[Harp-L] New hearing Aids

[Vern]

I am on my third set of hearing aids.

Some digital hearing aids have a low sampling rate and produce alias frequencies from the high overtones of the harmonica.  They sound terrible!  See Wikipedia on “aliasing” for a more complete explanation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aliasing <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aliasing>  My current hearing aids aren’t too bad.

IF you are like most older men, you have lost a lot of your high-frequency hearing.  Your hearing aids may have a lot of HF boost to help you hear vocal sibilants.  Ask your audiologist to program that extra channel with somewhat less HF boost.  Ideally, take your harmonica to his office and try different frequency curves to find the optimums. 

If you are seeking an effect like an in-ear monitor, hearing aids may not be your best option.  I recommend the Studio 1 AM-300 Audio Monitor. It is a battery-powered unit that clips on your belt.  You use it with your harp mic.  You can plug in your headphones or ear-buds and set the volume level to suit yourself. It is an analog device so that aliasing isn’t an issue.
http://www.dslrfilmnoob.com/2013/04/06/studio-1-am-300-boom-mic-headphone-amplifier/ <http://www.dslrfilmnoob.com/2013/04/06/studio-1-am-300-boom-mic-headphone-amplifier/>

Vern

> On Nov 27, 2017, at 10:10 AM, Jim Peters <jfp2455 at xxxxx> wrote:
> 
> Hi Folks;
> 
> 
> Thought I would throw this out to the Harp-L members to see if anyone has experience with hearing aids & hearing aids programs and how they might be helpful for a harp player.
> 
> 
> I am hearing impaired and have been wearing hearing aids for about 15 yrs. I just acquired new hearing aids that is capable of being programed for 4 listening modes. I do have a program for music, which compresses sound and makes my listening a fuller and richer experience.
> 
> 
> My audiologist says I have an open channel for installing an additional program. I mentioned
> 
> my harp playing and thought there might be some type of program out there that might be beneficial. I told her that I would check with the harp playing community, somebody might
> 
> have some experience with this issue.
> 
> 
> So, I'm hoping that there might be some hearing aid wearing Harp-L members that might have some suggestions in this area? Can anybody steer me toward any particular programs?
> 
> 
> Jim
>