From: someone@anywheret.net   
      
   "JimD"  wrote in message news:2016121010534339635-email@nowherecom...   
      
   > I know from playing around with signal generators that my hearing tops out   
   > around 12 K.  Maybe get up to 13.5 if I really crank the volume. So it's   
   > not a brick wall, where it suddenly stops, but a sharp drop off.  Human   
   > hearing isn't " flat " in any case, and the actual frequency response   
   > changes with volume. We're more sensitive to midranges at low to medium db   
   > levels. As the db's climb, our hearing flattens out, response wise.  Or so   
   > I remember.   
      
   Even more interesting than that is how much overpressure i.e. too many dBs   
   for how long, starts damaging the  hearing.   
      
   And hearing level sensitivity is exponential, i.e. base 10 logarithmic,   
   which is why doubling the output power only results in approximately a 3 dB   
   increase in perceived sound pressure level. But the long term exposure is   
   what does the real damage - a 'crankaholic' quickly gets tired of a 50W   
   output amp, so doubles it to 100W, to hear only 3 dB more, a clearly   
   noticeable but not particularly large *perceived* increase, so he then goes   
   for 200W, then 400, etc...no wonder they fry their speakers, and of course   
   their hearing as well...often at the expense of those near their overcranked   
   amps sufferning the same effects.   
      
   > We're using db apps at rehearsal now to keep an eye on the levels. It's   
   > surprising how quickly we climb into the 100 db range, and don't seem to   
   > notice.   
      
   They're either going  deaf or mostly there already!   
      
   > So what's happening is we don't perceive things as " LOUD " as easily   
   > anymore. Makes sense. As you lose your hearing, of course things would   
   > gradually not seem as loud. They must get quieter and quieter until there   
   > comes a time when you just can't hear anymore.  Not noticing how LOUD   
   > something is might be a clue you're on than train :-)   
      
   So they crank up more and more - it's the 'hearing aid effect' where they   
   need everything amplified so they can hear it when what they should be doing   
   is getting their own Personal hearing aids, because cranking up enDangers   
   the hearing of others, and that's not only unfair and rude, I regard it as   
   an ASSAULT! Sort of like some Idiot walking around  with a loaded gun in   
   hand with the hammer back and their finger on the trigger...just as   
   STUPID!!!   
      
   And speaking of which, last Tuesday, my Soulmate and myself jammed at an   
   open mic event at a local Italian restaurant.   
   It started out just fine. The two guitar players who host the event had the   
   volume levels just right, and so all I needed was my Casio CDP-130 digital   
   piano's built-in 8W amp, and I didn't even need to crank it more than about   
   75%.   
   It was a lot of fun, then some Idiots came in and started overcranking, and   
   I got a splitting headache. So I complained about the  UNNECESSARY Excess   
   volume...but that was about as far as it went...so what had started out fun   
   became miserable.   
   Fortunately my Soulmate got me an extra set of earplugs, which he also has a   
   set of...so next time, we play there, if  it gets too loud, we'll just pop   
   in the earplugs and keep going...even if most of the people leave like they   
   did when we were there the first time, because it was simply TOOOOOO DAMN   
   LOUD!!!   
   I did tell the guys hosting it about the  problem...certainly it's not good   
   for the  restaurant's business either, because many of the tables cleared   
   out as did much of the adjacent bar.   
   Overcranking doesn't make the Music sound any better, only more STUPID!!!   
   At least the hosts said they'd speak to the management about the   
   overcranking. I hope they do because I plan on playing there again since   
   it's otherwise a nice place...perhaps even get some gigs there.   
      
   > Glad you mentioned in ears. I'd forgotten about that.  Have to get my gear   
   > ready to do a band gig tomorrow, so I'll hunt the stuff down to let me run   
   > some wired IEM's. Maybe take the AT wireless IEM system for the girl to   
   > try if things work well.  The gotcha is that I can't go IEM without the   
   > rest going along. Tried that, talked to other musos that use IEMs, get the   
   > same issue. Generally it's all or nothing.  If anyone on the stage insists   
   > on some loud assed floor wedges, you can just put the IEM's away.   
      
   I've never liked the big wedges...just  make sure they're not allowed ;)   
   I'm interested in a monitor but I'd like the small type that attaches to the   
   mic stand.   
      
   > They won't, or at least the ones I have won't, go loud enough to compete   
   > with wedges. Maybe the custom moulded ones would, but that's a whole   
   > 'nuther level of $$$.   As it is, it'll cost us about $700 per person to   
   > go IEMs.  Not gonna jump there without some confidence they will work, and   
   > that we won't still have the drummer back there complaining he can't hear.   
      
      
   Jim   
      
   Just don't allow monitors over a certain size ;)   
      
   Ouisie   
      
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