Blasted my ears for a second with headphones
- vivalastblues
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Blasted my ears for a second with headphones
I was swapping from sync to input on my tape machine and the volume went crazy loud before i pulled the headphones off. I had a bit of a physical shock from it, but I wanna know if the noise produced from headphones if even just for a second can be particularly damaging? I know that if a gun is fired near your ears you can go deaf instantly, but are headphones capable of being that dangerous short-term?
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- pluggin' in mics
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I think its more likely that you will blow out your headphones before you blowout your eardrums. I've done similar things to my own poor ears. Theres a kind of defense mechanism that your ears have, where the drum tightens and "turns down
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sounds as a reaction to LOUD NOISES. Eventually it loosens back up. Its the same thing that happens after going to a concert and forgetting your earplugs(tsk tsk). So hopefully you're okay.
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sounds as a reaction to LOUD NOISES. Eventually it loosens back up. Its the same thing that happens after going to a concert and forgetting your earplugs(tsk tsk). So hopefully you're okay.
I'd like to change your mind by hitting it with a rock.
-TMBG
-TMBG
- vivalastblues
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Tracking a rhythm guitar overdub during a session a coupla years back, the guitarist was having trouble coming in on time because the count-in was so quiet. My solution was to switch the track where the count-in was clearest- which happened to be the heart mic on the kit- to PFL in my phones, crank the solo volume waaay up on the mixer, and switch out of PFL right after the final count, counting out loud for the guitarist. Worked great, except I got caught up in getting the timing right and forgot to switch out of solo. I ripped the phones off pretty fast out of instinct, but it took me a few seconds to figure out what the fuck just happened and stop the tape... I cannot describe the terror I experienced in the split second before my brain kicked back in and I realized what was going on. Destroyed the headphones and had to cancel the rest of the session because my perception was so messed up... on the bright side, I made that mistake only once (fingers crossed.)
I was worried for a while, as my hearing didn't return to normal for the next day and I had pronounced tinnitus... I spent a while thinking it would be that way forever, that I had doomed myself with one stupid slip. Very frightening day. As far as I can tell, though, I didn't do any serious permanent damage. If I plug my ears and hold my breath in a quiet room I can just barely hear a little ringing, but as of around a month ago I can still hear up to just under 19k, so I think I'm OK. I'm sure you'll be fine- it doesn't sound like your experience was quite that bad.
I was worried for a while, as my hearing didn't return to normal for the next day and I had pronounced tinnitus... I spent a while thinking it would be that way forever, that I had doomed myself with one stupid slip. Very frightening day. As far as I can tell, though, I didn't do any serious permanent damage. If I plug my ears and hold my breath in a quiet room I can just barely hear a little ringing, but as of around a month ago I can still hear up to just under 19k, so I think I'm OK. I'm sure you'll be fine- it doesn't sound like your experience was quite that bad.
[url]http://www.dangerousdecibels.org/hearingloss.cfm[/url]
this might help to put you at ease. Look for the blue chart down the page
"Decibel Exposure Time Guidelines"
this might help to put you at ease. Look for the blue chart down the page
"Decibel Exposure Time Guidelines"
yea rock concerts...the ultimate dilemma. To be loud or not to be loud. I sometimes feel slightly guilty for contributing to the demise of a thousand(x2) ears when I'm FOH. But then again they are the ones who stay. I try to keep it at a moderate level (at least at the desk), but sometimes you get that one guy (whether it be a concert goer or the tour manager) who wants to ruin the night and voice his insatiable disapproval of volume.
With that said, I never go to a show without my plugs, even movies(especially movies). Best investment I've ever made.
With that said, I never go to a show without my plugs, even movies(especially movies). Best investment I've ever made.
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- shedshrine
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I often use a Zoom H4n to capture ideas. Many times just turning the thing on and hitting record to grab something, I hadn't been good about consistent levels, In any case, listening back last night to months of ideas I turned the volume way up for a quiet extended piece ..and fell asleep.
This morning my head feels like it's trying to tune in a station.
This morning my head feels like it's trying to tune in a station.
- Gregg Juke
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Over the years, on one side of the glass or the other, in live monitoring situations, or using the Aviom system, working at a midi workstation with un-mixed/mastered material with crazy volume mismatches in headphones, etc., etc., etc., I've probably taken more shots than I should have. Especially other people abruptly and indiscriminately plugging/unplugging instrument jacks or other cables into or out of a non-muted system when everyone is on phones.
Also, just playing in loud bands for many years (concerts as well, of course). It's hard to always wear ear-protection in live situations, when hearing and musical interaction go hand-in-hand.
My dad lost a lot of his hearing from his stint in the active Army, as a tank commander (lots of loud heavy caliber weapons, without any ear protection back in the day).
But the worst that happened to me, even with all of the crazy loud guitar players, was when I was a kid, about 11, 12, 13 years old (?). We were messing around with firecrackers, and I was holding one while a friend did the lighting; we were taking turns lighting and throwing. Anyway, I had one right near my ear, and my friend lit the wick in the middle, and it went off right next to my ear before I could throw it. BOOOOM-POP.
I had an immediate reaction. For days, I had extremely strong ringing tinnitus, and I sounded (to myself) like I was talking and listening through a Tupperware crisper stuffed with oily rags, inside multiple nested cardboard boxes and wet paper bags. Weird, and very scary.
Over the years, I had tinnitus issues, but that is gone now. (Long story )...
But losing your hearing permanently and _immediately_ from a gunshot, let alone a quick blast from a set of phones, seems unlikely.
I wouldn't worry too much about it, but in the words of John "The Duke" Wayne, "I wouldn't make a habit out of it" either.
GJ
Also, just playing in loud bands for many years (concerts as well, of course). It's hard to always wear ear-protection in live situations, when hearing and musical interaction go hand-in-hand.
My dad lost a lot of his hearing from his stint in the active Army, as a tank commander (lots of loud heavy caliber weapons, without any ear protection back in the day).
But the worst that happened to me, even with all of the crazy loud guitar players, was when I was a kid, about 11, 12, 13 years old (?). We were messing around with firecrackers, and I was holding one while a friend did the lighting; we were taking turns lighting and throwing. Anyway, I had one right near my ear, and my friend lit the wick in the middle, and it went off right next to my ear before I could throw it. BOOOOM-POP.
I had an immediate reaction. For days, I had extremely strong ringing tinnitus, and I sounded (to myself) like I was talking and listening through a Tupperware crisper stuffed with oily rags, inside multiple nested cardboard boxes and wet paper bags. Weird, and very scary.
Over the years, I had tinnitus issues, but that is gone now. (Long story )...
But losing your hearing permanently and _immediately_ from a gunshot, let alone a quick blast from a set of phones, seems unlikely.
I wouldn't worry too much about it, but in the words of John "The Duke" Wayne, "I wouldn't make a habit out of it" either.
GJ
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