What Is A Stage Monitor Used For?

Monitoring (listening) remains a huge part of audio. As a matter of fact, it is the main essence of audio.

Monitoring is super important for both musicians and the people that consume music. There are different audio monitoring devices, ranging from the smallest to very big ones used in grand arenas, theatres, and live venues like stadiums.

When musicians perform live on stage, there is an important piece in the chain of monitoring systems and that is the “stage monitor.”

Stage monitors, also called monitor speakers, floor monitors, foldbacks or wedges, are speakers that performers used on stage to listen to themselves while performing. Unlike the normal PA speakers that amplify the sound for the audience, stage monitors are placed in such a way that it faces the musicians so they can hear themselves and fellow musicians clearly.

This is important for a smooth and beautiful performance. Because normal PA speakers are positioned to face the audience, it is often practically impossible for musicians to hear themselves from those, thus the reason they often rely on a separate system known as stage monitors (not to be confused with studio monitors).

In some cases, the stage monitors are controlled by a different sound engineer who sends a different mix [different from that of the audience] to the musicians on stage.

What Is The Difference Between Stage Monitors And PA Speakers?

The major difference between PA speakers and stage monitors is very easy to understand. The PA loudspeaker is designed to fill the audience, while stage monitors or foldbacks are designed to fill the band.

Another important thing to know about PA loudspeakers is that they come in different versions. For example, we have the full-range tops which come with a separate subwoofer. This is designed to reach as many people as possible without using so much effort and power or enclosure space.

A stage monitor or wedge is always positioned at the front edge of the performance stage for musicians to hear themselves and their bandmates properly. A notable difference between a stage monitor and a PA speaker is that a monitor speaker has to be powerful enough.

Also, they are tuned quite differently. Engineers tune these monitors in such a way that it emphasizes quite some different frequencies compared to how they tune or EQ PA speakers.

Another significant difference is that it comes in quite a different shape and radiates sound very differently from PA speakers. On tuning, engineers tune stage monitors in such a way that it eliminates or reduces feedback.

The frequency in which the feedback is worse is always attenuated during tuning. For these differences, stage monitor speakers cannot work as PA speakers – but PA speakers can always substitute stage monitors in cases of emergency.

Can You Use PA Speakers As Stage Monitors?

In an ideal situation, you cannot use PA speakers as stage monitors because these two kinds of speakers are designed to work quite differently. Stage monitors are designed to cut through the mix and also reproduce midrange. Unlike PA speakers, they are not designed to project sound over a long distance.

However, it is not always an ideal world and there might always be an emergency. In cases of emergency, you can always use PA speakers as stage monitors. However, you will need to do some re-tuning and equalization in order for it to function almost as well as actual foldbacks or stage monitors.

It is always a great idea to get something that was designed just as stage monitoring. When monitoring on stage, you want to get the best possible sound without feedback. This is very important for smooth performance on the part of the musicians.

Also, you don’t want to get a monitor that gives so much high frequencies that it in turn, bounces off the walls and gets back to the microphones used by performers.

This will be such a headache for the sound engineer during live mixing or even post-mixing in cases of recorded performances. Also, you do not want as much low frequency as you would on normal PA speakers.

Considering all of these things, you will only agree that the best option is to always get a monitoring system that was designed to work for that specific situation. This will make the work easier for every member of the sound crew.

This video give more insight into the best way to setup stage monitors:

Can Stage Monitors Be Used As Speakers?

The simple answer is “no.” You cannot use stage monitors as PA speakers because they work quite differently. The major reason why stage monitors can never work as PA speakers is that stage monitors were not designed to project sound over a long distance.

Imagine even a fairly large concert hall that can accommodate about a thousand people, it will be practically impossible to project sound beyond the middle of the hall if you are using stage monitors.

Stage monitors were designed to work in a short distance with very little feedback. This might tempt you to try over-powering the stage monitor (although it still won’t work), which will result in a quick wear-out.

Also, stage monitors are good at reproducing mid-range and not so much of the high and low frequencies. This will result in a rather not-very-pleasing sound for the audience when compared to actual PA systems.

Stage monitors sound great for stage monitoring and not so great otherwise. To project sound to the audience, you need speakers that can “throw” sound to a longer distance and also color just the right frequencies that will make it pleasing to the audience.

To get this, you need an actual PA speaker. Although a PA speaker can work as a stage monitor in a case of emergency or necessity, a stage monitor can never work as a PA speaker – not even in a case of emergency.

It is absolutely wrong to try using a stage monitor in the place of a PA speaker. The best option is to always get an actual PA speaker that was designed for such duty as it will work just perfectly.