| Subject: | [RESOGUIT-L] Speak Up, I Can't Hear You! | | Date: | Sunday, August 10, 2008 10:38:29 (-0400) | | From: | Howard Parker <hlpdobro @.....com>
|
NOTE:
I'm sure this has limited application for many on this list. But, I
post my experiences here for any that have the need. "Rather be safe
then sorry" I always say.
No, these weren't reso gigs :-)
- - - - - - - - -
I played my first job with custom ear plugs.I made the plunge after
several gigs left me with my head ringing. I'm no idiot. I was warned.
Sure, the band tries to keep it reasonable, but we're not always in
control of sound. Sometimes reflections in the room have dangerous
artifacts.
I got a referral from my primary doc to go see an audiologist. The
consult (not the plugs) was free. She injected goop into both ears and
the molds went off to Westone to be fabricated. The audiologist was very
informative and I had options. The plugs themselves accept
interchangeable attenuators (9db/15db/25db). Based on her
recommendations my plugs were delivered with the 9db pads. I figured
they'd be enough to take the "edge" off of things. I had the plugs in a
week.
Results:
Really nice. No loss of frequency response at all. It was like someone
turned down the volume a tad. I was afraid that I'd lose my sense of
balance with the other instrumentation. People I trust told me the band
sounded just great.
I did notice that it made my hearing much more directional. I'm used to
having a vocal monitor in front. That didn't work so well. I had to
position it more to the side so my ear could actually hear it. There is
a noticeable null where my "center channel" used to be. This was again
obvious when having conversation with folks during breaks. I'd be
staring at them and not hearing much. I had to remove one of the plugs.
I'm not here to preach the importance of "safe sound". I guess I was
lucky that I got some sort of a warning. Many musicians don't until it's
too late. I'm also lucky that I could afford the protection ($150). I'm
wearing them from here on out.
h
--
Howard Parker
hlpdobro@gmail.com
Shameless Self Promo at:
www.myspace.com/DCsteelman
Carpe Cerevisi
|
Speak Up, I Can't 
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