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Dont Loose the Music.....
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| Dj Blurr |
Some people think its funny when you wear earplugs to an event. I used to be one of them. But I realize now how important hearing is.
Sitting here at work today I started poking around, and did a search simply on “Dj’s loose hearing”. I came up with this article I thought I would share with you guys.
Partying my ass off for more than 15 years has taken its toll on my hearing. Places like The Gathering in Sheffield, Godskitchen, Guverment, Sensation, Dancefield.. Church and other club venues locally and abroad, I found my hearing deteriorating over the years. What would bad is developing tinnitus or something. Just be safe and know that wearing plugs isn’t bad, just indication that you care about your own safety and health. Wearing plugs doesn’t mean that you dislike the DJs music also, which I have heard a few times out there. Take care of yourselves peoples!
http://www.dontlosethemusic.com/hom...k/your_stories/ |
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| rizen |
I recall there was a ear plug recommendation thread in this part of the forum but didn't find it.
Can someone recommend ear plugs that don't just kill high/mids but actually reduce the overall decibels? I really want to protect my hearing but can't stand the loss of high/mids with generic ear plugs :mad:
Also, Blurr can I get my Pete Tong signed It's All Gone Pete Tong DVD :D |
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| Psiweaver |
| There is a thread in the DJ booth about this with the special ear plugs you really need to have them custom made and you can choose how many dbs you want it cut by 5 10 15 20 or something like that. |
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| djGT |
| quote: | Originally posted by rizen
I recall there was a ear plug recommendation thread in this part of the forum but didn't find it.
Can someone recommend ear plugs that don't just kill high/mids but actually reduce the overall decibels? I really want to protect my hearing but can't stand the loss of high/mids with generic ear plugs :mad:
Also, Blurr can I get my Pete Tong signed It's All Gone Pete Tong DVD :D |
i remember seeing this. :)
check your local audiologist, ask mr google. :toothless
i would hate to lose my hearing. worst than my sight? maybe. can i dj without my ears? if frankie can do it.
| quote: | Originally posted by Dj Blurr
Frankie Wilde is just a portrayed character right?
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he exist on the djlist. :p
i've been bad though. haven't been using the plugs lately. random rings in the middle of the night. :whip: |
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| rizen |
| couldnt find the thread in the dj booth but google gave me some hits. ill have to call some these places and try to get me a pair once I get paid cause I'm currently broke :( |
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| in2muzikk |
From DanceSafe.org:
Recommended devices for protecting your hearing:
CUSTOM EARPLUGS (around $150) offer the best protection. They are made from a imprint of your ear canal, which makes them very comfortable to wear. They also decrease all frequencies equally, so the music won't be distorted. See www.hearnet.com for information about these earplugs.
ER EARPLUGS (around $20) reduce decibel levels the same across the frequency levels. Users say they aren't as comfortable as custom plugs, but they are still extremely useful (as well as more affordable).
INDUSTRIAL FOAM EARPLUGS (cheap) decrease high frequency sounds, making speech and music sound muffled. They are less comfortable and they distort sound to an extent; however, they are very useful and should be used when other options aren't available. They are the most commonly available type of earplug, and many DanceSafe chapters hand them out for free!
COTTON AND TOILET PAPER are of no use in the protection of your hearing.
Here's a link to H.E.A.R., a privately funded organization to promote awareness of hearing damage:
http://www.hearnet.com/about/about_hearstory.shtml
I contacted an audiologist through them once, and was told that there are no regulations over how loud nightclubs can be (Circus LA, for example, keeps it down to 120db as displayed on digital meters on their equipment). Some can be 150db and up, so this audiologist recommended that I get custom-fitted solid earplugs from Etymotic.
Got a pair of them and also a pair of custom-fitted Musician's Earplugs, which go really deep into the ears. I tried the Musican's plugs once and they were not strong enough. Next, I tried the custom-fitted solid earplugs, but had to push against them constantly to get a good seal.
After spending hundreds of dollars on this sh*t, I ordered HEAROS supersoft foam plugs and have been using them instead. Since I have small ear canals, most foam plugs pop out after about 5 mins, but these stay in pretty well.
You can order a trial packs of foam plugs from the Earplug Store:
http://earplugstore.stores.yahoo.net/unfoamtrialp.html
They also sell the reusable (non-custom) musican's plugs, but be aware that these (and the custom-fit) musican's plugs can only attenuate 20-25db max. The solid custom-fit plugs and best foam plugs attenuate about 32db max. To get any more noise reduction than this, earmuffs would be required.
Take a look at this hearing loss chart, and you'll know why I wear only the 32db attenuation foam plugs:
http://www.hearnet.com/at_risk/risk_aboutloss.shtml
Best advice I've read is that if you have ringing in your ears after a concert/club, you are experiencing hearing loss but may not know it yet. Over time it will probably develop and I don't think much can be done about it except getting hearing aids.
