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#1
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"musician plugs" (ear plugs) - amazing!
Haven't been here in a long while... hope everyone is well. I finally got
myself a set of those custom fit "musician plugs" from the local audiologist. All I can say is WOW!!! I can't believe I went all this time without them. Absolutely incredible!!! They attenuate extremely flat across the frequency range, very much unlike typical ear plugs or headphones. With these custom plugs, you can still hear plenty of high-end and thus loads of detail... even at 25 db of attenuation. Example... I did a quick "A/B" test, typical attenuation headphones verses these new "musician plugs". I popped on the headphones and played some drumset... almost impossible to hear the attack of the toms or kick, all that was coming through was mud and boom... very unpleasant sound overall, zero articulation heard. Then ripped off the headphones and swapped in the musician plugs... the mud and boominess was completely gone, lots more upper-end detail present, very flat realistic sound, the tom and kick attacks very present, as much articulation as you'd ever need, the kit sounded great and thus way more enjoyable to play. A HUGE difference! Also tried these new plugs at some gigs, what extreme pleasure... I feel I am playing better now since what I am HEARING sounds so much better. All I can say is, if you don't already have such custom fit flat-attenuation "musician plugs", run (don't walk) to your nearest audiologist immediately and get them! Figure about $120 or so for a set... and you can get different filters (interchangeable) for different levels of attenuation: 25db, 15db and 9 db (about $20 for the filters only). I really wish I had gotten these things years ago.... what a mistake to have put it off for so long. Don't wait. |
#2
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I have these plugs, and all three filters. They still suck. They work much
better for drummers than they do for guitarists, but singing with them is downright hard. |
#3
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BLCKOUT420 wrote:
I have these plugs, and all three filters. They still suck. They work much better for drummers than they do for guitarists, but singing with them is downright hard. And that's where in-ear monitors sneak around the corner... |
#4
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In article , blckout420
@aol.com says... I have these plugs, and all three filters. They still suck. They work much better for drummers than they do for guitarists, but singing with them is downright hard. Yep.. I had the same problem with mine. A good audiologist will measure the occlusion and adjust the length to minimize it, but there's a compromise between occlusion and sound transmission, and you don't want leaks! Also, when it comes down to it, you are now hearing more of yourself through bone conduction, and less of yourself through air, and that's going to sound different, like you're underwater. Only a bone replacement can fix that. As another poster mentioned, the in-ear monitor "filter" can be useful here. You might also be able to sing with only one in. And as my audiologist (who's also a musician) mentioned, a lot of it is just getting used to the way you sound with them in, adjusting your intonation. -- Jay Levitt | Wellesley, MA | Hi! Faster: jay at jay dot eff-em | Where are we going? http://www.jay.fm | Why am I in this handbasket? |
#5
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You know where I use them alot? Mowing the lawn, running a skilsaw, driving
with the windows down. I find I use them more around the house than I do at gigs.They have been really handy wherever I'm around loud stuff, that you normally wouldn't bother putting hearing protection on, because its so bulky. I can see why they work so good for drummers- my drummer actually turned me on to them. But for playing guitar, they still sound like ear plugs to me.Even with the 9 db filters, it seems like way too much. Everything sounds muffled. I think the in ear monitors are the only answer. |
#6
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WideGlide wrote:
them! Figure about $120 or so for a set... Hmmm ... just got a DKK 1600 quote here in Copenhagen. and you can get different filters (interchangeable) for different levels of attenuation: 25db, 15db and 9 db (about $20 for the filters only). DKK 600 was quoted for an extra pair of filters. Hmmm .... Kind regards Peter Larsen -- ******************************************* * My site is at: http://www.muyiovatki.dk * ******************************************* |
#7
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Thats because electric guitar has it's meat around 1.8-3k and thats right
where the ear is most sensitive, so most earplugs will color guitar tone Dave "BLCKOUT420" wrote in message ... You know where I use them alot? Mowing the lawn, running a skilsaw, driving with the windows down. I find I use them more around the house than I do at gigs.They have been really handy wherever I'm around loud stuff, that you normally wouldn't bother putting hearing protection on, because its so bulky. I can see why they work so good for drummers- my drummer actually turned me on to them. But for playing guitar, they still sound like ear plugs to me.Even with the 9 db filters, it seems like way too much. Everything sounds muffled. I think the in ear monitors are the only answer. |
#8
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In article , blckout420
@aol.com says... But for playing guitar, they still sound like ear plugs to me.Even with the 9 db filters, it seems like way too much. Everything sounds muffled. Then you need to go back to the audiologist - or possibly to another one. Have them measure the frequency response in your ear canal with and without the plugs in; if they're not the same, you may need a new set of molds. The musicians' earplugs should NOT significantly alter the frequency response of airborne sound; the only inevitable problems are those of bone-conducted sounds like singing or reed instruments. -- Jay Levitt | Wellesley, MA | Hi! Faster: jay at jay dot eff-em | Where are we going? http://www.jay.fm | Why am I in this handbasket? |
