Klarinet Archive - Posting 001060.txt from 2000/06

From: "Benjamin Maas" <benmaas@-----.com>
Subj: RE: [kl] A plug for plugs
Date: Mon, 26 Jun 2000 14:14:46 -0400

Interesting article. I am a major supporter of using earplugs when sitting
in loud situations. It may be mixing a rock band at a club or sitting in
front of the brass section of an orchestra. Either way it is really loud
and definitely detrimental to your hearing.

We had a thread on this subject a couple months ago as well if you are
inclined to look in the Sneezy Archives. To rehash a bit...

The "musicians earplugs" are worth every cent that they may cost. I have
never seen them anywhere near $100 a pair, though. Mine cost $165 and an
extra $30 for the second set of filters ($195 total). They can only be
ordered from audiologists. They take a mold of your ear to achieve a custom
fit past the second bend in your canal. There is a sound attenuator that
snaps onto the outside of the plug that provides pretty flat frequency
response so outside sounds are quieter, but basically unchanged. The
attenuators come in a 15 and 30 dB cut.

When playing with them, your perceived sound does change slightly as you are
picking up more of the internal vibrations of the reed (as you would with
any earplug). However, the change is pretty slight and you can still hear
with great clarity around you.

I HIGHLY recommend any person who is even semi-regularly exposed to loud
sound invest in a pair. The OHSA guidelines for maximum exposure are as
follow:

OSHA Maximum Exposure Guideline per day

85 dB - 8 Hours
92 dB - 6 Hours
95 dB - 4 Hours
97 dB - 3 Hours
100 dB - 2 Hours
102 dB - 1 1/2 Hours
105 dB - 1 Hour
110 dB - 1/2 Hour
115 dB - 1/4 Hour

These are exposure times before permanent hearing loss occurs. Every 5 dB
cuts your time in half. SPL can hit 100-105 dB in an orchestra shell, big
band or rock band quite easily.

--Ben

Benjamin Maas
Freelance Clarinetist and Recording Engineer
Los Angeles, CA
benmaas@-----.com
http://www.fifthcircle.com

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