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Ear Fatigue
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| EddieZilker |
Any producer who's been at this long enough knows ear-fatigue, all too well...
The nerve endings connected with the filaments which vibrate to the sound-waves, subjected to a barrage of frequencies for long periods of time, become tired and start shutting down. The only problem is that you're still making adjustments to your mix. Before you know it, you have a sonic mess on your hands which, for some reason, sounded outstanding and level before you went to bed but, now, has a harsh brightness to it, or, is a messy, muddy mung of deep bass-tones, upstaging the balance of the mix.
I take frequent breaks and switch sound sources, from head-phones to speakers and back. I'll leave a song playing while I step out of the room and listen to it from a distance. I'll take off my headphones and make sure I can hear every element running through the mix without the speakers directly on my ears (albeit a miniaturized version without the detail of a full-on mix).
I'm also keen to recognize that 'raw' feeling I used to ignore because I was having too much fun. Then it's time to make dinner or take a shower, or both. If I'm having trouble getting the sound I want, and I've been working at it, for a while, I'll stop.
So, what do you guys do? |
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| DJ RANN |
One thing that astonished me when I started working as a mix assistant was the response given by the first engineers to a particular question. The response was instant, without even having to think about it or recollect:
36 hours.
The question: How long can you engineer for before fatigue or you're second guessing yourself.
I found that after a few excruciatingly long sessions, that's about as long as anyone who is well trained and conditioned can go before they second guess themselves or lose concentration. It took a few goes but that's about where am I'm at now (as long as there was a decent sleep the night before).
Bear in mind this is on extremely expensive monitors that don't really fatigue you and with people who are expected to work these hours without flinching so they're very used to it.
Composing can be different and that really depends on the mind of the composer (I've seen some stop being productive after 10 hours and some go for days and days with just power naps here and there). |
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| Kismet7 |
I always let my ears rest. I often produce at low volumes, and only sometimes at louder volumes. I make music in binges, only when I feel like making music, when inspiration or ideas come up. This lets my ears both rest and heal back to great shape. I work rather quickly, so I dont spend too much time hacking away at a dead horse, ideas come quick and are implemented quick.
And this is probably the most important, I try to nurture my ears, through massage and good cleaning technique after showers :D
Do I still get fatigue from time to time? Sure, this is when I stop making music and just listen to other music. |
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| Kismet7 |
| Also, I wonder if the shape of ears themselvse have something to do with ear fatigue, or hearing in general, because of the way the ear funnels the sound or responds to loud sound. |
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| cronodevir |
| Ive been exprimenting with making hardcore [endymion typoe stuff] and i must say its the first time my ears hurt when producing, making the ahrsh kicks and leads, after like 30 minutes my ears are ringing... |
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| EddieZilker |
| quote: | Originally posted by cronodevir
Ive been exprimenting with making hardcore [endymion typoe stuff] and i must say its the first time my ears hurt when producing, making the ahrsh kicks and leads, after like 30 minutes my ears are ringing... |
:wtf:
You're doing something wrong. |
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| -FSP- |
| I think knowledge of my ears helps me out when I know my ears are just going to fail me. Like I know that my ears won't register certain sounds like it would when it was fresh, but knowing that they are failing on me and where they are failing me, I can sort of make up for that. |
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| JEO |
I notice I've gained some stamina against ear fatigue, since I tend to work at a really low volume now. Especially on drums. And ever since I haven't turned that volume all the way up, I've come up with much better mixdowns and have been able to control the levels well even after a few hours of mixing.
I used to actually play the drums without no ear protection and have a tinnitus often. But at my latest hearing test I got the best possible results (So I guess I can hear that normal frequency range that I'm supposed to) and have started to take care of my ears better now.
Anyone of you got tinnitus? It's just I tell you.
A thing that I'd recommend for everybody; go have a doctor clean your ears. You can really feel and HEAR the difference after the procedure. |
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| Kismet7 |
I've read or heard somewhere that Tinnitus can be caused from another way, and not exactly from exposure to loud sound or noise. Something in the brain that triggers the tinnitus, rather than the ear itself. I wonder if this way could be used as a weapon, or was being R&D for war purpose to give people tinnitus, as means to weaken the opposing army.
@Jeo, yah mixing at low volumes is awesome, highly recommended. For creative reasons as well, brain has more room to think of ideas, or hear the next idea in the head as what is down already plays back. |
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| 19503 |
1. lower the volume
2. dont use headphones
3. take 5 min breaks every hour
4. dont go to clubs
5. shut down any other device making noise
6. close your eyes from time to time
7. walk around in the room listening from various angles from time to time |
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| Beatflux |
| quote: | Originally posted by 19503
1. lower the volume
3. take 5 min breaks every hour
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If you go to the club, wear ear plugs. Headphones are fine as long as you don't jack the volume up. |
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| cryophonik |
| quote: | Originally posted by Beatflux
If you go to the club, wear ear plugs. Headphones are fine as long as you don't jack the volume up. |
I was actually going to type those exact same responses. But, overall, 19503's advice is sound (pun intended). |
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