As you are probably already know, I am an avid musician. It's kinda weird to say that out loud or at least write it....musician. Music has always been a central element to my life. When I was a kid, I grew up on a steady diet of Motown and other oldies music, largely in part to my Dad and Mom. I loved the tunes they would listen to, which is rare for someone who separated by a generation. When I was in elementary school and all the way through high school, I played a musical instrument. When I got into college, I joined the choir and found a whole new passion for singing. Even now, I sing on a Praise team at my church. In fact, I have participated with this group off and on now for eighteen years. So, you see, music is a part of me. Part of my soul.
I know you read the title and I'm talking about music. Hang in there with me. I have a point....I promise!
When I was singing with Epiphany's Praise Team, for years we used the floor monitors. Those large, speakers that you were supposed to be able to hear yourself, the other musicians and singers. All in one monitor. You know what I heard?? BUPKIS. That's right: A mumbo jumbo, mixed moshed mess that was always very loud and blasting in my face and it was always coming from the floor. The music and voices that I was supposed to hear turned out to be gobbledygook. That's all we had at the time and we made the best of it!
In February this year, our directors at the time, Ryan and Adam, decided it was time to move the worship teams into the 21st century and introduce the In-Ear Monitor system. A box that was mounted onto the music stand and with a pair of headphones that plugged into the system and viola! Sound that the singer or the instrumentalist could control. The loudness and what you wanted to hear could be adjusted to your specification. Sound like a dream? Let me tell ya: it IS!!!!
The first pair of ear buds I got were from Five Below. True to the name of the store, I paid 5 dollars and I used them only once before they pooped out on me. What was I to expect? You get what you pay for. I also hated those crappy white ear buds you get that seemed to fall out of your ear every six seconds. Or when you sneeze....or breathe......or wave hi to someone. Know the kind I am talking about? Those. Yeah, and the ear fatigue was crazy. They hurt after a while.
As I was telling my sad story of unwearable ear buds to a fellow band member, he suggested I look at ME Electronics headphones. These buds wrapped up and over the ear and rest comfortably just inside the ear. These particular buds boasted a lock-in technology with crystal clear sound and all for under twenty dollars. I thought I didn't much much to lose so I logged onto Amazon and read the reviews and also looked at a video review on YouTube. I was quite impressed with the selection of ear buds that ME Electronics carried. You could order various, eye-catching colors. Being the maverick I am, ordered a clear pair. I know....daring! Boy, I was in for a surprise. These ear buds were the best! The buds were everything they were advertised to be. Not only that, they come in a black, durable zipper case with six sets of various ear tips. Sarah has come up with interesting nicknames for the ear tips. I use a double ear tip (cupcakes), Sarah uses a triple ear tip (Christmas trees) and Paula uses the single ear tip (mushroom)
You won't believe the difference between the in-ear headphones and the floor monitor. It was like night and day. Truly. I could control what I heard, who I heard and what ear I could hear it in to boot! Not to mention the sound level that I could control. It was like I died and went to musical Heaven. I could hear the music and other singers and myself so much better that it literally puts the floor monitor to shame. The thought I had once I sang in a service with the in-ear monitor system, with my rad new ear buds was WHY THE HECK HADN'T WE DONE THIS SOONER??!!
I talked Paula into a pair of the ME Electronics ear buds and she loved them over the shoddy pair she used to use. She is using my clear pair, I now use a purple pair, Sarah uses an orange pair and Hannah uses a blue pair. It seems that Me Electronics is ear bud of choice for the Hoff Clan. We all love them and enjoy them immensely! Not are they crystal clear in sound, they are extremely comfortable. In fact, one night I feel asleep with them in my ears as I listen to music on my phone.
I am sharing the link to the Me Electronics web page so you can have a look: http://www.meelec.com/
Here is the link to Amazon so you can read about them. If you are in the market for a pair, I suggest you look no further: http://www.amazon.com/MEElectronics-Sport-Fi-Isolating-In-Ear-Headphones/dp/B0038W0K2U/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1414113334&sr=8-1&keywords=Me+Electronics
Would it surprise you that I am listening to music as I write this? Wanna guess what ear buds I'm using?
Before I go, I want to pose a question. I want to have a signature phrase to use after each blog to sign off. Walter Cronkite used "And that's the way it is" and Linda Ellerbee used "And so it goes." I want a catch-phrase. I have one in mind, but it comes off too cheesy. What would you suggest?
