In Ear Custom Moulds - recommendations and process ?

JMP220478

My lockdown musical journey has seen me become a vocalist frontman in a covers lineup ..

I have invested in various bits of wireless tech including a Sennheiser G4 IEM system -currently using with Shure SE215s IEM and foams - Isolation is ok and definitely quieter for me than room volume but 
far from truly isolated as I’m only taking my voice through IEMS and room n mic bleed mean I’m not adding additional instrument feeds .

So to improve room noise I’m looking at custom moulds - appreciate any advice on brands n particularly process as I may need to use a 3rd party audiologist or similar for moulds etc ? 

Also in general - any advice on mic bleed - hadnt appreciated levels until I can really hear directly .. 
Gating ? 

Thanks for looking

poopot

https://www.read-audio.com/

Give Matt a call… he’ll come round, squirt some gunk in your ears, take it away and make them. You’ll get them back in a couple of days and they will be a perfect fit.

Legionreturns

I use ACS Customs. I got the squirty stuff done at the private hospital in Manchester where they sent me, but that was when working musicians could get free custom ear protection. They then used the same molds to make my IEMs. 

Perfect fit, and I can wear them for hours with no discomfort or issues. 

Roland

Mine were done by CosmicEars in Cheadle Hulme, which gave me the opportunity to try out their range of drivers

Musicwolf

Legionreturns said:

I use ACS Customs. I got the squirty stuff done at the private hospital in Manchester where they sent me, but that was when working musicians could get free custom ear protection. They then used the same molds to make my IEMs. 

Perfect fit, and I can wear them for hours with no discomfort or issues. 

It's been quite a few years now but for my ACS Customs I went to my local Boots (they had an Audiologist visiting, I think, once a week).  The squirty-stuff-in-the-ears bit was included in the cost of the IEMs.

Moe_Zambeek

Boots / ACS did mine. Good fit.

If you’re singing though, it’s slightly more involved I think, as they need to account for jaw movement and so on. 

JMP220478

Roland said:

Mine were done by CosmicEars in Cheadle Hulme, which gave me the opportunity to try out their range of drivers

I’m Liverpool based so not too far to go - what was their turnaround time n what did you go for ?

JMP220478

Moe_Zambeek said:

Boots / ACS did mine. Good fit.

If you’re singing though, it’s slightly more involved I think, as they need to account for jaw movement and so on. 

Saw someone doing their home version for vocalists n guy sat with mouth propped open whilst mould material cured .. 

Roland

JMP220478 said:

Roland said:

Mine were done by CosmicEars in Cheadle Hulme, which gave me the opportunity to try out their range of drivers

I’m Liverpool based so not too far to go - what was their turnaround time n what did you go for ?

Turnaround was eight days, this was in 2018 and lockdown may have changed things significantly.

I went for three drivers. I felt that two drivers was equivalent to the SE215s I'd used previously. Three was much better, and more was unnecessary given that I can't hear much above 3.5kHz.

The other thing to think about is shell colours. Being a minimalist I went for clear shells. For a while I wished that I'd had left and right different colours, but I quickly learned to recognise by shape.

There's a thread here: https://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/127326/talk-to-me-about-wireless-iems with useful comments from @bob21 ;

JMP220478

https://gwaudio.co.uk/in-ears/

anyone any experience ?

JMP220478

https://www.specsavers.co.uk/hearing/hearing-aids/custom-listening ;  ?

thomasw88

Try this

https://www.hearformusicians.org.uk/how-it-works

You don't have to be full time musician to apply.  

JMP220478

thomasw88 said:

Try this

https://www.hearformusicians.org.uk/how-it-works

You don't have to be full time musician to apply.  

Hi - I’ve read the eligibility criteria and don’t see any options for semi pro guys ? 

thomasw88

JMP220478 said:

thomasw88 said:

Try this

https://www.hearformusicians.org.uk/how-it-works

You don't have to be full time musician to apply.  

Hi - I’ve read the eligibility criteria and don’t see any options for semi pro guys ? 

my advice is just apply...   

Gulliver

JMP220478 said:

thomasw88 said:

Try this

https://www.hearformusicians.org.uk/how-it-works

You don't have to be full time musician to apply.  

Hi - I’ve read the eligibility criteria and don’t see any options for semi pro guys ? 

if you don't have any sort of website to direct them to as proof you're a musician, drop me a PM and I'll give you my work email address to go on the form for a reference.  as far as they're concerned you're a guitar teacher at my school...

mike257

JMP220478 said:

thomasw88 said:

Try this

https://www.hearformusicians.org.uk/how-it-works

You don't have to be full time musician to apply.  

Hi - I’ve read the eligibility criteria and don’t see any options for semi pro guys ? 

It's charity funded and supposed to be for people working full time in music. As a touring sound engineer, I had my custom ear protection done through the scheme. It doesn't cover IEMs, but you can use the impressions they take to get IEMs made. 

mike257

JMP220478 said:

So to improve room noise I’m looking at custom moulds - appreciate any advice on brands n particularly process 

Also in general - any advice on mic bleed - hadnt appreciated levels until I can really hear directly .. 
Gating ? 

Thanks for looking

Cosmic are a great, UK based company and I know a number of touring artists and techs happily using them. UE and JH are the big boys but have the prices to go with them. 

Moulds-wise, I'd speak to the IEM manufacturer you're looking to use and get their specific requirements. As a singer, you need to do mouth open moulds, so they give you a bite block to stick in your mouth while the mould sets. Expect to drool a lot, it's not that fun