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I can't hear myself :(

NickInMesa

NickInMesa

Jan 1, 2009
3,397
51
57
Mesa, Arizona
#1
I use plugs, I have no choice, or else I would lose my hearing. My ear damage in the past was bad and I even sustained a punctured ear as well as a bit of tinnitus.

I now have to limit the volume of music I play and never forget my plugs when I go to seem other people play or even at mechanical sports events.

We had a 2-hour practice/gig tonight and we had our amps, monitor and PA, and everybody could hear me and said I had great tone and sounded good.

But with my ear plugs, I can hear everyone fine, but not myself. Yet I am right in front of my amp.

These are the plugs I use:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

So now, I am wondering what to do so I can hear myself while playing live.

Thanks for your help!
 
#9
Have you thought about using In Ear Monitors? They're a bit pricey, but they can make a huge difference in being able to hear what's going on while cancelling out the noise. This also can let you control your stage volume more live, if the whole band starts using the system. I wouldn't trade it for the world. I went to these and haven't gone back.

Link Removed
 
#13
I first got custom molded ear protectors from Westone about 6 years ago. They ran a special price at the NAMM show to have molds made there of your ears. I use the 15db attenuators, and also own a set of 25db that can be swapped in. These types of protection are the only things that sound halfway natural, especially if you also have to sing, as I do. I echo everything that has been said about the importance of protecting your hearing. I have some hearing loss and tinnitus, and can't afford any more loss. I too found it hard to hear my own bass playing. I now use shure in ear monitors, the PSM 400 system. Bought it used on ebay about 5 years ago. It has two input channels, so I feed my vocal mic, and my bass to me. The earphones themselves are custom molded. So, the ambient stage level is reduced for me, and a little bass goes right into my ear, though not very loud. Now I can play with a lighter touch, and I "hear myself". When you stand right in front of your amp, the speakers usually are NOT at ear level. So you don't hear the mids and highs in your notes. Now my playing is much better, and my ears don't ring at the end of the gig. Some might consider this extreme measures, I really don't care. I have as big an investment in my personal monitoring gear as a lot of guys have in their bass and amp. For what it's worth, I have 40 years of professional experience, about 5000 paid performances, and I am still going strong, playing every week. Hey, my mother played her last performance on piano at age 90 ...
 
#14
believe it or not, you might try plain ol' cotton in your ears. this will kill more highs than lows, which might be just the thing to hear more of your bass and the kick drum and less of the guitars/cymbals.

and never mind that "bass waves develop at a distance" nonsense (if that were true, you couldn't hear low end in headphones); get your rig closer to you.
 
#16
I can't say enough about custom plugs. I have a slight loss in my right ear, so I always try to protect my hearing. I recently bought some [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] with ER-15' attenuator buttons. They took some getting used to, but as it's been said in other threads, its just like turning the volume down. I can hear the bass and other instruments equally well, just not as loud. Excellent investment.
 
#17
walterw said:
believe it or not, you might try plain ol' cotton in your ears. this will kill more highs than lows, which might be just the thing to hear more of your bass and the kick drum and less of the guitars/cymbals.

and never mind that "bass waves develop at a distance" nonsense (if that were true, you couldn't hear low end in headphones); get your rig closer to you.
Click to expand...

This is very interesting...

...simply because I CAN'T hear low end in headphones ... ANY headphones. After 10 years in radio and audio production, using very high end stuff, bass frequencies simply do not translate well to a speaker cone that's a maximum of 2 inches in diameter.

Kick back is a great idea, but the only way I'm able to hear myself is EQ it so that the midrange cuts throught the mix.

If you want a ton of low-end rumbling the floor through 2 15" speakers with a high bass freq EQ, then you don't want me playing for your band.

Z
 
#19
Invest in better earplugs (custom molded). Mine cost ~$120 and attenuate the frequencies more evenly than usual earplugs. Sorry I didn't study the earplugs you posted, but generally those type attenuate ~20-23dB and often at the frequencies you're trying to hear more at while playing...they attenuate differently at different frequencies.

I have these:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

I use the 15dB plugs and love them, YMMV.

Your other option is in-ear monitors that will cost more, and then you run the risk of not hearing the other players if you don't hook it up w/ them going through it too. That takes some research on how to do and will cost you more, but may be better for you.

Good Luck
 
#20
walterw said:
and never mind that "bass waves develop at a distance" nonsense (if that were true, you couldn't hear low end in headphones); get your rig closer to you.
Click to expand...

True, but the room will affect where you hear the bass.

"It's not unusual for the low end of any sub or low frequency speaker to be hard to hear when standing close to it. Reflections off nearby walls and the ceiling create low frequency null zones. If you're standing in one of those null zones the bass will disappear."

Bill Fitzmaurice on Billfitzmaurice.net forum
 

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