#10
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ut we are talking about musicians' earplugs, which are specifically
designed to provide flat response, and if made well can actually achieve it. Just doesn't happen. I went back several times with mine. They still muffle the sound. I don't care what the brochure might say, in real world setting it just isn't so. |
#11
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BLCKOUT420 wrote:
Just doesn't happen. I went back several times with mine. They still muffle the sound. I don't care what the brochure might say, in real world setting it just isn't so. did your audiologist have any ideas as to what was going on? did he/she hook up a probe system and make some measurements to find out what frequency range was problematic? was another set of impressions taken? were audiograms made with and without the plugs compared? fitting these things properly is very ear-acoustics dependent, and an audiologist should have the the tools available to figure out exactly what's going on and the strategies to minimize problems. (you might have to be a pest though; hearing aids can go for $1500 these days vs your $150 musicians plugs.) -- Aaron J. Grier | "Not your ordinary poofy goof." | "someday the industry will have throbbing frontal lobes and will be able to write provably correct software. also, I want a pony." -- Zach Brown |
#12
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different levels of attenuation: 25db, 15db
and 9 db (about $20 for the filters only). I This is way cheap if it's true..$65/ set is normal for the filters from Etymotic. John A. Chiara SOS Recording Studio Live Sound Inc. Albany, NY www.sosrecording.net 518-449-1637 |
#13
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WideGlide wrote:
Haven't been here in a long while... hope everyone is well. I finally got myself a set of those custom fit "musician plugs" from the local audiologist. All I can say is WOW!!! I can't believe I went all this time without them. Absolutely incredible!!! They Are you referring to a particuular brand or 'system' ? geoff |
#14
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Jay Levitt wrote in message ...
In article , blckout420 @aol.com says... -SNIP- Also, when it comes down to it, you are now hearing more of yourself through bone conduction, and less of yourself through air, and that's going to sound different, like you're underwater. Only a bone replacement can fix that. okay, the next logical question: where can one obtain one of these "bone replacement" procedures!? |
#15
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What kind of earplugs were you using before? I actually am pretty
happy with the spongy yellow cylinder types. I actually cut them in half. In a really loud situation I can stuff them in deep, or when I don't need so much attenuation I can pull them out a little. In the latter situation I don't lose a lot of highs. In the former I want a fair amount of high rolloff. In amplified situations and when you are standing close to cymbals you are getting an unnatural amount of high end anyway. It would be better to try to adjust to not hearing so much of it anyway, as many musicians and soundmen have been getting to much, and have a far different opinion of what is a good amount than their listeners. Also, that $20 carton I bought at Home Depot 3 years ago will last me the rest of my life. I think paying upwards of $100 for one pair is just nuts. Can you return them if you don't like them? What if you lose one? I think it's just another way someone thought up to get money out of musicians. Robobass "WideGlide" wrote in message . net... Haven't been here in a long while... hope everyone is well. I finally got myself a set of those custom fit "musician plugs" from the local audiologist. All I can say is WOW!!! I can't believe I went all this time without them. Absolutely incredible!!! They attenuate extremely flat across the frequency range, very much unlike typical ear plugs or headphones. |
#16
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In article ,
BLCKOUT420 wrote: ut we are talking about musicians' earplugs, which are specifically designed to provide flat response, and if made well can actually achieve it. Just doesn't happen. I went back several times with mine. They still muffle the sound. I don't care what the brochure might say, in real world setting it just isn't so. Yeah, but compared with the foam plugs they are miraculous. --scott -- "C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis." |
#17
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In article ,
BLCKOUT420 wrote: ut we are talking about musicians' earplugs, which are specifically designed to provide flat response, and if made well can actually achieve it. Just doesn't happen. I went back several times with mine. They still muffle the sound. I don't care what the brochure might say, in real world setting it just isn't so. Yeah, but compared with the foam plugs they are miraculous. --scott -- "C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis." |
#18
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Yeah, but compared with the foam plugs they are miraculous.
very true.They are better than any other earplug I have tried. No match for in ear monitors , however. My final solution is just getting the band to turn down.Not an easy fix. The biggest problem is my drummer. He is going deaf. Seriously. So to compound the problem, he wears the ear plugs with the 25 db filters. So he hits the drums harder... I still use the earplugs once in a while, sometimes it just can't be avoided, if the room is too small or the crowd noise just too loud. If the stage is big enough I just get as far away from the drummer as I can.And try not to blow my head off with too hot of a vocal mix in the monitor. It isn't easy when your band is just a working band, at club size level, most of the time with no sound man. When we play big clubs, with big PAs, and separate monitor men, it sure is a treat. |
#19
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Yeah, but compared with the foam plugs they are miraculous.
