In this week’s Gig Gab, with guest cohost Daniel East returning to join Dave Hamilton, you dive into the essentials of managing your hearing and gear during and after gigs. Amanda’s question about affordable in-ear monitors (IEMs) leads to recommendations including the Sennheiser IE100 Pro and Juicy Earz, highlighting the importance of investing in quality gear without breaking the bank. Remember, the goal is to “Always Be Performing” at your best, and that includes protecting your most valuable asset – your hearing. The discussion then moves to the finer points of creating the perfect IEM mix. They emphasize starting from zero, building your levels up gradually, and ensuring no two instruments occupy the same stereo space. Trust both your ears and eyes when adjusting your mix, and keep it simple by taking as little as possible from the main mix. Wrapping up, they provide practical tips on ear care, such as using ear bulb syringes and avoiding ear candling. Stay sharp, stay safe, and keep performing at your peak! 00:00:00 Gig Gab 432 – Monday, June 3rd, 2024 June 3rd: Old Time Player Piano Day (but Friday was National Save Your Hearing Day) Guest Co-Host: Daniel East 00:01:58 Recent Gigs Jay Bernedo 00:10:16 Let your ears rest after the gig 00:12:34 Amanda-Which IEMs for $300 or less? 00:16:15 Listen FIRST 00:17:34 Listen Advice Human Voice Decay of Reverb Fingers on guitar strings Thump of the low end 00:19:23 Fitting them in 00:19:38 Recommended Earphones Sennheiser IE100 Pro – $98 Future Sonics G10 – $160 with code on site Linsoul KZ ZS10 5-driver Universal fit – $49.99 Dunu Falcon Ultra – $220 Audix A10X – $229 WAVS Custom – Duals start at $199/ear – Ear molds with your iPhone Juicy Earz – Starts at $298 Alclair Affordable Custom In-Ears on Gig Gab 00:30:03 Headphone Amps Rolls PM55p Albatros Audio PH9C (about $450, custom build) Rupert Neve RNHP Headphone Amplifier – $599 on Amazon RNDI DI Box – $299 on Amazon 00:43:24 When creating an IEM mix, trust both your eyes and ears Allen & Heath ME-1 00:46:58 Creating the best IEM Mix Start from Zero Bring yourself up to 75% Then bring everything else up If stereo: nothing dead-center, no two instruments in the same “space” Take as LITTLE as possible. Don’t just ask for “the main mix” 01:03:04 Cleaning Your Ears Ear Bulb Syringe – $14 on Amazon Stay away from Ear Candling Ear Wax Removal Tool with Camera – $20 on Amazon Ear Irrigation Flushing System – $18 on Amazon 01:13:55 Gig Gab 432 Outtro Find Daniel East on X Or instagram Or Facebook And DanielEast.net And LinkedIn Contact Gig Gab! Share the show! @GigGabPodcast on Instagram feedback@giggabpodcast.com Sign Up for the Gig Gab Mailing List The post Cleaning Up Your In-Ears Mix…And Your Ears — Gig Gab 432 appeared first on Gig Gab.