Technical Sound Question: Two singers will be videotaped. How can they sing along with the same recording without the recording being heard. I'm thinking of something like earbuds from...

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Two singers will be videotaped. How can they sing along with the same recording without the recording being heard. I'm thinking of something like earbuds from the same source. How would that work? Wired would not be ideal, so they would want wireless, somehow.

johngault007 Loc: Florida Panhandle

Pretty much the standard these days for stage musicians. They have a wireless receiver that they plug their in-earimonitors (ear buds) which receives a custom sound mix from the mixing console.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

At the beginning of Colbert’s show, the musicians are shown singly playing {perhaps at home}, each listening to ear buds / head phones. I believe one of the drummers starts the whole thing - then his /her track is sent to all the others. Each {professional} then plays his / her part, and then someone combines the individual tracks to give the combined opening number.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

It looks like I would need wireless earbuds for each singer. Each pair would have to be synced through Bluetooth with a cell phone. Playing the music on the phone would send it to each singer. Sound right?

johngault007 Loc: Florida Panhandle

jerryc41 wrote:

It looks like I would need wireless earbuds for each singer. Each pair would have to be synced through Bluetooth with a cell phone. Playing the music on the phone would send it to each singer. Sound right?

Yes, technically it could work, and if this isn't a stage type environment, I guess two sets of Bluetooth ear buds would work. Are they in the same room? And will the music be introduced back into a mix or is this going to be presented acapella?

For live music and the serious musician, a little more money and equipment needs to be spent:
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These are what I use (but as a drummer I don't need the wireless component, just a auxiliary feed from the mixer):
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/SE535--shure-se535-sound-isolating-earphones-clear

But the other members in my band use something like this:
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/P3TR112GR-G20--shure-p3tr112gr-wireless-in-ear-monitor-system-g20-band

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

jerryc41 wrote:

It looks like I would need wireless earbuds for each singer. Each pair would have to be synced through Bluetooth with a cell phone. Playing the music on the phone would send it to each singer. Sound right?

To my knowledge, a Bluetooth phone doesn’t have a “broadcast” function (one transmitter to multiple receivers) - it’s a peer to peer bidirectional link as far as I know, but there are separate multiple stream Bluetooth transmitters that can link to 2 (or more) receivers like this one: https://www.amazon.com/KOKKIA-i10L-Transmitter-Connector-Headphones/dp/B074N9R8W9?ref_=fsclp_pl_dp_5

RGreenway Loc: Morristown, New Jersey

Apple wireless AirPods would work if they are in Bluetooth range of a phone or mac. Each singer wears one AirPods. My wife and I use this technique for ballroom dance practice when we are at a studio and want out own music to practice to. Works great. Other wireless earbuds may work the same.

mac the click Loc: toronto

playing for change

amkras Loc: NY

My ukulele club does this but with audio only.No one knows how to edit video clips. We all download the provided scratch tract that matches the music sheet we select. So we listen through ear buds, headphones, etc. The resulting recordings are combined and edited.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

johngault007 wrote:

Yes, technically it could work, and if this isn't ... (show quote)

This will probably be a one-off, with no electricity available, so we're spending the minimum. The two singers will be fairly close to each other and the camera(s).

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

TriX wrote:

To my knowledge, a Bluetooth phone doesn’t have a “broadcast” function (one transmitter to multiple receivers) - it’s a peer to peer bidirectional link as far as I know, but there are separate multiple stream Bluetooth transmitters that can link to 2 (or more) receivers like this one: https://www.amazon.com/KOKKIA-i10L-Transmitter-Connector-Headphones/dp/B074N9R8W9?ref_=fsclp_pl_dp_5

Well, if I can't pair both sets of earbuds with the cell phone, each singer will use one earbud from the same set. All of this is because one of the singers wants to listen to a pro singing while she is performing.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

No, this won't work. I should have thought it through before I placed the order for the earbuds. In order for the buds to get the sound, they have to be paired with the cell phone. That means the phone has to look for the buds and then "pair" with them. It cannot pair with two devices simultaneously. It would be like bringing two brides to the altar on your wedding day. As nice as that might be, it ain't gonna work.

So, the two singers will each have one earbud from the same set. If this were going to be a regular occurrence, I might be willing to spend more money, but it's not going to be a regular thing.

Thanks for your suggestions.