Take care guys!
I know you read the title and I'm talking about music. Hang in there with me. I have a point....I promise!
When I was singing with Epiphany's Praise Team, for years we used the floor monitors. Those large, speakers that you were supposed to be able to hear yourself, the other musicians and singers. All in one monitor. You know what I heard?? BUPKIS. That's right: A mumbo jumbo, mixed moshed mess that was always very loud and blasting in my face and it was always coming from the floor. The music and voices that I was supposed to hear turned out to be gobbledygook. That's all we had at the time and we made the best of it!
In February this year, our directors at the time, Ryan and Adam, decided it was time to move the worship teams into the 21st century and introduce the In-Ear Monitor system. A box that was mounted onto the music stand and with a pair of headphones that plugged into the system and viola! Sound that the singer or the instrumentalist could control. The loudness and what you wanted to hear could be adjusted to your specification. Sound like a dream? Let me tell ya: it IS!!!!
The first pair of ear buds I got were from Five Below. True to the name of the store, I paid 5 dollars and I used them only once before they pooped out on me. What was I to expect? You get what you pay for. I also hated those crappy white ear buds you get that seemed to fall out of your ear every six seconds. Or when you sneeze....or breathe......or wave hi to someone. Know the kind I am talking about? Those. Yeah, and the ear fatigue was crazy. They hurt after a while.
As I was telling my sad story of unwearable ear buds to a fellow band member, he suggested I look at ME Electronics headphones. These buds wrapped up and over the ear and rest comfortably just inside the ear. These particular buds boasted a lock-in technology with crystal clear sound and all for under twenty dollars. I thought I didn't much much to lose so I logged onto Amazon and read the reviews and also looked at a video review on YouTube. I was quite impressed with the selection of ear buds that ME Electronics carried. You could order various, eye-catching colors. Being the maverick I am, ordered a clear pair. I know....daring! Boy, I was in for a surprise. These ear buds were the best! The buds were everything they were advertised to be. Not only that, they come in a black, durable zipper case with six sets of various ear tips. Sarah has come up with interesting nicknames for the ear tips. I use a double ear tip (cupcakes), Sarah uses a triple ear tip (Christmas trees) and Paula uses the single ear tip (mushroom)
You won't believe the difference between the in-ear headphones and the floor monitor. It was like night and day. Truly. I could control what I heard, who I heard and what ear I could hear it in to boot! Not to mention the sound level that I could control. It was like I died and went to musical Heaven. I could hear the music and other singers and myself so much better that it literally puts the floor monitor to shame. The thought I had once I sang in a service with the in-ear monitor system, with my rad new ear buds was WHY THE HECK HADN'T WE DONE THIS SOONER??!!
I talked Paula into a pair of the ME Electronics ear buds and she loved them over the shoddy pair she used to use. She is using my clear pair, I now use a purple pair, Sarah uses an orange pair and Hannah uses a blue pair. It seems that Me Electronics is ear bud of choice for the Hoff Clan. We all love them and enjoy them immensely! Not are they crystal clear in sound, they are extremely comfortable. In fact, one night I feel asleep with them in my ears as I listen to music on my phone.
I am sharing the link to the Me Electronics web page so you can have a look: http://www.meelec.com/
Here is the link to Amazon so you can read about them. If you are in the market for a pair, I suggest you look no further: http://www.amazon.com/MEElectronics-Sport-Fi-Isolating-In-Ear-Headphones/dp/B0038W0K2U/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1414113334&sr=8-1&keywords=Me+Electronics
Would it surprise you that I am listening to music as I write this? Wanna guess what ear buds I'm using?
Before I go, I want to pose a question. I want to have a signature phrase to use after each blog to sign off. Walter Cronkite used "And that's the way it is" and Linda Ellerbee used "And so it goes." I want a catch-phrase. I have one in mind, but it comes off too cheesy. What would you suggest?
Take care guys!
Thanks for the info on the earbuds. And, to answer your question, how about "bman, signing off..."? Not too creative, just a suggestion.
ReplyDeleteVery informative. As for your sign off, since when do you worry about coming off "too cheesy"? How about "and may the Force be with you"?
ReplyDeleteReminds me of Ryan Seacrest's old American Idol sign off, "Seacrest OUT!" LOL! I love the looks of those earphones, thanks for the recommendation! I put them in my Amazon wish list for Christmas.;)
ReplyDelete