Members audioicon Posted December 31, 2006 Members Share Posted December 31, 2006 I don't want to generalized this question so I stick with my specific experience. I have noticed most of the night clubs in the state I live in plays their music rediculously loud. The music is so loud it hurts your ears. I was at a night club that had their speakers 6ft from the dance floor and when I left my ears were numb for about three days. The music is just too loud! So I try to stay away from loud music, when I go out to these clubs, I stay away from direct contact of their speakers. When I do my mixes, I mostly go with lower levels as to avoid hearing accuracy problems/fatique. I'm not sure if these DJ's are aware of how loud albums are made today. For example, Michael Jackson CD is about 10db - 15db louder then my Bob Marley CD.I could not listen to Michael Jackson's Invicible CD at the Same level I listen to The New Jack City Soundtrack because the dise was just too loud. I'm not saying I can't listen to loud CD/music but I find it dangerous for a person doing music to put your ear to this kind of abuse. What are your thoughts? I'm planning on getting ear plugs for the bars/night club then I can go on their stages with out getting my ears numb. Have you had such experience? Happy New Year to all, Audioicon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members UstadKhanAli Posted December 31, 2006 Members Share Posted December 31, 2006 I always wear ear plugs or something in my ears when I go to clubs or perform. My hearing is important to me. I just got a Radio Shack digital SPL meter. I've always thought that I monitored quietly while mixing, and was surprised that the SPL meter indicated that I was mixing at about 90-93 dB ("C" weighting, since I'm sure someone will ask). I turned it down to 85 dB and continued mixing. My studio has more ambient noise than a studio should since it's in my house and the computer whirs a bit even though it's in the closet. But still, I will try and keep it down to about 85 dB just about all the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members philbo Posted December 31, 2006 Members Share Posted December 31, 2006 This is one reason I don't go out to hear music very much. Even the bars around town have the damn jukebox cranked up so much I can't hear anybody talking. I've been in quite a few jobs that damaged my hearing (steelworker, assembly line, iron foundry, to name a few) and have a 20 dB notch in my hearing as a result, so I do my damndest to avoid anything overly loud. Most of the places I now go to when I want to hear live music are doing acoustic music, which I am starting to prefer. OTOH, I've recently joined a cover band and will soon be out there making the area bars louder.... But no more 300Watt with 8 12" speakers for me. My amp is 50 watts, and if they want loud, we'll mike it. Life is too short to spend deaf. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members UstadKhanAli Posted December 31, 2006 Members Share Posted December 31, 2006 A 50-watt guitar amp is still really loud. I have a Carr Rambler, which is 28/14 watts (pentode/triode). And I play gigs all the time using the 14 watts. And I play with mostly clean tones. You just really don't need that much to play gigs or rehearse, and certainly not to record. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members where02190 Posted December 31, 2006 Members Share Posted December 31, 2006 The reason dance clubs are so obnoxiously loud is to drive out patrons when the house is full to make room for more (cover charge) paying ones. I never go to such places. I wear hearing protection RELIGIOUSLY!!!!! Mowing the lawn, or anything that involves power tools, at the occasional concert I attend, at live shows I work mixing or not, when flying or traveling by train or public transportation, and anything else that is even remotely loud. In the studio, I rarely break the 80db barrier peak, and typically mix in the 70-75db range(A weighted) on NS-10's. I have a kitchen timer that I set for 2 hours, and no matter what, when it goes off, I leave the control room for a minimum of 15 minutes. (This is in my contract with all clients, and yes this is on the clock time.) I NEVER mix for more than 8 hours tops, and try to keep mix sessions to 6 hours, with a minimum of 4 hrs off. I have my hearing checked every 6 months at Mass Eye and Ear, one of the most prestigious hospitals in the world for hearing related health. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members steveg Posted December 31, 2006 Members Share Posted December 31, 2006 Originally posted by where02190 .....I have my hearing checked every 6 months at Mass Eye and Ear, one of the most prestigious hospitals in the world for hearing related health. Good for you!! Can I ask what changes you see over time? How old are you? Is there any change in hearing simply from age? