Music too loud? Or am I too old? Maybe both.
Went to see another rock band tonight at a local venue. I like loud in your face rock music, but this band went over the top. When the lead guitar kicked in for a solo, I wanted to hit the door because it was painful. The band was good, but just too darn loud for me. Left after about 30 minutes. My ears were ringing.
I've been playing on stage for about 3 years now. We never let our stage sound get too loud. None of us want to go deaf. But I'm hoping that our FOH music is not as loud as what I heard tonight. I don't want the patrons to leave with a ringing in their ears either.
OK. So ringing in the ears loud. Too loud? Or am I too old? Or both? Let me have it.....
I've been playing on stage for about 3 years now. We never let our stage sound get too loud. None of us want to go deaf. But I'm hoping that our FOH music is not as loud as what I heard tonight. I don't want the patrons to leave with a ringing in their ears either.
OK. So ringing in the ears loud. Too loud? Or am I too old? Or both? Let me have it.....
Comments
First off - remember you're \"hearing\" from someone who's about 80% deaf, largely 'cuz of loud things like loud music and concerts and git'r playing. As well as power tools and the like.
Anyway...it's my policy at this late stage (most of my hearing gone) that I tend to avoid loud and/or irritating noise. It makes my ears ring (worse) and obviously deteriorates my hearing further. And it's not enjoyable, even if they can play great.
Also - I'm of the philosophy that when playing any kind of music, louder is not better. In fact, if you can play at a reasonably moderate level and people can still tell you play great and enjoy the music, you've won the kitty. So - kudos to you and your mates for concerning yourselves with the FOH level and not peesing off your crowds.
And lastly, I'm filled with dread that I won't be able to hear Shania purring at my door late at night because of a lifetime of loud music... :shock:
I never was a big fan of ultra loud in bars. I actually wanted to talk to the chicks I was trying to pick up, not yell in their ear! Now I'm talking 80's. cuz in the 70's well lets face it, still had that hippy crap going on. Just one look and alot of chicks were like ..\" hey, lets make like rabbits\". (The only thing good about the Disco days!).
Good thing is I am not on the hunt anymore! And unfortunately music , guns, engines and what ever else I have abused my ears with is starting to take it's toll..
LoL .. Anyways.. You have a sound guy (I hope who has learned the board now
Were these guys running their sound themselves from the stage, and they didn't have no one in the crowd to tell them .. \"I can't think!\". Or they were just learned from the Nugent school of playing live! When the bar was in operation, actually had a few bands that had to be told to turn it up.
It's a fine line . have to find that happy medium where it's loud , yet can still converse without shouting! Reckon it comes with experience. Knowing what your equipment can do, and knowing the size and construction of the venue. Then again maybe that's what their crowd likes.
But naw I never bought into that if it's to loud your to old crap! Now with that being said... LoL when I am alone and cruising down the interstate? Ya baby rock on!
Most Pop Tart videos, I prefer to watch with the volume off.
I've never cared much for Bars. I'll just go there to buy a beer, score a chic and leave.
Overall, I need music loud to enjoy it, because of the voices in my head. :?
No, they had a sound guy out front. To be frank, this guy approached my band to run sound for us with his sound system. His system is better than mine. He runs two 18\" subwoofers with two 12\" mains above them on each side. He pumps about 3500 watts per side. My system is one 18\" sub with 15\" mains on top - about 700 watts per side. We are plenty loud and have yet to play an indoor venue where we needed more power. My amps are only about 60% at our loudest. I don't know why he feels he needs 3500 watts per side.
Anyway, I went to check out the band and this guy's sound board skills. I was not very impressed. One night last week the vocals were totally lost in the mix, and last night the music was so loud that I could not stand being in the venue. He has a great sound system, but his talent on running the board lacks, IMHO. I think he must have had more money than talent. Great PA system, but really lacking on board management.
Good sound is not about decibels, it's about maintaining system efficiency along with any mix. Mixing is about detailing each instrument or vocalist so they are at the least intelligible.
There have been a few cases where a band member asks us why we're not pushing things really hard. I say, look around.. I don't see anybody leaving either.. do you??? Then they give a puzzled look for a minute and then go aaaaaaaahhhhhhhh, got ya!
I didn't mean to be so critical of the guy. He's a really nice person. But I just did not care for the way he runs sound for that band. I'm no expert, far from it, but I have been gigging for a few years now and you really don't want people walking out on you because the volume is just too darn loud. That's one thing you can control - or should be able to control.
Anyway, whether he learns or not, he's not the right soundman for you. At least not now.
Exactly, what I told him the first night I met him is that we were happy with our current setup for our indoor gigs, but if we got an outdoor gig and needed the extra sound support, we would call him for the gig. I took his card and he was happy about that. But when I went to see how well he runs sound for the other band, I was just not impressed with his board skills. He does have a great PA system, however. And he really is a nice guy. So I'm not worried about working with him in the future if needed.
I have another thread going on the forum requesting some pointers on how to make the lead vocal cut through the mix, but I can tell you I am way above his skill level on that already. And I don't know what I'm doing yet.