Members Walters9515 Posted February 3, 2012 Members Share Posted February 3, 2012 What does the pro use for ear plugs? to play live gigs? When I play live gigs, my ears ring for weeks I use HEAROS 32NRR ear plugs and other kinds from guitar center and they still make my ears ring What type of ear plug brands are the best for live gigs? Do they make ear monitors with built in ear plugs also? I went to the audiologist and plaid $150 dollars but it only filters out 25db and My ears still ring for weeks after playing a live gig My ears are exceptionally sensitive or I have tinnitus The Ringing goes away for 2 weeks but once I play a gig or go to a club even if i am in there for 1 min and go outside my ears will ring for weeks I don't know much about ear monitors, because most gigs I play at don't mic up the amplifiers cause they are small stage gigs. I would think ear monitors would be bad too because the whole mix is going direct into your ears without having ear plug built in, it would give my ears tinnitus or ringing after a gig Why I would think ear monitors would be bad is because if the microphone start to Feedback it would go direct into your ears cause your ears to ring. The type of tinnitus ( ringing in my ears ) is my ears don't ring before the gig, Its after a certain db or loudness even if its for 1min it will trigger ringing in my ears So I have been worried about ear monitors because of microphone feedback going direct into my ears will trigger ringing in my ears even if the feedback happens very short The gigs i play at there is feedback and squeals that happen because of the bad PA mixers at the clubs , so i don't want to use ear monitors because i am worried about that going straight into my ears. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members OneEng Posted February 3, 2012 Members Share Posted February 3, 2012 In-ear monitors are sound isolated ..... so yes, they are are like ear monitors inside an ear plug. This is what the pro's (most of them anyway) use. In-ear monitoring systems also have built in limiters to prevent hearing damage (for feedback and other issues that can cause transients). If most of your gigs are small enough not to need amps miced, then they are also small enough that you shouldn't have to have your amps up that loud. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members philw44 Posted February 3, 2012 Members Share Posted February 3, 2012 I think you should see your audiologist. -25dB moulded plugs should be good enough for the loudest of performances. Maybe the problem is somewhere else.. ie. inserting ear plugs is pushing some wax around. That can cause ringing too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Walters9515 Posted February 3, 2012 Author Members Share Posted February 3, 2012 I'm new to ear monitors What are some cheap ear monitors that have 1.) ear isolation2.) Limiter built in3.) Ear plugs built in Ya it's most my right ear that rings for weeks after a small gig or it's circulation problem in my ears but the feedback, squeals, loudness triggers them to ring for weeks What would you guys use or get for In-Ear Monitors that are cheap and prevents damage to the ears? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members twostone Posted February 3, 2012 Members Share Posted February 3, 2012 Sounds like you got tinnitus and need to see a ear doc to see how bad you got it before you end up losing your hearing.Then worrying about IEMs you only get one set of ears no way I would blow off seeing a ear doc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jwlussow Posted February 4, 2012 Members Share Posted February 4, 2012 Dude you have tinnitus. If the ringing stops for you now, do not play another note until you get some serious ear protection and IEMs. I am going on my 25th year of constant (I do mean constant - 24/7) noise in my right ear. Do whatever it takes to protect what you have left. That ringing means the damage has already started. It is not reversible. Cheap is not the best option. If you want to really do this right you will spend some money on custom molds and really protect what is left of your hearing. Custom molds and a decent IEM system with a limiter and you are good to go - well you do need a board that has some monitor or aux outs and someone who knows how to set it up. Look at Galaxy, Shure, A-T, Sennheiser, etc.... AVOID Carvin, Nady and no name units. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members agedhorse Posted February 4, 2012 Members Share Posted February 4, 2012 Dude you have tinnitus. If the ringing stops for you now, do not play another note until you get some serious ear protection and IEMs. I am going on my 25th year of constant (I do mean constant - 24/7) noise in my right ear. Do whatever it takes to protect what you have left. That ringing means the damage has already started. It is not reversible. Cheap is not the best option. If you want to really do this right you will spend some money on custom molds and really protect what is left of your hearing. Custom molds and a decent IEM system with a limiter and you are good to go - well you do need a board that has some monitor or aux outs and someone who knows how to set it up. Look at Galaxy, Shure, A-T, Sennheiser, etc.... AVOID Carvin, Nady and no name units. Absolutely good info here. You may have to turn down in addition to hearing protection. You do NOT want to create tinnitus issues, that's some really messed up stuff. I have a friend who has ended his musical career because of this, and he was playing in the most popular band in the region, bringing in >$40k/man over the year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members dboomer Posted February 4, 2012 Members Share Posted February 4, 2012 2.) Limiter built in Be very careful here. Just because you have a limiter does NOT mean you have protection. