gswitz
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Hearing question
A few months back (January 12) I was exposed to a lot of feedback. Loud loud. I was saved by someone who managed to turn off the amp. I'm afraid I've suffered permanent hearing loss in my right ear.
Exposure to Loud NoiseIf you have been around a very loud noise for any period of time, you may notice a temporary change in hearing. This is called a temporary threshold shift (TTS). It occurs when your ears are exposed to loud sounds, such as a concert, gunfire, or loud machinery, to name a few. Once your ear starts to recover from this loud noise exposure you will notice a gradual return in hearing.
The thing is, sometimes it seems to come back, clear as a bell. When I turn up the music in my car or my stereo, it's like my right ear turns down. I also take a lot of phone calls with a headset that uses one ear. I've used the right ear for so long, it's hard to switch to my left. I guess I'm looking for reassurance. I know you all have been exposed to loud sounds sometimes. This was only a few seconds of screaming feedback but ... :-( I can hear in my right ear. I take phone calls and other things. I'm not sure if I'm psyching myself out. I recently did this recording and mix... http://stabilitynetwork.blob.core.windows.net/g-tunes/20170427_VasiQuartet.html Does it sound balanced to you? I kept thinking there was more in the right ear than the left. (I can see it and measure it, but it sounds good like this to me.) Anything you all can contribute, I'd appreciate. I put this under hardware, but maybe it should be under software if the problem is in my brain?
StudioCat > I use Windows 10 and Sonar Platinum. I have a touch screen. I make some videos. This one shows how to do a physical loopback on the RME UCX to get many more equalizer nodes.
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conklin
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Re: Hearing question
2017/05/05 01:23:35
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I'm NOT a doctor however, 4 months out seems a bit long for recovery for a few blasts of feedback. You should get it checked out. Could it only be wax build up? Still, better to be safe than sorry.
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Rimshot
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Re: Hearing question
2017/05/05 01:31:08
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I just had my hearing tested. I learned that overtime, your ears can become damaged due to high sound levels and it starts to destroy those receptacles that pickup specific frequencies and send the signal to your brain. It usually gets worse over time so you may be OK in a while while your ears recover from the blast. Seems that at this point since January that you should have recovered but I am not a doctor. Call yours. It is possible to have damaged hearing when the noise is a really loud burst though. You should read this: https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/noise-induced-hearing-loss Some good information on how we hear and noise-induced hearing loss. Good luck but don't worry until you give it some more time. If you think you damaged your ear drum, you should see a doctor.
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fireberd
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Re: Hearing question
2017/05/05 10:41:30
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Only a doctor will know for sure. After playing music for 50 years (and aging) I had high frequency loss and some overall hearing loss. I couldn't properly handle recording and mixing. I finally got hearing aids that restored both the frequency and sound level loss. I'm amazed at what I was missing.
I have a friend that owns a music store and had a recording studio. He closed down the recording studio because he has suffered the same as me but is stubborn and won't get hearing aids.
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fret_man
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Re: Hearing question
2017/05/05 14:16:09
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The technology and algorithms used in current generation hearing aids is truly amazing. These aren't your grandma's hearing aids! Old fart Babyboomer designers have a vested interest in getting these right.
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mettelus
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Re: Hearing question
2017/05/05 16:11:38
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Another recommendation for seeing a doctor. A hearing test for records (either to baseline or compare to historical) is also something to consider.
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WallyG
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Re: Hearing question
2017/05/05 16:42:09
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fireberd
...After playing music for 50 years (and aging) I had high frequency loss and some overall hearing loss. I couldn't properly handle recording and mixing. I finally got hearing aids that restored both the frequency and sound level loss. I'm amazed at what I was missing....
May I ask what brand hearing aids you're using. I did some research awhile back and came to the conclusion that hearing aids wouldn't help with my music hobby. Most of the premium aids I looked at had a maximum frequency of 8KHz. (One was 10KHz, but had other problems). Although most musical instruments don't go above 8KHz, I was concerned about not hearing the harmonics. That 8KHz limit is brick wall. (Sampling frequency is 16KHz) Your post is encouraging though. I have a local Audiologist that is willing to set up a demo with no strings attached so I'm going to try it. Walt
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fireberd
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Re: Hearing question
2017/05/05 17:54:45
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☄ Helpfulby gswitz 2017/05/05 23:53:43
The hearing aids I have are "Rexton" (I was told owned by Siemens). I don't know the model number but they are digital and the type that fits behind the ear with a tube and sound "receiver" that fits in the ear. It was the model that my insurance (Federal Employees Blue Cross) would cover. The model I have, has two microphones one for front and one for rear and one mode that disables the rear mic (for noisy areas such as a restaurant). They are programmable via Bluetooth (by the hearing aid tech). I have three modes, normal, front mic only and a third is "music" which is full fidelity and no noise reduction or compression. I don't use the music program and mostly use the normal setting even when I'm playing in our band. I can't say about the harmonics or what the frequency capabilities are. I know they are programmed for my specific frequency and hearing loss.
