When I first started handling sound at my church, our vocalists were using small “monitor-on-a-mic-stand” speakers for monitoring. There was a reticence to using in-ear monitors (IEMs) for some reason, despite my subtle (and sometimes not-so-subtle) efforts to sell our singers on the idea. This was particularly discouraging because our drummer, bassist, guitarist, percussionist, and keyboard player were all completely convinced, and used the Shure system we had available. Eventually, I was able to cajole one of our vocalists into trying the system out by offering him his own mix. During a Sunday morning pre-service rehearsal, he finally realized the joys of having me sculpt his mix exactly the way he wanted it. He sang more confidently, with better pitch, and after services asked if he could keep using the in-ear monitors. Eventually, his praises of the system finally influenced the other singers to adopt IEMs (and they even settled on a single mix for all of them—simplifying my life nicely). Our original vocalist has even purchased his own in-ear units, and now our vocalists couldn't imagine life without IEMs, and feedback is a thing of the past.
Last year, Shure introduced its newest IEM offering, the PSM 900 Personal Monitor System, which brings several improvements and “redefines personal monitoring,” according to the manufacturer. Among other features, Shure touts improved companding to improve the quality of the signal, an enhanced digital stereo encoder for a wider stereo field and improved crosstalk spec, front end RF filtering for a cleaner signal, and a reduction in frequency intermodulation, allowing up to 20 compatible channels on one frequency band. Among the more “gee whiz” features in the system are “cue mode,” which facilitates hearing up to 20 different stage mixes from a single bodypack, “scan and sync,” which enables rapid acquisition of an available frequency, and an RF mute switch so that setup operations can be executed without RF transmission.
The system's P9T transmitter lives in a half rack space enclosure that ships with rack ears and link bars to facilitate whatever configuration is necessary for the user's application. From left to right across the front panel are the system's input level controls (up/down buttons) and metering, followed by an LCD display, navigation buttons, and a data entry knob. On the right side of the front panel are the unit's sync button, mini-jack audio output and volume knob, and switches that toggle RF and power on and off. The rear panel is very simple—from left to right, a DC power inlet, TRS stereo loop outputs, stereo XLR/TRS inputs, and finally an antenna connector.
The P9R bodypack receiver is small and very slender, and formed completely of metal. Atop the unit are the antenna connector, volume knob, and a mini-jack audio output. The top half of the front panel of the receiver features an LCD display, navigation buttons, a blue LED to indicate reception of RF, and a multi-colored LED to indicate battery strength. The lower half of the receiver's front panel pops open with the hinge located on the bottom of the receiver. Inside, the battery compartment is found, along with an infrared window and more navigation buttons
Operational Ease
The system is amazingly simple to operate. Once I had a signal plugged into the input, I got the transmitter sync'd with a receiver and started bringing up the input level. I like the input level controls and metering on the front panel—very handy to get nominal levels. I popped the Shure SE425 sound isolating earphones (included) into my ears and got them into position; this was a better experience than I've had with other earphones, as the SE425 features formable wires in proximity to the ear so I was able to mold the wires to my ears and get a nice fit. The earphones feature dedicated woofer and tweeter elements to enhance the quality of the sound, and ship with several different types of soft rubber earpieces to accomplish a nice tight fit with any user. I was able to very easily get the earphones into position. I started bringing the level up slowly and began to hear the signal I fed into the transmitter.
In the process of making adjustments to the gain staging (higher input with lower output level and vice-versa) I became acquainted with the dynamics processing of the system, which I would not necessarily describe as transparent. Despite being able to hear when the limiting kicks it, users can rest easy and not worry about transients (dropped mics etc) harming their hearing.
Another feature of the system I really appreciate is the front panel mini-jack audio output. Not only is this handy for the monitor engineer to quickly and easily get an ear on a particular monitor mix, but it also enabled me to do an A/B comparison between the RF signal and the straight, wired signal. Once I got the levels equal between the two, it became difficult if not impossible to distinguish them—score one for Shure's engineers in developing a truly excellent compansion circuit and excellent RF. Another powerful feature to help monitor engineers is the “cue mode,” which allows you to upload the name and frequency settings from multiple transmitters and store them as a list on a bodypack. You can then scroll through that list and hear the output of each transmitter—very useful.
More Personal Favorites
Among other features I like a lot is the threaded power inlet. I find myself crawling around on the floor, re-connecting the power to my church's IEM transmitters on almost a weekly basis—the power stays put in the PSM 900. I'm also very fond of the system's “mix mode,” which allows for the transmission of a full band mix on one channel and transmission of a vocal on the other, facilitating vocal-vs.-music balance control by the vocalist. Syncing the receiver with the transmitter is very easy, as is navigating through the menus on the front panels of both. The displays are clear and bright, and easily read as well. I also like the rear panel audio inputs, which are of the variety that can accept both TRS ¼-inch plugs and XLRs. The RF shutdown switch on the front panel is also desirable, facilitating setup without actually transmitting signal—useful for festival applications.
The Bottom Line?
These systems truly do redefine personal monitoring, with a number of quite forward-thinking conventions that advance the state of the art. In the future, I look forward to giving the musicians in my church access to such things as balancing their vocals against a mix of the band, among others. This is a great system that I definitely recommend considering.