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members UstadKhanAli Posted December 31, 2006 Members Share Posted December 31, 2006 Originally posted by steveg Is there any change in hearing simply from age? Sadly, yes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members blackpig Posted December 31, 2006 Members Share Posted December 31, 2006 A bar owner once told me that the reason for loud music in pubs is to make the customers shout to hear each other. The theory is that when people have to shout all the time they drink more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members where02190 Posted December 31, 2006 Members Share Posted December 31, 2006 Originally posted by steveg Good for you!! Can I ask what changes you see over time? How old are you? Is there any change in hearing simply from age? I've been folowing this procedure religiously since the early 80's, and there has been no significant change in my hearing response. I'm 48 now, and my audiologist says provided I continue to take care of my hearing, this should continue until I hit my early 60's at least. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members the stranger Posted December 31, 2006 Members Share Posted December 31, 2006 Originally posted by blackpig A bar owner once told me that the reason for loud music in pubs is to make the customers shout to hear each other. The theory is that when people have to shout all the time they drink more. Salty items on the bar...peanuts, pretzels, etc... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members pink floyd cramer Posted December 31, 2006 Members Share Posted December 31, 2006 I am the deafest musician I know of in my area, almost 50 db HF hearing loss. I have been using hearing aids for 5 yrs. I still do an occasional lower-volume gig and even then wear earplugs, I have a hard time wearing my hearing aids on a gig- sound is very overdriven and I can't judge my volume. Nowadays I mostly do solo piano or acoustic-duo gigs and still get about half my income from music. I know a blind piano player, we are looking for one that is mute so we can perform together- call it the Deaf, Dumb and Blind Tour. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members blackpig Posted December 31, 2006 Members Share Posted December 31, 2006 I only do mostly acoustic gigs now. I don't wear ear plugs during the odd time I do a PA gig as the stuff I do is folksy music anyway. Since childhood I've had a problem with wax in my ears which has to be removed with a jet of water by my doctor from time to time. He reckons that this wax protected my hearing by acting as a built in ear plug during my younger days when I played rock and roll. Lately I've been having trouble with a fluid build up in my middle ear which will have to be corrected surgically sometime; the procedure is straightforward enough and is not much of a hassle. In short, I have to look after my ears more than most and now at 45 I don't notice any appreciable hearing loss. I mix at low volumes as well. I'll be doing a lot of recording and mixing work in the near future which requires a good ear so I can't afford to go deaf. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members flip333 Posted January 1, 2007 Members Share Posted January 1, 2007 We did a new years gig last night at a nice low volume. classic rock and country for about 100 people. This new drummer kept his volume down nicely. My last drummer was driving me crazy because he pounded his set like an ape. He had to change drum heads a lot, and he pulverized drumsticks. My ears would ring after playing with him. We got lots of complements on our mix, and my ears feel safe again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members where02190 Posted January 1, 2007 Members Share Posted January 1, 2007 Originally posted by flip333 We did a new years gig last night at a nice low volume. classic rock and country for about 100 people.This new drummer kept his volume down nicely. My last drummer was driving me crazy because he pounded his set like an ape. He had to change drum heads a lot, and he pulverized drumsticks. My ears would ring after playing with him.We got lots of complements on our mix, and my ears feel safe again. Don't consider you're safe just because your new drummer has a clue about dynamics. Even a modest rock band with good dynamics can easily be averaging 95-100db onstage. Over the course of a couple sets a night 2-3x week can cause permanent hearing loss. Hearing loss is permanent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members echoshock Posted January 2, 2007 Members Share Posted January 2, 2007 Where do you get musician's custom earplugs? Only from the doctor? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members audioicon Posted January 2, 2007 Author Members Share Posted January 2, 2007 Sorry guys, I have not participated in this thread since posting because my hard drive just died the day I posted.Anyway, I have observed that only people who mostly do music or work with sound seemed to be concerned about hearing loss. When you go to the club you see people dancing very close to the speakers, it's like wow! Are they nuts! One time I walked over to the DJ booth and asked him if he was concern about his hearing. He told me he's been doing it since childhood and has never had a problem. He even suggested that I had hearing/ear problems if loud volumes were bothering my hearing. Can anyone recommend where I can get decent ear plugs to wear when I go out to the clubs? Don't wanna use cotten.I want something that looks good and will not make me look like a StarTrek character. This topic is very interesting, for me my ear is the most precious piece of gear. Lets discuss furhter. Audioicon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members UstadKhanAli Posted January 2, 2007 Members Share Posted January 2, 2007 >>Can anyone recommend where I can get decent ear plugs to wear when I go out to the clubs?