Monitor Mix TemplateEasyStagecraft Course · Tier 1B · Module 5 (Reading a Sound Spec) · v1.0 · who hears what on stage

What this is. The Monitor Mix Chart shows what's in each stage monitor. Performers + band need to hear specific elements — drum monitor needs click + rhythm section; lead vocal monitor needs their own voice + light band; conductor needs full reference. This template captures the structure.

Worked example · school musical monitor matrix

Source channel	Wedge 1 (Drum)	Wedge 2 (Lead vocal)	Wedge 3 (MD/Conductor)
Donna (lead) wireless	−10dB	0dB	−6dB
Sky / Sophie (lead)	OFF	−4dB	−6dB
Ensemble × 8 (wireless)	OFF	−10dB	−10dB
Kick drum	0dB	OFF	−10dB
Snare top	0dB	OFF	−10dB
Toms × 2	−4dB	OFF	−10dB
Drum overheads (L/R)	−4dB	OFF	−10dB
Bass guitar	0dB	−15dB	−6dB
Keys (stereo)	−10dB	−10dB	0dB
Electric guitar	−6dB	−10dB	−6dB
Brass × 2 + Sax + Flute	−15dB	−15dB	0dB
Click track (QLab)	+3dB	OFF	+3dB
QLab playback (FX)	OFF	−10dB	−15dB

Legend: 0dB / hot · −4 to −6dB / present · −10 to −15dB / supporting · OFF

What each wedge mix is for

Wedge 1 — Drum monitor (pit floor near drummer):

Click track at +3dB (drummer's metronome, primary).
Drums (kick, snare, toms) at 0dB (drummer needs full self-monitoring).
Bass at 0dB (drummer locks to bass).
Other band instruments at lower levels (supporting reference).
Lead vocal at −10dB (drummer needs to know when vocals enter).

Wedge 2 — Lead vocal monitor (DSR floor, in front of lead actors):

Lead vocal Donna at 0dB (Donna hears herself loud + clear).
Other leads (Sky, Sophie) at −4dB.
Ensemble at −10dB.
Band instruments at −10 to −15dB (light reference; not louder than vocals).
No drums (drum spill from the stage is enough).

Wedge 3 — MD/Conductor monitor (Pit, MD's position):

Click at +3dB (MD's metronome).
Full band at 0dB / −6dB (MD needs to hear the full ensemble).
Lead vocal at −6dB (reference; not loud).
Ensemble at −10dB.

Blank monitor mix template — fill for your production

Source channel	Wedge 1	Wedge 2	Wedge 3	Wedge 4

Common monitor mix mistakes

Putting drums into the vocal wedge. Drummers' own kit spills onto the stage; the vocal wedge doesn't need more drums. Cut drums from vocal monitor.
Vocals too low in drummer's monitor. Drummer needs to know when vocals enter — −10 to −15dB is enough; not zero.
Same mix on every wedge. Each performer has different needs. Personalise each wedge.
Click track too quiet for drummer. The click is the drummer's primary reference. +3dB is normal, not too loud.
Forgetting to mute drums in MD's wedge. MD doesn't need stage-volume drums — the band is on stage with them. −10dB is enough.

Setting up monitor mixes in soundcheck

Engineer brings up source channels one at a time.
Asks the performer at each wedge: "Talk to me — can you hear yourself?"
Adjusts levels per the chart, then asks again: "Now? Better? Louder? Quieter?"
Levels finalised by the performer's preference, anchored to the chart as a starting point.
Levels written into the show file as a recall scene.
Same scene re-loaded for every show; only adjusted if performer requests change.

Allocate 20-30 minutes of soundcheck specifically for monitor-mix setup. Less = monitors will be wrong + show will suffer.