<img width="750" height="750" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.giggabpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/paul-klimson-monitor-engineer-gg532.jpg?fit=750%2C750&amp;ssl=1" class="webfeedsFeaturedVisual wp-post-image" alt="From Wedges to In-Ears: A Monitor Engineer&#039;s Playbook with Paul Klimson – Gig Gab 532 episode image" style="display: block; margin: auto; margin-bottom: 5px;max-width: 100%;" link_thumbnail="" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/www.giggabpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/paul-klimson-monitor-engineer-gg532.jpg?w=3000&amp;ssl=1 3000w, https://i0.wp.com/www.giggabpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/paul-klimson-monitor-engineer-gg532.jpg?resize=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/www.giggabpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/paul-klimson-monitor-engineer-gg532.jpg?resize=1024%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/www.giggabpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/paul-klimson-monitor-engineer-gg532.jpg?resize=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1 150w, https://i0.wp.com/www.giggabpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/paul-klimson-monitor-engineer-gg532.jpg?resize=768%2C768&amp;ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/www.giggabpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/paul-klimson-monitor-engineer-gg532.jpg?resize=1536%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/www.giggabpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/paul-klimson-monitor-engineer-gg532.jpg?resize=2048%2C2048&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https://i0.wp.com/www.giggabpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/paul-klimson-monitor-engineer-gg532.jpg?resize=600%2C600&amp;ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/www.giggabpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/paul-klimson-monitor-engineer-gg532.jpg?resize=50%2C50&amp;ssl=1 50w, https://i0.wp.com/www.giggabpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/paul-klimson-monitor-engineer-gg532.jpg?w=2250&amp;ssl=1 2250w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px" /><p>Ready to make the leap from wedges to in-ear monitors? Or finally get the stage mix you&#8217;ve always wanted? Dave Hamilton welcomes back monitor engineer Paul Klimson, the man who mixed 32 stereo IEM feeds for Justin Timberlake, for a working musician&#8217;s deep dive on monitor world. You&#8217;ll learn how to build a default mix from scratch (start yourself at 0dB, your instrument at -5, everything else at -15), why drummers have an easier transition to in-ears than most assume, and how a split snake lets you take care of yourself when the gig demands it. Paul digs into hi-hat pitfalls, drum overheads as stage wash, and why bands who mix themselves on stage make life better for their FOH engineer, too.</p> <p>Then it gets practical. Paul walks you through IEM fittings (pain is always bad, the seal is everything, and yes, drop an AirTag in your case) plus the universal-versus-custom decision, vetting vendor customer service before you buy, and the repair costs nobody talks about until they need to. You&#8217;ll get honest talkback etiquette (keep the drama off-stage, give everyone a voice, remember that your monitor engineer is a short-order cook), the post-mortem habit every band should adopt, and a peek at SoulSeed.tv. Wherever you sit on stage, this is the episode that sharpens how you Always Be Performing.</p> <p><iframe loading="lazy" title="From Wedges to In-Ears: A Monitor Engineer&#039;s Playbook with Paul Klimson – Gig Gab 532" width="750" height="422" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mG9JwWjbGSY?feature=oembed&#038;enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></p> <ul> <li aria-level="1">00:00:00 <a href="https://www.giggabpodcast.com/">Gig Gab</a> 532 &#8211; Monday, <a href="https://nationaltoday.com/may-4/">May 4th</a>, 2026 <ul> <li aria-level="1">May 4th: <a href="https://nationaltoday.com/dave-brubeck-day/">Dave Brubeck Day</a></li> <li aria-level="1">Guest co-host: <a href="https://www.giggabpodcast.com/tag/paul-klimson">Paul Klimson</a></li> </ul> </li> <li aria-level="1">00:03:24 Start with headphones in your practice space <ul> <li aria-level="1">Start with earplugs</li> </ul> </li> <li aria-level="1">00:05:09 Drums are a dynamic instrument, which may be why drummers have an easy transition to IEMs (usually)</li> <li aria-level="1">00:08:33 What do you want in your wedge? <ul> <li aria-level="1">What’s your reference?