Live musicans, do you protect your hearing?

ChrisWerner · Post by **ChrisWerner** » Tue May 23, 2006 12:56 am

Today I have a seminar about hearing, in-ear- monitoring, etc. after the seminar I can order one of those in ear protectors from hearsafe, perfectly passed to your ear.

Do you use/have one of them, any experience, are they worth the money?
cheers

_________________
Music starts where any language ends 
<a href="http://www.spring-of-sound.de">Spring-Of-Sound.de</a>

[ This Message was edited by: ChrisWerner on 2006-05-23 01:57 ]

Shroomz~> · Post by **Shroomz~>** » Tue May 23, 2006 3:33 am

I'll need to start. At this rate, I'll be completely deaf in 10 years tops.

Mr Arkadin · Post by **Mr Arkadin** » Tue May 23, 2006 4:25 am

i use Elacin ER15s which you get moulded to your ear canal, so they're completely tight - no gaps. They're designed to reduce frequencies as evenly as possible so that you don't get that feeling of being in your own isolated muffled universe. Yes you can still hear hihats. They reduce the overall level by 15dB which is enough for most loud gigs. i think i've had them for 15 years, and at £150 they weren't cheap, but they've saved my hearing at countless gigs and clubs - generally as an audience member, although you can use them live if you haven't got in-ear monitoring.

i can't recommend them highly enough and really even at today's prices they're cheaper than a pair of poncy designer glasses - why treat your eyes with more respect than your ears?

[ This Message was edited by: Mr Arkadin on 2006-05-23 05:27 ]

Immanuel · Post by **Immanuel** » Tue May 23, 2006 5:49 am

I have no experience with in ear monitoring. I do however have (suposedly rare) experience with molded ear-plugs. I had the firm make me 3 pairs. After that, I had one useable ear plug. The thing is, that my ear canal is so thick and straight, that the plugs do not sit tight enough, so if I smile, the sound goes boom, because it creates an air gab.

But go try, if they souits your ear shape. They sound very good being plugs.

Mr Arkadin · Post by **Mr Arkadin** » Tue May 23, 2006 12:01 pm

Yeah, i've got quite an unusually sharp U-bend in my ear canal so they will never pop out, and people also hardly ever notice them, they're reasonably discreet.

Post by **garyb** » Tue May 23, 2006 12:47 pm

turn down.

emzee · Post by **emzee** » Tue May 23, 2006 9:05 pm

If you don't protect your hearing, you're taking a short term view of your music and your health. My understanding is that many tinnitus (ringing in the ears) sufferers commit suicide.

The effects of hearing damage are cumulative. So you can minimise the damage by reducing exposure.

So YES, get the best ear plugs you can afford.... the ones that reduce freqs evenly are best ...... and use them. If you can't afford the specially moulded ones, use the foam plugs that industrial workers use.

Post by **garyb** » Tue May 23, 2006 9:34 pm

turn down.
that's what PAs are for(making it loud for the audience). if it's too loud, people move away. if it's too quiet, people come closer. music's more fun when people are closer.

astroman · Post by **astroman** » Wed May 24, 2006 12:48 am

absolutely - increase sound quality and you can get along with less volume.
I still remember the opening act on a Rolling Stones tour acouple of years ago.

Obviously happy to have access to SUCH A big PA they banged the hell out of the speakers, with a nerv cutting mix.
We looked at each other and thought 'OMG we won't be able to hear the Stones at all if this continues - and what if they (as the top act) drive it even further ???'
So a few DIY earplugs were formed from tissue paper and we survived the torture.

Then the Stones started with the well known Satisfaction riff - and what was that... ?
An amazing sound, broad, transparent, well balanced and punchy.
In your face, but no ringing of the ears - the plugs were thrown away.

They increased volume (of course) along with the show, but never to an insane level.

cheers, Tom

[ This Message was edited by: astroman on 2006-05-24 01:49 ]

ChrisWerner · Post by **ChrisWerner** » Wed May 24, 2006 1:17 am

Thx for the share of your suggestions.
The seminar was interesting and informativ.
I´ll go for a pair of ElacinER HS-Dynamic with a 15db filter.

