Client Stories - Full 360º Band Consultation
A Vocalist's Challenge with Custom In Ear Monitors
Every musician faces their own challenges on stage. Recently, Danny Jones, guitarist and vocalist of British rock band McFly, got in touch for help with his custom in ear monitors. Like many vocalists, he was struggling with low-end issues in his mixes, which interacted with his voice and jaw and overpowered everything else on stage (which we know first hand can be hugely distracting), especially on large high-profile shows.
Pinpointing the Problems
Danny is heavily involved in McFly's production and knows exactly what he wants to hear, but something wasn't clicking. After an initial conversation and a closer look at his setup, we identified three key issues:
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He was dealing with occlusion effect, with stage noise making it harder to hear his own voice.
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His current custom in ear monitors weren't delivering the sound quality or clarity he needed.
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He had been using the same legacy manufacturer for over 20 years and had never compared other options.
To address this, we headed over to McFly’s HQ for a dedicated 1:1 consultation and demo session.
1:1 Consultations & 3D Impressions
We began with an-in depth consultation with Danny over coffee, covering every aspect of his performance, gear, setup and past experiences. With this insight, we moved on to testing a range of custom in ear monitors.
Blind Testing for a True Comparison
At DCA, transparency is key. We set up a blind demo so Danny could compare other models with his existing monitors without bias. We avoided discussing specifications or pricing, focusing purely on how each set performed in A/B tests.
Why 64 Audio Was the Right Choice
After comparing multiple brands and models, it became clear that 64 Audio and their APEX system was the right fit. The improved separation for guitar and vocal, combined with a significant reduction in occlusion effect, made an immediate difference compared to his old custom in ear monitors.
Danny was torn between the A6t and the A18s. Using reference tracks, singing, and rehearsing with the band in the studio on our universal demo units, he ultimately chose the A18s for their superior headroom and smoother top-end.
The Rest of the Band
We were then joined by the rest of the band to explore the options and take their 3D impressions. Harry and Tom also selected the A18s, while Dougie preferred the A12t after hearing its rounder, punchier low end.
Designs & Initial Fit Checks
Once we had the band's impressions, we worked with them and their management to finalise the custom designs. Danny wanted his pick logo on his custom in ear monitors but couldn't locate the file, while Harry requested his mic logo in a different colour.
With just three weeks until their O2 show and a rush build in progress, we recreated Danny's logo from a WhatsApp photo sent during rehearsals and produced several proof versions of Harry's design for approval before placing the order to meet their deadline.
All of the A-series monitors were hand-delivered a week before the show for fit checks, ensuring the band were happy. The final sets were delivered in person to the O2 in time for soundcheck.
On-Site Delivery and Final Sign Off
The remaining custom in ear monitors were hand-delivered to the O2 Arena in London on show day, ready for soundcheck. Every set fit perfectly and the band were happy with how they sounded.
As engineers and musicians, we know shows like McFly's rely on teamwork and great people, so it was a privilege to be part of such a professional crew.
A big thanks to monitor engineer Mike Osman for accommodating the delivery of the final IEMs and allowing Miles to be present in monitor world during soundcheck to sign everything off for the band.
Mike was running a DigiCo Quantum 7 with Klang integrated immersive mixing. Listening in on their mixes through our 64 Audio A18t customs was an incredible experience.
Our Work with McFly Included
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1:1 Consultations
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On-site individual and full band demo sessions
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Mobile 3D impressions
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Artwork and design services
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5-day rush build service
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On-site delivery and fit checks at rehearsals and venue
This project reinforced why we do what we do. Giving musicians control over what they hear so they can feel fully comfortable on stage, rather than seeing custom in ear monitors as just another piece of gear.
As with all our custom in ear monitors, each set for McFly contributed to our Hear Forever Project.
A massive thanks to Danny for reaching out and trusting us with this work, and to the McFly band, crew, and management for helping us complete it on such a tight deadline. As always, thanks to our partners at 64 Audio for their dependable service and support.
If you are an artist or know someone who could benefit from our expertise, get in touch to see how we can help.
