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Rush Concert and "ear distortion"
Rush Concert and "ear distortion"
I caught rush last night in LA. I knew to
bring ear plugs but I didn't get a chance to
put them in for a few minutes after the first
song started. I found the sound to be ragged
at first. The high end was all distorted as
though a microphone or speaker was being
over driven. Then I got the ear plugs in
and the highs smoothed out. I could still
hear detail in the cymbals, etc. I have to
assume that my ear drum was being over driven.
They also employ very high power strobes in
the back of the stage, and employ them at every
opportunity when the energy of the music is high.
I had to wear dark sunglasses and on many occasions
shut my eyes, for fear that the intense light was
damaging (it was certainly quite unpleasant). I
am guessing that the desired effect is to leave
psychodelic patterns temporarily (?) burnt into
the retina to enhance the over all visual effect.
With sunglasses and good ear plugs the sensory
experience was still exciting without the worry.
If you like Rush by the way, they still 'got it'.
Toby
** Posted from * w w w .teranews . com **
I caught rush last night in LA. I knew to
bring ear plugs but I didn't get a chance to
put them in for a few minutes after the first
song started. I found the sound to be ragged
at first. The high end was all distorted as
though a microphone or speaker was being
over driven. Then I got the ear plugs in
and the highs smoothed out. I could still
hear detail in the cymbals, etc. I have to
assume that my ear drum was being over driven.
They also employ very high power strobes in
the back of the stage, and employ them at every
opportunity when the energy of the music is high.
I had to wear dark sunglasses and on many occasions
shut my eyes, for fear that the intense light was
damaging (it was certainly quite unpleasant). I
am guessing that the desired effect is to leave
psychodelic patterns temporarily (?) burnt into
the retina to enhance the over all visual effect.
With sunglasses and good ear plugs the sensory
experience was still exciting without the worry.
If you like Rush by the way, they still 'got it'.
Toby
** Posted from * w w w .teranews . com **
Re: Rush Concert and "ear distortion"
Tobiah <toby@tobiah.org> wrote:
>I caught rush last night in LA. I knew to
>bring ear plugs but I didn't get a chance to
>put them in for a few minutes after the first
>song started. I found the sound to be ragged
>at first. The high end was all distorted as
>though a microphone or speaker was being
>over driven. Then I got the ear plugs in
>and the highs smoothed out. I could still
>hear detail in the cymbals, etc. I have to
>assume that my ear drum was being over driven.
Yes, this is sadly pretty common. A couple of things happen.. first your
hair cells become fatigued, and secondly your ear canal contracts to
protect itself. But on top of this, you get nonlinearity issues with the
movement of the bones attached to the ear canal.
Do this for very long, and you get permanent damage, mostly because the
hair cells start to break apart.
The hair cell fatigue and canal contraction causes a loss of high
frequencies but it ALSO causes a lack of definition in the midrange as
well.. and so folks tend to crank the high end up to compensate for it,
which just makes things worse.
>They also employ very high power strobes in
>the back of the stage, and employ them at every
>opportunity when the energy of the music is high.
>I had to wear dark sunglasses and on many occasions
>shut my eyes, for fear that the intense light was
>damaging (it was certainly quite unpleasant). I
>am guessing that the desired effect is to leave
>psychodelic patterns temporarily (?) burnt into
>the retina to enhance the over all visual effect.
That's probably less physically damaging than the high sound levels.
>With sunglasses and good ear plugs the sensory
>experience was still exciting without the worry.
I think concerts should hand out earplugs to everyone in the audience.
I certainly have taken to using the Etymotic earplugs while mixing.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."
Tobiah <toby@tobiah.org> wrote:
>I caught rush last night in LA. I knew to
>bring ear plugs but I didn't get a chance to
>put them in for a few minutes after the first
>song started. I found the sound to be ragged
>at first. The high end was all distorted as
>though a microphone or speaker was being
>over driven. Then I got the ear plugs in
>and the highs smoothed out. I could still
>hear detail in the cymbals, etc. I have to
>assume that my ear drum was being over driven.
