Monitor Mix
The customized audio blend each performer hears on stage to stay in time and tune during live performance.
Definition
Monitor mixes are separate audio feeds created for performers—distinct from what the audience hears. Each musician typically needs a different blend: drummers want more click and bass, vocalists need to hear themselves clearly.
Modern monitoring uses either floor wedges (speakers aimed at performers) or in-ear monitors (IEMs) for isolation and hearing protection.
Why It Matters
Performers can't deliver their best without hearing themselves and crucial timing references. Poor monitor mixes lead to pitch problems, timing drift, and onstage frustration.
Great monitor mixes are invisible to audiences but critical for performance quality.
Examples in Practice
A singer's monitor mix: heavy on their own vocal, some guitar for pitch reference, kick drum for rhythm, almost no cymbals. This clarity prevents straining to hear themselves over stage volume.
A drummer's mix: prominent click track (inaudible to audience), bass guitar locked with kick, minimal vocals. This helps maintain tempo and lock with the rhythm section.