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Author Topic: Protect your tools for the job  (Read 1133 times)

Offline floaded27

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Protect your tools for the job
« on: March 15, 2010, 09:32:01 AM »
Maybe its just me, but something i've been noticing lately is that a lot of musicians have little regard for their hearing and the preservation of it. In a function that's primarily based on auditory perception, your hearing is the most valuable tool for your craft (more important than your hands, more important than your instrument).

I dont know about any of you here, but i like hearing. And lately i've found myself in positions where i've refused to play because the other musicians are just too loud. When I cant hear the singers singing, you're too loud! When i cant hear myself playing out of a 12" monitor sitting right in front of me, you're too loud! When I cant have a conversation in the back of the church after service without us shouting at each other, you're too loud! When its just 2 or 3 of you in the church rehearsing and i can hear you outside down the block, you're too loud!

Sometimes I think they just think its old people complaining (u know how old people complain about everything. lol) I had to tell one of my drummers friends who's 14, that if he keeps playing constantly at a volume like that with others playing like that, in 10 years, when he's my age, he's going to have hearing problems. I didnt start playing till 22 and only recently did the people i play with get significantly loud (my drummer and his friends), so i still have good hearing, and i'd like to keep it that way. So i get up and leave. I've been to other services, rehearsals, etc where they are way too loud. Why should the mic's be maxed out on the sound board?? The musicians need to come down on volume. If not for the sake of the people, simply be selfish and do it for the sake of yourself.

Would anybody just stare at the sun all day? But thats the equivalent of what some are doing to their hearing. This is the biggest asset and something worth caring for.
For my God... let "Golden Axe" prevail.

Offline under13

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Re: Protect your tools for the job
« Reply #1 on: March 15, 2010, 09:35:46 AM »
I feel you on that. I have left quite a few concerts and services with headaches because the music or the PA was way too loud.

Offline kevmove02

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Re: Protect your tools for the job
« Reply #2 on: March 15, 2010, 12:01:47 PM »
I think if people thought about longevity, they would take care of themselves and their gear. It's funny though, when everyone has in ear monitors, you don't have that problem of loudness. It's like when someone has on headphones that are cranked way up, they sing real loud to hear themselves. But once you put their voice into the mix they hear, they get real quiet.

On a different note, I hate when singers are all bashful during the sound check, then want to come strong during their performance.

Offline phbrown

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Re: Protect your tools for the job
« Reply #3 on: March 16, 2010, 12:01:54 PM »
I agree while I have not walked away from a concert because of the loudness it has made me start to think..

I think I'm going to get a t-shirt printed  that has this on it


0 db      Threshold of hearing
30 db    Whisper
40 db     Buzz of mosquito
50 db     Normal conversation
70 db     Vacuum cleaner
85 DB    Noise-induced hearing loss BEGINS!!!
100 db   Subway or power mower
120 db   Gospel concert!!!

PLAY/SING SOFTER!!! please

Offline Wesley16

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Re: Protect your tools for the job
« Reply #4 on: March 16, 2010, 03:31:57 PM »
I agree while I have not walked away from a concert because of the loudness it has made me start to think..

I think I'm going to get a t-shirt printed  that has this on it


0 db      Threshold of hearing
30 db    Whisper
40 db     Buzz of mosquito
50 db     Normal conversation
70 db     Vacuum cleaner
85 DB    Noise-induced hearing loss BEGINS!!!
100 db   Subway or power mower
120 db   Gospel concert!!!

PLAY/SING SOFTER!!! please


Phbrown, while you at it, I need four of those t-shirts, 1-x-lg, 3-lg, so that I can give them out to my fellow
band members. I'm tired of bringing the subject up at rehearsals and on Sunday's !!!!

Offline phbrown

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Re: Protect your tools for the job
« Reply #5 on: March 17, 2010, 09:20:12 AM »
LOL

Offline Asahel

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Re: Protect your tools for the job
« Reply #6 on: March 17, 2010, 11:46:02 AM »
It's funny 'cause in the old days (OT/NT history) prophets would scream out to crowds... no PA.  And Jesus if I didn't read it wrong would preach to multitudes w/o a cab. Nowadays people can't speak to others less than 25' away without a mic, while texting with the left hand and checking email with the other.  Turn the darn devices off and let's have a conversation here.  I think it's part of the culture.  I've seen young kids dating at the mall and they are both talking on their cell phones.  What, face to face communications don't cut it anymore?

I understand that in this day and age of electronics, amplification is part of the mix, but worship doesn't necessarily need to sound like a bunch of screaming rock stars playing an outdoor arena.  

I wonder about the hard work those sound engineers had EQ'ing those worship services down in the catacombs of Rome...

I have hearing loss... ringin' in my ears is constant (tinnitus).  But I tell the younger guys and sure as heck, what do I know?  Our church drummer wants to dismantle the whole set as if he was beating a cow with a bat.  At my previous church I used to sit at the back of the church and there were times that I had to go wait in the lobby until the worship/playing quieted down a little.

I went to GC and bought my kids two set of Hearos (12 dB) until I can afford something better.

Life lessons should be transferable through proper teaching, but many of us won't learn from our predecessor's beatings until we get the beatings ourselves.  Lord have mercy!
Phillippians 1:6
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