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Would you trade your perception of sound for one night in front of the speaker stack?

I don’t know about you but I’m always finding myself just a few feet from the bassbins at most events. (Come to think of it – you’re always over there too and we end up shouting at each other for 30 seconds before deciding to move.) I’ve tried to change this behavior but like many of you I’m a slave to the rhythm and without realizing it always end up in front of the speaker stacks. As a result I’ve slowly but surely started carrying earplugs with me because the damage we do to our ears will cause long-term loss over time. As a producer and a DJ that’s a scary thought.

H.E.A.R. is a nonprofit group that was created by musicians and serves as a resource to musicians and the public on hearing loss and protection. They have some good information on their site that I recommend reading over when you have a moment. In the meantime I’ve grabbed some quotes on sound exposure and protection here:

When you notice a difference between loud sounds and quiet ones, your ears are perceiving changes in sound pressure level. Intensity (or volume) is measured in decibels (dB). Zero (0) dB is the softest sound that can be heard. Normal conversation is around 40dB to 60dB, a whisper around 30dB. A rock concert can average between 110 and 120 dB. Pain from hearing is subjective. Levels below 125 dB may be painful to some individuals. The sound from a jet plane is approximately 140 dB.

At rock shows, the dB level can be as great as 140 dB in front of the speakers, but less than 120 dB at the back which is still very loud and dangerous. The maximum exposure time for unprotected ears per day is 8 hours at 85 dB SPL, A-weighted, slow response For every 3 dB increase in volume, the maximum exposure time is cut in half (95 dB – 4 hours, 100 dB – 2 hours, 110 dB – 30 min, 120 dB- 7.5 min)

Earplugs are the best protection you have at a party, club or event with a loud sound system. Like you, I love it loud. But over the years I have experienced pain, ringing (tinnitus) and a popping in my ears after long exposure to loud music. As a DJ and producer I’ve made the mistake of turning up the monitors at events to heighten the feel of the music. At first your ears will “bounce back” and you’ll be able to hear again after a couple of days. But over time the damage will compound and the ears won’t bounce back they way they once did. Earplugs are a necessity these days when my hearing feels so precious. Have you noticed how hard it is to work on your own music after a night at a club? It hurts. Save your ears and be more productive with a proper pair of earplugs.

The good news is that there is more for your ears these days than conventional foam plugs that you find at the drugstore. These plus are especially hard to play or mix music with as they block out too many frequencies to hear or enjoy music with. H.E.A.R. explains the problems that musicians have with these types of earplugs:

1. Existing earplugs attenuate more than necessary for much of the noise in industry and the environment.
2. Regardless of their exact construction, existing earplugs produce 10 to 20 dB of high frequency attenuation and the result is that people often reject them because they can’t hear speech clearly.
3. Conventional earplugs make the wearer’s own voice sound hollow (known as the occlusion effect).
4. Many people risk their hearing by either wearing earplugs loosely or wearing no protection at all so they will be able to hear voices, machinery or music more clearly.

Two types of earplugs for musicians, DJs and people who want to enjoy music:

First and foremost (and recommended by friends, doctors and many websites) are custom-molded Musicians Earplugs. These cost between $150 and $200 and can be purchased from a number of places including Etymotic and HearNet. You can grab a free download about Musicians Earplugs here.

The second alternative (and the more affordable to myself, co-creators and friends) are what as knows as High-Fidelity earplugs. The Etymotic ER20 and Mack’s High Fidelity earplugs are two of the most popular of these type. They allow certain frequencies through to your ears, allowing you to hear a wider-range of sound while still protecting yourself from extreme levels. From personal use I can tell you that they are a lot better than foam plugs and will set you back about twelve dollars.

In the DJ Booth: When you are DJing or performing a Live PA you are still subjected to loud levels of sound which can cause damage to your hearing but (more importantly to musicians) can also cause a shift in your perception of sound. This can cause you to EQ the wrong way, mix poorly and make bad decisions in a performance as a result of your own hearing not functioning properly due to high levels of sound distorting your perception.

One mistake I’ve noticed many DJs (in particular) make is turning up the headphones (and monitors) to compensate for a loud sound system and/or confusing mix situation. This is completely wrong. The better solution is to turn down your monitors and your phones to let your ears rest and get used to the sound of the room. When the headphones are too loud you will confuse yourself in a mix in two ways – you will lose track of what is happening on the floor and you will start hearing the track in the phones as running faster in the mix than it actually is. If you ever find yourself confused in a mix, turn down the headphones and ride the level slowly until you hear the mix clearly in your head. Ride the headphone levels down and up (keeping them low) before you touch the pitch and you’ll keep control of your mix.

So what happens if you don’t protect your ears? More from H.E.A.R.’s website:

Hearing Damage: Noise-induced hearing loss affects both the quantity and the quality of sound. Understanding human speech becomes difficult because words become indistinct. Excessive sound exposure damages hearing by over-stimulating the tiny hair cells within the inner ear. There are between 15,000 and 20,000 of these microscopic sensory receptors in the cochlea (coke-lee-ah). When these hair cells are damaged, they no longer transmit sound to the brain. Sounds are muffled. Hearing damage through noise exposure is permanently lost. Hearing aids amplify the remainder of your hearing.

Michael Walsh is an audio/visual artist and journalist living in Los Angeles. Read more of his work at www.soundsdefygravity.com

Resources: HearNet