Owen Posted January 13, 2019 Posted January 13, 2019 I had my new ear moulds done before Christmas. I have often wondered about how the ear canal changes when you smile. So I asked the audiologist if I should smile when the moulds were being made. She said "no, but there is a specific thing that you can use to keep your mouth open while the stuff sets in your ears". This makes the seal of the moulds better. This is my 3rd set of moulds and easily the best yet. The seal is excellent. Do it. Just make sure you have a tissue cos things can get a little drippy from your mouth after you have kept it open and immobile with a wedge between your teeth for 2 minutes +. 1 Quote
arthurhenry Posted January 13, 2019 Posted January 13, 2019 34 minutes ago, owen said: I had my new ear moulds done before Christmas. I have often wondered about how the ear canal changes when you smile. So I asked the audiologist if I should smile when the moulds were being made. She said "no, but there is a specific thing that you can use to keep your mouth open while the stuff sets in your ears". This makes the seal of the moulds better. This is my 3rd set of moulds and easily the best yet. The seal is excellent. Do it. Just make sure you have a tissue cos things can get a little drippy from your mouth after you have kept it open and immobile with a wedge between your teeth for 2 minutes +. Good tip. I have had the same pair for approx 20 years now and they still work and fit fine. I do recall being told that they should be renewed every five years! Is that why you're on your third set? Quote
Owen Posted January 13, 2019 Author Posted January 13, 2019 (edited) There you go Jack. Edited January 13, 2019 by owen 1 Quote
Owen Posted January 13, 2019 Author Posted January 13, 2019 6 minutes ago, arthurhenry said: Good tip. I have had the same pair for approx 20 years now and they still work and fit fine. I do recall being told that they should be renewed every five years! Is that why you're on your third set? I was told every 3 years. Quote
arthurhenry Posted January 13, 2019 Posted January 13, 2019 8 minutes ago, owen said: I was told every 3 years. Pardon? Wow. Well 20 years on and my hearing is fine and the plugs still fit comfortably. Quote
Dood Posted January 13, 2019 Posted January 13, 2019 Yes indeed, exactly what I did with mine when I had them done too. They will often get you to do this too if you are going to be singing with IEMs in. Quote
goingdownslow Posted January 14, 2019 Posted January 14, 2019 13 hours ago, owen said: She said "no, but there is a specific thing that you can use to keep your mouth open while the stuff sets in your ears". What was it? Quote
Dad3353 Posted January 14, 2019 Posted January 14, 2019 30 minutes ago, goingdownslow said: What was it? A foot, perhaps..? ... Quote
EBS_freak Posted January 14, 2019 Posted January 14, 2019 (edited) A bite block is what you are looking for. It's a little polystyrene block that has little indents to keep your open mouth impression a fixed width whilst you have your impressions taken. Rule of thumb is like this - Closed if you are listening to hifi music (which isn't the case with ear plugs) Half open bite block impression - for general movement, maybe backing vocals. Full open bite block impression - lead vocalist that like to scream alot. It really angers me to see a lot of (big name even!) custom inear/ear plug manufacturers take impressions and post it all over instagram with closed mouth impressions. Whats even worse, is at a couple of shows that I do, I see manufacturers taking impressions whilst the recipient is having a full on chin wag. These impressions will just not cut it, result in a poor fit for the final product and just serve to the give the custom game a bad name. Edited January 14, 2019 by EBS_freak Quote
NickD Posted January 14, 2019 Posted January 14, 2019 (edited) I fell foul of this. Enquired at the drum show when attending with my drummer, negotiated a deal for both of us so we went for it. Obviously we were completely ignorant and relying on their experience. Don't get me wrong, they fit beautifully and really do the job... until I sing, then things get messy. Edited January 14, 2019 by NickD Quote
EBS_freak Posted January 14, 2019 Posted January 14, 2019 35 minutes ago, NickD said: I fell foul of this. Enquired at the drum show when attending with my drummer, negotiated a deal for both of us so we went for it. Obviously we were completely ignorant and relying on their experience. Don't get me wrong, they fit beautifully and really do the job... until I sing, then things get messy. Begins with a M? Did you have a full on chat? 1 Quote
NickD Posted January 14, 2019 Posted January 14, 2019 5 minutes ago, EBS_freak said: Begins with a M? Did you have a full on chat? And ends with 'ercury', yes! Discussed it for a while, ins and outs, etc. Something I knew nothing about, and honestly, having always used expandable plugs, the changing shape of the ear canal never occurred to me. We told them what our respective roles were, but the idea of an open-bite impression never came up. I've messaged via their website but had no reply as yet. Must chase it up, not that there's really much point I guess. Quote
