Have any tips for mixing for people with tinnitus (sensitive ears)?

[camsr]

Don't use 96khz...

I just had a sound effect blast my eardrum (no tinnitus tho) with 48khz, or something close to it... I am actually guessing this was my monitors' fault (krk rokit 8 gp2), it's not wise to monitor ultrasonics at loud levels. Now I am considering what to do, I'll probably need a new setup, with some real hardware that doesn't go crazy in the ultrasonics. Inductors are probably the best thing to filter ultrasonics, amp friendly and cheap. This could probably have happened at a lower sample rate as well, but the goal of using 96khz isn't to jam ultrasonics in your ear, just for plugins only

Luckily I had my beanie on... never monitor 96khz without one

[SODDI]

This is something I struggle with all the time. Mixing is a killer on my ears. I adjusted by pre-mixing on small speakers before going to my LSR 305s. My technique is to use my Ihome IP4 boombox, which produces clear sound at frequencies low to high, then move on to my heavier boombox with heavy base. After the song is almost all mixed, I start testing on my lsr speakers as well as others. I take it slow, and I can only mix for no more than 3 hours at a time and 2-3 days a week, no more. That's all I can do. I was looking for other small, accurate speakers, but have not found any yet. Curious, as to what other people do for this problem. I have had this disease only for 6 months, but it will not go away. The Docs tell me I'm stuck with it.

What is your tinnitus caused by? And how old are you?

A lot of tinnitus is caused in older people by: a.) the physical deterioration of the tiny hairs in the inner ear - including physical damage caused by loud noises like gunshots, explosions and rock concerts - and that is pretty much irreversible; and b.) blood pressure issues - which meds and lifestyle changes can help.

If it is neurological, then there may also be hope. In rare cases, like Robert Schuman's memory-based hearing problems*, there may be answers out there as well.

My suggestion to you is to mix on the monitors that your ear is most comfortable with for the longest period of time. Take frequent breaks and pace youself. Don't be shifting mixing monitors all the time. Mix at reasonable volumes (don't push air) and avoid headphones.

*https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musical_ear_syndrome

[deastman]

My hearing is getting scary bad these days, and my tinnitus continues to get worse. However, there is hope on the horizon! There are several groups exploring methods for regrowing the damaged hairs in the ear which cause hearing loss. At least one hopes to enter clinical trials within the next year and a half. So it may be that in another five years, there might actually be a viable treatment for hearing loss.

[dannygavino]

Im one ear deaf.. not really what you have but i find producing with a low pass filter at low volumes keeps me from ear fatigue aswell as changing the project pitch every so often when im producing keeps me in check.. I take the low pass off when i want to get a quick preview .. also rocking the subpac it helps alot

[karsa]

My hearing is getting scary bad these days, and my tinnitus continues to get worse. However, there is hope on the horizon! There are several groups exploring methods for regrowing the damaged hairs in the ear which cause hearing loss. At least one hopes to enter clinical trials within the next year and a half. So it may be that in another five years, there might actually be a viable treatment for hearing loss.

Any updates about these clinical trials? I'm suffering from tinnitus and I hope to find the solution.

[BertKoor]

I'm suffering from tinnitus and I hope to find the solution.

Not likely. Even if there is little progress, don't hold your breath on it.

You need to accept there is permanent damage and learn to live with it. Avoid loud sound, use ear plugs when you can't. Have ear plugs with you at all times and don't be ashamed you have to use them in public. Use monitor speakers at moderate volume, avoid headphones. These tend to go too loud unnoticed. Give your ears plenty of rest to let it recover slowly. Takes years...

[camsr]

Some basic limiting/compression on the TV would be awesome for those loud commercials or very dynamic movies.