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Meg
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Ear Care
So lately I've found myself spending a lot more time making beats than usual, and a lot of that time is with headphones (cause I don't own monitors).
I'm worried that spending 6 or so hours a day with headphones on is going to quickly destroy my hearing. I try to listen a low volume, but as you know
it's pretty hard to keep it quiet when you're getting into the groove.
Also, I've had problems with ear wax and my ears getting blocked for the last few years (which I think can be attributed partially to heavy heaphone
use).
I know all the usual stuff about anything over 85dB (I think it is) will cause hearing damage for extended periods, but I have nfi what dB I run my
headphones at.
So does anyone have any good tips for looking after your ears? Am I definitely causing permanent damage to my hearing my hearing by using heaphones
for long periods? Does anyone have a set dB level that they always monitor/mix at, and how do you measure this? Is there any good ways of controlling
ear wax besides syringing (not ear candles)?
TIWIAA.
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paradoxau
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aha. i wrote something about a week ago on acid about my ears. dont ask, here is a snippet
My ears.
I use my ears everyday, i push them to their limits with music, i will listen to music over and over again trying to find any tiny sonic differences
while mixing.
I call this ear training. The more you start to trust your ears and use them, the more trustworthy they become.
Engineers can listen to a mix and automatically know what needs fixing, that aint teaching, thats 20 years of ear experience so they KNOW what they
are hearing.
I never abuse my ears, if i have loud music or a concert i'll wear plugs, i also get my ears cleaned out by the doctor more than a few times a year -
you'd be amazed at the difference.
Why i wrote this is that people sometimes ask why things arent in key or not, truth is, i dont really know, its just ive always used my ears, so i
know when it "feels" out of key, and when it "feels" in. feeling the vibrations, feeling the music.
Ears are like wine, only getting better with age. Look after them yo, they might treat you good.
your mind can trick you too.
say you buy new monitors. you will THINK they are maybe higher in bass response, or maybe too bright. But you could have been mixing on flat monitors
for years, so the change in listening has made you THINK it sounds diff, where sonically it is the same.
Picture this:
i listen to my favourite music on a pair of canadian club headphones. i have used them for over 5 years.
In that 5 year space, i have attuned my ears to what i hear out of them, if i showed you a mix on them, you might think "man this is wack! bass too
loud, highs all crisp, reverb isnt there" but throwing a proffessionaly mixed track through the headphones and it will sound EXACTLY the same (well,
maybe not exactly
My point is, you have to tune into what your hearing. and reference it. doing so will reap you rewards that no amount of money could. Listen heaps, to
all sorts of music, and get used to your equipment, know what good mixes sound like on your **** speakers. know what bad ones sound like. Know what to
ignore when.
i know it seems like a crack rant, but im bored and acid.
haha again, dont ask.
Basketball flat peak - go JUMP like Kriss Kross/ wear Miami Heat but never heard of a Chris Bosh...
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Mackula
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my old beatmaker/DJ from high school days is deaf as fuck now.
ears ring and shit on the daily.
takes plugs religiously to jams.
he bumped too many beats, way too loud, growing up.
D O T H E M A T H
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Gex
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Hey man, I had really bad tinnitus in my mid twenties i used to spend heaps of time in clubs and raves and that, and I used to use headphones alot, i
went to get my ears tested and had significant hearing loss, so I dropped the headphones like a sack of shit and my hearings improved alot. I might
get a ringing if im working for long periods without a break but I think thats tiredness more than anything. I would think your def causing damage
though I did get a test recently and it has improved markedly, there was prob fresh damage when I went for the first test, Id prob been using cans the
night prior.
I think if you could really keep the vol very low and take a break every 10 - 15 mins you could minimise.
Also if you smoke weed or drink alot the volume goes up and up and you lose track of time. You should get some speakers even if there very basic, at
least for composing, casual listening etc. Not worth even risking it if you think your damaging your ears true?
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Gex
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Also the wax and the blocked up feeling in your ears is damage, the ears are forming up the wax as a protection mechanism. And the sort of blocked
thing is probably compression which you ears do when they are assaulted, it usually lifts after a day or two. Get monitors man, cheaper and cooler
than a hearing aid.
@Paradox never listen to anything your ears tell you on acid. ITS NOT REAL. ha .
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Mackula
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^ yo Gex,
i'm surprised your ears have seemed to repair themselves?
i thought it was one way traffic to damage-ville...
[Edited on 24-5-2012 by Mackula]
D O T H E M A T H
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Gex
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Yeah I know man, me too. There still not and never will be %100 but I had gromits when i was a kid so my ears were never prob 100%. I figure its
because they had been recently assaulted when i took the test. You know how if you been in front of a pa the next day it will be fucked following day
it will be better etc etc. I figure it was like that. Ive literally never monitored in cans once since that test. scared the shite out of me.