The hearing tech said musicians are the hardest to accommodate.
My insurance will pay for new hearing aids every 3 years. My 3 years is up in December. The model I have now has been discontinued and "new improved" models are now available.
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fret_man
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Re: Hearing question
2017/05/05 18:57:29
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You have very good insurance, fireberd.
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azslow3
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Re: Hearing question
2017/05/05 20:27:56
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☄ Helpfulby gswitz 2017/05/05 23:53:22
gswitz
I recently did this recording and mix...
http://stabilitynetwork.blob.core.windows.net/g-tunes/20170427_VasiQuartet.html
Does it sound balanced to you? I kept thinking there was more in the right ear than the left. (I can see it and measure it, but it sounds good like this to me.)
I just had a dinner with my family, I wish the band was there ;) But even after it was a pleasure to enjoy the music, thanks! I am complete noob in mixing area, so I definitively can not judge either everything is fine with the balance. My opinion about the stereo field (should be taken as from someone who has never played on stage nor mixed for anyone except himself, in other words should be completely ignored): * hi freq of ambient noise is hard right without leaking to the left (I mean unnatural) and not compensated on the left * nothing in the center That was probably the intention, so thanks again for nice music and sorry for my noise 
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Jeff Evans
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Re: Hearing question
2017/05/05 20:52:29
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☄ Helpfulby gswitz 2017/05/05 23:53:26
In that recording the drums are a little to the right and so is the sax and the drums are pretty bright too. But looking at the picture I see you may have panned things that way according to the way they were set up live which is fine.
Personally I would not have mixed it that way. I would have the bass and sax centre and the guitar little to the left and the drums a little to the right. Remember this recording might still be played in a situation where the right channel might may not be working and then the group would be seriously out of balance.
If you do have issues with one ear compared to the other and it is permanent then it is better to adjust your monitors accordingly. e.g. make one a little louder and brighter (many active monitors offer a brightness setting so use it!) than the other because if you are not careful you will end up pushing the weaker side of your hearing in order to make things sound normal to you but it won't sound that way elsewhere.
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jackson white
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Re: Hearing question
2017/05/05 21:53:50
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☄ Helpfulby gswitz 2017/05/05 23:53:30
You could try using ear buds/headphones and swap L/R to see if everything holds up.
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gswitz
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Re: Hearing question
2017/05/05 22:07:54
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I was using channel tools and flipping it by enabling and disabling the plugin.
Thanks for the idea, Jason White. I'm all over it.
@Jeff, I really don't mix for someone to listen in mono (blush). I mix for stereo listening where both speakers work. It's 95% of the people who listen to what I mix.
It's true that I matched the stereo spread the band had live. It's also true that the mic in the drums was above the cymbals so there is a ton of sizzle. It's one of the first emails I got from the guitarist, saying he loved it. I could dull it down, but ...
I like the idea of adjusting the monitors to compensate. I hadn't considered that. I'm really grateful for the suggestion.
StudioCat > I use Windows 10 and Sonar Platinum. I have a touch screen. I make some videos. This one shows how to do a physical loopback on the RME UCX to get many more equalizer nodes.
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Cactus Music
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Re: Hearing question
2017/05/06 01:54:37
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My partner in the Sock Monkey band just ( finally) got hearing aides. He was the bass player in a 8-10 piece R&B band which had a horn section. Those buggers can drown out a Fender Twin.
Curt had a fairly powerful Bass rig with a 2x10 cab right at his shoulders and not far away. Anyhow,, it was brain numingly loud up there. So now we pay nice laid back acoustic stuff and he's always' needing more monitor. I use in Ears so I'm fine but he was reluctant and now with his Aides he seems happy. His have a few settings he can change with the buttons or bluetooth remote and he had one of the programs optimized for live playing. Seems to work and he no longer shouts when he talks.
I've always been careful of my ears but I know my hearing is fading. I can't hear speech now if there's a lot of background noise. Hearing tests are free at most of the places they sell the aides.
