Musicians earplugs

Kieron

Hi, believe it or not, I don't actually use headphones anymore. I use Serato - setting cue-points before hand and then visually beatmatch using the displays and bpm readings. Been doing this for years and have it down to an art form!

Most of the stuff I play is party too, I'm a personality jock so mixing isn't a requirement on most of my gigs. Good mic work (a dying art) and the occasional dance mix.

Used to use headphones - learnt to beatmatch on the old 1210's about 20 years ago!

Hence these earphones will be great

unique

ah, i've had to dj a couple of times on decks with no headphones. a fellow dj taught me one day that you could put the ear close to the record and hear the sound on the needle and get the feel whilst cuing, so we did a night of djing for fun without headphones, kinda jedi vs mr miyake stylee. i later djed at the studio of my favourite artist without headphones as none could be found (in a famous recording studio!  5 separate studios), everyone thought i was terminator x or something, spinning tunes with no headphones. in fact most people probably didn't even notice or realise, i was just throwing down some funky tracks and people were dancing, and i couldn't believe i was playing where i was, the lack of headphones just added to the surreal moment

Toasty

Just received my ER20's from the above link, good price, quick delivery and come in a neat little pouch

Had a quick test, they certainly do lower the volume without cutting out that much in the way of frequencies. I could hear my voice dominate my head though when I spoke, so this is a concern for singing, but I'll give them a workout at our next gig this weekend. We'll see if they get used past the sound check Will probably have to wait til the next practise to give them a full test though.

I'll also look out for deadtotheworlds suggestion next time I'm in a music shop for comparison.

nag1_uk

I would suggest something like these:
Advanced Communication Solutions - ER-15™ Custom Protectorshttp://www.hearingprotection.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=118&Itemid=162

Or go the whole hog and get some in ear monitors.
http://www.hearingprotection.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=58&Itemid=113

That way there is less bulky gear to move at the start/end of a gig, you have the volume you want, and there is less chance of feedback!

Mike

eviljohn2

In-ear monitoring is a good way to go if you're playing at a suitable level.  I work as (and with) a sound engineer and most of the guys I know have ER15 or ER9 custom moulds and swear by them.  Cost of entry is higher but if you need the best...

I gather that it's common for singers to struggle at the outset with earplugs as they do change the balance between what you hear from inside and outside your head but after a bit of practice I'm told that it's quite possible to get used to it within a fairly short space of time.

Toasty

Yeah, tried my first gig with the ER20's the other night and aside the singing, it was all good. I found I could sing with them, but its more a paranoia thing thinking my voice is sounding different to the outside world. I've not explained that very well, but in essence, its as evelihohn says, a bit of practice to adjust is in order me thinks.

But overall I was happy with the first try out

scottish nutter

yes best to use ear protection, iv damaged both ears in the last 2 years, been left with  ringing (tinnitus) in both ears but worst of all i have constant pain in both ears and cant be without ear plugs to keep the noise down for nomal day to day stuff, didnt even think it was that loud

steveelles

It's a shame that people are only just realising about hearing protectionj. I'm only 39 and just started using hearing aids. I've set up a blog so that the epidemic of Mutton Geoff's can find out what it's like.

Diary of a first time hearing aid user

I also do IEM's and ER's at Digital Hearing Aids. Cheap Digital Hearing Aid Batteries. Hearing Health and Hearing Care

Enjoy

Steve Bray

Don't buy Proguard ear plugs. I lost one of my ER25's - the Hearing shop in my town Beverley HU17 recommended Proguard - they were sxxt, hard as rock and slack thus letting sound pass into my ear . I emailed the distributor Michael Macnally Sensorcom Ltd and he replied "you can buy some more (and at a higher price than I originally paid"). Proguard are rubbish in my opinion, I have now decided to try some ACR pro direct from their website.

Kailash

these are the ones i bought for gigs. expensive but well worth it. you can change the filters around depending on what you're doing