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-- my first mix using earplugs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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my first mix using earplugs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

hey guys.

i have had a problem with loud music since i started in the soundsystem game many years ago.

i finally bought some proper earplugs (er -20) and used them for a studio mix so i can get used to using them out in clubs.

i was amazed how good these earplugs are and would recommend anyone to buy a pair... they re like �12 or something!

they maintain sound quality really well.

here is my first mix i did with them.

richard gales earplug mixup (32mins 64kbps) [15 mb]

this was with my own 2000wrms rig beating hard and loud to try and replicate club volumes.

the mixing is reletively tight with only one track going off slightly. im sure it would be unnoticeable in a club tho..

i cant wait to use them out in my next club set!

BUY SOME NOW BEFORE YOUR EARS GET RUINED. WE WILL BE THE DEAF GENERATION IF WE DONT ACT!

rich

Nice one Rich,

Sadly, I think I'm a little too late as my hearing isn't quite what it used to be but somehow I can still hear music clear as anything. The answer to that is probably that I don't care to listen to people he he... Not in an arogant way, just when you work as a DJ you get so many minced people coming up and talking the most random gob shite you will ever imagine.

Cheers
Nem

name/brand? i'd like some info please!

quote:

Originally posted by BradP name/brand? i'd like some info please!

Same here.

Probably gonna get some new plugs before the x-mas party. At the halloween party the DJ played extremely loud and it nearly blew my eardrums. I'm not gonna be seeing this DJ again without proper protection.

quote:

Originally posted by BradP name/brand? i'd like some info please!

brand: etymotic (etymotic research)

model; er - 20 (the 20 refers to the amount of decibels it lowers sound by. but to give a good idea, they make very loud squeeling club sound into more manageable loud hifi listening. it seems to sound about half as loud as without them which does ease up on your ears no end!)

price: i have seen them for between $12 (us)- $25 (us)

or �10 (sterling) - �24

type them up on google and you get loads. they come in a little plastic dustproof case that fits to your keyring... i take em everywhere now- just in case i happen to see a night i wanna go to.

hope this helps

rich

quote:

Originally posted by Aquarian At the halloween party the DJ played extremely loud and it nearly blew my eardrums. I'm not gonna be seeing this DJ again without proper protection.

It also depends on the acustics of the room and the quality of the rig. Iv heard louds systems that sound great and ones that are about the same but the highs just kill you. Since iv started early on the loud music i guess i should also start early on getting protected. I dont wonna be 30 and def

quote:

Originally posted by DJ 00 Tommy It also depends on the acustics of the room and the quality of the rig. Iv heard louds systems that sound great and ones that are about the same but the highs just kill you. Since iv started early on the loud music i guess i should also start early on getting protected. I dont wonna be 30 and def

i agree. a properly set up system sounds awsome and doesnt even make your ears ring at very high volumes.

dj's tend to have a habit of playing around with a well tuned amp rack and making it sound 'better'

these er-20's really take away the screaming highs that so many clubs seem to love subjecting us to.

Looked them up, and it looks like they stick out a bit. I have a pair that are very similar, and I really can't wear my headphones with them in because the phones push the earplugs in too far (ouch). I look like shrek when I wear them

quote:

Originally posted by richg101 brand: etymotic (etymotic research) model; er - 20 (the 20 refers to the amount of decibels it lowers sound by. but to give a good idea, they make very loud squeeling club sound into more manageable loud hifi listening. it seems to sound about half as loud as without them which does ease up on your ears no end!) price: i have seen them for between $12 (us)- $25 (us) or �10 (sterling) - �24 type them up on google and you get loads. they come in a little plastic dustproof case that fits to your keyring... i take em everywhere now- just in case i happen to see a night i wanna go to. hope this helps rich

I had some custom made ones done, but unfortunately are quite pricey. They fit beautifully and dont stick out at all. its definitely a good investment though as I dont want to be wearing hearing aids when im 40.

quote:

Originally posted by richg101 i agree. a properly set up system sounds awsome and doesnt even make your ears ring at very high volumes.

I hate to be a snob but thats just plain wrong. Any sound over 90dB can potentially harm you ears. 120dB is the pain threshold of human hearing, so obviously anything close to this is doing damage. I dont care how "proper" the EQ/setup of the sound system is, if its loud, its doing damage.

And the ringing you get is your ears reacting to the damage being caused by the sound level.

