How LOUD are my drums?

[weckl-x]

Seen on another forum. Interesting to know.

At drummer ears 21inch ride = 102 db
21inch ride (bell) = 112 db
Bass drum = 105 db
Toms = 110 db
Snare 5x14 single roll all rimshot 120 db
Snare (maximum rimshot) 125 db
16inch crash = 111 db
14inch hats (maximum/open) = 117 db
18inch china (maximum) 118 db

Interesting facts

Quiet groove: drummer ears 105 db - 5 feet 100 db - 25 feet 96 db
medium groove: drummer ears 110 db - 5 feet 105 db - 25 feet 102 db
Solid groove: drummer ears 115 db - 5 feet 110 db - 25 feet 108 db
Maximum (snare): drummer ears 125 db - 5 feet 120 db - 25 feet 116 db

These are the results from the January MD issue, all measure were taken with the Metrosonics DB-2100 digital SPL meter.

In Perspective...

Prolonged exposure to sounds above 85 dB SPL may cause permanent hearing loss.
Exposure of 115 db of greater may pose a serious health risk.
OSHA – the Occupational Safety and Health Administration – specifies the following as thresholds for potential hearing damage

This means that 15 minutes at the back of a concert hall where the decibel level is 120 SPL or greater can cause your hearing to be damaged forever.

A funny quote I read somewhere:
"If you don't use (ear) protection, you might get (hearing) AIDS!"

 

[shred5]

Better be safe than sorry.

 

[kari_convention]

i only start using earplugs after 5 years of playing. i guess my ear has badly damaged.

 

[drum_hobbyist]

That's the reason why I will go no further than Traditional Rock. I will keep my hearing for the many voices of my cymbals... they are so musical... 8)

 

[jowell]

Okay, this is scary. All this time i've been playing unprotected.

Where can i get my hands on some earplugs? Are they just generic earplugs which block out noise, or is there some special kind for playing music?

Thanks in advance!

 

[joshie]

stop going to yngwie malmsteem concerts.

 

[weckl-x]

You could use generic foam ones, but I can say you won't enjoy the music, or playing with them on.

I've been using these. Gotten for $25 at Hung Bros (Sim Lim Square)

ER•20 High Fidelity Earplugs

* Low cost
* Ready-fit
* Replicates the ear's natural response
* Sound quality is preserved
* Speech is clear, not muffled
* Reduces sound approximately 20 dB at all frequencies

ER•20 with Case ETY•Plugs™ (ER•20 High Fidelity Earplugs) were developed to provide low-cost, one-size-fits-most high fidelity earplugs that can be used in a variety of noisy environments.

The goal of the ETY•Plug™ design was the same as for Musicians Earplugs: to reduce noise but preserve sound quality; in effect, to turn down the noise but not muffle voices, environmental sounds or music.

http://www.etymotic.com/ephp/er20.aspx

 

[marcdadrummer]

u can buy em at golden mile ncc army stuff... just ask auntie, " Auntie ah got good cheap earplugs?.. and buy those 3m ones, those are soft on ur ears, not buy those inside a black plastic box, those instead of blocking sound, makes u deaf instead."..

 

[jowell]

Great! Thanks!

By the way, it's a real nice community you guys got in here, with nice and helpful people. As you can see, i usually just browse around and don't post much (or at all).. but i'm looking forward to that changing! I have much to learn from everyone here!

Till next time, Cheers! I'll quit hijacking this thread now.

 

[chud]

hey dudes i just use my mp3 earphones to minimize the noise i get.

you guys think its ok?

i tried earplugs but i couldn't hear the guitar when jamming. and my snare drum sounds like i didnt turn the snare on, like a reggae snare drum

 

[joshie]

yea i use mp3 ear, but it needs to be those that go straight into your ear.

 

[RudimentalDrummer]

I had 2 (something like a HeadPhone) by Vic-Perth (Blue In Colour) bought a Swee Lee......

The objective was not to protect my own ears actually, but for me wify who complain so much on the noise I made...Anyway, she stilldoes not want to put that on - - meaning I can't play drums on my Kit whenever she is around...Gosh...I Hate That !

I had tried puting these Protection on - but I had a problem...because it really brings down the volume to such a considerable level...I hit harder / louder on my kit (without knowing it myself) - so my neighbour gets annoyed with me...

Nowadays I don't put them on - but try to play softer.

Yes - we only have a pair of ears - and there is no cure to it, once problem start to arise.

 

[myner]

woah this must mean i'm pretty much deaf beyond redemtion
I've always been hard hitting, i used ear plugs for awhile but gave up after i realised that i hit harder due to the softer sound.( i'm glad i'm not the only one who encounters this)
and i always turn my head phones on to full blast :lol:

 

[penko]

IMO for practice, u can use methods of muting to reduce the volume, but during a jam in the studio... i guess ear plugs are the only choice... however there are some studios with good position of the instruments and also good noise absorbtion means (those sponges) to reduce the volume, but others sounds like continuous thunder striking you ears.

 

[melvin]

i've gotten myself some foam ear plugs from the pharmacy, those that u squeeze and shaft it into your ears and it will expand to fit the interior of your ears. they are relatively cheap. i think a set costs around $1.50 and it takes away most of the loudness.

HOWEVER...

i don't like the idea of having something in my ear, and also since it takes away most of the sound, playing on the drums would be less orgasmic. and everything seems so soft. therefore, i seldom put them on.

but hey. looking at the 1st post by weckl-x i guess i probably would want to keep those ear foams in my ears.

by the way most pharmacies do sell ear plugs or foams or whatever downs the dBs! and of course i want to be able to hear good music when i am 70.

melvin

 

[shred5]

Yo Melvin!!

Welcome to the forum

I was just like in your situation where I hate having something inserted in my ears and make it all unnatural.

But after playing with it for sometime, it feels natural and compare to my other bandmates who ain't wearing earplugs, i can hear much better without fearing any eg;

feedback from PA cause from near mic situation, riding too much on the crash on some parts of the song is soothing to my ears and a lot of other examples.

Its like saying having and extra insurance knowing that at the end of the day, my ears are not that affected during those noisy times and I can still go back home hearing my parents voices clearly. :wink:

 

[eugen3]

talking about those etymotics...

to me they're kinda overrated. they don't cut frequencies flatly as how they claim even though i followed their proper insertion technique.

and the US rating for their earplugs is 12db of cancelling though they claim 20db.


for 25 times the price of pharmacy foam earplugs, i think it's kinda unjustified.