Rich Posted January 14, 2019 Posted January 14, 2019 15 hours ago, owen said: I had my new ear moulds done before Christmas. I have often wondered about how the ear canal changes when you smile. So I asked the audiologist if I should smile when the moulds were being made. She said "no, but there is a specific thing that you can use to keep your mouth open while the stuff sets in your ears". This makes the seal of the moulds better. This is my 3rd set of moulds and easily the best yet. The seal is excellent. Do it. Just make sure you have a tissue cos things can get a little drippy from your mouth after you have kept it open and immobile with a wedge between your teeth for 2 minutes +. Good tip, and very timely -- I'm thinking of getting some moulded plugs as a present to myself when I eventually get back to playing. I do sing BVs so I will need to bear this in mind. Quote
Owen Posted January 14, 2019 Author Posted January 14, 2019 Actually my 4th set of plugs with 3 different audiologists and even then I actually had to ask for it last time. Quote
EBS_freak Posted January 14, 2019 Posted January 14, 2019 1 hour ago, NickD said: And ends with 'ercury', yes! Discussed it for a while, ins and outs, etc. Something I knew nothing about, and honestly, having always used expandable plugs, the changing shape of the ear canal never occurred to me. We told them what our respective roles were, but the idea of an open-bite impression never came up. I've messaged via their website but had no reply as yet. Must chase it up, not that there's really much point I guess. Yes - but was the discussion happening at the same time that they were taking impressions of your ears? Sitting in silence and completely still whatever impression (closed, open, semi-open mouth impression) is imperative. 1 Quote
EBS_freak Posted January 14, 2019 Posted January 14, 2019 (edited) 38 minutes ago, owen said: Actually my 4th set of plugs with 3 different audiologists and even then I actually had to ask for it last time. Surprisingly, a lot of audiologists don't appreciate the needs for an open mouth impression - most of their work is for closed mouth impression ear protection (e.g. for working in a factory) or hearing aids. If in doubt, 64 have all the relevant terminology in their impressions guide, found here - https://www.64audio.com/img/instructions2.pdf Edited January 14, 2019 by EBS_freak Quote
NickD Posted January 14, 2019 Posted January 14, 2019 7 minutes ago, EBS_freak said: Yes - but was the discussion happening at the same time that they were taking impressions of your ears? Sitting in silence and completely still whatever impression (closed, open, semi-open mouth impression) is imperative. The discussion around filter strength being conducted while the impression was being taken. Quote
EBS_freak Posted January 14, 2019 Posted January 14, 2019 (edited) 1 hour ago, NickD said: And ends with 'ercury', yes! Discussed it for a while, ins and outs, etc. Something I knew nothing about, and honestly, having always used expandable plugs, the changing shape of the ear canal never occurred to me. We told them what our respective roles were, but the idea of an open-bite impression never came up. I've messaged via their website but had no reply as yet. Must chase it up, not that there's really much point I guess. Their background I believe is supplying ear plugs to the NHS - so closed mouth. (I think they lost the contract - hence the diversification - but don't quote me on that) What worries me more, is that when I spoke to them about phase alignment and coherence of drivers, I was met with a glazed expression. Didn't fill me with much confidence. I was there when Al Murray had his ear impressions taken for his IEMs from them. Face palmed as they were laughing and joking with him... sans bite block 😕 Edited January 14, 2019 by EBS_freak 1 Quote
EBS_freak Posted January 14, 2019 Posted January 14, 2019 Just now, NickD said: The discussion around filter strength being conducted while the impression was being taken. :-/ 1 Quote
NickD Posted January 14, 2019 Posted January 14, 2019 You live and learn I guess. I naturally assumed that, being at a music show they'd know all the inscand outs and advise accordingly. Quote
EBS_freak Posted January 14, 2019 Posted January 14, 2019 5 minutes ago, NickD said: I naturally assumed that, being at a music show they'd know all the inscand outs and advise accordingly. You'd hope. Did you go with plugs or IEMs? Quote
NickD Posted January 14, 2019 Posted January 14, 2019 6 minutes ago, EBS_freak said: You'd hope. Did you go with plugs or IEMs? Just plugs... Thankfully! Quote
arthurhenry Posted January 14, 2019 Posted January 14, 2019 5 hours ago, EBS_freak said: I was there when Al Murray had his ear impressions taken for his IEMs from them. Face palmed as they were laughing and joking with him... sans bite block 😕 So some people do find him funny then. Is anyone else using a set that's 20 years or more old, like mine? Quote
EBS_freak Posted January 14, 2019 Posted January 14, 2019 37 minutes ago, arthurhenry said: So some people do find him funny then. Is anyone else using a set that's 20 years or more old, like mine? Maybe it was all about getting a "celeb" for the socials...? Quote
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