Why Don’t We Sound Like the Record?

Today we’re talking about why your In Ear monitor mixes don’t sound like the record.

So why is it the in ears sound so weird and why don’t we sound as good as the recording?

To understand this we have to dig into the differences between live sound and the studio world. It’s easy to think about the two as being completely different. In many ways they are, but part of the reason we get such seemingly different results is because we approach them so differently. 

In the studio there is a strong focus on both what is being played/sung and the quality of the tone it has and capturing it as perfectly as possible.

Live there is a tendency to approach it with the mindset of “energy” and just trying to hit the right notes.

For example when recording electric guitar, the player is focused on picking pressure, gain structure through pedals, and making sure the amp is performing at optimal levels. All while the engineer is focused on getting the right mic in the right spot and they take time to listen to where that is and move it until they get it right.

While live it usually comes down to just hitting the right notes at the right time and playing with as much energy as possible. The mic is usually whatever we could grab and is just set based on looks. All sound fixes are attempted with EQ at the console. This is mostly because it’s not practical to take the amount of time to dial things in that it takes in the studio. (you should still try, its worth it.)

So what do we do about it? How can we fix it? It comes down to how each person prepares for playing. 

Is each player and engineer stopping at “good enough” or are we only stopping when we’ve achieved the sound we really want?

The trick for this to be effective is that it comes down to each individual. Everyone has to be committed to the same level of excellence. Everyone has to be hungry to always be learning more and improving.

Tips for excellence.

1. Practice on your own time. Spend time really honing your craft.

Amateurs practice until they get it right, pros practice until they can’t get it wrong. 

Bonus tip: rehearsal is where we learn how the parts that we practiced on our own fit together with the rest of the band. That means we already know how to play the parts before we show up.

2. Learn as much as you can about your craft and how it fits in with others. YouTube is a great resource for this. Take time to learn to tune and mic drums. Take time to learn how guitar pedals and amps work. Take time to learn to sing with proper breath support. Take time to learn not only what all the knobs and buttons do, but why you would use that specific tool.

Bonus tip: leaders, when you find this stuff, share it with your team.

Extra bonus tip: the gear doesn’t make the player. Notice how practicing and becoming proficient at your craft came before anything to do with what gear you have. 

3. Give a performance. Now I know, all the church guys are going “it’s not a show”. Just hear me out. You’ve practiced and rehearsed and refined your knowledge, the last thing is to emotionally connect with the song and pour yourself into it. A computer can hit all the notes but only a human can make it art. 

If you’re interested in talking through specific ways to help your team get better send me a message.