Audiobus: Use your music apps together.
What is Audiobus? — Audiobus is an award-winning music app for iPhone and iPad which lets you use your other music apps together. Chain effects on your favourite synth, run the output of apps or Audio Units into an app like GarageBand or Loopy, or select a different audio interface output for each app. Route MIDI between apps — drive a synth from a MIDI sequencer, or add an arpeggiator to your MIDI keyboard — or sync with your external MIDI gear. And control your entire setup from a MIDI controller.
Download on the App StoreAudiobus is the app that makes the rest of your setup better.
how do you avoid ear fatigue?
especially when using head phones? is it just a matter of discipline to refrain from higher volume?
Comments
Take breaks. Lots of breaks.
Don't do critical mixing over a long period.
it's not about doing mixing sessions but jamming away for having fun only (and maybe come up with some stuff to keep)
I just keep it quieter than I'd like for most of the time, turning it up only now and then.
Semi-open cans make a difference versus closed headphones.
You just take a break every hour or so. Usually that's about how long I can stand to wear headphones continuously so it works out for me.
Also: turn it down
Taking breaks is really the only way to keep it in check. But still, you can't avoid it with headphones. It'd be the same thing as trying to avoid eye fatigue while spraying rapid bursts of air directly into your eyes. When your ears are sealed off like that vs. doing the same mix in a proper room with proper acoustics at proper volume levels the headphone option will always be the first to cause grief. As @brambos said, open back headphones are ideal if you must spend many hours with them on. And also, of course, make sure they are GOOD headphones. Mixing with a pair of Beats will certainly fast forward the fatigue process.
I never wear headphones when jamming or sketching for that exact reason
If nothing else, just use the iPad speakers. Most of my jamming and composing is done like that. Only when it's final mixing time do I use the headphones in order to hear nuances and such between the sounds. That's about it.
I did my best headphone based mixes with open backs. Can't use them anymore though as everyone in the room hears everything.
thanx all for chiming in! will try a pair of 240 MK 2...
Number one tip for avoiding ear fatigue: don't get married.
If too late for #1 then wear closed back headphones, don't play back anything, but when the spouse walks in, pretend you are listening to something intently.
LOL!
Poor spouses, it is already hard enough for them to live with immature 40+ children...
he he he....
I am finding in ear buds give me less fatigue than over ear phones. Possibly because I can run them at lower volume and still block out the background noise.
I've used those for years and highly recommend them. Pretty sweet neutral sound and very comfy for long-ish sessions.