Best IEMS for Keys

On this page, a selection of industry professionals share why their chosen Cosmic Ears Custom In-Ear Monitors are best for keys players.

Howard Eastwood (Keys with Tom Grennan)

“As a keys player who uses a large variety of samples/patches ranging from pianos/synths/bass synths/organs/mellotrons/electric pianos etc, I needed a versatile and great all round IEM to accommodate all kinds of different sounds, frequencies, and pitches. My Cosmic Ears C6A IEM’s do exactly that, which is why they are a great choice for keys players.”

Roy Medhurst (Keys/Synths with HENGE)

"One of the reasons I love playing synthesisers is because I get to shape and mould the sound that I want, often changing it organically with the music. Cosmic Ears IEMs allow me to hear the entire frequency range that I'm playing with a great amount of detail and clarity, giving me full control over exactly how I want the sounds to come across to the audience - making the C6A the best IEM for me as a keys player."

Clémence Faurère (Keys with Lola Young)

"My C4A IEMs have been a total game changer for me. These Cosmic Ears in-ears give me incredibly detailed definition in my mix. As a keys player, I work with such a broad range of frequencies and sounds, and they all come through so clearly. I feel so much more confident on stage now that I know exactly how my patches sound. It’s given me the freedom to shape my sounds live, improvise more, and just have way more fun playing—while always knowing exactly where I sit in the mix, making the C4A best for me as a keys player."

Jon Trier (Keys and TM for Richard Hawley)

"I’m absolutely blown away by my new Cosmic Ears C8As. The clarity and tone are just wonderful and they really do go ALL the way down, which is great for some of my synth patches, as well as getting that bit of extra weight from the bass and drums in my mix. The closest thing to a great natural stage sound, without the volume, which is ideal when your stage position is directly behind 6 guitar amps!”

FAQ

How well do Cosmic Ears custom IEMs reproduce the full range of keyboard instruments?

Our Cosmic Ears IEMs can accurately reproduce the full frequency range of keyboard instruments, from deep organ pedals to bright piano highs. Most of our keys customers opt for our C4A and above models, which are particularly effective for keyboardists who need to monitor the full 88-key range with full clarity.

How do I create and maintain stereo imaging for keyboard patches with my Cosmic Ears IEMs?

Ensure your keyboard outputs are properly configured as stereo in your monitor mix. Some keyboardists prefer to have specific sounds (like pads or string sections) panned to create width while keeping main piano sounds centred for better positional stability in the mix.

How long does it take to adjust to playing keyboards with custom IEMs?

This depends on the person, of course, but feedback from our Cosmic Ears keys customers says they adapt within 1-3 rehearsals. The adjustment is typically easier for keyboardists than for some other instrumentalists because keyboards already produce an electric output rather than acoustic sound.