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bassred Posted February 4, 2012 Members Share Posted February 4, 2012 Be very careful here. Just because you have a limiter does NOT mean you have protection. Yes, even with the Limiter activated, my Sennheiser 3056 can pump out some serious volume! I work hard to protect my money makers.. Foam plugs at smaller gigs (I don't care what anyone says about me, I know what is important!) and my IEM unit carefully adjusted to be 'loud enough to hear what I need, but not any louder than that'... IEM's have not only helped save my hearing, but my voice too (no longer having to scream to hear myself through the mush on stage..) I cannot imagine ringing like the Original Poster has. Hearing (no pun intended) stories like this just makes me glad I've almost always been very careful, and certainly helps to firm up my future plans for special care. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Walters9515 Posted February 4, 2012 Author Members Share Posted February 4, 2012 Do you know which IEM have the better protection? brand names? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jwlussow Posted February 4, 2012 Members Share Posted February 4, 2012 Do you know which IEM have the better protection? brand names? The brands I mentioned before (Galaxy, Shure Audio Technica & Sennheiser all have good limiters. Use them correctly and you will be amazed at how well you can hear and how good your ears feel after the gig. The Galaxy is the least expensive and it still gets very good reviews. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Walters9515 Posted February 4, 2012 Author Members Share Posted February 4, 2012 Thanks for the info. So the limiter will cut/gate off the feedback and squealing from the microphones? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jwlussow Posted February 4, 2012 Members Share Posted February 4, 2012 The feedback is an audio loop. Your IEMs won't feedback since they are sealed but it can let you hear the feedback from other places in the chain quite easily. IEMs won't prevent feedback through stage monitors. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Miko Man Posted February 4, 2012 Members Share Posted February 4, 2012 The feedback is an audio loop. Your IEMs won't feedback since they are sealed but it can let you hear the feedback from other places in the chain quite easily. IEMs won't prevent feedback through stage monitors. If everybody in the band is using IEMs, then there is no need for stage monitors, and thus no on-stage feedback. Stating the obvious, I know, but worth mentioning anyway. Mark C. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members BigMac5 Posted February 4, 2012 Members Share Posted February 4, 2012 How loud are you playing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Walters9515 Posted February 4, 2012 Author Members Share Posted February 4, 2012 Your IEMs won't feedback since they are sealed but it can let you hear the feedback from other places in the chain quite easily. 1.) The feedback from what chain or from what? IEMs won't prevent feedback through stage monitors. 2.) If everybody in the band is using IEMs, then there is no need for stage monitors, and thus no on-stage feedback 3.) This is good to not have stage monitors cause it prevents feedback and squealing plus no ringing in the ears after the gig **The problem is at most of the gigs I play at, have stage monitors and they don't mic up the guitar amplifiers, keyboards, bass, drums. So there is no way to use a IEM ear plugs in the right way they are ment to be used for. You would have to have the whole band use IEM ear plugs and to have everything mic'ed up to do a ear phone mix of the whole band for the IEM ear plugs Do you guys know which IEM ear plugs are the best to prevent or control tinnitus since I have tinnitus ringing in my ears already I would like to get an IEM system that will work the best to not make my tinnitus worse? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bbrunskill Posted February 4, 2012 Members Share Posted February 4, 2012 You must get Custom fitted IEM's for proper protection. I use 1964 T in ears. I have a Sennheiser G2 wireless system. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members RoadRanger Posted February 4, 2012 Members Share Posted February 4, 2012 I use HEAROS 32NRR ear plugs and other kinds from guitar center and they still make my ears ring Just to bring it back to the OP - you really need to see a hearing specialist. If you ears ring with those plugs your ears are seriously messed up - maybe for life. You might need to take extreme measures to retain what hearing you have such as give up any activity that makes your ears ring . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jwlussow Posted February 4, 2012 Members Share Posted February 4, 2012 Problem with IEMs is that they are pretty much an all or nothing solution. Properly fitted earbuds will drastically cut out all stage sound so if you want to hear something, it has to be in the mix. If the whole band is switching you will also need to start micing everything else so you can hear the instruments. IEMs are more in line with FOH then with wedges. It is a pretty big and expensive change but the cost is well worth the ability to cleanly hear what is happening on stage and protect your hearing art the same time. There is a learning curve and many just can't get past the feeling of isolation. Others adapt right away without issues. Funny thing is the guitarist. They generally seem to claim that they play worse through IEMs even if all the ever do is practice using headphones. Guitarists are weird like that. The need their amps at 11 so they can get "their sound" even if, in truth "their sound" is WAY too loud for the venue. Guitarists