A vibrating screen monitoring system comprising: (a) a vibrating screen including a feed area ; (b) a sensing mechanism operable to detect: (i) motion of the vibrating screen in multiple directions comprising linear movement in three mutually orthogonal directions, and (ii) planar deviations of a mesh surface comprising roll and pitch; whereby the sensing mechanism is operable to detect uneven loading of the mesh surface ; and (c) a monitoring computer in communication with the sensing mechanism and operable to: (i) pre-process signals received from the sensing mechanism , (ii) compare the pre-processed signals with stored signals to ascertain how effectively the vibrating screen is operating; and (iii) provide an indication of how effectively the vibrating screen is operating; (d) a vibrating feeder that feeds material into the vibrating screen for separation therein, characterized by the feeder including a deflectable snout pivotably coupled at the end of the feeder so that by moving the deflectable snout material can be fed into a different portion of the feed area ; and (e) a video camera system mounted above the vibrating screen and directed towards the feeder and to view the feed area to ascertain if there is uneven loading of the feed area ; whereby the monitoring system is operable to provide the feeder with a feedback signal to optimize the feed delivery so that a different portion of the vibrating screen receives material to reduce any planar deviations measured by the sensing mechanism . (a) a vibrating screen including a feed area ; (b) a sensing mechanism operable to detect: (i) motion of the vibrating screen in multiple directions comprising linear movement in three mutually orthogonal directions, and (ii) planar deviations of a mesh surface comprising roll and pitch; whereby the sensing mechanism is operable to detect uneven loading of the mesh surface ; and (i) motion of the vibrating screen in multiple directions comprising linear movement in three mutually orthogonal directions, and (ii) planar deviations of a mesh surface comprising roll and pitch; whereby the sensing mechanism is operable to detect uneven loading of the mesh surface ; and (c) a monitoring computer in communication with the sensing mechanism and operable to: (i) pre-process signals received from the sensing mechanism , (ii) compare the pre-processed signals with stored signals to ascertain how effectively the vibrating screen is operating; and (iii) provide an indication of how effectively the vibrating screen is operating; (i) pre-process signals received from the sensing mechanism , (ii) compare the pre-processed signals with stored signals to ascertain how effectively the vibrating screen is operating; and (iii) provide an indication of how effectively the vibrating screen is operating; (d) a vibrating feeder that feeds material into the vibrating screen for separation therein, characterized by the feeder including a deflectable snout pivotably coupled at the end of the feeder so that by moving the deflectable snout material can be fed into a different portion of the feed area ; and (e) a video camera system mounted above the vibrating screen and directed towards the feeder and to view the feed area to ascertain if there is uneven loading of the feed area ; whereby the monitoring system is operable to provide the feeder with a feedback signal to optimize the feed delivery so that a different portion of the vibrating screen receives material to reduce any planar deviations measured by the sensing mechanism . <EOS>