Yes, this is sadly pretty common. A couple of things happen.. first your
hair cells become fatigued, and secondly your ear canal contracts to
protect itself. But on top of this, you get nonlinearity issues with the
movement of the bones attached to the ear canal.
Do this for very long, and you get permanent damage, mostly because the
hair cells start to break apart.
The hair cell fatigue and canal contraction causes a loss of high
frequencies but it ALSO causes a lack of definition in the midrange as
well.. and so folks tend to crank the high end up to compensate for it,
which just makes things worse.
>They also employ very high power strobes in
>the back of the stage, and employ them at every
>opportunity when the energy of the music is high.
>I had to wear dark sunglasses and on many occasions
>shut my eyes, for fear that the intense light was
>damaging (it was certainly quite unpleasant). I
>am guessing that the desired effect is to leave
>psychodelic patterns temporarily (?) burnt into
>the retina to enhance the over all visual effect.
That's probably less physically damaging than the high sound levels.
>With sunglasses and good ear plugs the sensory
>experience was still exciting without the worry.
I think concerts should hand out earplugs to everyone in the audience.
I certainly have taken to using the Etymotic earplugs while mixing.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."
Re: Rush Concert and "ear distortion"
I attended a Sting concert about 15 years ago, that was so loud that
afterwards I had about 30-40% hearing loss. I was really worried.
Luckily after a couple of days, my normal hearing returned. Since
then I've been a lot more careful when I attend concerts.
I attended a Sting concert about 15 years ago, that was so loud that
afterwards I had about 30-40% hearing loss. I was really worried.
Luckily after a couple of days, my normal hearing returned. Since
then I've been a lot more careful when I attend concerts.
Re: Rush Concert and "ear distortion"
In article <48220961$0$34569$742ec2ed@news.sonic . net >,
sgordon@changethisparttohardbat . com wrote:
> I attended a Sting concert about 15 years ago, that was so loud that
> afterwards I had about 30-40% hearing loss. I was really worried.
> Luckily after a couple of days, my normal hearing returned. Since
> then I've been a lot more careful when I attend concerts.
I wouldn't have expected that from Sting. I saw Jeff Beck and Stevie
Ray Vaughn together years ago, before I had decent earplugs. OW!
I fail to see a reason for making it so loud. I guess sound quality
isn't the primary concern at these events, but rather sound quantity.
-Jay
--
x------- Jay Kadis ------- x ---- Jay's Attic Studio ----x
x Lecturer, Audio Engineer x Dexter Records x
x CCRMA, Stanford University x * w w w .offbeats . com / x
x---------- * ccrma.stanford.edu/~jay/ ------------x
In article <48220961$0$34569$742ec2ed@news.sonic . net >,
sgordon@changethisparttohardbat . com wrote:
> I attended a Sting concert about 15 years ago, that was so loud that
> afterwards I had about 30-40% hearing loss. I was really worried.
> Luckily after a couple of days, my normal hearing returned. Since
> then I've been a lot more careful when I attend concerts.
I wouldn't have expected that from Sting. I saw Jeff Beck and Stevie
Ray Vaughn together years ago, before I had decent earplugs. OW!
I fail to see a reason for making it so loud. I guess sound quality
isn't the primary concern at these events, but rather sound quantity.
-Jay
--
x------- Jay Kadis ------- x ---- Jay's Attic Studio ----x
x Lecturer, Audio Engineer x Dexter Records x
x CCRMA, Stanford University x * w w w .offbeats . com / x
x---------- * ccrma.stanford.edu/~jay/ ------------x
Re: Rush Concert and "ear distortion"
On May 7, 2:55 pm, klu...@panix . com (Scott Dorsey) wrote:
> Tobiah <t...@tobiah.org> wrote:
> >I caught rush last night in LA. I knew to
> >bring ear plugs but I didn't get a chance to
> >put them in for a few minutes after the first
> >song started. I found the sound to be ragged
> >at first. The high end was all distorted as
> >though a microphone or speaker was being
> >over driven. Then I got the ear plugs in
> >and the highs smoothed out. I could still
> >hear detail in the cymbals, etc. I have to
> >assume that my ear drum was being over driven.
