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Posted by DjWoody on Jan-16-2011 04:12:

Take Care of Your Ears!!!!

Sup fellas...

I got my ears tested today at NAMM. NO STD's! ha! It looks like I have some damage in my left ear and I have to see an ear doctor. It's nothing major, but it's an early sign of something major if I don't act now. I saw the Dr they have in there and he recommended me to get a more thorough exam, seek professional help and get custom ear plugs. He referred me to another booth where they make custom ear plugs. I went there and the lady was nice enough to give me a free pair of musician's ear plugs. She told me I would have to go to my Dr before I get custom ear plugs done. The damage is mostly on my left ear, which just happens to be where the monitor at the club is always placed.

If you're at NAMM, I'd recommend you get your ears checked. It won't cost you a dime. If you're not at NAMM, you should really take care of your hearing and wear protection. I'm sure non of us wants to go deaf. It's not worth it.


Posted by EddieZilker on Jan-16-2011 04:20:

Sorry to hear that, Woody. Do you have access to level control in the booth or is it a set volume? I know that being able to control dB SPL exposure can go a long way to helping you preserve your hearing.

http://www.hearnet.com/


Posted by DjWoody on Jan-16-2011 04:47:

Thanks! Yeah, I have control and I usually have it set to low or medium. But the other DJ's blast it really loud. We usually argue when I tell them to lower it. But I've been Djing for almost 20 years so yea, I did some horrible mistakes along the way.


Posted by Looney4Clooney on Jan-16-2011 05:17:

the sad part is most audio exams only go up to 8 kHz. Your hearing might be fucked big time.


Posted by Terrence Parker on Jan-16-2011 09:56:

One guy from Aly&Fila lost his hearing on one side almost completely.
It happened during a gig with too loud monitors and no ear protection.


Posted by Zak McKracken on Jan-16-2011 11:38:

quote:
Originally posted by DjWoody
Thanks! Yeah, I have control and I usually have it set to low or medium. But the other DJ's blast it really loud. We usually argue when I tell them to lower it. But I've been Djing for almost 20 years so yea, I did some horrible mistakes along the way.


have u been djeing for 20 years without using ear-plug protection? what ud expect... im really sorry though. i think ive fucked my ears a little too during the army, guns and shit, but never bothered checking it out yet, thanks for reminding me. want to get my ears flushed too. think im gonna go check it all out, its nice to know.


Posted by Storyteller on Jan-16-2011 14:06:

I've got my earplugs for about 3-4 years now and should get new ones quite soon. It's been one of my best buys ever, it makes partying so much more enjoyable in many ways.

- Insane loud music on a bad soundsystem will no longer cause a headache
- Understanding everyone when they talk to you
- No beep after partying
- No damage to your ears


Posted by Evol` on Jan-16-2011 21:28:

I was thinking about getting earplugs lately.
Which one would you guys recommend?


Posted by DjWoody on Jan-16-2011 22:18:

quote:
Originally posted by ken_lee
i think ive fucked my ears a little too during the army, guns and shit, but never bothered checking it out yet, thanks for reminding me. want to get my ears flushed too. think im gonna go check it all out, its nice to know.


When I got tested, I had to fill out a questioneer and the army, guns and explosions were on it.


Posted by JEO on Jan-16-2011 22:31:

A guy accidentally shot three blanks next to me while in the army, I wasn't ready and wasn't wearing my ear protection yet :P it's a good way to mess up your hearing. Rad feeling having your left ear go almost deaf while the other still picks up noise. I wore double protection after that.

I also used to listen to music really loud with a sub on my left side, and I occasionally feel like my hearing is lopsided. I don't know if it's real, or am I just making it all up in my head. Weird thing still a human brain can't somehow compensate for a lopsided hearing.


Posted by Rodri Santos on Jan-16-2011 23:01:

quote:
Originally posted by Storyteller
I've got my earplugs for about 3-4 years now and should get new ones quite soon. It's been one of my best buys ever, it makes partying so much more enjoyable in many ways.

- Insane loud music on a bad soundsystem will no longer cause a headache
- Understanding everyone when they talk to you
- No beep after partying
- No damage to your ears


i'm interested in buying a pair, do you look like a freak with them? Health> Trend but... looking like a fucking alien is something to consider


Posted by Osmodiar on Jan-17-2011 00:14:

Yeah i've been wearing earplugs in clubs for atleast 7 years, just generic skin colored disposable cheapies. No one notices them and you can generally hear people talk better than they can hear you. No one else I go out with bothers with them though, and most people seem to think it's unnecessary. I quietly wonder if they'll still think that in 20 something years though

I started with them the second I noticed mild tinitus creeping in, was a bit late already but it seems to have kept it from getting any worse over the years. I figure if you intend on producing music for as long as you can hear what you're doing then ear protection is definitely worth the hassle.


Posted by Zombie0729 on Jan-17-2011 03:25:

i've been with ear plugs since 2008, i can't imagine not using them. I use them to DJ, when i go out to clubs, concerts, etc. My GF gets annoyed because if i forget them, i turn around, go home & make sure to grab them. I own a pair of this brand:

http://www.sensaphonics.com/prod_erseries_customs.html

You buy the same plug then you have 3 choices of dB filters, -9, -15 & -25. Honestly i've had the -15 in there 90% of the time, only at major concerts (which i rarely go to) do i put in the -25. Avalon in LA at -15 is totally fine. The extra filters run about $25-$50 a piece, the molds cost $180. I think i spent $280 when it was all said in done.


