KVR Audio

Mike777 · Post by **Mike777** » Tue Jul 17, 2018 4:44 pm

I read permanent hearing damage occurs with sustained sounds above 85 db's and bands often get louder, up to 100 db and higher. Have you ever quit a band because of the db levels?

If you play in a band and setup on a big wide stage you can stay further away from the drums and amps and that helps keep db's down some. But lots of bands play in small rooms on small stages against a hard wall or even worse, in a small corner.

A band cramped in a corner is by far the worst setup for musicians, especially when adding monitors. I've played in small corner and will not do it anymore. Even earplugs don't help enough.

Hink · Post by **Hink** » Tue Jul 17, 2018 8:17 pm

Have you ever quit a band because of the db levels?

no but it's a real convenient excuse for not wanting to be in a band in general

thecontrolcentre · Post by **thecontrolcentre** » Tue Jul 17, 2018 8:24 pm

No. I've only quit bands after realizing the people I was working with weren't as commited as I was.

ShawnG · Post by **ShawnG** » Tue Jul 17, 2018 11:00 pm

I stopped using Facebook because of too many db's, but that's a different sort of db. Decibels and lots of them I enjoy, but that probably isn't the healthiest thing.

herodotus · Post by **herodotus** » Tue Jul 17, 2018 11:22 pm

Loud noise is a problem for hearing, but there are actually good solutions available.

Etymotic Research is a leader in this field. They have many earplugs available, some require a prescription, while others don't.

Many earplugs are actually good at reducing noise to a safe level (-20 db) the problem is that they mess with the frequency response. The advantage of Etymotic Research earplugs is that they mimic the healthy human ear's frequency response at a greatly reduced db level.

an-electric-heart · Post by **an-electric-heart** » Tue Jul 17, 2018 11:23 pm

I quit one recently, but it wasn't quite because of that. I was playing the drums in a metal band and I just wanted to practice in my apartment with my electric drums, and have the guitarist and bassist using guitar rig and all just wearing headphones. But they had this perception that music had to played out loud or you're not doing it properly or something

, so they found this practice place a long distance away, and every practice we had to go on journey with with all this crappy, heavy gear into the middle of nowhere so they could turn their amps all the up... and then wear earmuffs

Anyway, I left because we clashed on lots of things, and fundamentally I think it was because I've been playing in bands for 20 years, and they're more or less beginners, so they thought stupid trivial things that I didn't give a second thought to were really important.

SparkySpark · Post by **SparkySpark** » Tue Jul 17, 2018 11:58 pm

Actually, I might have to quit making music altogether since an accident some months ago. I try to mix using very low levels, but the days after my ears really hurt (so it's not just the tinnitus hiss). Fine editing of synth sounds or vocal riding seems to be a memory only now - I am happy if I can jot down most of a track over a few hours, since that's all the time I can bear. I'll probably never play live again, or attend a concert.

Hopefully things will improve, but I am rather doubtful at the moment. I must say that the OP's question should be more than a fair excuse for leaving a band.

Mike777 · Post by **Mike777** » Wed Jul 18, 2018 1:14 am

SparkySpark wrote:Actually, I might have to quit making music altogether since an accident some months ago. I try to mix using very low levels, but the days after my ears really hurt (so it's not just the tinnitus hiss). Fine editing of synth sounds or vocal riding seems to be a memory only now - I am happy if I can jot down most of a track over a few hours, since that's all the time I can bear. I'll probably never play live again, or attend a concert.

Hopefully things will improve, but I am rather doubtful at the moment. I must say that the OP's question should be more than a fair excuse for leaving a band.

sorry to 'hear' that and hope it improves. thanks for sharing

RichieWitch · Post by **RichieWitch** » Wed Jul 18, 2018 3:04 pm

I picked up a pair of Isolate Pro ear plugs in titanium and wear them to concerts and clubs all the time now. Reduces sound levels around 33 dB, across the entire spectrum. The sound is still nicely detailed, but no more ringing ears afterwards. If I was playing in a band, I'd definitely be wearing them.

BertKoor · Post by **BertKoor** » Wed Jul 18, 2018 3:38 pm

Mike777 wrote:I read permanent hearing damage occurs with sustained sounds above 85 db's and bands often get louder, up to 100 db and higher.

85 dB is a very conservative figure. Put 100 people in a room and let them listen to it. 5 people will say it is too loud and 5 will say it is too soft, it's fine for the other 90, even for hours and hours.

90 dB might cause damage with 24x7 exposure, not within minutes. 95 dB is getting quite loud, more than an hour above 100 dB is not healthy.

When I was in a rock band, we played four hours every week with the amps at 11 and the drummer needed new sticks. I estimate we did 105 to 110 dB then. Still have tinnitus from that, but no regrets.

vurt · Post by **vurt** » Wed Jul 18, 2018 5:39 pm

speak up bert, i cant hear you...

farlukar · Post by **farlukar** » Wed Jul 18, 2018 5:47 pm

I was once in a band with an extremely hard-hitting (and near-deaf) drummer. The amps HAD to go to 11 to be heard over this guy.

donkey tugger · Post by **donkey tugger** » Wed Jul 18, 2018 6:01 pm

farlukar wrote:I was once in a band with an extremely hard-hitting (and near-deaf) drummer. The amps HAD to go to 11 to be heard over this guy.

Same here, and given that we were all also into the MBV/shoegaze distortion/volume thing at that time as well, it was bloody loud and fuzzy to the point of brain melting.

justin3am · Post by **justin3am** » Wed Jul 18, 2018 6:29 pm

I always demanded that we keep the 'on-stage' volume down, when practicing or gigging, with the bands I've played in. The guitar players always gripe at first but they change their tune when they hear how much better the band can sound through monitors, with that approach. The drummer appreciates it because they don't have to hit as hard to hear themselves over the amps, the bassist appreciates it because they can actually be heard in the mix and the vocalist appreciates it because they can sing with more dynamics.

I've never left a band because of high volume but I've certainly turned other people down against their wishes.

MadDogE134 · Post by **MadDogE134** » Wed Jul 18, 2018 7:17 pm

after our drummer committed suicide in the band room over losing his girlfriend i have not played with anyone since... that was 23 years ago now. i started mixing other folk's music about 13 years ago but i can't get myself to invest in another band

as for volume... it never bothered me and at almost 60 i still have pretty decent hearing for my age according to the doc and his hearing tests. cheers

Have you quit a band because your ears couldn't take the db's anymore?