>
> Yes, this is sadly pretty common. A couple of things happen.. first your
> hair cells become fatigued, and secondly your ear canal contracts to
> protect itself. But on top of this, you get nonlinearity issues with the
> movement of the bones attached to the ear canal.
>
> Do this for very long, and you get permanent damage, mostly because the
> hair cells start to break apart.
>
> The hair cell fatigue and canal contraction causes a loss of high
> frequencies but it ALSO causes a lack of definition in the midrange as
> well.. and so folks tend to crank the high end up to compensate for it,
> which just makes things worse.
>
> >They also employ very high power strobes in
> >the back of the stage, and employ them at every
> >opportunity when the energy of the music is high.
> >I had to wear dark sunglasses and on many occasions
> >shut my eyes, for fear that the intense light was
> >damaging (it was certainly quite unpleasant). I
> >am guessing that the desired effect is to leave
> >psychodelic patterns temporarily (?) burnt into
> >the retina to enhance the over all visual effect.
>
> That's probably less physically damaging than the high sound levels.
>
> >With sunglasses and good ear plugs the sensory
> >experience was still exciting without the worry.
>
> I think concerts should hand out earplugs to everyone in the audience.
> I certainly have taken to using the Etymotic earplugs while mixing.
> --scott
> --
> "C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."
What model do you use, scott? I'm interested.
On May 7, 2:55 pm, klu...@panix . com (Scott Dorsey) wrote:
> Tobiah <t...@tobiah.org> wrote:
> >I caught rush last night in LA. I knew to
> >bring ear plugs but I didn't get a chance to
> >put them in for a few minutes after the first
> >song started. I found the sound to be ragged
> >at first. The high end was all distorted as
> >though a microphone or speaker was being
> >over driven. Then I got the ear plugs in
> >and the highs smoothed out. I could still
> >hear detail in the cymbals, etc. I have to
> >assume that my ear drum was being over driven.
>
> Yes, this is sadly pretty common. A couple of things happen.. first your
> hair cells become fatigued, and secondly your ear canal contracts to
> protect itself. But on top of this, you get nonlinearity issues with the
> movement of the bones attached to the ear canal.
>
> Do this for very long, and you get permanent damage, mostly because the
> hair cells start to break apart.
>
> The hair cell fatigue and canal contraction causes a loss of high
> frequencies but it ALSO causes a lack of definition in the midrange as
> well.. and so folks tend to crank the high end up to compensate for it,
> which just makes things worse.
>
> >They also employ very high power strobes in
> >the back of the stage, and employ them at every
> >opportunity when the energy of the music is high.
> >I had to wear dark sunglasses and on many occasions
> >shut my eyes, for fear that the intense light was
> >damaging (it was certainly quite unpleasant). I
> >am guessing that the desired effect is to leave
> >psychodelic patterns temporarily (?) burnt into
> >the retina to enhance the over all visual effect.
>
> That's probably less physically damaging than the high sound levels.
>
> >With sunglasses and good ear plugs the sensory
> >experience was still exciting without the worry.
>
> I think concerts should hand out earplugs to everyone in the audience.
> I certainly have taken to using the Etymotic earplugs while mixing.
> --scott
> --
> "C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."
What model do you use, scott? I'm interested.
Re: Rush Concert and "ear distortion"
Julien BH <julienbh@gmail . com > wrote:
>>
>> I think concerts should hand out earplugs to everyone in the audience.
>> I certainly have taken to using the Etymotic earplugs while mixing.
>
>What model do you use, scott? I'm interested.
I have the cheap ER-20 Ety-Plugs which are generic and fit any ears. I had
a pair of the custom-molded plugs but they were very uncomfortable; the local
guy that did the mold apparently didn't do a very good job.
