
Having noticed that some musicians wear earplugs, some people start wondering what for they need these devices. Professional musicians can tell that musicians earplugs help reduce high audio levels they are exposed to every day. Keep reading to find more about earplugs for musicians.
Earplugs are made from different materials depending on their application. Plain customers, who need basic level protection, can benefit from soft foam earplugs. They can suit almost anybody thanks to their soft nature. Customers need to mould them to make them thinner and insert into the ear. When the foam is inside the ear canal, it starts to expand taking the shape of the ear canal and blocking the noise. There are also earplugs for professional uses: musicians earplugs made from clear tactile soft medical grade silicon, special earplugs for swimmers which don't let water in the ear canal and earmuffs for those who are exposed to loud sounds.
Custom-made earplugs are the most common type among professional musicians. This type of earplugs is tailored to the shape of their ear canals which makes wearing more comfortable. Thanks to that, tailored earplugs can remain in ears for a long time. While there are disposable and single use earplugs, customised silicon earplugs are designed for long wear; that's why it's important to take good care of them. Since quality earplugs can last a few years, specialists advise to wash musicians earplugs in warm soapy water from time to time and thoroughly dry them before using next time.
Musicians are exposed to different sound levels. Customised earplugs for musicians come with acoustic filters which are designed to allow only particular sounds to pass through. High quality filters allow musicians to hear music as it is but reduce the sound level. Professional musicians can choose from low, medium or high acoustic filters, such as 9dB, 15 dB or 25 dB ones. Filters are interchangeable and can be purchased separately. Producers of musicians earplugs offer custom-fitted devices for bass guitar players, acoustic musicians, drummers, pipers, string musicians, vocalists, clubbers, music teachers and other professionals.
When shopping for earplugs, customers can find lots of other useful items which go with them. Online shops offer a range of filters for customised earplugs so instead of purchasing a few sets of earplugs, wearers can go for different filters which is more cost-effective. Besides that, many great earplug kits are available. The standard kit includes a non-allergic lubricant gel, a cleaning tank, a cleaning brush and cleaning tablets. The lubricant gel makes it easier to insert earplugs into the ear canal; just a bead of jell is needed for each earplug. The cleaning tank comes as a cleaning container with a built-in drainer. Wearers need to put cleaning tablets there, leave earplugs for at least 15 minutes and after that rinse them under warm water. These are important tools to increase durability of earplugs.
Musicians need to take precaution measures in order to protect their hearing. However, the function of modern musicians earplugs is not limited to reducing noise; they are also designed to help improve the quality of perceived sounds.