Yes, just because your ears aren't ringing and you don't feel pain doesn't mean that no damage was done!

quote:

Originally posted by Dj_Aaron_P I hate to be a snob but thats just plain wrong. Any sound over 90dB can potentially harm you ears. 120dB is the pain threshold of human hearing, so obviously anything close to this is doing damage. I dont care how "proper" the EQ/setup of the sound system is, if its loud, its doing damage. And the ringing you get is your ears reacting to the damage being caused by the sound level.

quote:

Originally posted by Ryan0751 Yes, just because your ears aren't ringing and you don't feel pain doesn't mean that no damage was done!

Another good point.

Hearing is VERY important guys/gals, and I dont think this can be stressed enough. I've already budgeted to get these earplugs (and custom fitted ones) with my next paycheck. Please do the same, take care of your ears, since typically clubs dont care to.

This has been a public service announcement from your friendly neighborhood DJ.

HAHA

quote:

Originally posted by Dj_Aaron_P I hate to be a snob but thats just plain wrong. Any sound over 90dB can potentially harm you ears. 120dB is the pain threshold of human hearing, so obviously anything close to this is doing damage. I dont care how "proper" the EQ/setup of the sound system is, if its loud, its doing damage. And the ringing you get is your ears reacting to the damage being caused by the sound level.

i fully agree.

i wasnt saying a properly set up system wont damage your ears. im just saying that it is less likely to cause ringing of the ears.

i associate any sound that causes ringing to be more damaging to your ears.

i feel that tinnitus(ringing of the ears) is a lot worse to have permanantly at a younger age than it is to go deaf at an old age.

the plugs probably wont lower the likelyhood of going deaf by much. but will certainly filter the harmful high frequencies that are responsible for tinnitus.

quote:

Originally posted by richg101 the plugs probably wont lower the likelyhood of going deaf by much. but will certainly filter the harmful high frequencies that are responsible for tinnitus.

I'm sorry to have to bust you again lol. These lower the sound decibels by 20dB, a DRAMATIC amount. Most clubs wont get near 120dB because then NO one would be able to hear anything and everyone would be in pain (for reference, a jet taking off produces about 120dB worth of sound at 200ft away). I would think that most clubs are somewhere around 80-100dB perhaps slightly over that at their maximum (if its a respectable club). So lowering this exposure to 60-80dB (about the level of a noisy restaurant or a hair-dryer) would dramatically lower damage.

(I'm studying sound etc in school right now, thats where the references come from)

quote:

Originally posted by Dj_Aaron_P I'm sorry to have to bust you again lol. These lower the sound decibels by 20dB, a DRAMATIC amount. Most clubs wont get near 120dB because then NO one would be able to hear anything and everyone would be in pain (for reference, a jet taking off produces about 120dB worth of sound at 200ft away). I would think that most clubs are somewhere around 80-100dB perhaps slightly over that at their maximum (if its a respectable club).

Hate to bust your bubble, but Ive been working in clubs for years.

Have seen the dB readouts on accurate meters...... have seen them as much as @124dB on the dancefloor (not when I have been mixing I might add), and the average SPL is far far in excess of 100dB. No club will be at 80dB- with a densely packed room thats just not enough.

Ive also seen may managers doctor the figures for health and safety reasons.

I use the custom ones (www.hearingprotection.co.uk) and I will not set foot in a club, bar with loud music or anywhere similar without earplugs.
i also wont dj without them

quote:

Originally posted by Freak Hate to bust your bubble, but Ive been working in clubs for years. Have seen the dB readouts on accurate meters...... have seen them as much as @124dB on the dancefloor (not when I have been mixing I might add), and the average SPL is far far in excess of 100dB. No club will be at 80dB- with a densely packed room thats just not enough. Ive also seen may managers doctor the figures for health and safety reasons. I use the custom ones (www.hearingprotection.co.uk) and I will not set foot in a club, bar with loud music or anywhere similar without earplugs. i also wont dj without them

Alright. So you got me on the numbers a little bit. Good for you. My main point in this discussion, is that these earphones, and others similar, WILL help tremendously in protecting your hearing....you can argue the numbers a little if you want, the evidence is still there.

Clubs that I frequent care a little more about their patrons and don't allow sound levels to get that close to 124dB....thats just irresponsible.

I may not have YEARS of club experience like you, but I've got my fair share...enough to make accurate statements such as these.

Im not arguing at all- hence my previous threads in the past on my own personal plugs and hearing protection in general.

You are preaching to the converted mate- ive been using them for years in some form or another.

