Mixing volume -> hard on your ears -> hearing loss!

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pure.fusion

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Hi all,

Is it just me, or do you feel like your ears are getting hammered when you spend a few hours mixing?

I can only mix for a finite amount of time before I lose the plot and it all starts sounding crap anyway, so I'm forced to take a break every 1/2 hour to an hour.

I mix at about 80dB, only 'cause i think I read it at this forum somewhere. You guys do the same? I saw a chart on hearing loss and it said you can cop 85db for 8 hours withough hearing loss.

Still, under these conditions, after a few hours my ears just feel "well used" with more than usual tinnitus (as always). What about you guys?

(FYI, I'm about 40 and (like you probably) abused my hearing when I was younger.)

Cheers,
FM
 
That's normal for your ears to do that. It's called Threshold Shifting. It's good that you take a break. 80db huh. That's pretty loud, but not too bad (like a fairly loud vacuum cleaner). I mix a little lower than that.
 
Depends on the session -- Yesterday (no - Friday? - Friday...) I was stopping for five minutes or so every 20 minutes or so. Other times, maybe once an hour.
 
I guess it depends on the material. Some stuff requires breaks and some stuff I go on a mission and will mix for hours on end before a break. I mix at 80 to 85dB.
 
I find it easier to listen to class a amplification, especially tube SET for long periods of time without as much fatigue. Or if I am mixing with headphones, open cans help dramatically.
 
When I mix, I've found that mixing at low volume enables me to hear far better but I haven't a clue how many dB that is. Standing next to a huge bass bin and feeling rather than hearing the bass on some serious dub reggae at Notting Hill Carnival in '82 and going to an AC/DC gig at high volume a couple of months later and not being able to hear for two days after seems to have given me extra strong eardrums ! But I like to mix at low volumes.
 
I don't mix that loud. Not for extended periods anyway. I mix louder than conversation or watching TV volume, but not lawnmower or vacuum cleaner loud. I push the mix loud occasionally to check it, and drop it quiet to check it, but most of my mixing is done at comfortable levels. I find that for me it's easier to focus and not be distracted if my ears aren't hurting.
 
I break every hour for 10 mins and go somewhere really quiet, I mix at 83 db, I read somewhere that this is the optimal level when it comes to the fletcher munson curve.
 
I mix at volumes as loud as I think my family and neighbors will tolerate...sometimes louder.

You folks must all have some kind of meter for this purpose I guess? I have no idea how many db I'm listening at. I use an 80 watt Denon amp that gets pretty freakin' loud. Sounds great too. Occasionally I will check some mixes at lower volumes, but it just sounds quieter. Since I don't enjoy it as much when it's quiet, I turn it back up after a few seconds or so. I think any music I like I always want to listen to as loud as possible.

No discernable hearing loss or discomfort here. Not really sure I understand ear fatigue, but I do hear a lot of people mention it, so there must be something to it.

I don't take any breaks for the purpose of getting away from the mix or resting my ears, but I do have to leave the "studio" to go outside to smoke...so that results in some pretty regular breaks.

So, I guess my advice is, mix as loud as possible and take lots of smoke breaks...?

I never seem to do things the right way.
 
on the main forum page it shows the latest post, and in this section it cut it off at "mixing volume > hard on..." ahahahah made me laugh so much! :D
 
heatmiser said:
You folks must all have some kind of meter for this purpose I guess? I have no idea how many db I'm listening at.
Click to expand...

Get your sef a Rat Shack SPL meter. The best $35 I spent for the studio. LOTS of uses.
 
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