Karaoke Forums

Karyoker brought this up in the Off Topic Forum and it got me thinking maybe I'm not the only one to have this happen. After a karaoke gig my ears ring. It doesn't usually stop until I wake up the next morning. I worry sometimes my hearing will pay the price for the type of job I have. If I had to rate the noise level from karaoke I'd say I'm on the low side compared to other venues. Do any of you have this happen also?

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I don't have the ringing, but end up with headaches every once in a while. (I know, I know...)

Also I do enjoy the silence, once the bar closes the door or I'm out.

If your ears ring it's too loud and you are hurting yourself or so I have been told. Maybe we can get Dr. Fred to weigh in on this. I suggest you change your speaker placement, use speakers front and rear of the house, or wear muffs. Just tell 'em your ears are cold.

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Okay, who took my pants?

If ears are ringing, it can be a serious problem. You may be hurting your hearing permanently. Just look at Pete Townsend from the Who. My suggestion is to start wearing ear plugs. If you are working, then just any ear plug would not work. There is a set of ear plug that limits the overall decibel of sound. So, you can hear normal conversation but anything louder than a shout, it cuts it off. That way you can hear what you need to hear but protect your ears.

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Seize the day and SING!!!

Almost sounds like the system isn't powerful enough to push fully. You are turning it up to compensate for crowd noise, it gets loud, but it's also losing low end when being turned up & the reult is more high end causing ear fatigue.
I know people are going to disagree with this, but may time to actually INCREASE your power amp so you do not have to turn up as loud as it will sound fuller & more 'ear' friendly at a lower volume.

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I agree with Lonman. Great Suggestion!
Buy some Skull screws or other earplugs and USE them!
You are permanently damaging your hearing.
Ringing ears are NOT normal and you body is telling you to turn it down or protect your ears.
Earplugs don't have to mean you hear any less if you get the right ones. Go to your local music store or ask you local professional soundman what to use if you can't decide.
I emphasize professional because sometimers often don't bother to use anything.

Along with Lonnie's suggestion, add subs if you don't have them. Whatever you do, you don't want your system to get shrill at high volumes.

Over the last two years I've done several things to my system and the room itself to protect what's left of my hearing.

My karaoke group wants things up loud. As loud as a band. And this room is very live with hard surfaces everywhere.

I've lined my area with carpet pad and built baffles on the sides. I've redone my cabs. Everything is in front of me. I've even pulled the wedge monitors because they were also pointing towards me.

I've got the system so clamped down electronically that it's a pumping and breathing machine of unbelievable amounts. It is everything you are not supposed to do...

And I've tried to use more common sense when it comes to volume. The singer is always right, but only up to a certain point!

I tried earplugs but it was impossible. You really can't have them in your ears and communicate well with your singers. Plus it looks bad. I had to do other more extensive things.

If you have CONSTANT buzzing or ringing in your ears or "whitenoise" away from the gig long-term that does not go away-better get yourself in to DR. and have your ears checked. Myself I have hi-end frequency loss from being on gas turbine(jet engine) navy ships 24-7 for lengthly periods. But if it continues you may be experiencing early symptoms of TINNITIS--damage to the ear that causes a constant buzzing or whitenoise effect. I have that sound and sensation myself and probly need to get it checked. I find myself having to lean close to hear softspoken people or those who are off to my sides and have them speak up more loudly to hear them.

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"You know that I sing the Blues and I do not suffer fools. When I'm on that silver mic, it's gonna cut ya, just like a knife"-The SWINGCAT

Having been to your place, Babs, I think the part about adding a sub makes some sense. A B-52 Matrix 2000 would work great for you -- you maybe could get away with the 1000 as the place is not huge. Then use your 808S to run the monitor speaker.

But I will tell you that your place is not too loud, musicwise. Stage volume where you sit is not bad, either. But a downside is being right by that corner and window where you get lots of reflections. Is the wall brick? I can't remember, don't think so. But the window is bad enough.

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[color=#ffff55]Mickey J.[/color]
Alas for those who never sing, but die with all their music in them.
-- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

Babs I'm also in a corner and have a window close to my left ear. Windows are bad news! I have a piece of bedding foam that I pull from the back of the stage and put in the sill before I start. It's rigid enough to stay put. Something to think about...

My own situation is much like Kurt's except my hearing loss was caused by 20 years of playing in bands. I'm just trying to keep what I have left. If you take precautions now hopefully you won't run into the things we are experiencing. If your ears are ringing or you hear white noise in the morning it's time to take a look at your setup.

I'm researching digital camera/recorders for karaoke purposes and hopefully will be able to post shots of my room and clips of my singers before too long. The back of my stage was all reflective sheetrock before I insulated it.

2 words for you Babs

COTTON BALLS

Let's see where that goes rofl

I agree with what Lonman said - and I hope he forgives my paraphrasing.

Obviously volume is an issue, but also there are issues where certain ranges are too heavy.

Babs, you need to take care of your ears. I have never experienced a 'noise hangover' from any of our systems in any locations. I'd go along with what Lonman said re: picking up a sub to put some of the load on the low end, or amp change-out. In the meantime, for years as a front and backup singer on a stage with Marshall stacks and ridiculous stage volume (battling lead guitars), I used what I call screw-in earplugs - they look like little coils shaped like beehives. They actually 'screw' into your ear - they are not solid but hollow. You can easily hear conversations but they do a great job protecting your ears. Most singers I know actually use something similar to this.

If you have insurance, I'd go and have your hearing evaluated. I live with a man who worked in a steel shop for 12 years and has played in bands as a lead singer his entire life - you can imagine the joy of having to decide, every time I want to tell him something, it's worth repeating at least one time ... because for sure I'll have to. Makes for not much conversation.

Those are exactly what I was talking about in my earlier post. They are called Skull Screws. At least that's the brand I know of.

i haven't seen those! So maybe that's something to look into.

For me too.

Hearos makes several types of ear plugs (they manufacture Skull Screws). Musicians mainly use them (including me, some guitar players get very loud the more they drink ) and they're very affordable compared to losing your hearing. You should protect that at all costs.

http://accessories.musiciansfriend.com/ ... sku=421186

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[shadow=white][scroll]Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass.....It's about learning to dance in the rain[/scroll][/shadow]

This is what they look like:

http://accessories.musiciansfriend.com/ ... sku=421186

My b/f carries them in his store and uses them regularly. That's how I know that they are really good and as someone said earlier, it really doesn't affect your ability to hear, but cuts out the damaging aspects, for the most part.

Great minds think alike, Catseyeview.

I like the ones that are soft, and twist between your fingers.
http://multimedia.mmm.com/mws/mediawebs ... Q2COrrrrQ-

Wow, I never thought of it as a real problem. I only noticed it when I'd go to bed after a gig and it is perfectly quiet. It is a high pitched ring. I might have mislead you all in the fact I don't hear it everytime. It is only on particular nights it's loud.

I have a compressor that is built into my amp, but it is nothing like having a seperate compressor. I do have people yell, whistle or start screaming out a song before I can stop it or turn it down. Songs like Bodies and Walk are done at my venue which can be quite loud. Screaming is part of the songs. The guys that do the song aren't doing anything wrong it is just a style of song.

I was so surprise to hear others don't have this. I thought it was normal. I'm so glad I said something.

Thank you all for the wonderful ideas.

Unfortunately I can't cover the window because I actually need it to open and announce the next singer. My bar has a large porch area where people hang out.

The ear plug and sub idea are worth looking into. I'm going to pay attention a little more to my situation.

Cotton Balls

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