It's cool what they do. My wife followed through with hearing aides so I got to watch them being programmed.
They test your hearing and you get a little EQ graph just like we use for our gear.
He plunks that in the software and starts messing with the EQ of the device until you get a flat line.
In other words, if there's a dip in your hearing in the right ear at 800HZ of 10db they give you a 10db boost. Just like playing with a real time analyser.
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bitflipper
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Re: Hearing question
2017/05/06 03:25:55
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Geoff, it's my understanding that hearing loss from short-term exposure to sounds < 140 dB is usually temporary. That's the good news. The bad news is that recovery normally takes 1-4 days. 4 months is too long. You should make an appointment with your GP, who will likely refer you to a specialist.
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WallyG
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Re: Hearing question
2017/05/06 16:01:00
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fireberd
...The hearing tech said musicians are the hardest to accommodate....
I'm worse! Musician and an Electronics Design Engineer who designed an Integrated Circuit for a hearing aid. (Granted it was an Analog version). When I asked them questions concerning various parameters, their eyes just rolled. I assume they know how to make hearing measurements and tweak the some parameters to try and make it work. Glad yours is working out. Walt
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michaelhanson
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Re: Hearing question
2017/05/09 13:49:32
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I've been wearing a set of behind the ear Siemens hearing aids for a couple of months. I have a dip in the mids that has been graphed by an ear specialist. They can basically program them to boost the frequencies that you are missing. I find that it improves my ability to recognize speech and television pretty well. It's Ok, but not great with music.
I hate wearing them when playing guitar. With guitar, it changes my tone dramatically and is not a pleasant tone. Much harsher for some reason. The first time I noticed it, I kept turning all the dials on the amp and could not figure out why is suddenly sounded like butt. I am thinking that I have bad tubes or my transformer is going out. I finally remembered that I had the hearing aids in my ears. Took them out and was like....wow...there is my tone again.
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WallyG
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Re: Hearing question
2017/05/11 18:24:37
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michaelhanson
I've been wearing a set of behind the ear Siemens hearing aids for a couple of months. I have a dip in the mids that has been graphed by an ear specialist.
Let me guess. You're dip is between 2KHz to 4KHz. If so, that's typical since average hearing peaks at 4KHz and if you've suffered hearing damage form playing in a band with the speakers maxed out, 2KHz to 4KHz is the first to go. BTW a baby's cry is centered around 3.5KHz, Mother Natures way of protecting the baby. michaelhanson
... It's Ok, but not great with music.
I hate wearing them when playing guitar. With guitar, it changes my tone dramatically and is not a pleasant tone. Much harsher for some reason. The first time I noticed it, I kept turning all the dials on the amp and could not figure out why is suddenly sounded like butt. I am thinking that I have bad tubes or my transformer is going out. I finally remembered that I had the hearing aids in my ears. Took them out and was like....wow...there is my tone again.
Typical hearing aids are designed mainly for voice. Did they disable the compressor/limiters in your hearing aid to put it into a "music mode" option? Walt
Roland Jupiter 80, Roland D50, Roland Integra 7, Roland BK-7m, Yamaha Montage 6, ARP Odyssey, Excelsior Continental Artist, Roland FR-8X, 1967 Fender Jaguar, Fender Strat, Fender 1965 Twin Reverb reissue, Selmer Trumpet, Akai EWI, Studio One 4 Professional, Melodyne Studio 4, Behringer X-Touch, RME Fireface UCX, MOTU MIDI Express XT - ADK Pro Audio Hex Xtreme 6 Core i7 4.5GHz, 64GB, 480GB SS, 3 X 3TB Hard Drives, Win 10, 2 X 27" & 1X 46" Monitors, My WEB site - www.gontowski.com/music
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gswitz
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Re: Hearing question
2017/05/12 02:16:04
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I've been playing with the output balance on my interface.
It's been interesting. Again, when I pop my ears, sometimes it sounds very clear. While listening to a frequency sweep, there was some stereo field shift (one ear duller at a frequency than the other) but in general I can hear up to about 14 kHz.
For some reason my right ear just gets duller across most frequencies when I listen to music at what I think of as normal volumes for sustained periods of time. It actually sharpens in silence, but when I turn it up and leave it up it dulls. Like it's letting the ear drum loose as a protective measure.
I'm no longer listening to phone meetings in my right ear.
Thanks to everyone for your posts!!
StudioCat > I use Windows 10 and Sonar Platinum. I have a touch screen. I make some videos. This one shows how to do a physical loopback on the RME UCX to get many more equalizer nodes.
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