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Meg
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| Quote: |
Also if you smoke weed or drink alot the volume goes up and up and you lose track of time. You should get some speakers even if there very basic, at
least for composing, casual listening etc. Not worth even risking it if you think your damaging your ears true?
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Yeah true. I do have speakers but they are some old hi-fi shit from the 80s, plus living in a small apartment with my girlfriend means I'm always
reaching for the phones. I much prefer to jam on the speakers, but I gotta mix on the phones. Looking forward to getting back to Aus and setting up a
room with treatment and monitors though, number 1 priority.
I have tinnitus too, but it has been a lot better recently. The ear doctor was basically said, "yeah 20% of the population have this, sometimes it
will be worse, sometimes it will be better, deal with it". I had my ears tested last year when my tinnitus was really bad, and they came up ok which
was a relief. I used to work in a bar and always wear ear plugs at gigs, but lately I haven't been doing it. I definitely need to invest in some of
those proper volume attenuation ones.
Paradoxau, that is an amazingly coherent acid rant haha. I've got a page in my note book that starts with "1000 fucking cockatoos" and "the world is
putting on a show just for me" and deteriorates from there.
[Edited on 24-5-2012 by Meg]
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Gex
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But Meg you seem a sensible person capable of holding a job or pulling a heist, even just these little edirol ma-10as i have that i take on holiday
and that are good for composing. actually there pretty good for mixing apart from subs, i make my best shit on holiday. Youd pick em up for next to
nothing. I think someone just gave em to me.
Ah your o.s. That makes the situation more understandable.
[Edited on 24-5-2012 by Gex]
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Meg
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Haha I'd like to think I'm sensible, but not holding down a job at the moment hence spending so much time making beats.
That's awesome that you take monitors on holidays with you, love it. But yeah, my backpack is pretty full as is.
And fuck, you are doing nothing to help my anxiety here. 
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Meg
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Shit, I started this thread so someone would tell me not to worry and how best to clean out my ear wax.
Now you've pretty much convinced me I need to go buy some monitors. I'm here for 6 more months so I guess it will be worth it if I can pick up
something like those edirols for cheap.
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MADFX
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[Edited on 25-5-2012 by MADFX]
#FreeSnape
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paradoxau
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Quote: Originally posted by Meg  | Shit, I started this thread so someone would tell me not to worry and how best to clean out my ear wax.
Now you've pretty much convinced me I need to go buy some monitors. I'm here for 6 more months so I guess it will be worth it if I can pick up
something like those edirols for cheap. |
the best way to clean out your ears is to go to a doctor or GP and ask them at the counter if you can have your ears cleaned - they use a big syringe
full of warm water to flush wax out.
It is a free service at my GP, i do it every few months and i highly reccommend it.
Basketball flat peak - go JUMP like Kriss Kross/ wear Miami Heat but never heard of a Chris Bosh...
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paradoxau
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| Quote: Originally posted by MADFX | What was that? I didnt hear you.
My advice would be to only use headphones when tracking, if that.
Your abilty to hear frequencies in the high end are first to go.
Mine are damaged no doubt (although not severely) as I have worked
in Live Sound for just about 12 years now.
[Edited on 24-5-2012 by MADFX] |
you said before you were 27........that means you started doing live sound for work at the age of 15?
i highly doubt it mang.
Basketball flat peak - go JUMP like Kriss Kross/ wear Miami Heat but never heard of a Chris Bosh...
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Meg
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That's cool you can get your ears syringed for free. I've had it done once and it was so good, when I was walking out of the doctors I could hear al
the high frequency shit that I couldn't hear when I went in, like wind in the leaves of the trees.
Lets keep the thread about ears and acid rants, not madfx's bullshit.
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paradoxau
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| Quote: Originally posted by Meg | That's cool you can get your ears syringed for free. I've had it done once and it was so good, when I was walking out of the doctors I could hear al
the high frequency shit that I couldn't hear when I went in, like wind in the leaves of the trees.
Lets keep the thread about ears and acid rants, not madfx's bullshit.
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aha this place needs more acid ranting.
i was going to say i could hear the ATM machine in the bank printing to paper, and i could hear the paper roll squeaking as it rolled. i could not
believe how much better i could hear ay, though be careful you dont go bump tunes loud for a few days after getting them cleaned as it probably causes
more damage!
Basketball flat peak - go JUMP like Kriss Kross/ wear Miami Heat but never heard of a Chris Bosh...
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MADFX
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[Edited on 25-5-2012 by MADFX]
#FreeSnape
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MADFX
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[Edited on 25-5-2012 by MADFX]
#FreeSnape
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Rights-26
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arrogant cunt....thats laughable coming from you.