I could tell you what the SPL reading last saturday was at one of the UK's best venues, (people on here who know me know where I work from time to time) but im not one to name names. It peaked (not averaged )in excess of 130 at one point when dj muppet whacked the master up (and it wasnt even on full pelt).
Most Djs dont care- and that includes A list ones- what the system is whacking onto the floor- they just whack the master up. Ive constantly had to turn it down for some of these big guys when they have it too high. Probably because most of them have severe hearing damage already.
The monitors are arguably just as bad if not worse.

Yes its that bad- I think its shocking personally.

Its all gone a bit Pete Tong. Cracking film- but with a serious message in it!

hey aaron..

i think in your db quotes you are a little misled.

a pa top box of high efficiency will output a peak of 131db@1meter.

so sure. the sound will be lower at a distance. but very few venues have thier speakers placed further than two meters from the liteners heads. every meter the db level lowers by three so minus 6db. leaves 125db of screaming high freqs coming from that massive 2" comp driver.. imagine eight of these boxes in a 200 capacity place?

now 20db of attenuation is stated- leaving you to deal with 105db! but in 'perfect conditions'....

every time you knock them, take em out and not put them in again properly etc. the attenuation is lower than 20db.

im saying that from my experience with loud noise, it is the high/mid frequencies at high volumes which definately cause tinnitus. a low frequency bass at high output will cause deafness but will definatly not deliver tinnitus.

er-20 earplugs state a flat attenuation but obviously are more efficient at lowering levels of high and mid than low freqs.




to be more clear.. to mix at 90-125db unprotected you will suffer tinnitus and hearing loss - fact. the time it takes just depends on how susepable you are.

to mix at 85-105db - protected you will still be a lot safer than unprotected people. but will still be damaging your ears. fact is you are a lot less likely to induce tinnitus from the highs the plugs filter out..

jeese i rote a lot!

quote:

Originally posted by Freak Im not arguing at all- hence my previous threads in the past on my own personal plugs and hearing protection in general. You are preaching to the converted mate- ive been using them for years in some form or another. I could tell you what the SPL reading last saturday was at one of the UK's best venues, (people on here who know me know where I work from time to time) but it would probably scare you and im not one to name names anyway. Most Djs dont care- and that includes A list ones- what the system is whacking onto the floor- they just whack the master up. Ive constantly had to turn it down for some of these big guys when they have it too high. Probably because most of them have severe hearing damage. The monitors are arguably just as bad if not worse. Yes its that bad- I think its shocking personally. Its all gone a bit Pete Tong. Cracking film- but with a serious message in it!

HAHA I agreee, what a strange yet wonderful movie. Yea, it just makes me angry when these powerhouse clubs dont realize what they're doing to their patrons....

I bought some like 4 weeks ago.. can't wait to try them in a club.

quote:

Originally posted by F�anor I bought some like 4 weeks ago.. can't wait to try them in a club.

theyre really good for the money and will probably make things easier to mix in loud environments.

im also looking forward to using mine out mixing on my next set.

rich

quote:

Originally posted by richg101 hey aaron.. i think in your db quotes you are a little misled. a pa top box of high efficiency will output a peak of 131db@1meter. so sure. the sound will be lower at a distance. but very few venues have thier speakers placed further than two meters from the liteners heads. every meter the db level lowers by three so minus 6db. leaves 125db of screaming high freqs coming from that massive 2" comp driver.. imagine eight of these boxes in a 200 capacity place? now 20db of attenuation is stated- leaving you to deal with 105db! but in 'perfect conditions'.... every time you knock them, take em out and not put them in again properly etc. the attenuation is lower than 20db. im saying that from my experience with loud noise, it is the high/mid frequencies at high volumes which definately cause tinnitus. a low frequency bass at high output will cause deafness but will definatly not deliver tinnitus. er-20 earplugs state a flat attenuation but obviously are more efficient at lowering levels of high and mid than low freqs. to be more clear.. to mix at 90-125db unprotected you will suffer tinnitus and hearing loss - fact. the time it takes just depends on how susepable you are. to mix at 85-105db - protected you will still be a lot safer than unprotected people. but will still be damaging your ears. fact is you are a lot less likely to induce tinnitus from the highs the plugs filter out.. jeese i rote a lot!

yup we've already covered the numbers subject. My numbers are not concrete and obviously vary from club to club because of managers and setup. Thats been discussed already.

quote:

Originally posted by Dj_Aaron_P Thats been discussed already.

sorry for barging in

you need to chill winstarn!

chill from what?

just bought a pair of the earplugs for �9.99 of ebay i shoulod get them on monday il post again and give you my review on what i think of them.


kind regards Martin P

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