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So you wanna make the audience deaf too?

KayXero

KayXero

Apr 3, 2007
438
69
#1
Why are live shows so many times horribly setup sound wise. Like either way too loud....or too loud for the small space. Esp when the bassist is cranked up and liked to make booming notes that even give horrid feedback at times and people cover their ears.

I was at the local club a few weeks back and kids were actually going into the smoking area for or leaving cus it was so loud.

Wheres the responsibility in your audiences enjoyment and health. I have mild tinnitus in my left ear coupled with stepedial myoclonus. Basically the stapes in my ear spasms when noise is above a certain threshold or frequency. Its sort of my ears way to telling me to turn it down or pop in the musicians plugs. Ill get the minor surgery to stop the spasms one day if I find it to get annoying though.

When its too loud it harms others and the musicians themselves and it makes the show sound like crap. This local band...young pop punk dudes....sound great on cd....but crap live...because they dont know how to turn the guitar down or the vocals up.

Just horrible mixing even by the pros in the music industry live. The "its loud so people in the back can hear" argument is bs too. Because I have played shows where i try to setup so its 90 db at most up front (yes I carry a db meter), and in a place that holds a couple hundred we did fine, and had a buddy up in the back during the show to let us now how it sounded.


Im just ranting because of the irresponsibility in this fine work we all do. Plus I wanna save my ears and my audiences ears so we can always play and listen to music. I shouldnt have to hold my ears even at the back of the house, or middle, or ANYWHERE. And I think a law should be passed that all places start having free earplugs at shows, given the fact that most play way too damn loud.

Im 24 if that makes a difference
 
#2
I agree with this for the most part. I like things loud, but about half the bands I hear are too loud for me, which I am almost certain means they are too loud for 80% of the audience.

I was attending a corporate party over the weekend and the band couldn't get anyone on the dance floor. Their solution? Turn up the volume in the second set. The result? People left the dance area in droves. What would be so wrong--especially in that setting--about starting out at a moderate volume and turning it up if someone makes a request to do so or if the place got noisy after everyone had a few drinks?

You also mentioned not being able to hear the singer. I think that is a problem when the backline is too loud. Anyway, if I can't hear the singer, I generally leave before long.
 
#4
I attended a Funk Fest back in November at the Hampton Coliseum and the sound was absolutely horrible. Just frikkin' loud. They also had the kick drum louder than the bass. Just boom boom boom boom boom! There was no balance nor definition in the sound! I asked somebody what was up and they said, that's how folks mix FOH now! Really??

Attended another Jazz Festival in 2009, same venue. Kem, Jill Scott and Kenny G were on the bill. Kem's sound mix........horrible! Jill Scott's sound mix........even worse! Kenny G......absolutely perfect! There was balance. Volume level was at normal human levels. I could hear each instrument clear and defined!
 
#6
For me, loud by itself isn't the issue. It's loud to the point of distortion or a bad mix that is loud, or a mix that is poorly EQ'd and loud.

A former colleague of mine, who once worked for Clair Brothers, had unbelievably clean mixes. He could get loud but you didn't mind because the mix was balanced and EQ'd properly.
 
#8
KayXero said:
Why are live shows so many times horribly setup sound wise. Like either way too loud....or too loud for the small space. Esp when the bassist is cranked up and liked to make booming notes that even give horrid feedback at times and people cover their ears.

I was at the local club a few weeks back and kids were actually going into the smoking area for or leaving cus it was so loud.

Wheres the responsibility in your audiences enjoyment and health. I have mild tinnitus in my left ear coupled with stepedial myoclonus. Basically the stapes in my ear spasms when noise is above a certain threshold or frequency. Its sort of my ears way to telling me to turn it down or pop in the musicians plugs. Ill get the minor surgery to stop the spasms one day if I find it to get annoying though.

When its too loud it harms others and the musicians themselves and it makes the show sound like crap. This local band...young pop punk dudes....sound great on cd....but crap live...because they dont know how to turn the guitar down or the vocals up.