The ER-20s are something like ten dollars for the pair, and do a
wonderful job. I have been absolutely delighted with them. They are
not comfortable enough to wear all day, but they are reasonably comfortable.
The custom-molded ones are a lot more money, and they might be worth it
if you can get them done properly. The guys at the AES show that do free
earmolds seem to be excellent.... the local rep here in rural Virginia was
not.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."
Julien BH <julienbh@gmail . com > wrote:
>>
>> I think concerts should hand out earplugs to everyone in the audience.
>> I certainly have taken to using the Etymotic earplugs while mixing.
>
>What model do you use, scott? I'm interested.
I have the cheap ER-20 Ety-Plugs which are generic and fit any ears. I had
a pair of the custom-molded plugs but they were very uncomfortable; the local
guy that did the mold apparently didn't do a very good job.
The ER-20s are something like ten dollars for the pair, and do a
wonderful job. I have been absolutely delighted with them. They are
not comfortable enough to wear all day, but they are reasonably comfortable.
The custom-molded ones are a lot more money, and they might be worth it
if you can get them done properly. The guys at the AES show that do free
earmolds seem to be excellent.... the local rep here in rural Virginia was
not.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."
Re: Rush Concert and "ear distortion"
On May 7, 5:03 pm, klu...@panix . com (Scott Dorsey) wrote:
> Julien BH <julie...@gmail . com > wrote:
>
>
>
> >> I think concerts should hand out earplugs to everyone in the audience.
> >> I certainly have taken to using the Etymotic earplugs while mixing.
>
> >What model do you use, scott? I'm interested.
>
> I have the cheap ER-20 Ety-Plugs which are generic and fit any ears. I had
> a pair of the custom-molded plugs but they were very uncomfortable; the local
> guy that did the mold apparently didn't do a very good job.
>
> The ER-20s are something like ten dollars for the pair, and do a
> wonderful job. I have been absolutely delighted with them. They are
> not comfortable enough to wear all day, but they are reasonably comfortable.
>
> The custom-molded ones are a lot more money, and they might be worth it
> if you can get them done properly. The guys at the AES show that do free
> earmolds seem to be excellent.... the local rep here in rural Virginia was
> not.
> --scott
> --
> "C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."
Thanks for the hint Scott ;)
As for AES, I heard about it but I live in Quebec so I'm not sure
there is something similar here... I always though it was for an
"elite" of people which doesn't include ME.
On May 7, 5:03 pm, klu...@panix . com (Scott Dorsey) wrote:
> Julien BH <julie...@gmail . com > wrote:
>
>
>
> >> I think concerts should hand out earplugs to everyone in the audience.
> >> I certainly have taken to using the Etymotic earplugs while mixing.
>
> >What model do you use, scott? I'm interested.
>
> I have the cheap ER-20 Ety-Plugs which are generic and fit any ears. I had
> a pair of the custom-molded plugs but they were very uncomfortable; the local
> guy that did the mold apparently didn't do a very good job.
>
> The ER-20s are something like ten dollars for the pair, and do a
> wonderful job. I have been absolutely delighted with them. They are
> not comfortable enough to wear all day, but they are reasonably comfortable.
>
> The custom-molded ones are a lot more money, and they might be worth it
> if you can get them done properly. The guys at the AES show that do free
> earmolds seem to be excellent.... the local rep here in rural Virginia was
> not.
> --scott
> --
> "C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."
Thanks for the hint Scott ;)
As for AES, I heard about it but I live in Quebec so I'm not sure
there is something similar here... I always though it was for an
"elite" of people which doesn't include ME.
Re: Rush Concert and "ear distortion"
Julien BH <julienbh@gmail . com > wrote:
>
>Thanks for the hint Scott ;)
>As for AES, I heard about it but I live in Quebec so I'm not sure
>there is something similar here... I always though it was for an
>"elite" of people which doesn't include ME.