-DS Family-Sound Magnetiks-
www.soundcloud.com/rightsdsfamily
**RIGHTS - SOLITARY CONFINEMENT OUT NOW!!!** Feat. Paradox, Nate Deezy, Aero D, DJ Jamu and Chris Labs.
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MADFX
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#FreeSnape
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NewSense
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Yo... madfx, where can you get molded ear plugs that you use for live sound and still keep the levels and freqs right, just quieter?
a lot of engineers use em, i need them shits., I have fucked ears from other shit, but lately they are getting worse as I make a lot of beats with
headphones on and have been mixing for some bands. I need to stop the headphone shit so much, but I need those ear plus regardless.
www.myspace.com/ciecmatenewsense
www.myspace.com/newsenseone
www.myspace.com/brokentoothentertainment
www.myspace.com/writersblockact
www.brokentoothentertainment.com.au
www.youtube.com/brokentoothent
Stoney Soprano Vol 1:
http://rapidshare.com/files/126950978/Stoney_Soprano_VOL_1_.mp3
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Ruxton
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I spent probably half of the time from 17->25 in raves or clubs, also had ear problems since birth; Gromits at 6mnths, 1yo, 3yo, 5->7 I had mad ear
infections. I've had ringing in my ears since FOREVER! It doesn't get better, it just gets less obvious because you're not kicking their arse; Get to
feel it 10fold the day you do hit em hard though  Currently rocking a really
weird right ear, the docs assure me its not infected.. i continually beg to differ!
Tinnitus is a bitch, even the shittest isolation room does my head in. Quiet room? no thank you, turn the radio or a fan on or SOMETHING to blend that
ring out.
Here's my advice for looking after your ears:
* Avoid jamming cotton buds in your ears to clean them.
* Avoid approaching loud music on really clean ears, earwax is a defense mechanism.
* Avoid earbuds and canalphones.
* Drive with the windows up
* Get out of the headphones, if you must stay in them get something more suited to longer sessions.
* Don't do long sessions without breaks, this isn't just an ear thing, it's a mental, physical and creative health thing too.
* Stop turning it up, learn to listen quietly, ears are trained.
*** Sit down tonight, set a comfortable level on your output for working and put some tape a line above it, you're not allowed to cross that line for
the next month, then re-evaluate.
* Do some ear training, quietly listen to frequencies and ID them.
* Ears are fragile, treat them as such
* Get some musicians ear plugs, they're expensive but if you love live music like i do, see the point above.
Stepping in to MADFX. I dunno the guy from a bar of soap and nor do most of you? Every time someone has a run in with him I get the impression he's
just trying to help and offer his limited knowledge. He's said some bullshit, but we all have, he's also dropping some serious knowledge at times. So
who gives a fuck how old he is or what he did/does for a living.
MADFX stop reacting and biting when people say something, I personally think that's half of the problem.
So my friends, can we stop all this bullshit in the production forum? no name callin! no arrogance! no dick waiving contests! no power struggles!
we're all here to share knowledge and learn more. It's been great for the last couple of years, let's not ruin it. I couldn't care less for what
goes down in the rest of this site, this is the only section I actively check out; dont bring HAT bullshit here. I'm sick of reading a thread of smart
conversation get broken down to petty bullshit.
Stay positive, keep sharing the knowledege and focusing on your music! 
Rhythm & Poetry - http://www.rhythmandpoetry.net
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Ruxton
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| Quote: Originally posted by NewSense | Yo... madfx, where can you get molded ear plugs that you use for live sound and still keep the levels and freqs right, just quieter?
a lot of engineers use em, i need them shits., I have fucked ears from other shit, but lately they are getting worse as I make a lot of beats with
headphones on and have been mixing for some bands. I need to stop the headphone shit so much, but I need those ear plus regardless.
|
Do a search for musician's ear plugs. Moulds are taken, sent off somewhere and made and then they put a little disc on the back of them that sets the
attenuation, there's 3 different levels available 9 dB, 15 dB and 25 dB.
The place that did your tests should be able to get it sorted, or any good audiologist. Mine were about $220 if i remember right! But the had to be
sent to Melb to be moulded so you might get it cheaper.
Pretty much all of them i found in Aus used the Etymotic ones http://www.etymotic.com/hp/erme.html
[Edited on 24-5-2012 by Ruxton]
Rhythm & Poetry - http://www.rhythmandpoetry.net
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MADFX
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| Quote: Originally posted by NewSense | Yo... madfx, where can you get molded ear plugs that you use for live sound and still keep the levels and freqs right, just quieter?
a lot of engineers use em, i need them shits., I have fucked ears from other shit, but lately they are getting worse as I make a lot of beats with
headphones on and have been mixing for some bands. I need to stop the headphone shit so much, but I need those ear plus regardless.
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You can man, they are not cheap though.
[Edited on 24-5-2012 by MADFX]
#FreeSnape
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Mackula
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| Quote: Originally posted by Ruxton | I'm sick of reading a thread of smart conversation get broken down to petty bullshit.
Stay positive, keep sharing the knowledege and focusing on your music!
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bravo, Ruxton, bravo.
this has to be the only stance allowable, surely. 
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