Some years back, Pink Floyd played in Venice.
They are not allowed to play in Venice anymore because some buildings showed flaws and cracks after the concert.

I am curious on how my hearing will change after I use these protectors regulary, maybe it will get more sensible after some years.

Thanks for your inputs.

Shroomz~> · Post by **Shroomz~>** » Wed May 24, 2006 1:47 am

[ed]self-deleted[/ed]

(talking rubbish again)

[ This Message was edited by: Shroomz on 2006-05-28 08:14 ]

skwawks · Post by **skwawks** » Wed May 24, 2006 4:44 am

I suppose you could always drag a condom over your bonce .just prick a couple of holes for your nostrils . good look?

petal · Post by **petal** » Wed May 24, 2006 5:03 am

Well, I made sound for "Pan Sonic" this Saterday. These to finish guys, makes experimental electronic music with a root in noise.

I do agree to some point that you shouldn't play music as loud so that it will or can damage your ears. But for this kind of music you really need it to be LOUD in order for it to have the right effect.

I started the concert at a lower volume and was immidietly told to turn up the volume, a lot, by the act. I don't disagree with their oppinion on this.

The concert was an experience indeed - who would have known that noise at ear-damaging volume could be so beautiful and interesting

Advice though, if you ever seek out a concert with these guys, don't leave home without earplugs. I did use my earplugs a few times under the concert, just to give my ears a little rest sometimes, and to avoid the most ear-piercing sounds.

Zer · Post by **Zer** » Wed May 24, 2006 5:27 am

I always play unplugged, best comforting your ears

skwawks · Post by **skwawks** » Wed May 24, 2006 4:04 pm

dont play synthesizers thru earphones either .but mainly dont worry ,dont dwell on things and dont obsess about things . If you are in the music business and you worry about your hearing all the time you're gonna drive yourself crazy . I just dont get going to a concert and then protecting yourself from the experience ,I mean thats what it's all about ..even the crap sound sometimes ,so what if your ears ring after ?it goes away and if it doesn't then you've got an underlying problem that you just found out about so dont ever go to concerts . I really dont think we are that fragile . The fact of the matter is that if it sounds good quiet it sounds even better LOUD .

astroman · Post by **astroman** » Wed May 24, 2006 4:49 pm

On 2006-05-24 17:04, skwawks wrote:
...I really dont think we are that fragile .

that is correct - it's not us, but the tiny hairy things inside the ear that lead the acoustic stimulus to the receptors of the nerves

It IS cumulative and irreversible, but no need to panic either.

cheers, Tom

skwawks · Post by **skwawks** » Thu May 25, 2006 5:00 am

A long and stupid time ago I stood in front of a 16x15 inch speaker bass rig driven by 4 Strauss Warriors [aussie amp from the 70's] with output stages containing 4 kt 88's each so thats probably 200/300 rms each [sorry Gary I only turned it down when it went into spontaneous bellow mode]and I must admit that in those days I used to be suddenly woken up sometimes by a roaring sound like being next to jet taking off [it stopped when I stopped doing that thing ] Jeez it used to give me a fright ........but the thing that hurt my ears the most was being slapped in the ear [left]by a tiny little shore break when I was paddling out one day[only a boogie board ] christ it hurt ,it got me just right . Also of course NEVER play synths thru cans . What are those little hairy things called Tom ? I've forgotten their name .
Cheers
Paul

Post by **garyb** » Thu May 25, 2006 8:21 am

ahhhh, youth....

of course, in THOSE days, one had no choice but to have the stage STINKIN loud if the people in the back row of a larger show were going to hear anything exciting. a BIG power amp was what, a crown dc-300, 150 monster watts a side. p.a aystems were pretty unworthy then. these days of course, power amps are 1300watts a side and bigger...the p.a. systems can do more of the work of wrecking the back row...

[ This Message was edited by: garyb on 2006-05-25 09:27 ]

astroman · Post by **astroman** » Thu May 25, 2006 8:27 am

dunno - picked it up from a telly feature.
the usual <a href=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ear>wiki</a> might be a good start for details

that 'hit by water' reads really painful...

cheers, tom

Post by **garyb** » Thu May 25, 2006 8:28 am

the hairs are in the cochlea.....