Quote: Original post by kal_jez
Just as an aside I read some papers suggesting that compressed audio like mp3 can actually be more damaging to hearing as the sound can peak higher than perceived in certain frequencies due to the compression process.

File size compression (as in the mp3 format) is something completely different from dynamic range compression (as done with a compressor unit). Which one are you talking about?

I have been producing since 1997. I now live with pretty serious tinnitus (ringing in the ears). Trust me, you DON'T WANT THIS, Its maddening.

The trauma and damage has been so dramatic I almost gave up on music entirely(or thought about other awful things). But I'm still going and still determined to produce music for video games.

A few things... DUMP THE EAR BUDS. Serious, I owe a lot of my damage to ear buds. The human ear was not made to take artificial amplification at point blank range. Not just that, but head phones aren't good either. If its loud you want sound to be able to escape or fill space, not be forced into your skull.

I don't know how loud I work on stuff, but I think its pretty low. Once every 20 or minutes I turn it up to get an idea of how the levels/volumes are, but then it goes right back down. My ears get fatigued pretty fast and I have to be really easy on them.

Also, be careful outside of the studio. It was at a show that did the largest and most destructive blow to my ears. Even movie theaters can be too loud. Hell, I don't even go to bars anymore and I carry ear plugs with me everywhere I go.

I am talking about file compression as a lot of source loops etc are sometimes stored as mp3 wma etc. The way this compression works is by throwing out some information in the signal and when it is played back the actual volume of certain frequencies can be higher than the percieved volume.

Signal compression is actually is great as it can stop dangerous transiant volume "spikes" that can damage both ears and equipment. We never run a large PA without compression.

Quote: Original post by kal_jez
Signal compression is actually is great as it can stop dangerous transiant volume "spikes" that can damage both ears and equipment. We never run a large PA without compression.

The problem I have with signal compression is that it eliminates the peaks but allows for a higher average volume. For live situations this is exactly what's needed, but when working for long hours doing critical listening the loss of dynamic range causes faster ear fatigue and a tendency to increase volume to try to hear details. In critical listening situations, compression is not a tool to be used for simple volume attenuation.