Live Engineers...earplugs?

[primemeat64]

Like many of you, I too have the custom moulded Elacin ER earplugs and love them to bits....got a couple of quick questions though (didn't want to start a new thread)...

1) Anybody know if you can get replacements for the little cleaning stick / pen you get with them?

2) How do you guys clean them properly (not just wax removal, but actual cleaning / sanitising)?

3) How do you remove the filters to put other ones in (I can't find instructions / pictures etc and I don't want to break them, obviously!).

4) Where do I buy replacement filters? I can't find them anywhere?!

Many thanks xx

[therealbigd]

Musicians Ear Plugs | Buy Hearing Aids | Wax Reusable | London Hearing

[mc blue]

Hey

I do want to buy some of these ear plugs, but the price is out of the question for now.
So has anybody got any good affordable ear plugs that they use that do the job?

Thanks

[boojum]

These work pretty well and are cheap: Etymotic Research, Inc. - ETY-Plugs ER20 High Fidelity Earplugs

[mc blue]

Hey
Thanks they look like they will do the job, but do you know where i would get them from in the UK?

Thanks

[ChrisJohnsonUK]

Originally Posted by fifthcircle

Personally, I wouldn't use them to master, but when mixing FOH on a loud gig, I feel absolutely confident that this is close enough (and closer than any other product on the market) to do good work.

--Ben

Agreed. I use the same custom plugs (15dB filters) and i agree completely. I rarely wear them while mixing, only because it of course ruins your impression of loudness, but they sound really good, and i enjoy music while wearing them.

They are the flattest (the 15dB variant), but you have to remember there is quite a big difference in your hearing between say 100dBA and 85dBA. Look at a Fletcher-Munson graph... That accounts for any difference in perceived tonality when you wear them.

[ChrisJohnsonUK]

Originally Posted by mc blue

Hey
Thanks they look like they will do the job, but do you know where i would get them from in the UK?

Thanks

ACS Customs are the way to go. I get my impressions and Audiology done at Harley Street Hearing.

[ChubbsMaloney]

I would highly suggest NOT using earplugs of any sort (while mixing) if you want to be a serious FOH person. Learn how to mix properly period. Remember that a show evolves..musician's aren't settled off the top , usually takes a few songs for them to settle in...temperature changes...our ears change throughout the course of a show...the dynamic ofmost bands change from song to song...

so what does this all mean?

You best be hearing everything...always ...to mix a good show

[mc blue]

I don't ever ware plugs, but i have just started engineering for a band and as they tour from pub to club, at times with the small pubs i am bang in front of the speakers......
Not the best place i know, in fact the worst place.
But i do walk around to check the mix, so for these events i need plugs for my ears, its a must!!!
I wouldn't just have the plugs in and keep them in all night, i would be checking the mix and still walking the venue to see if the mix is good.

[fifthcircle]

Originally Posted by ChubbsMaloney

I would highly suggest NOT using earplugs of any sort (while mixing) if you want to be a serious FOH person. Learn how to mix properly period. Remember that a show evolves..musician's aren't settled off the top , usually takes a few songs for them to settle in...temperature changes...our ears change throughout the course of a show...the dynamic ofmost bands change from song to song...

so what does this all mean?

You best be hearing everything...always ...to mix a good show

And this is the reason why I see so many FOH engineers that have no high frequency hearing left. Engineers that tip the top end up on EQs across the board.

of course this is partly true, but I find that anything over about 93dB for a length of time has me wearing plugs to hear clearly. The musician's ear plugs do the job very well and as I said before, I can mix easily with them. No plugs? My ears start to shut down after a couple songs and I'm not hearing clearly anymore.

--Ben

[ChubbsMaloney]

Originally Posted by fifthcircle

And this is the reason why I see so many FOH engineers that have no high frequency hearing left. Engineers that tip the top end up on EQs across the board.

of course this is partly true, but I find that anything over about 93dB for a length of time has me wearing plugs to hear clearly. The musician's ear plugs do the job very well and as I said before, I can mix easily with them. No plugs? My ears start to shut down after a couple songs and I'm not hearing clearly anymore.

--Ben

I have to respectfully disagree. I have to say that I am shocked to hear that a lot of FOH guys are adding high end. I personally almost never ADD high end anywhere in a live situation...maybe sometimes on a piano...sometimes.

I am generally carving the house graph for clarity and running channels as flat as possible as a rule.

93 db a weighted is a bit light to be calling foul..I feel that any guy worth his salt should be able to mix almost any show @ 96 or lower...I generally run theatre shows there and rock shows @ 100

there are other noises besides shows that will cause more damage IMO...like being next to someone screaming.

