Do we hear 100% the same from both ears ?
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- Banned
- 112 posts since 22 May, 2017
I make a test.
I took a sine wave of 4000hz.
I took headphones, then I played the sine wave on one ear after the other.
My conclusion : I ear a little bit better from my left hear. It Is really subtle however.
First question : Does it happen to You too ?
Second question : Can it have an impact on my mixes ?
I took a sine wave of 4000hz.
I took headphones, then I played the sine wave on one ear after the other.
My conclusion : I ear a little bit better from my left hear. It Is really subtle however.
First question : Does it happen to You too ?
Second question : Can it have an impact on my mixes ?
- Rad Grandad
- 38041 posts since 6 Sep, 2003 from Downeast Maine
when playing guitar without headphones and using a real amp/speaker I'm definitely "left eared" as I tend to slightly turn in that direction. I cant tell you if it's because my right ear is better or worse but it does appear to be my more critical ear for listening to my playing.
Mixing (which is a weak point imo for me) I dont favor either ear whether it be with with monitors or headphones.
Mixing (which is a weak point imo for me) I dont favor either ear whether it be with with monitors or headphones.
The highest form of knowledge is empathy, for it requires us to suspend our egos and live in another's world. It requires profound, purpose‐larger‐than‐the‐self kind of understanding.
- KVRAF
- 2117 posts since 24 Feb, 2004 from Germany
Definitely not. And the older you get, the less good and the more different you hear. Ask a hearing doctor for a test. A concussion can worsen this. Long time stress or loud music may result in a tinnitus - than you are knackered for good (believe me - take care of your hearing).Do we hear 100% the same from both ears ?
If you only mix with headphones, maybe. But normally you wouldn't apply EQ only on one side of a signal, and a center pan signal is centered, even if you hear something else..Second question : Can it have an impact on my mixes ?
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- KVRAF
- 10367 posts since 2 Sep, 2003 from Surrey, UK
Your ears are analogue - they will never be exactly the same. And will probably differ on different days.
- KVRian
- 1488 posts since 7 Jan, 2004
Our brains adjust for almost any difference in perception.
Harsh sounds start to appear a bit less harsh after listening to it for a while. The brain adapts.
Listen to it for while with only the left ear. Next continue to listen to it with both ears: the right ear will suddenly perceive it as harsher.
This adaptation is an ongoing process, often in subtle and unnoticeable ways.
Their may be physical difference in how the left and right ears signal to our brains. Often this is compensated for by our adaptable hemisphers.
Or there might be loads of earwax.
Harsh sounds start to appear a bit less harsh after listening to it for a while. The brain adapts.
Listen to it for while with only the left ear. Next continue to listen to it with both ears: the right ear will suddenly perceive it as harsher.
This adaptation is an ongoing process, often in subtle and unnoticeable ways.
Their may be physical difference in how the left and right ears signal to our brains. Often this is compensated for by our adaptable hemisphers.
Or there might be loads of earwax.
The more I hang around at KVR the less music I make.
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- Banned
- Topic Starter
- 112 posts since 22 May, 2017
Ok, thanks for the info.
But what should I expect ? After making a test with a synth (so a saw wave with plenty of high) I noticed That both ears sounds similary (There is no dramatic change) but one ear is clearer than the other... Is it common or not ?
(I know btw that I don't have any hearing traumatism).
But what should I expect ? After making a test with a synth (so a saw wave with plenty of high) I noticed That both ears sounds similary (There is no dramatic change) but one ear is clearer than the other... Is it common or not ?
(I know btw that I don't have any hearing traumatism).
- KVRAF
- 16847 posts since 8 Mar, 2005 from Utrecht, Holland
Yes it certainly is very common.
Stop worrying. Stop thinking of any more excuses. Play that funky music, boy!
Stop worrying. Stop thinking of any more excuses. Play that funky music, boy!
We are the KVR collective. Resistance is futile. You will be assimilated. 
My MusicCalc is served over https!!
My MusicCalc is served over https!!
- KVRAF
- 20874 posts since 22 Nov, 2000 from Southern California
Your brain compensates. My tinnitus is much worse in my left ear but I only notice it when it's quiet.
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- KVRAF
- 1666 posts since 28 Jun, 2007 from Amazon rain forest
I can't hear most bass/sub-bass freqs in my left ear to the point of being frustrating sometimes, when I'm mixing with headphones.
For normal listening however, it isn't that much of a problem.
For normal listening however, it isn't that much of a problem.
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- KVRAF
- 2448 posts since 12 Sep, 2004
As mentioned in the other thread you started and also here... clean your ears...

Step #2: stop procrastinating on learning the hard stuff.. go find the material you need to start digging into the technicalities of mixing
Step #3: if you don't have it already, get a good set of phones ($150 should do it to start) and a HRTF plugin. You don't want super-hyped phones like beats or those M50 thingies. Eventually you can move to monitors if you have the right room etc.
Step #4: see Step #2

Step #2: stop procrastinating on learning the hard stuff.. go find the material you need to start digging into the technicalities of mixing
Step #3: if you don't have it already, get a good set of phones ($150 should do it to start) and a HRTF plugin. You don't want super-hyped phones like beats or those M50 thingies. Eventually you can move to monitors if you have the right room etc.
Step #4: see Step #2
You need to limit that rez, bro.
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- KVRist
- 53 posts since 4 Feb, 2012
There is also hearing disorder called Diplacusis. I suffered from that after having prolactinoma surgery. I had 3,5cm tumor in my head. A few weeks after surgery my other ear heard everything in differnet pitch than the other. Pitch difference was about half step. It was very weird but fortunately symptoms were temporary.
- KVRAF
- 3362 posts since 31 Dec, 2004 from People's Republic of Minnesota
http://newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/Left- ... elNum=5480
I've noticed this for years and thought I was making it up. Evidently the left ear is noticeably better at deciphering speech. Whenever I used headphones and someone was talking to me I'd prefer to expose my left year because I understood it more easily.
I've noticed this for years and thought I was making it up. Evidently the left ear is noticeably better at deciphering speech. Whenever I used headphones and someone was talking to me I'd prefer to expose my left year because I understood it more easily.