Lastly, not everyone's the same, so some people may need more hearing protection than others due to genetics, size, etc. Hope this information helps everyone to make the best choices! |
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| DaveT |
Great little thing John 00 Fleming wrote about his hearing issues on his site in late 2005...
| quote: | John '00' Fleming said:
Protect Your Ears
After 20 years in the music industry my ears have taken a serious battering with constant loud music. Every weekend I subject myself to boomimmg sound systems in clubs. During the week I sort through my new music and programme them into my set, and there's only one way to do that....play it LOUD! Surely all this noise must do some damage. In a word yes. My monitoring ear has tinnitus. At night a have a constant ringing sound that will be with me for the rest of my life. Tinnitus is incurable. A close friend of mine who has had a long career in DJ land is actually going deaf in one ear, and this is all due to sustained exposure to loud music over many years. This is why I'm going to highlight the importance of why all DJ's should protect their ears.
My tinnitus should be much worse, but I took the smart move a few years ago to get some protective custom earplugs made up. I only wish I got them earlier so I didnt get tinnitus in the first place? So I want you to learn from my mistake. DJ's are the most vulnerable in a club. The sound system already seems really loud to the punters on the dance floor, but the DJ needs to have the volume a touch louder in the DJ booth so that he can hear over the top of the delay coming from the main rig. The DJ's monitors (speakers) are usually positioned pretty much right next to his face, two either side. Most of the time you cant adjust the EQ on DJ monitor and quite often you get screaming high frequencies blasting in your direction. This is destined to do some damage over the years and I'm living proof. Our ears are our tools, without them we loose music and our careers. I don't know if you've seen the movie 'It's all gone Pete Tong'? Though this a fun entertainment film where the main character (a DJ) goes totally deaf due to exposure to loud music, but it could be reality.
So what are the options? You can buy the squidgy foam earplugs (like you get on planes) from your local chemist. They do a great job of plugging up your ear and stopping noise, but they seem to stop everything, you wont be able to hear a thing when it comes to mixing just a muddy thud. From experience these style plugs never stay in place in usually end up falling out, especially when you start to get hot and sweaty. Also your ear can't breathe so you get an awful bunged up feeling along with a headache. There is only one option, it's costly, but can you really put a price on saving your hearing? For the price of a new pair of jeans you can get some custom made ears plugs.
That puts it into perspective. These earplugs fit deep into your ear canal maximizing protection. This also makes sure that they stay in place and wont fall out. Situated in the earplug is a changeable filter. This is the thing that reduces the volume to your eardrum. You can buy various size filters that reduce the volume from -9db to -25db. This is a personal preference to see what works best for you. I find the -15db filter are perfect, they reduce the sound enough to protect my ears but dont cut too much of the club experience. I find the -25db filters cut the sound far too much, I cant feel or hear the music correctly, and it takes away the whole club feeling. The filters are awesome for cutting harmful high-end frequencies, that ones that make you cringe and really hurt your ears. Many clubs I've been to have monitors that scream at you. Once I put these earplugs in I can hear perfectly, they completely cut the nasty high frequencies. Also the filters allow youre ears to breathe, so you wont get the aforementioned headaches. You can't simply buy these in a shop or online. There's a measuring up process involved, hence the custom fit title! You need to get a mould of your ear canal made. This can't be done until your ear canal has been cleaned from any excess earwax. So an appointment has to be made at your local doctors to have your ears syringed. You need to use special earwax removal oil to first loosen the earwax, so this needs to be done 3-4 days prior to your syringe appointment, your doctor will inform you about this. Once youre free of earwax, make an appointment at your local Hospital to get a mould made of your ear canal. Simply let them know you are getting custom-made ear plugs made. Here they fill your ears with a solution that sets into a mould. You have to sit there for a good 10 mins while this stuff sets in your ear! The hospital will then give you these moulds to take away with you. Then send these to the ear plug company so they can make your plugs from these moulds, I highly recommend sending these recorded post if they got lost you'd have to go through all the aforementioned process again???
When you get you're earplugs back, you'll love them! They fit perfectly and are very comfortable. Naturally the first time you wear them to DJ they will feel weird and you will be conscious of them and what they are doing. Don't pop them in 2 minutes before your set because the dramatic loss in volume and high frequencies will sound strange. You need to put them in a good 30 mins before your set, or even better wear them all the time you're in the club, then you will be used to them when you step up to the DJ booth, you wont even be aware of them. The best thing is, you will never ever get that ringing sound in your ears ever gain after a night out.
Please be sensible and protect, what could be you're livelihood, your ears.
Ear info: www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/hearing/wiseears.asp
My ear plugs where made by www.hearingprotection.co.uk www.elacin.nl
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| lex400sc |
i bought these on ebay for like $10. they reduce spl by 12-20db and are pretty much the best for the money until you start looking at the pricey custom molds.
i notice that it takes longer for me to fatigue at the club when i'm wearing these, which means i can enjoy more music before feeling like it's time to go. also when i walk out onto the street and pull them out, my ears love me a lot more when i can actually hear things instead of ringing and i'm able to wind down and sleep a lot easier once i get home.
another thing you should know is if you hear your ears ringing, that is the sound of nerve endings in your ear DYING. :nervous: |
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| Techno_Twins |
| OMG we couldn't agree more. Aside from working in a club & going clubbing after that it's imperative to wear earplugs. I use to hear a ringing sound every night & after awhile I started to not even notice it, except when laying down at night with no other noise but the ringing & static. Earplugs can be a pain sometimes though so we are definitely going to get some custom ones. Thank you guys for all the info.:gsmile: |
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