Comments on: Hearing Fatigue? http://brileyboy.wordpress.com/2008/04/25/hearing-fatigue/ analytical thoughts of a precisionist Fri, 01 Aug 2008 15:59:31 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Jeff T. http://brileyboy.wordpress.com/2008/04/25/hearing-fatigue/#comment-42 Jeff T. Sat, 19 Jul 2008 01:00:33 +0000 http://brileyboy.wordpress.com/?p=13#comment-42 Dude - you're right on! But I did recently experience 2 of the best live sound mixes I've ever heard - John Mayer and Radiohead. Everytime I catch John Mayer I'm floored by his sound - he must take a personal interest in it because it's not as loud as other shows but the clarity is unreal. While we're complaining about bad live sound, is it just me or is the "tell" of an amateur concert sound guy a kik drum that's lourder than everything else? Dude – you’re right on! But I did recently experience 2 of the best live sound mixes I’ve ever heard – John Mayer and Radiohead. Everytime I catch John Mayer I’m floored by his sound – he must take a personal interest in it because it’s not as loud as other shows but the clarity is unreal. While we’re complaining about bad live sound, is it just me or is the “tell” of an amateur concert sound guy a kik drum that’s lourder than everything else?

]]> By: shaesweeney http://brileyboy.wordpress.com/2008/04/25/hearing-fatigue/#comment-28 shaesweeney Thu, 01 May 2008 04:42:45 +0000 http://brileyboy.wordpress.com/?p=13#comment-28 my ears rang for hours after the concert... painful, yes. worth it, yes. but only for keith!!! :) my ears rang for hours after the concert… painful, yes. worth it, yes. but only for keith!!! :)

]]> By: Chris http://brileyboy.wordpress.com/2008/04/25/hearing-fatigue/#comment-23 Chris Mon, 28 Apr 2008 02:18:56 +0000 http://brileyboy.wordpress.com/?p=13#comment-23 I'm really sensitive to high mids, too, and I sometimes wonder if anyone else is. I saw some shows in Las Vegas at NAB this year that were pleasant experiences - I carry my musician's earplugs, too...actually two sets, one for me, one for my wife...but I didn't need to get them out at Cirque's LOVE and Blue Man. Blue Man had some loud moments, but the levels varied a lot, and the louder moments were brief. Both shows had nice, punchy sound, but I left with no ear fatigue. I’m really sensitive to high mids, too, and I sometimes wonder if anyone else is.

I saw some shows in Las Vegas at NAB this year that were pleasant experiences – I carry my musician’s earplugs, too…actually two sets, one for me, one for my wife…but I didn’t need to get them out at Cirque’s LOVE and Blue Man. Blue Man had some loud moments, but the levels varied a lot, and the louder moments were brief. Both shows had nice, punchy sound, but I left with no ear fatigue.

]]> By: Dave http://brileyboy.wordpress.com/2008/04/25/hearing-fatigue/#comment-21 Dave Sat, 26 Apr 2008 00:45:40 +0000 http://brileyboy.wordpress.com/?p=13#comment-21 I experienced this the last time I saw Third Day. I could hear everything, but it was all so crunching-ly loud that it was difficult to listen to. I also noticed that they hadn't punched up the 5k on Mac Powell's vocal, so he was muffled and hard to understand the whole time. Chris, you make a valid point. As a sound engineer, if I can't trust my ears because they are different from the audience; I'm in trouble. I experienced this the last time I saw Third Day. I could hear everything, but it was all so crunching-ly loud that it was difficult to listen to. I also noticed that they hadn’t punched up the 5k on Mac Powell’s vocal, so he was muffled and hard to understand the whole time.

Chris, you make a valid point. As a sound engineer, if I can’t trust my ears because they are different from the audience; I’m in trouble.

]]> By: Chris http://brileyboy.wordpress.com/2008/04/25/hearing-fatigue/#comment-20 Chris Fri, 25 Apr 2008 17:18:13 +0000 http://brileyboy.wordpress.com/?p=13#comment-20 Sure, I agree. One thing I did notice once i had my earplugs in. You could clearly hear distortion in the horns. They had the clair i4 rig like he's had at the last 3 atlanta shows with the digico console. Those combined don't make for the smoothest sound either. Sure, I agree. One thing I did notice once i had my earplugs in. You could clearly hear distortion in the horns. They had the clair i4 rig like he’s had at the last 3 atlanta shows with the digico console. Those combined don’t make for the smoothest sound either.

]]> By: Dave http://brileyboy.wordpress.com/2008/04/25/hearing-fatigue/#comment-19 Dave Fri, 25 Apr 2008 15:03:02 +0000 http://brileyboy.wordpress.com/?p=13#comment-19 This is just about every show I go to these days. The Police had this problem when I saw them. I think it hurts us because of the whole equal-loudness thing. If you look at the Fletcher-Munson curves we have a bump of sensitivity in the 2-4k range--something to do with the resonant frequency of our ear canals. My theory is when they push every other frequency up to the edge of the pain threshold, that 2-4k has already been crossed. I can't go to a show without my musicians plugs now. I think some of those guys are mixing with plugs now, too, because sometimes it's not the sound guy pushing for the volume; sometimes it's the production management. This is just about every show I go to these days. The Police had this problem when I saw them. I think it hurts us because of the whole equal-loudness thing. If you look at the Fletcher-Munson curves we have a bump of sensitivity in the 2-4k range–something to do with the resonant frequency of our ear canals. My theory is when they push every other frequency up to the edge of the pain threshold, that 2-4k has already been crossed. I can’t go to a show without my musicians plugs now. I think some of those guys are mixing with plugs now, too, because sometimes it’s not the sound guy pushing for the volume; sometimes it’s the production management.

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