tell Live to keep repeating a section until I say move on.

To remind the band there's a section we might want to repeat, I've already highlighted that bit in the band's leadsheets and added an audio cue fro those on IEMs. As they can also see if the mute button is on or off they know whether I'm going to repeat or not.

Here's a quick video to illustrate. More detail to follow - feel free to comment or email me with any questions meanwhile.

That is the question....

Here's a typical Sunday set - dithering between staying with arrange view or trying session view again. I just don't like the lack of precision when it come to those "hmm.. is this the last measure or not" moments...