which is typically louder: FOH or stage monitors?

mambo4 · #1 05-25-2011, 10:08 PM

Title says it all...excluding coffe shop gigs and places with only vocal PA support...

JumboJack · #2 05-25-2011, 10:15 PM

FOH....

walterw · #3 05-25-2011, 10:54 PM

...to the audience or to the players?

T-Bird · #4 05-26-2011, 12:43 AM

Hi.

Very strange and vague question.

Care to elaborate?

Usually FOH is louder just because there's more room to fill/more people to absorb the sound that there is on stage. (Yes, I have played for less people than there was on stage

)

The intentional sub 80 Hz or so frequencies amplification usually doesn't happen on the monitors if clarity is the goal, so the monitors may sound loud or quiet because of the different frequency distribution.

Techno DJs demand different kind of monitoring than the MI users and that can get very loud.

On the difficult locations and venues the monitors have to fight not only the backline, but the FOH as well.

Etc, etc.

Regards
Sam

MuzikMan · #5 05-26-2011, 05:09 AM

Well...........it makes sense to me that the speakers should be set to a level that covers the intended area. Since the FOH is supposed to cover the entire venue minus the stage I sure hope they are louder than the monitors.

modulusman · #6 05-26-2011, 06:26 AM

If the monitors are louder than the FOH I would bet the band sounds like crap.

Vinny D · #7 05-26-2011, 07:38 AM

It will always be FOH but.......sometimes monitors are so F'n loud that the FOH volume needs to be at insane levels to compete!

There are a few bands that I work with locally that use up just about every bit of power my monitor rig has to offer.
We are talking about (4) wedges across the front of stage that are each powered with 550w, plus a 800w powered drum monitor.

They pay me to provide sound, I offer them guidance to help them sound better.....some take it, some don't.
I get paid either way.

tdub0199 · #8 05-26-2011, 07:39 AM

FOH by a long shot....

WalterBush · #9 05-26-2011, 07:50 AM

If the monitors are louder than FOH, something has gone horribly, horribly wrong.

BartmanPDX · #10 05-26-2011, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WalterBush

If the monitors are louder than FOH, something has gone horribly, horribly wrong.

+1.

Kind of makes sense, doesn't it? Whom are you playing for? Yourselves or the audience?

jaywa · #11 05-26-2011, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by modulusman

If the monitors are louder than the FOH I would bet the band sounds like crap.

This.

D.A.R.K. · #12 05-26-2011, 10:34 AM

Foh is supposed to be louder.... Heh
Sometimes as already stated you have to crank foh to match monitor and back line levels.
I recall an article where pearl jam was reaching up to 120 db on stage at points.

Rickett Customs · #13 05-26-2011, 10:36 AM

If the monitors are louder than the FOH at any of our gigs, that's gonna be a problem.... singer must be deaf.

mambo4 · #14 05-26-2011, 01:37 PM

I ask because at typical gig, I watch the other bands with earplugs in and remove my earplugs when I play. I was wondering if the wiser thing would be to do the opposite -but it doesn't sound like it. I guess I just assume that FOH is louder but wasn't quite sure.

walker rosewood · #15 05-26-2011, 04:34 PM

The wise thing is to always wear the earplugs. Get the 'musicians' hearo's or the molded etymotic's if you need to.

The monitor specialist at our company always says that the monitor levels at rap shows literally makes her want to cry when she walks on stage.

Rickett Customs · #16 05-26-2011, 06:07 PM

Between the levels of some guitarist's stage level (the hard headed ones) and a drum kit, this is why I use ear plugs and If i'm singing, I pull them halfway out.

jaywa · #17 05-27-2011, 10:55 AM

IME at least 75% of the bands out there... from garage bands right up to the touring mega-stars... run louder than necessary both onstage and at FOH. In some cases MUCH louder than necessary.

MNAirHead · #18 05-27-2011, 11:38 PM

overall foh is louder.. heck on some international tours, the stage sound was conversational.

Doom · #19 05-28-2011, 04:31 PM

Send more wattage to your FOH, FOH is louder
Send more wattage to your auxillary (monitors), Monitors will be louder
Now if your talking watt for watt, FOH is louder, especially if your at a theater like where i work, because the acoustics take over

Doctor Dirt · #20 05-28-2011, 05:26 PM

If the stage monitors are that loud chances are the entire band stand is a mess. The first thing I think of is the backline is to damn loud so the front players want more monitors. The cure is to set up with side fills and one or two front wedges. Start with way less and then the players will learn that the backline needs to be manageable in order for the FOH and monitors to sound right. Most sound company's want to give a band what the want & need and stage monitors are usually a main topic, if the stage isn't to deep the backline should be the players monitor and the front monitors should be vocals alone. We always carried a 4x10 bass rig and the guitarists had deluxe or something else thats small and can be used as his monitor. I find even the smaller sound companies are really there to give a great effort and its usually some screamin guy who can't work in front of the monitor to be able to hear it who bitches. Thats why ear plugs work well, shock collars too!!!!! hahaha not on dogs though, thats cruel. Doc