Also learning to mix so nothing is poking your eardrum is probably a good idea.

earplugs should be around for opening bands and DJ's, but when your band hits the stage, you gotta be with them 100%.

[huub]

Dude... FOH guys wearing earplugs to protect their hearing?

I think most concerts and events are so loud, it should be a criminal offence, since all visitors hearing is being damaged.
I never go to concerts without earplugs, and it angers me that I need to do this..
Even concerts that are specifically for children are this loud.. As a FOH engineer you do have the power to turn it down.. I do not believe that at every show there is a promotor or producer or whatever demanding for the level to be turned up...

[ChubbsMaloney]

huub....exactly.

[boojum]

Originally Posted by mc blue

Hey
Thanks they look like they will do the job, but do you know where i would get them from in the UK?

Thanks

I think you will have to have them air-mailed. But, ask at the website why don't you? As for not wearing them at FOH. Pooh. These reduce the volume across the board. If you need your hearing to make a living you would be well advised to protect it.

[ChubbsMaloney]

Originally Posted by boojum

I think you will have to have them air-mailed. But, ask at the website why don't you? As for not wearing them at FOH. Pooh. These reduce the volume across the board. If you need your hearing to make a living you would be well advised to protect it.

you protect your hearing by learning how to mix properly, not by hiding behind earplugs while everyone else has to suffer your inadequacies....man what bad advice this is...I tried

[ChrisJohnsonUK]

Originally Posted by huub

Dude... FOH guys wearing earplugs to protect their hearing?

I think most concerts and events are so loud, it should be a criminal offence, since all visitors hearing is being damaged.
I never go to concerts without earplugs, and it angers me that I need to do this..
Even concerts that are specifically for children are this loud.. As a FOH engineer you do have the power to turn it down.. I do not believe that at every show there is a promotor or producer or whatever demanding for the level to be turned up...

Yes!

As a live engineer, i wear earplugs when i go to shows and i'm not working! Not when i'm mixing. If im mixing and its too loud for me (someone who is familar with higher noise enviornments) its gonna be too loud for everyone else!

I use my earplugs to reduce my exposure when i'm not working. When i'm working, i need to be hearing what the audience hears to do my job.

Live gigs dont need to be screaming loud to be good

[edva]

Originally Posted by huub

I think most concerts and events are so loud, it should be a criminal offence, since all visitors hearing is being damaged.
I never go to concerts without earplugs, and it angers me that I need to do this..
Even concerts that are specifically for children are this loud.. As a FOH engineer you do have the power to turn it down.. I do not believe that at every show there is a promotor or producer or whatever demanding for the level to be turned up...

Agree with this. In fact, surprised I have not seen lawsuits over damaged hearing caused by overly-loud shows. Not a fan of lawyers, but people are literally being injured by stupidly loud mixes.
And it affects me professionally. I will often have the deafest of the deaf yell out "turn it up" "louder!" and even "make our ears bleed, man!" because my show doesn't give them the pain and ringing sensation they are used to. All that does is distract the rest of the audience (and sometimes the musicians) who were blissfully enjoying the sound before the yellers open their mouths.
I sometimes think I should go to their place of employment and shout at them "MORE MUSTARD!" or maybe "THE COPY MACHINE IS OUT OF PAPER!"
etc. Have also seriously considered having a wedge brought out and set in front of the deafies so they could have their heads ripped off and be happy.
Yeah, other than the fact that it is becoming a deafer, coarser world, no problem. Love this gig.

[Don S]

Mine are from Emtech Labs in Roanoke, VA. I use the 15's when mixing and the 25's for yard work or R&R shows!

[DaVogi]

Originally Posted by huub

Dude... FOH guys wearing earplugs to protect their hearing?

I think most concerts and events are so loud, it should be a criminal offence, since all visitors hearing is being damaged.
I never go to concerts without earplugs, and it angers me that I need to do this..
Even concerts that are specifically for children are this loud.. As a FOH engineer you do have the power to turn it down.. I do not believe that at every show there is a promotor or producer or whatever demanding for the level to be turned up...

I agree with that most concerts arte too loud... BUT the FOH-engineer doesn't always have the power to turn it down.

loud drummers are a real problem in small venues (<2-300 people)... so often I need more volume than I want to get voice and the other instruments over them. also in harder genres (heavy metal...) sometimes bands/fans or the host of the night wants me to push the volume.

I honestly try to be as quiet as I can to get a balanced sound. But with a loud rock band its hard to stay below a certain amount of spl-level.

also you can't really do full night jobs with 4 bands or more without some good earplugs..... not if you like to stay your ears intact!