Just horrible mixing even by the pros in the music industry live. The "its loud so people in the back can hear" argument is bs too. Because I have played shows where i try to setup so its 90 db at most up front (yes I carry a db meter), and in a place that holds a couple hundred we did fine, and had a buddy up in the back during the show to let us now how it sounded.


Im just ranting because of the irresponsibility in this fine work we all do. Plus I wanna save my ears and my audiences ears so we can always play and listen to music. I shouldnt have to hold my ears even at the back of the house, or middle, or ANYWHERE. And I think a law should be passed that all places start having free earplugs at shows, given the fact that most play way too damn loud.

Im 24 if that makes a difference
Click to expand...

Here-here! And hear! Well put. I would add that the responsibility to NOT make the audience deaf lies in BOTH the musicians AND the soundperson(s).
 
#9
Most bands I hear that are too loud feature kick drums that don't punch me in the gut, instead they make a lousy clicking noise.
I've heard way too many bassists with pickup clicking, instead of nice fat articulate tone, and guitarists that are way over distorted.
Combine that with a PA that is better suited for a large hall blasting everyone away in a club and that equates to a waste of time.
 
#10
doctorpunch said:
We play disgustingly loud. A lot of places we play for the first time we get "You're the loudest band to ever play here."

I think it's awesome but we're a metal band, it's kinda par for the course....
Click to expand...

immature bollox imo....thats not how you get fans...some people want to be able to distinguish different instruments and enjoy a show without going deaf.

Im sick of the Metal = loud garbage too. Sure you can be a high volume that sounds fun without needing to be "disgustingly loud" which is unnecessary

If you want to harm your audience and your own hearing as well...fine by me. Down the line you will regret it though, as a ton of older musicians with crap hearing will tell you.
 
#11
I'm in a metal band and go to plenty of metal shows. I assure you that we want a good balanced sound, and have even paid the sound guy out of our pockets to spend some extra time with him prior to the doors opening. Even if it meant the band missing a half day at work. But, it pays off in the end. Not financially either, just the knowing that we generally have a great sound and people know it.
 
#13
RNV said:
I'm in a metal band and go to plenty of metal shows. I assure you that we want a good balanced sound, and have even paid the sound guy out of our pockets to spend some extra time with him prior to the doors opening. Even if it meant the band missing a half day at work. But, it pays off in the end. Not financially either, just the knowing that we generally have a great sound and people know it.
Click to expand...

this^

That is how you get fans and people to remember how good you were.

If you are too loud or have a crap eq or are over distorted, it WONT MATTER how good your cd sounds, because live music is what sells a band.

P.S. - I must also add that I am a nazi for sound when I play shows. I make damn sure we have full control over our sound or a big influence on the sound man. I usually sit in the back while the guys play like 15 seconds of a song so I can get an idea of what needs to be done before the set.
 
#14
KayXero said:
immature bollox imo....thats not how you get fans...some people want to be able to distinguish different instruments and enjoy a show without going deaf.

Im sick of the Metal = loud garbage too. Sure you can be a high volume that sounds fun without needing to be "disgustingly loud" which is unnecessary

If you want to harm your audience and your own hearing as well...fine by me. Down the line you will regret it though, as a ton of older musicians with crap hearing will tell you.
Click to expand...

Agreed.
 
#16
KayXero said:
immature bollox imo....thats not how you get fans...some people want to be able to distinguish different instruments and enjoy a show without going deaf.

Im sick of the Metal = loud garbage too. Sure you can be a high volume that sounds fun without needing to be "disgustingly loud" which is unnecessary

If you want to harm your audience and your own hearing as well...fine by me. Down the line you will regret it though, as a ton of older musicians with crap hearing will tell you.
Click to expand...

+1... Disgustingly Loud Metal =/= Good Metal

I like the music on your myspace btw, doctorpunch.
 

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