seem to believe the rest of the based is their support act and they are the "band". Lose that mentality, play together as a group and listen to what the others are doing and IEMs will allow your band to sound better then it ever has. Once you pay attention to the performance as a whole and not just your instrument things really start making sense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Walters9515 Posted February 4, 2012 Author Members Share Posted February 4, 2012 What is the signal chain like to switch over Mixing board monitors output >> to headphone amplifier that supports 8 outputs >> IEM ear plugs Most headphone amplifiers I have used cause gain hiss and white noise Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Telecruiser Posted February 4, 2012 Members Share Posted February 4, 2012 I have tinnitus (ringing 24/7) and you sound you are well on your way. Go see a doc and get some custom fitted plugs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members sailorman Posted February 4, 2012 Members Share Posted February 4, 2012 I have 24/7 tinnitus along with hyperacusis. I'm pretty much used to the ringing, but the hyperacusis makes ANY loud sound extremely painful. I was away from playing in a band for 35 years, but since I've gotten back to me, custom fitted ear plugs or IEMs are mandatory. In my case, I think the hearing damage could also be from long hours riding a motorcycle (80's/90's). The bike is quiet, but the wind noise, even inside a full face helmet, was loud enough to have my ears ringing at the end of the day. I eventually wore ear plugs, but the damage was probably done. Point being, not only loud music can/will damage your hearing, anything loud enough to make your ears ring is doing damage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Quarterwave Posted February 4, 2012 Members Share Posted February 4, 2012 In a band setting, unless you are playing on BIG stages or everyone else has no amps on stage and are going direct, IEM's are a waste if they are being used for any type of sound deadening / isolation purposes - at least from my experience. In most situations, I've had to turn them up so loud to get over the band, that I might as well just have a monitor blaring @ me. For about the last 15 years, I've just bought regular "CVS" style, 32db ear plugs, cut off a small part of the flanged ends so that they fit into my ears, and then got accustomed to things sounding muffled. When I'm singing, I pull one of them out "slightly" - just enough for me to hear things more clearly, yet still taking off a lot of the high end. Anything less for me is not enough to block the sound. I've also tried all of the Guitar Center type ear plugs, "Hearios", baffled designs etc.... and none of them have been able to block out enough - at least for me. Having said all that, the regular, CVS plugs allow me to take them out on the drive home, and NOT have to turn my car stereo up to 100 just to hear it ! The good thing is, the CVS style are also quite cheap (few $$ for a 24 pack), so if you don't like them, you haven't spent $20-odd dollars on a pair of Hearios (or whatever) only to throw them out. Plus, the CVS style will double for any machine work or those types of things - if you do those, that is. Good luck in your search, and definitely book yourself an appointment with an audiologist. For the $125, at least you'll know what you're dealing with, and the peace of mind that comes with that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jwlussow Posted February 4, 2012 Members Share Posted February 4, 2012 What is the signal chain like to switch overMixing board monitors output >> to headphone amplifier that supports 8 outputs >> IEM ear plugsMost headphone amplifiers I have used cause gain hiss and white noise Very few headphone amps have limiters. That is why I mentioned the cost of doing it right. IEM systems are not headphone amps. Headphone amps do not work well in a live situation. Rehearsals are OK but being tied to a headphone amp during a performance is very restrictive. It would go Aux/mon out to IEM transmitter to IEM receiver to earbuds Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Walters9515 Posted February 4, 2012 Author Members Share Posted February 4, 2012 I did get the custom fitted plugs, I paid $150 for them but they still make my ears ring cause its either they aren't the filter is 25db I need something stronger plus they don't fit really tight Most of the Gigs I play at use stage monitors and don't mic up the amplifiers so it just a death trap for your ears Even If I had IEM for myself playing at a these types of gigs will still cause feedback,squealing and loudness cause these is stage monitors and the amplifiers aren't mic'ed up Most of the custom ear plugs are only 25db it seems, it you have tinnitus it will make your ears ring like mine do after a gig. It must be the vibrations that are hitting the ear plugs to trigger the tinnitus or hairs in your ears to ring What type of ear plug you guys use since you have tinnitus? when you go to clubs or watch live gigs? I watch music DVD's and most of the players don't use or wear ear plugs or IEM. I always wonder how they don't get ringing in there ears after a gig plus doing it every night since they are on tour. I asked around and most people at guitar center and bands at the clubs said that the ringing in your ears is good because its breaking in your ears cause they are virgin ears to loudness cause the ringing won't happen again once it's done its damage and cut out the freq's that's why the pro's don't wear ear plugs or IEM units. There quote was the lions hang out with the lions Cause most players on stage have tinnitus or ringing in there ears after a gig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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