Growling and studio headphones

[Jules]

Ok- for anyone who’s recorded much Rock & Roll/ R&B.
I’m recording with a couple of fairly loud, grungey R&B bands and have found that the full belt growl and lots of flutter tongue I use to get the right sound is causing a bit of a problem. There’s something about the way a growl travels up into my ears that makes my own playing extremely prone to drowning the backing out in the headphones. For obvious ‘health and safety’ reasons I don’t want to simply turn everything up & I also don’t think its simply a matter of pure volume, there’s something about that rasping attack which reverberates into my ear canals- or whatever. If I play clean, it (a) not an issue but (b) doesn’t sound right. I also don’t remember this being an issue in the past when I’ve played in this style…. Though admittedly, when let loose, some of my tenor playing is doing… well… what’s the opposite of mellowing with age?

Anyway- anyone else suffered this syndrome?

 

[Veggie Dave]

As someone who comes from a heavy rock background - double bass drums, Marshall stacks etc. - the volume produced by my sax when I'm growling and having fun would definitely be clearly audible in a rehearsal room with a rock band in full flow. I was surprised just how loud a sax can be, and I'm still holding back slightly so there's even more there. That's a lot of decibels for an acoustic instrument!

Now, part of the problem could be that as you're getting older added to playing music for X years, you're losing some of your hearing. Usually it's the high frequencies that go first and is sadly a natural part of ageing - it does produce the sort of problem you're describing. Or it could simply be you're playing louder than you used to. Either way, you have two options - you play more quietly or turn up the volume.

 

[altissimo]

I've not experienced the problem you describe with headphones, but I have found that growling for long periods can produce unusual resonances in my inner ear, sinuses and up the back of my nose - it's a bit disturbing to feel parts of your skull vibrate when you're playing... people who practice throat singing may experience something similar... the intermodulation of the growl and the sax note sometimes produces low frequencies that may have unwanted effects on your hearing
It's possible that the modulations of air pressure in your inner ear canal may affect how you hear with headphones, but this is merely conjecture

 

[Jules]

..... I have found that growling for long periods can produce unusual resonances in my inner ear, sinuses and up the back of my nose - it's a bit disturbing to feel parts of your skull vibrate when you're playing...

I reckon there's something in that, its certainly the growl and flutter tongue thats causing this- in that, if I play clean, its not an issue....

 

[Colin the Bear]

It may well be an inner ear problem. So many tubes connecting ears nose and throat and eyes. Perhaps "fluid" is moving with the growl. I've taken to wearing olbas oil when I play. Keeps the pipes clear.

 

[aldevis]

Have you tried using headphones on only one ear?
I remember growling in studio recording a bit weird, not being used to perceive my own voice like that.

 

[Jules]

It may well be an inner ear problem. So many tubes connecting ears nose and throat and eyes. Perhaps "fluid" is moving with the growl. I've taken to wearing olbas oil when I play. Keeps the pipes clear.

Good point, I've had half a cold & have been a bit sinussy for some time....might nick the kids' vick for Saturday's session.... very rock & roll!!

Have you tried using headphones on only one ear?
I remember growling in studio recording a bit weird, not being used to perceive my own voice like that.

Oh yes, pretty vital, in my experience... I remember in very early studio experiences that using both can even lead to some subtle tuning problems... ask a violinist about this, in my experience they can have real problems with cans.

 

[Colin the Bear]

vick for Saturday's session.... very rock & roll!!

Could be worse. One of the old boys at the meet has a colostomy bag. Try the olbas oil. It works great. I wear it like aftershave these days.

 

[Jules]

Could be worse. One of the old boys at the meet has a colostomy bag. Try the olbas oil. It works great. I wear it like aftershave these days.

Do you find yourself strangely alluring to koala bears?

 

[Reed Warbler]

Koalas aren't bears, they're marsupials. Built in pouch for spare reeds, pull through,etc.

 

[Jeanette]

Koalas aren't bears, they're marsupials. Built in pouch for spare reeds, pull through,etc.

Doesn't have the same cute ring to it though 🙂

Jx

 

[Colin the Bear]

Marsupial, Parsupial and babysupial. Ahhh! Don't eat the porridge.

 

[Reed Warbler]

Doesn't have the same cute ring to it though 🙂

Jx

Dont know about the cute ring but they do have two vaginas, honestly.

 

[aldevis]

Dont know about the cute ring but they do have two vaginas, honestly.

Do they know of each other?
Does it mean double PMS?
What about the male Koala? Is he really popular?

 

[Reed Warbler]

He has two sex organs too, fully retractable. Surprisingly, the females only give birth to one joey at a time, despite all the paraphenalia. Bit like having an octave key but always staying in the lower register.

 

[squeak]

He has two sex organs too, fully retractable. Surprisingly, the females only give birth to one joey at a time, despite all the paraphenalia. Bit like having an octave key but always staying in the lower register.

It isn't "paraphernalia". It is family planning. If the male goes in one way it makes a baby girl and the opposite way a baby boy.

 

[Jeanette]

Only in cafe sax could we get from the op to this discussion

Jx

 

[ProfJames]

Great thread!!!!

 

[Ivan]

It isn't "paraphernalia". It is family planning. If the male goes in one way it makes a baby girl and the opposite way a baby boy.

I'm sure you don't mean the opposite way

 

[squeak]

I'm sure you don't mean the opposite way

I am working on an animation to explain exactly what I mean but I keep getting interrupted. I have three blue meanies following me everywhere I go and it usually doesn't bother me. Recently, however, two of them got into an argument about the impact of saxophone finish on sound and they are constantly at it. I try not to yell at them, because it makes people around me uncomfortable. I am waiting for them to get along again so I can concentrate on other matters. Please be patient.