Practice/rehearsal rant

[dvs20]

2 different bands, both avg over 100db during practice (just using my iPhone with a db meter app) 1 peaked at 111 the other at 108. Anyone else agree that’s too loud? FWIW I’m cramming Hearo rock and roll series plugs in (27db reduction) because that volume is stupid, and HI-Fi plugs probably won’t cut enough

 

[Chains]

I'm wondering...What would be an average/acceptable db level for a rehearsal room and/or live gig???

 

[Space Pickle]

IMO 90ish. Still always wear my earplugs.

 

[SoCal80s]

OSHA recommends no more than 4 hours of exposure per day at 95db. For 3 hours it is 97db. For 110db it is 0.5 hours. Most of your audience is not wearing hearing protection, if nothing else it would be good to keep their health in mind.

 

[dvs20]

OSHA recommends no more than 4 hours of exposure per day at 95db. For 3 hours it is 97db. For 110db it is 0.5 hours. Most of your audience is not wearing hearing protection, if nothing else it would be good to keep their health in mind.

Ahhhh that’s too funny, in my one band no one but me wears plugs

 

[buldog5151bass]

If you can't talk to each other during rehearsal mid song, it's too loud.

 

[RustyAxe]

2 different bands, both avg over 100db during practice (just using my iPhone with a db meter app) 1 peaked at 111 the other at 108. Anyone else agree that’s too loud? FWIW I’m cramming Hearo rock and roll series plugs in (27db reduction) because that volume is stupid, and HI-Fi plugs probably won’t cut enough

Huh? What was that? You say sumthin'? I can't hear you, I'm in rehearsal with my band Jet Stream and the Afterburners. I quit a band a few years back, actually never really was in the band long enough to quit ... one of the issues was ear-wrecking rehearsal volumes, and even louder in performance.

 

[el murdoque]

I've got this one gig where rehearsals average above 110 dB.
When I am not the first to arrive at the room, my earplugs go in before I do. That's kind of stupid.
The two guys responsible for the brutal volume are the ones that never plugged their ears in their life.

But I must admit that, health issues aside, I sometimes enjoy playing harder genres (hardrock, metal, doom) with the appropriate volume levels - which top out with a drummer hitting hard IMO. When you get the dynamics right and can build up both in intensity and in volume, that's quite cool. But it's hard to find people that are willing and able to do just that.

 

[Medicine Man]

I'm used to low rehearsal volumes and acoustic panels in my studio, so imagine my surprise when I showed up to help my buddy with his vanity project and these guys have 4 18 in subs with enough tops to balance and monitors in A CINDER BLOCK BASEMENT. I'm all for helping a guy out, but I'm bringing over ear muffs for the next time. I had about 600 watts of my Quilter BB into a AK 212 Hathor and the had to run me into the PA substantially because the bass wasn't rattling their bones sufficiently. The good news is, this vanity project will likely never gig and subject an audience to all this. Kind of fun though, I never get to play that loud, even on big stages.

 

[cnltb]

2 different bands, both avg over 100db during practice (just using my iPhone with a db meter app) 1 peaked at 111 the other at 108. Anyone else agree that’s too loud? FWIW I’m cramming Hearo rock and roll series plugs in (27db reduction) because that volume is stupid, and HI-Fi plugs probably won’t cut enough

Too loud this would be for me.

 

[Alexis Duntov]

2 different bands, both avg over 100db during practice (just using my iPhone with a db meter app) 1 peaked at 111 the other at 108. Anyone else agree that’s too loud? FWIW I’m cramming Hearo rock and roll series plugs in (27db reduction) because that volume is stupid, and HI-Fi plugs probably won’t cut enough

If you ears are ringing after rehearsal or gigs, it’s too loud and/or you are not wearing appropriate protection. Ringing ears = damaged ears. Maybe they heal, but unlike a physical wound, you don’t have visible proof that the damage isn’t permanent. Unless you get periodic hearing tests to confirm there is no loss, other than what may occur naturally due to age. Left my last electric band because of volume issues

 

[okcrum]

Ahhhh that’s too funny, in my one band no one but me wears plugs

...which is why, in old age, your guitar players turn into those guys who play coffeehouse gigs with half stacks.

 

[Koshchei]

If you can't discuss arrangement, note choice, dynamics, etc. without having to jump and wave like a burning spastic to get everyone's attention, it's too loud. Rehearsal is supposed to be productive, not a gig without pay or an audience.

 

[Bodeanly]

Nothing to add except my extreme gratitude for finding bands that rehearse with IEM’s.

 

[baileyboy]

Our rehearsals are super loud, too. This is because a couple of members are losing their hearing and don't realize how loud they really are. What I did early on when I started rehearsing/gigging regularly is go to an audiologist and have ear plugs molded for my ears alone. Way better than commercial brands in music stores. They cost $180 (insurance would not cover), but worth every penny. I wear them for rehearsals, gigs, concerts, etc. Once you lose your hearing, you can not get it back. Those who choose to ignore this fact risk being old and deaf one day... think Pete Townsend, for example.

 

[Gougedeye]

Too loud is too loud! What is the purpose of playing that loud? Are these bands worth sacrificing your hearing? I'd walk. In my band, we have a rule of thumb...Start too loud, then What? Get louder? Dynamics rules the day (song).

 

[babsobass]

Way too loud! In my case most rehearsals are not nearly that loud. In most situations its been the drummer that sets the volume. Guys with heavy hands force the others to keep up. If this is your situation talk to the drummer and get him to agree to bring it down a notch or two and I'll bet everyone else will follow.

Of course there are always the guitar hero types that want to rock out at stadium volume in a basement rehearsal. In that case I recommend a "targeted" power surge.

 

[PennyroyalWe]

My one band was in a similar boat, but recently We’ve toned it down a little, but i still wouldn’t be caught rehearsing without ear plugs. For the longest time the argument was that the guitarists needed to turn their amps up to house rattling volume to get the tone they’re chasing from their massive 212 tube combos. Can’t drive the amp or speakers hard enough at anything lower, they’d say. Recently, after plenty of passive comments on their volume, weight, and size, they started delving into smaller amps (thank heavens). Still play pretty loud to keep level with the drummer, and I’m the only band member that wears ear protection, so I doubt our volume will reduce any further :/
My next move to buy a decent set of ear plugs for everyone. Hopefully they’ll get the hint to start thinking about being able to play years down the road, rather than only thinking of their sound today.

 

[basso_profundo]

Our rehearsals are super loud, too. This is because a couple of members are losing their hearing and don't realize how loud they really are. What I did early on when I started rehearsing/gigging regularly is go to an audiologist and have ear plugs molded for my ears alone. Way better than commercial brands in music stores. They cost $180 (insurance would not cover), but worth every penny. I wear them for rehearsals, gigs, concerts, etc. Once you lose your hearing, you can not get it back. Those who choose to ignore this fact risk being old and deaf one day... think Pete Townsend, for example.

Insurance won’t cover them, but funds from a FSA can. You just need a letter of medical necessity from the audiologist.

Totally worth $200, BTW. I use mine at every gig and rehearsal.

 

[Richard Martin]

If you can't talk to each other during rehearsal mid song, it's too loud.

Mid song? I have troubling communicating between songs.