Ear Plugs

[JAMdisco]

Do any of you use ear plugs of any type - I've noticed that at the end of the night once I've got home my ears are literally "ringing". I came across these (http://www.audiorelief.co.uk/shop/product_info.php?cPath=24&products_id=31) after doing a google search ad reckon they are well worth the money if they do what they claim.

Has anyone tried these or anything similar?

[Vectis]

Years ago I bought a box of 500 pairs of pliable foam type plugs that do pretty much the same job - think I paid about £30 and the box is still about half full!

Personally I tend to use them only at particularly loud gigs as otherwise I find myself shouting on the microphone :D However I make my roadie (son) wear them at all gigs. Only time it's a problem is when people ask for requests :p

[PropellerHeadCase]

I do most of my mixing in my cans, I've found that even 5dB of cut meant that I had to turn them up so loud that they jumped off my head! I use noise-cancelling headphones now, which reduces spill from external sources so I don't have to turn my phones up as loud. Does the trick.

[JAMdisco]

Yes, I agree, foam ones will do this but if you looked at the link these are supposed to cut high & low frequencies!

I quote:-

"ER20's protect your ears by filtering out damaging high and low frequencies and improve your ability to hear music and converstions clearly in noisy environments."

So these are not in any way like the foam ones.

[JAMdisco]

I've used noise cancelling in-ear phones for my monitor mix when I was in a band - they really do cut out all ambient noise - but a bit fiddly to get in and out - so no use for DJing as like you say - you can't hear requests.

[Vectis]

Just to note, ear plug provision forms an entry on my risk assessment template.

[rob1963]

I'm just wondering how necessary ear plugs are.

Surely the punters need them more than we do...as they're right in front of the speakers...whereas we are behind them.

In my opinion, if people need ear plugs at a gig then the music is too loud.

My hearing is very good, and I havent used ear plugs in 24 years on the road.

[TonyB]

I hardly ever get that ringing sound in my ears after a gig. I use a Behringer Ultrafex and that is one of the claims of the product - it gives an illusion that the music is louder than it actually is (don't ask me how it works!) and it does seem to live up to its claim. I also have noise canceling headphones that I use sometimes.

[pulsemobiledisco]

In my opinion, if people need ear plugs at a gig then the music is too loud.


:agree:
If your ears are ringing at the end of the night then your music is either way to loud or your EQ is set wrong.

People also want to be able to have a chat over the music. I think that getting the volume correct is very important. I always try to maintain sensible volume levels and I am not very often asked to crank it up. When I am asked to crank it up I am more than happy to do so, so long as it is what the host wants.

[BeerFunk]

In my opinion, if people need ear plugs at a gig then the music is too loud
Yep, or distorted.

[Dragonfly]

PARDON??????


I don't wear ear plugs if im honest but before he died my grandad used to get on at me constantly that I should ....... how would i hear requests???

[PropellerHeadCase]

Also true, people asking you to turn it down - bad, people asking you to turn it up - good.

[djsteve10]

I only wear ear plugs when i am working in the night clubs when i aint mixing as there is alot of noise in the club i work in... When i put the headphones on i take them out.

Stops me from going death but mobile wise you shouldn't need them. It is eitehr your pushing it too loud or your EQ is set wrong. If none of these are the case then go see your doctor about your ears

[Excalibur]

Also true, people asking you to turn it down - bad, people asking you to turn it up - good.

A maxim I have worked by for over thirty five years, and it has got me a lot of work and appreciation.;)

[Larry B Entertainment]

Stops me from going death

I think in this case you mean "Deaf" :)

The main volume isnt an issue for me but i hate having to mix with headphones over the top of the F.O.H mix so i use Beyer DT150s which are actually studio standard phones but they cancel out 15db of ambient noise so i find them quite useful.

[djsteve10]

I think in this case you mean "Deaf" :)

The main volume isnt an issue for me but i hate having to mix with headphones over the top of the F.O.H mix so i use Beyer DT150s which are actually studio standard phones but they cancel out 15db of ambient noise so i find them quite useful.

Each to their own i suppose then really.

I use senheiser HD215 and senheiser HD25 and they do the job nicley

[soundscapes]

i suppose it depends on the venue, theres a pub in town which has a dj box up in the gods right next to a ceiling mount bose 802. always make sure i use my earplugs for that one.

[djsteve10]

i suppose it depends on the venue, theres a pub in town which has a dj box up in the gods right next to a ceiling mount bose 802. always make sure i use my earplugs for that one.

Can you not disconnect the speaker or ask the venue if they can put the speaker onto a monitor channel on say something like a cloud zone mixer then you can control it to the volume that you need and have it at a comfortable level? Oceana where i DJ the Dj booth has 2 logic monitors one on either side... they are that loud i unplug one of them as they get on your nerves after a while and the noise all becomes too much.

[wensleydale]

the type shown on the link are the ones i used to use when working gigs in sheffield and do the job.

the key here is getting your eq set right- if you get home from a night out and ears are ringing theres something wrong there- whether it be a gig, club or disco.

volume comes into it but look at the eq first.


the "my ears are ok so i dont need to worry" approach is a little "short sighted".
you need to at leat be aware of the possible problems.

[djsteve10]

the type shown on the link are the ones i used to use when working gigs in sheffield and do the job.

the key here is getting your eq set right- if you get home from a night out and ears are ringing theres something wrong there- whether it be a gig, club or disco.

volume comes into it but look at the eq first.


the "my ears are ok so i dont need to worry" approach is a little "short sighted".
you need to at leat be aware of the possible problems.



It is not so bad if you are sub due to the noise say twice a month or something but when you are working at loud volumes week in week out like i do... say around 7 - 10k in a night club then you have to protect your ears or they will just get worn away with the sound and you will end up with bad hearing and not being able to do this job anymore

[soundscapes]

Can you not disconnect the speaker or ask the venue if they can put the speaker onto a monitor channel on say something like a cloud zone mixer then you can control it to the volume that you need and have it at a comfortable level? Oceana where i DJ the Dj booth has 2 logic monitors one on either side... they are that loud i unplug one of them as they get on your nerves after a while and the noise all becomes too much.

no the speaker is just out of reach, and the dj box is nearly 20ft in the air so dont fancy over stretching to reach it and the amp rack is spaghetti junction. the mixer is a really old citronic 10:4 dsp they have a piddly little bose monitor but it just gets drowned out by the full range speaker behind you. I try not to do there now unless i have to, im semi-retired from town centre work. im mainly doing hotel work with my own rig and just do the odd town centre gig to keep my hand in.

[JAMdisco]

The reason I have the music loud is because that's what the punters want - it's a residency and have been asked several times (when I first started) that they want it louder. The FOH sound is really nice (not distorted in the slightest) but beacause one of the speakers is right next to me, that's why I thought frequency eliminating ear plugs would be a good idea.
Also, on NYE I am doing an "ibiza" style gig which I reckon they'll want it loud and bassy.

Anyway, I'll get some ear plugs (I don't think just over £10 is too much to protect my ears) and I'll let you know how I get on.