My Tinnitus horror story

[Stromkraft]

I got an ear blast today, so I want to put a limiter on the master track. But IIRC, I did this once before and it didn't seem to work - a loud blast got through. Maybe the settings were wrong? I used Ableton's default "Upper ceiling" limiter preset. Is that the best default for the purpose of protecting ears?

I use this setting:



and regulate listening levels on my audio interface.

[fishmonkey]

I got an ear blast today, so I want to put a limiter on the master track. But IIRC, I did this once before and it didn't seem to work - a loud blast got through. Maybe the settings were wrong? I used Ableton's default "Upper ceiling" limiter preset. Is that the best default for the purpose of protecting ears?

i use this when working on stuff that might get unexpectedly loud:

http://www.cerberusaudio.com/Software/Products/Ice9/

however, i also have my monitoring system set up so that the loudest possible volume isn't instantaneously dangerously loud.

[Stromkraft]

OP, have you tried alternative therapies? I had a muso friend who reckons he was cured of tinnitus with Bowen therapy.

I could swear mine improved with Hydergine treatment (12mg per day). But it took a long time so could be just that. But you can't get that anymore. According to expert doctors there is no cure, only relief. I'm skeptical to "alternative" approaches, but some are likely more sound than others. What does the research say about the effectiveness of Bowen Therapy?

[Stromkraft]

i use this when working on stuff that might get unexpectedly loud:

http://www.cerberusaudio.com/Software/Products/Ice9/

Looks very useful and is free of charge. Thank you.

[Martin Gifford]

Just now, I set a track up to play insanely loud with volume on max and utility on max. Using the Upper Ceiling default, but with look ahead set to 1.5, helped to reduce the volume to tolerable. But the laptop's volume control was at half - if it was higher, it would still blast my ears.

i use this when working on stuff that might get unexpectedly loud:

http://www.cerberusaudio.com/Software/Products/Ice9/

however, i also have my monitoring system set up so that the loudest possible volume isn't instantaneously dangerously loud.

I'll give it a try. Thanks.

I could swear mine improved with Hydergine treatment (12mg per day). But it took a long time so could be just that. But you can't get that anymore. According to expert doctors there is no cure, only relief. I'm skeptical to "alternative" approaches, but some are likely more sound than others. What does the research say about the effectiveness of Bowen Therapy?

I don't know about the research. He said he had tinnitus for years and a few sessions of Bowen cured it. That's all I know. He was friends with the therapist so he might have been advertising by word of mouth or it could have been the placebo effect or it might have actually worked.

I use this setting:



and regulate listening levels on my audio interface.

Wow, -18 seems extreme. I tried it just now. Can't see how to make it work well. When you turn the track levels down, it's too quiet. When you turn them up the limiter is interfering.

[Martin Gifford]

i use this when working on stuff that might get unexpectedly loud:

http://www.cerberusaudio.com/Software/Products/Ice9/

however, i also have my monitoring system set up so that the loudest possible volume isn't instantaneously dangerously loud.

Wow, this works great! Just tried it, and it totally cuts the volume when it gets too loud. Why isn't this more popular? Seems to be a must-have. I only checked it for a few minutes, so time will tell. Is there any reason not to have it on every new project and just turn it off when mixing?

[Stromkraft]

I use this setting:



and regulate listening levels on my audio interface.

Wow, -18 seems extreme. I tried it just now. Can't see how to make it work well. When you turn the track levels down, it's too quiet. When you turn them up the limiter is interfering.

As I said I regulate levels with my audio interface. I use this early in the project when experimenting in head phones. Later in the project I replace it with Waves L1 or similar with a -0,3 dB ceiling. There's nothing specific with the -18dB, just precaution.

The plug-in looks great. I'll try with that.

[Martin Gifford]

As I said I regulate levels with my audio interface. I use this early in the project when experimenting in head phones. Later in the project I replace it with Waves L1 or similar with a -0,3 dB ceiling. There's nothing specific with the -18dB, just precaution.

The plug-in looks great. I'll try with that.

Ah, audio interface - missed that. That won't work if your headphones are plugged directly into a laptop in the cafe or on the train.

I experimented a little more with the Ice9 plug-in. It cut out the sound with 3 layered kicks and levels set to -5 on the track and the master. That's too sensitive. And it's not adjustable. I'll experiment with it a little more, but probably settle for the Upper Ceiling default on Limiter because something is better than nothing.

[fishmonkey]

I experimented a little more with the Ice9 plug-in. It cut out the sound with 3 layered kicks and levels set to -5 on the track and the master. That's too sensitive. And it's not adjustable. I'll experiment with it a little more, but probably settle for the Upper Ceiling default on Limiter because something is better than nothing.

i'm not sure what you mean? the threshold is adjustable from -12 to +12 dB...

[tintala]

I can 100% relate. I've had tinnitus for ever since i can remember over 30 yrs. I grew up around guns, fireworks, and loud rock music, concerts... My tinnitus has gotten so much worse in the past few years and I don't listen to loud music or make loud music. however glitches in an analog set up have blasted me in the last few weeks and now i've gone from bad to worse. Mine is extremely loud.. I'm sorry to hear about your story , your definatley not alone .

[Martin Gifford]

i'm not sure what you mean? the threshold is adjustable from -12 to +12 dB...

Thanks. You're right. I was too impatient. You've got to click and drag over that box at the bottom left. So it's a goer.

Just now, I put it on an old track from when I was a beginner. Ice9 cuts out even at +12 db throughout most of the track. I had no clue back then.

Seems Ice9 is great for new projects because it catches you if you are mixing too loud early on so you don't give yourself too much work to do later. If it works consistently, then it's a must-have IMO.

[craftycurate]

I've suffered from a high level of noise sensitivity since childhood (mid 40s now), and tinnitus is there for me too, but I've learned to try to create my own custom background sounds to help create more positive environments for working and thinking.

For example, I had a flatmate who snored like a rhino, and I could hear him through the wall with earplugs in. So I got some recordings of snoring, got it into Ableton, and by using lots of timestretching, and effects and so forth, I created a masking ambient sound which I played on a small stereo next to the adjoining wall. Never bothered me again.

My point is that we usually can't control our external environment to any signficant degree, but there is often something we can do to help mitigate the negative effects of our surroundings, and making custom masking sounds is one of those for me.

[JAMM]

A quit bedroom can be hell so i always go to sleep with a ipad next to bed with some radio or soft music on.
Also there are many apps with sounds from nature...like the ocean or a beach with waves breaking on the shore.

Look for something which is masking the Tinnitus or distracts your thoughts on it.

Peace

[markwphoto]

I battled tinnitus for about a year and one night it was so loud I thought someone was running a car engine outside my bedroom window. After I lifted my head from the pillow it stopped. When I put my head back on the pillow it was loud again. Even my wife said she could hear it.

I went to several doctors and they just took my money with no resolution. Finally after doing my own research I came across an article about tinnitus could be a result of magnesium deficiency. Most people are magnesium deficient and don't even know it. I started eating raw almonds (which are high in magnesium) as well as other nuts everyday and low and behold I know longer have tinnitus issues! I can't say this will work for everyone but it won't hurt to try it!

[octavious]

Tinnitus is my biggest fear.

I could not live with it. I did not read this post cause just reading about it scares the shit out of me. Please dont misinterpret me. I hope you find relief.

I've experienced a few episodes throughout my adult life. And as and advice, for sleeping i'd recommend a low volume white noise source, as it masks the affected frequency. Sorry if this has been posted here.

Best wishes and regards. I hope you get well.