very true.They are better than any other earplug I have tried. No match for in ear monitors , however. My final solution is just getting the band to turn down.Not an easy fix. The biggest problem is my drummer. He is going deaf. Seriously. So to compound the problem, he wears the ear plugs with the 25 db filters. So he hits the drums harder... I still use the earplugs once in a while, sometimes it just can't be avoided, if the room is too small or the crowd noise just too loud. If the stage is big enough I just get as far away from the drummer as I can.And try not to blow my head off with too hot of a vocal mix in the monitor. It isn't easy when your band is just a working band, at club size level, most of the time with no sound man. When we play big clubs, with big PAs, and separate monitor men, it sure is a treat. |
#20
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The fun part is going to work the next day at the studio after my head has been
blown off the night before. How do you tell your client yours ears are ringing like a clock, and still expect them to pay you? |
#21
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The fun part is going to work the next day at the studio after my head has been
blown off the night before. How do you tell your client yours ears are ringing like a clock, and still expect them to pay you? |
#22
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Back in my drumming days, I went to an audiologist who made me custom ear
plugs with filters. It sounded the same as without them, only the volume was just turned down. It can be done, it's just expensive. The filters shouldn't have a completely flat response because your ear canal is shaped funny. You'll need filters that match the general response curve of the human middle and inner ear. My only problem is that I have abnormally small ears and ear canals, and after a while, my earplugs start to hurt. |
#23
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Back in my drumming days, I went to an audiologist who made me custom ear
plugs with filters. It sounded the same as without them, only the volume was just turned down. It can be done, it's just expensive. The filters shouldn't have a completely flat response because your ear canal is shaped funny. You'll need filters that match the general response curve of the human middle and inner ear. My only problem is that I have abnormally small ears and ear canals, and after a while, my earplugs start to hurt. |
#24
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My only problem is that I have abnormally small ears and ear canals, and
after a while, my earplugs start to hurt. I too have small canals..got the soft silicone molds and they are better. John A. Chiara SOS Recording Studio Live Sound Inc. Albany, NY www.sosrecording.net 518-449-1637 |
#25
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My only problem is that I have abnormally small ears and ear canals, and
after a while, my earplugs start to hurt. I too have small canals..got the soft silicone molds and they are better. John A. Chiara SOS Recording Studio Live Sound Inc. Albany, NY www.sosrecording.net 518-449-1637 |
#26
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Scott Dorsey wrote:
In article , BLCKOUT420 wrote: ut we are talking about musicians' earplugs, which are specifically designed to provide flat response, and if made well can actually achieve it. Just doesn't happen. I went back several times with mine. They still muffle the sound. I don't care what the brochure might say, in real world setting it just isn't so. Yeah, but compared with the foam plugs they are miraculous. --scott I have a pair of EAR (ha ha) one, with the 2 silicone flappy ring things. I am able to get reasonable control over volume, and tone to a degree, by adjusting their insertedness. Not very scientific, but a musical result can usually be got. geoff |
#27
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Scott Dorsey wrote:
In article , BLCKOUT420 wrote: ut we are talking about musicians' earplugs, which are specifically designed to provide flat response, and if made well can actually achieve it. Just doesn't happen. I went back several times with mine. They still muffle the sound. I don't care what the brochure might say, in real world setting it just isn't so. Yeah, but compared with the foam plugs they are miraculous. --scott I have a pair of EAR (ha ha) one, with the 2 silicone flappy ring things. I am able to get reasonable control over volume, and tone to a degree, by adjusting their insertedness. Not very scientific, but a musical result can usually be got. geoff |
#28
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(Blind Joni) wrote:
My only problem is that I have abnormally small ears and ear canals, and after a while, my earplugs start to hurt. I too have small canals..got the soft silicone molds and they are better. John A. Chiara SOS Recording Studio Live Sound Inc. Albany, NY www.sosrecording.net 518-449-1637 The newer materials do seem softer and make it easier to get a good seal. The problem I had with the older material is that it tended to harden with time making them less comfortable. |
#29
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(Blind Joni) wrote:
My only problem is that I have abnormally small ears and ear canals, and after a while, my earplugs start to hurt. I too have small canals..got the soft silicone molds and they are better. John A. Chiara SOS Recording Studio Live Sound Inc. Albany, NY www.sosrecording.net 518-449-1637 The newer materials do seem softer and make it easier to get a good seal. The problem I had with the older material is that it tended to harden with time making them less comfortable. |
#31
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