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Funkadelic1 Someone mentioned earplugs but how do you factor earplugs in and still hear everything that going on around you

The cheaper industrial plugs ()Bluetone mentions below) arn't great for hearing higher frequencies - that's where the fancier plugs come in. If you go through the whole thread ()there's a couple more threads) you can check the whole discussion.

You can find plugs that work for music - I think vocalists suffer the most, I found it weird singing with plugs in,

V8 Alternatively a some friends are using Thunderplugs and I've not heard any complaints (pun intended). But oddly, I can't find a local stockist, The Gear Junkie did have - i'll update if I can find them. They were reasonably priced (around R200/set)

V8 Heard back from the fellows at noiseclipper...

A set of Variphone Fit-4-All's are going to set you back the princely sum of R264.50 (vat inc)...imho, a complete bargain! Impressed how it's fairly much the same price in euros as rands.

Or get some custom fitted at Protect-a-ear or those Noise-ban's Bluetone mentioned are stocked at Ear Institute

You'll molds of your ears taken and then they'll get sent to pretoria, and plugs sent back. Magic! Last I asked, it was around R1k-ish for a set.

They can mold a set around in-ears too.

But if the sound guy wants to drop a evil through the mix...there's not much you can do. Maybe beat them silly for not using a limiter.

Had a gig where the drummers ear was bleeding (no plugs, head next to a monitor) after the guitarist kicked in a boost pedal, but it's level was way above what he soundchecked, spiked through the PA. Eish. I was wearing plugs and I knew all about it too.

P.s. Prices ARE out of date, likely things are 20-30% more. Last I checked Thunderplugs were around R280 locally.

        So funny - my singing (rubbish as it is) is improved by earplugs because I can hear the voice in my head so much better so I know if I'm near the correct note or not. 😆 Vive la difference. Also, kudos for this thread. I am exasperated by indifference to hearing damage/loss. Once it's gone, it's gone...

        • V8 likes this.
        • V8 replied to this.

          Bluetone I can hear the voice in my head so much better so I know if I'm near the correct note or not.

          Hehe, I always think of when I have a head cold kinda vibe. I can't stand my voice in recordings so the less I hear of it the better 😝

          Bluetone . Also, kudos for this thread. I am exasperated by indifference to hearing damage/loss.

          Thanks man, I've been bleating on about it for a while (+/-15yrs) so eventually I thought it would be a community service to annually talk about it. Either to intro noobs to the info (and even the concept) and what they can do about it AND as a reminder to others to keep on using em.

              3 months later

              Just had my annual audiologist appointment. Woot woot.. no deterioration noted. Happy days for my ears.
              My earplugs are a staple. On my keys and they go everywhere with me

              5 months later

              RodneyVikens there are better options aimed at musicians.

              Yeah, but literally ANYTHING is better than nothing - if that's all you can find locally, use em.

              I was at a gig last month, forgot the plugs at home - felt like a dumbass right at the back of the venue, with my fingers in my ears for 2 hours while the bands rocked out.

                24 days later

                Yup, I also use the Variphone plugs per link above. Never tried those biking ones

                  I don't know why I've never just bought an extension cable for my noise cancelling headphones to use as monitors. And now that I have monitors, I don't use them xD I also need an extension cable for those.

                  Is it a no brainer to just use headphones when the functionality is available or am I not considering all the facts?

                    Dont know if I am getting the question. If I hear you right, you could simply use headphones as a proxy for monitors, but what are you trying to achieve? Is this simply jamming via PC? Or are you recording etc as well? My limited view is that the quality of sound is better via monitors, for my setup anyways, amd i also find using headphones leads to ear fatigue quicker in my case. That said, i do like the option of juggling between the two. Especially with mixing.
                    If simply listening to music, i use the monitors exclusively.

                    • RCVN replied to this.

                      Oh right. If the headphones can reduce DB, then by all means. I dont know that they can though like plugs. The Variphones reduce DB by some 15 to 20 DB which is quite significant. If its just for monitoring, what you suggest makes sense to do

                      • RCVN replied to this.

                        guidothepimmp Might be worth some investigating the reduction in DB's then.

                        I generally struggle with plugs.

                            a year later

                            Spambot reminded me it be time for the annual earplug reminder! 😁

                            I was at a jam yesterday and had a cheep pair of silicon plugs (no idea where my nicer ones are) - the only thing I could play was drums with any sense of 'monitoring' - the cheep plugs killed the guitar & bass for me. Though the stage was tiny and I could not place any of the amps to fire into my ears (the amp stands didn't kickback). A decent set of 'musician' 'plugs would have helped a lot.

                            I see there's a new audiologist down the road from me that's apparently a variphone stockist - I wonder how much the variphone music-4-all plugs cost now. They're 17Euro's, but in SA? We'll find out!

                            9 months later

                            And its earplug reminder post time again. This time for 2024

                            • V8 likes this.
                            3 months later

                            Recently one of my biking mates recommended Loop earplugs for motorcycling. They are about 30 quid so thought why not.

                            pleasantly surprised by how good they are. There are different models and a test or 2 on my motorcycle earlier revealed just how good they are. Well recommended.

                            IceCreamMan look smart

                            I forgot my blimmin plugs at last garage days. Ears rang for days. Stoopid i was

                            • V8 replied to this.

                                guidothepimmp I've left mine at home for two jams in a row, luckily there's a spare set of oldskool construction style earmuff's at the Gear Junkie I can use - they're really kak for music'ing but better than having a head ringing like bell afterwards.

                                Funnily, peeps are so used to seeing me with some kinda ear protection they remind me to go use them. Either that or they're tired of my excuses 😆

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