>> Try this link. Add "musician" "ear" and "plug". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members where02190 Posted January 2, 2007 Members Share Posted January 2, 2007 Any local pharmacy should have hearing protection in the form of foam plugs, not exactly the best frequency response, but good protection. Sporting goods stores will have them as well, see the gun department. You can see a professional audiologist for custom molds, but be prepared to shell out a few hundred. Clubs, and any public facility that exceeds federal noise levels, must, by law, provide hearing protection for employees. However unfortunately most who work in these envorinments in the entertainment industry ignore their health when it comes to their hearing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Lakesidedave Posted January 3, 2007 Members Share Posted January 3, 2007 The Musicians Union in the UK is having a big drive to raise awareness about the need for hearing protection for musicians at the moment, and not before time. It's spearheaded by our local rep, Paul Gray, erstwhile bassist for Eddie and the Hotrods, and the Damned. His tinnitus and frequncy losses ended his playing career, and made his life hell. At the music college where I teach part time, we monitor sound levels in rehearsal rooms and students are issued with ear protection and are not allowed to rehearse without. A big difference from when I started out. I have tinnitis from years of gigging without protection, and I deeply regret not taking care of myself.A good pair of custom moulded flat response earplugs costs about Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil O'Keefe Posted January 3, 2007 Share Posted January 3, 2007 He told me he's been doing it since childhood and has never had a problem. He even suggested that I had hearing/ear problems if loud volumes were bothering my hearing. This guy is an abbreviated career (due to hearing loss) in the making... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Karma1 Posted January 3, 2007 Members Share Posted January 3, 2007 I wish I would have worn hearing protection about three years ago when I went to see a Pink Floyd tribute band. I left with my ears ringing, and it's never stopped since then. According to the two medical specialists I went to, Tinnitus is permanent and irreversible. I don't want to preach, but there is some good advice in this thread that should be heeded by everyone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members eightyeightkeys Posted January 4, 2007 Members Share Posted January 4, 2007 I've a got chronic problem with my right ear. It's tinnitus, but, maybe even worse, the tinnitus manifests itself as a low frequency hum at about 80Hz.Thank goodness that it's currently intermittent and relatively quiet. If I rest-don't listen to any music at all- I don't suffer. As soon as I listen, at any volume, it's there after I hit stop. HummmmmmmmmmmmWhat a dreadful affliction ! It's not just the sound. It can drive you insane. And, you think that it might go away. Wrong. Not. Never. Ever. It' been about 3 years for me. I've seen a specialist and then a second one for a second opinion and I'm ready to go to a third. The thing is, once the specialist make that diagnosis with the "T" word, forget it. They don't really know what it is and where it is. Is it in the brain? in the ear ? both ? They think it's in the brain but they really don't know. Do yourself a huge, huge favour and protect your ears. Not just in the studio or in the clubs or in rehearsal, but, when your in the workshop, cutting the lawn, etc...Everywhere. Carry those ER-15's all the time And have those squishy ones everywhere just in case. Because, man, once you've got the affliction, you will kick yourself up and down the street for years and years to come. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members amplover Posted January 8, 2007 Members Share Posted January 8, 2007 If its to loud, your to freakin old!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members where02190 Posted January 8, 2007 Members Share Posted January 8, 2007 Originally posted by amplover If its to loud, your to freakin old!! If it's too loud, you do permanent damage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members venkiee Posted January 11, 2007 Members Share Posted January 11, 2007 The best way to keep your ears like Mozart is to listen and monitor on Behringer Monitors..lol..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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