</li> </ul> </li> <li aria-level="1">00:09:11 The artist/engineer relationship</li> <li aria-level="1">00:11:03 Building a default mix <ul> <li aria-level="1">Start yourself at 0dB</li> <li aria-level="1">Instrument at -5dB</li> <li aria-level="1">Everything else at -15dB</li> </ul> </li> <li aria-level="1">00:12:58 Using a Split Snake <ul> <li aria-level="1">When possible, take care of yourself</li> </ul> </li> <li aria-level="1">00:14:47 Timing of a mix <ul> <li aria-level="1">Don’t forget about hi-hats</li> <li aria-level="1">Work with your engineer to dial-in your own mix</li> </ul> </li> <li aria-level="1">00:19:18 Drum overheads for stage wash effect</li> <li aria-level="1">00:22:21 In-ears help you listen better <ul> <li aria-level="1">Bands who mix themselves on stage makes your ears AND the FOH engineers job ears</li> </ul> </li> <li aria-level="1">00:23:54 Learn where you and your instrument fit into the mix of your band <ul> <li aria-level="1">And change it if you don’t fit. You’re not the most important thing!</li> </ul> </li> <li aria-level="1">00:26:40 What’s going to make you stand out when someone comes to see you at clubs of any size? <ul> <li aria-level="1">Do you hear the lyrics?</li> <li aria-level="1">Do you hear the intent of the story of the song?</li> <li aria-level="1">Watch your instagram videos and evaluate honestly</li> </ul> </li> <li aria-level="1">00:30:28 Knowing when the studio mix is done.</li> <li aria-level="1">00:33:27 Fittings for IEMs <ul> <li aria-level="1">Things to look for: <ul> <li aria-level="1">Pain is bad</li> </ul> </li> <li aria-level="1">Is the seal functioning correctly? <ul> <li aria-level="2">Listen for sound leakage (including when you open your mouth and move around)</li> <li aria-level="1">Are the ports aimed down the canal wrong</li> <li aria-level="2">Do you hear high-end better when you rock the mold around?</li> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li aria-level="1">00:37:36 Put an AirTag in your IEM case!</li> <li aria-level="1">00:39:28 Figuring out which model to order <ul> <li aria-level="1">Try universal fits first to learn the musical qualities</li> </ul> </li> <li aria-level="1">00:41:16 Test the customer service of vendors before you choose</li> <li aria-level="1">00:42:55 The origin of IEMs</li> <li aria-level="1">00:44:44 Find out repair costs <ul> <li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0B29LQ9YN/giggab-20">Comply Foam Strips</a></li> </ul> </li> <li aria-level="1">00:48:20 Talkback Use <ul> <li aria-level="1">Keep the drama off-stage</li> <li aria-level="1">Give everyone a voice</li> <li aria-level="1">Monitor engineers are like short-order cooks… be kind!</li> </ul> </li> <li aria-level="1">00:58:23 Always post-mortem the problems from the gig <ul> <li aria-level="1">And also “what happens if?” conversations</li> </ul> </li> <li aria-level="1">01:03:22 <a href="http://soulseed.tv/">Soulseed.TV</a></li> <li aria-level="1">01:06:05 Gig Gab 532 Outtro <ul> <li aria-level="1">Follow Paul Klimson <ul> <li aria-level="1"><a href="http://soulseed.tv/">SoulSeed.tv</a></li> <li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/theroadieclinic/?hl=en">@TheRoadieClinic</a></li> </ul> </li> <li aria-level="1">Contact Gig Gab! <ul> <li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/giggabpodcast/">@GigGabPodcast on Instagram</a></li> <li aria-level="1"><a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a></li> <li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.giggabpodcast.com/subscribe-to-podcast/">Sign Up for the Gig Gab Mailing List</a></li> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> </ul> <p>The post <a href="https://www.giggabpodcast.com/2026/05/04/from-wedges-to-in-ears-paul-klimson-gg532/">From Wedges to In-Ears: A Monitor Engineer&#8217;s Playbook with Paul Klimson – Gig Gab 532</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.giggabpodcast.com">Gig Gab</a>.</p>