Currently the only Eastern Canadian chapter is in Toronto, and they have
a local web site at w w w .torontoaes.org. There is a student chapter at
McGill which probably has some interesting events, though.
The AES puts on big conventions in the US every year, alternating between
New York and San Francisco (or sometimes LA). They also put on a European
convention every year. What's interesting about the convention is that it
basically has two halves, a trade show and an academic conference, and
there isn't a lot of crossover between the two groups.
Anyway, the trade show section is available to anyone for a small fee
or with free tickets that will usually be announced here before the show,
and it is worth every penny of the transportation because it's your only
chance to test-drive new products if you live out here in the hinterlands.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."
Julien BH <julienbh@gmail . com > wrote:
>
>Thanks for the hint Scott ;)
>As for AES, I heard about it but I live in Quebec so I'm not sure
>there is something similar here... I always though it was for an
>"elite" of people which doesn't include ME.
Currently the only Eastern Canadian chapter is in Toronto, and they have
a local web site at w w w .torontoaes.org. There is a student chapter at
McGill which probably has some interesting events, though.
The AES puts on big conventions in the US every year, alternating between
New York and San Francisco (or sometimes LA). They also put on a European
convention every year. What's interesting about the convention is that it
basically has two halves, a trade show and an academic conference, and
there isn't a lot of crossover between the two groups.
Anyway, the trade show section is available to anyone for a small fee
or with free tickets that will usually be announced here before the show,
and it is worth every penny of the transportation because it's your only
chance to test-drive new products if you live out here in the hinterlands.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."
Re: Rush Concert and "ear distortion"
Scott Dorsey wrote:
> I think concerts should hand out earplugs to everyone in the audience.
> I certainly have taken to using the Etymotic earplugs while mixing.
> --scott
Just happened first time for me - at a Split Enz reunion concert in
Wellington NZ. Free earplugs at the refreshement vendor stalls, provided
bythe organiser.
I always take my own, but didn't actually need thm this time.
Another thing, support bands always seem to be louder than main events -
presumably trying to compensate for not being as good/popular....
geoff
Scott Dorsey wrote:
> I think concerts should hand out earplugs to everyone in the audience.
> I certainly have taken to using the Etymotic earplugs while mixing.
> --scott
Just happened first time for me - at a Split Enz reunion concert in
Wellington NZ. Free earplugs at the refreshement vendor stalls, provided
bythe organiser.
I always take my own, but didn't actually need thm this time.
Another thing, support bands always seem to be louder than main events -
presumably trying to compensate for not being as good/popular....
geoff
Re: Rush Concert and "ear distortion"
> I caught rush last night in LA.
>I could still
> hear detail in the cymbals, etc.
Rush.... detail..... in the cymbals...
you have to be kidding..
Mark
> I caught rush last night in LA.
>I could still
> hear detail in the cymbals, etc.
Rush.... detail..... in the cymbals...
you have to be kidding..
Mark
Re: Rush Concert and "ear distortion"
Tobiah wrote:
> I caught rush last night in LA. I knew to
> bring ear plugs but I didn't get a chance to
> put them in for a few minutes after the first
> song started. I found the sound to be ragged
> at first. The high end was all distorted as
> though a microphone or speaker was being
> over driven. Then I got the ear plugs in
> and the highs smoothed out. I could still
> hear detail in the cymbals, etc. I have to
> assume that my ear drum was being over driven.
That happens increasingly when you get closer to 50 than 40 . Sensitivity
(or in tolerance ) to loudness increases.
geoff
Tobiah wrote:
> I caught rush last night in LA. I knew to
> bring ear plugs but I didn't get a chance to
> put them in for a few minutes after the first
> song started. I found the sound to be ragged
> at first. The high end was all distorted as
> though a microphone or speaker was being
> over driven. Then I got the ear plugs in
> and the highs smoothed out. I could still
> hear detail in the cymbals, etc. I have to
> assume that my ear drum was being over driven.
That happens increasingly when you get closer to 50 than 40 . Sensitivity
(or in tolerance ) to loudness increases.
geoff
