Has the definition of 'loud' changed.

What?

 

well, I often ask "what in ten hells is this?" regarding things that maybe only really call for two or three hells. Perhaps both volume's and hells' value has dropped over the years at maybe a similar rate to the dollar. Used to be, a fridge with six gallons of milk was one hell of a lot of milk. But nowadays, being that I rarely keep more than a quart in mine, six gallons would definitely be multiple hells of a lot of milk while also costing more than double what it did when I was a kid.

Edit:Actually, volume has changed negatively with respect to hells and dollars. My ears hurt just listening to some people talk. No wonder I feel no need for 1000watts and a fearless 661515

 

The difference is my earplugs are trying to unionize.. I have no nostalgia for ringing ears.

That being said I also believe bass stuff should be heavy. I'll use a small light rig for small light gigs but if I want big sound I'm bringing heavy gear.

 

Kid bands are still too loud. I'm not into organ disruption sound levels anymore.
When I was in LA I would pass on gigs if the stage had plexi-shields for the drums. Not because of volume, but because it had a 'boy in the bubble' vibe. Like I was grooving out with a contagious dangerous animal. It's hard to give the audience a rock and roll experience when the whole stage is a giant ear-diaper.
Now I really don't care. Stuff the drummer in a fishtank, I'll find a way to steal his stage drink somehow.
I wear earplugs. I bring spares in little baggies for anyone that wants them.

 

If its a proper old rock band it needs to be Loud, its all part of the experience I'd say.
If its a place where people are having their lunch or whatever then I guess the entertainment needs to be more restrained, its all in the context I suppose.

 

good question! and i'm thinking you're right: loud 'back then' really was louder than loud 'these days'. being loud for the sake of it was new (the 60's), exciting, and in many cases a 'competition' of sorts.

although there are a lot of young(ish) 'loud freaks' here, i get the general impression that many of the younger players care more about their hearing than i did at their age. i hope they do!


disclosure: being at grumpy old fart age probably doesn't help my perspective

 

I to am from the old school of loud from back in the day. I was fortunate enough to be in a awesome rock band back in the mid to late 90's in South Fl. where there were still some rock clubs around. Our drummer had a massive drum set I had a good sized rig with an 800 watt amp with a preamp above that I ran bridged and for me to be loud enough over the drums and guitar I was usually turned up full. We were loud, but your right man. Those day's seem to be gone now. Where I live now there are No rock clubs and no push to promote it. I guess we can only get loud enough in our headphones now.

 

I think it has to do with the better understanding and awareness of how hearing loss works then anything else.

Just my own personal opinion here, but at a certain volume a band's nuances gets lost as well. Forget about hearing the bassists fills, unless he goes up the neck every time. Forget about the high hat, forget the keys.

 

Yeah with my hearing loss from using 2 SVTs and 3 8*10's on stage I'm lucky can hear anything at all. But I am damn sure that today's bands don't get close to as loud as we were back in the late 70-80's I had to go to a ENT guy for my one ear and he said my eardrum was supposed to be the size of a dime my was the size of a nickel! He told me I would have permanent hearing loss and I said WHAT? no really I do and a constant white noise hissing sound 24-7

 

This is a very good question to ponder. I do remember the days of huge stacks in clubs, glad it's gone the way of smoking. But then again I still see loud bands with 1/4 of the equipment because equipment is way more efficient no days. But, at the same time I do see a heck of a lot more lower sound levels too. Now if we can just get them for mix thing right I'll be happy. I thing the days of loudness wars just focused on noise. The mix didn't or couldn't matter. Now that equipment is better the mix is more noticeable. Or have we all gained wisedom along these lines? Crap I am now even more confused. But I will say that we are not a loud band IMHO. The band I was in in the 80's was icredibly loud. I mean I HAD TO buy the Acoustic 370/408 and install a Bill Lawrence hot pick up in my Tele Bass just to hear myself.

 

I also think that people are more likely to complain about volume or just up and leave now days.

 

The 90s were loud. It got quiet when smoking was banned.

 

We played the Orbit Room a couple Saturdays ago, when the weather was really nasty. It's pretty tiny up there as you may know, and while I would say that it gets pretty loud in there, it's not crazy. Of course, things do keep inching up decibel by decibel as the drinking progresses.....We play a place called the Mustache Club in Oshawa on the 1st Friday of every month and the owner is an audio engineer with an Adamson rig in house, (Built in Port Perry ON). Up until recently the FOH level was described by some people as "painfully loud". Apparently though, over the last couple of months, volume levels have been trimmed to a more reasonable level for a 9 piece funk/soul band. I like some good volume all around, but too much is too much. Tinnitus. WHO NEEDS IT???

 

I play a big amp through a 2x12. A 200 watt combo with no pa support would die a painful drowning death with the dance bands I hit with.

That's so strange..... I hear it too.

 

Check out post #4 on this thread.

 

You're a sweetheart. One day, I may start doing this.

 

You do understand that music was made not just prior to the advent of amplification, but also the advent of electricity, right? Amplification didn't start getting big until the public decided that it made more sense to show up at a performance and drown out the music with crowd noise than it did to actually listen to the music.