So ya, i wear them while i DJ, under my cans... it's awesome. Also as storyteller said and this is my personal belief (i have no proof other than experience) that a big chunk of hearing damage at clubs is caused by people SCREAMING in your ear. With the plugs it's like you're in a small bar with background music on, you hear every word, nothing hurts (no matter how close they get).


Posted by Rodri Santos on Jan-17-2011 15:55:

you make them look so nice, i think i'm going to save for them, i have had some bad experiences already... for djing i didn't find it necessary to the date, i have noticed that all the djs seem to use insane volume levels on their headphones/monitors, i always decrease them greatly, i usually mix with only one cup so i don't need vast volume and isolation (my HP's have a decent isolation so i think this helps) as for the monitors i only have them at a "high" volume when i am beatmatching, the rest of the time sit at a low level where my ears don't suffer, in most clubs i've been you could switch on/off the monitors and adjust the volume. I am going to the netherlands and italy this year, i hope the sound quality is at least the same...

And i heard on a AvB video that the reason why he mostly recommended the earplugs was precisely because of people screaming at your ear, this is kinda logical, if the music is loud... someone who wants to speak with you has to be louder, so something at +6db in a scream means +9db red meters and tinnitus


Posted by Magnus on Jan-17-2011 19:19:

Check out www.westone.com

They make custom earplugs for DJs among other things. A friend of mine has a pair and swares by them. I have been meaning to get a pair for some time now but just haven't done it yet. I too fear the hearing in my left ear has diminished a bit.


Posted by JEO on Jan-17-2011 19:56:

Lol how is the left ear always? I know dozens of people who say it's the left ear that has suffered, me included.


Posted by Rodri Santos on Jan-17-2011 20:18:

curiously i started to worry because i hear louder on the right side too :S i noticed when i changed my headphones, i don't know why.


Posted by Zombie0729 on Jan-17-2011 21:15:

quote:
Originally posted by JEO
Lol how is the left ear always? I know dozens of people who say it's the left ear that has suffered, me included.


not all eyes are equal and not all ears are equal, loads of factors go into this.


Posted by Zombie0729 on Jan-17-2011 21:17:

quote:
Originally posted by Magnus
Check out www.westone.com

They make custom earplugs for DJs among other things. A friend of mine has a pair and swares by them. I have been meaning to get a pair for some time now but just haven't done it yet. I too fear the hearing in my left ear has diminished a bit.


you really don't want any thing that sticks out of your ear, your headphones (if you DJ) will press on them and in-turn press on your ear drum. Best if it's flush


Posted by Magnus on Jan-17-2011 22:44:

Interesting post here by long time DJ John 00 Fleming on this very subject. He prefers protection in the -15db range.

http://www.john00fleming.com/#hash/media/0/18


Posted by Looney4Clooney on Jan-17-2011 23:15:

I recently discovered that I have waxy ears that act like earplugs which I think is why my hearing has not really been damaged from all those years in bands then the ding. My hearing despite the normal taper on the high end is pretty damn good.


Posted by JEO on Jan-18-2011 08:46:

quote:
Originally posted by Zombie0729
not all eyes are equal and not all ears are equal, loads of factors go into this.


Could you elaborate? Why is it that almost all the people I know, that do care about their hearing, say the hearing in their left ear has degraded more than in the other?

I'm not trying to be a smart-ass, since I have no clue what causes this what so ever.

Though I suppose it can be as simple as driving your car on the left seat, as most people in the western world do (no offense to the British). If the car's really loud to the inside, your left ear takes most of the hit? I don't know what luxury cars you guys drive but I've been thinking of getting ear protection just to use in my car.

quote:
Originally posted by Mad for Brad
I recently discovered that I have waxy ears that act like earplugs which I think is why my hearing has not really been damaged from all those years in bands then the ding. My hearing despite the normal taper on the high end is pretty damn good.


And you don't have a car! My god my theory makes perfect sense.


Posted by Rodri Santos on Jan-18-2011 15:24:

i am sure there's some relation between being right handed/left handed and driving your car on the left/right seat. Odd but there must be an explanation here if it's true everybody tends to suffer from the left ear... maybe the way you position in the clubs being left handed or not if i think of the last weekend my left ear was usually directed to the speaker while i was talking, but as i have said i think i've lost some audition on that side so i am not a good man to experiment with.

There must be an explanation, i find that the car thing has something to do on this, this is easier to prove. Ask some british and see if they have their left ear injured or the right ear.


Posted by CReddick on Jan-19-2011 21:38:

quote:
Originally posted by Storyteller
I've got my earplugs for about 3-4 years now and should get new ones quite soon. It's been one of my best buys ever, it makes partying so much more enjoyable in many ways.

- Insane loud music on a bad soundsystem will no longer cause a headache
- Understanding everyone when they talk to you
- No beep after partying
- No damage to your ears


+15

I keep my custom 'musicians plugs' in the car so I have them at all times... I'd have paid $1k for them if that's what they cost. You can't put a price on my hearing.


Posted by Rebel Brown on Jan-20-2011 23:47:

quote:
Originally posted by Rodri Santos
i am sure there's some relation between being right handed/left handed and driving your car on the left/right seat. .


I'm pretty sure it's more to do with the fact that driving position tends to be dictated by where the steering wheel is.


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