Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
The decibel delima. Long rant, short gig.
- Thread starter rmkesler
- Start date
- Status
Could be the neighbors have been complaining and the city just recently passed an ordinance with elections coming up....
Randy
Randy
Set up in a circle facing each other like you probably do when you rehearse at someones house and have to keep the levels down.
At least you'd have a paid rehearsal.
Drummer should get some rods or an electronic kit. (yeah he/she won't like it but electronic drums get a lot of gigs these days - they have a volume control)
At least you'd have a paid rehearsal.
Drummer should get some rods or an electronic kit. (yeah he/she won't like it but electronic drums get a lot of gigs these days - they have a volume control)
This has the makings of a good video. Your band going from gig to gig being run out by angry owners and cops with db meters.
It finally ends when you paint negative numbers on your volume knobs.
It finally ends when you paint negative numbers on your volume knobs.
Passinwind
I know nothing.
- Dec 3, 2003
- 23,079
- 46,042
- Disclosures
- Designer/Toaster Tech @ Passinwind Electronics
Yep. 70dB at where? Stage, sound booth, parking lot, police station? It's a meaningless number without a well defined measurement position being specified.
I think the people here who are saying that what the band did is unprofessional is laughable. They clearly have no concept of what 70dB sounds like, or have never played in a band. Probably both. You CAN'T turn down to 70db. Think about it: from one meter away, pro audio speakers will reach 90-100dB while being powered by ONE WATT. There is something clearly horribly wrong in this situation, but the band did the only thing they could do. The band did the only thing they possibly could have
According to this, 70dB is like a vacuum cleaner from 3ft away.
Invalid Link Removed
Probably looking for volume around the same as the background noise of people talking in the bar.
Randy
Invalid Link Removed
Probably looking for volume around the same as the background noise of people talking in the bar.
Randy
So your position is that pro audio amplifiers are incapable of producing signals less than ONE WATT? And your position is that the audience is all within 1 meter of the pro audio speakers where the SPL is 90-100dB from that one watt? I was under the impression that pro audio equipment had volume controls that go all the way to zero.
Like .... turn down like the other bands that play there?
I can play 70dB with my 1500 watt 5 ft bass rig. I can even play quieter than that. Its more fun rocking out. Its even more fun getting paid.
Randy
So you don't know how to turn your volume knob down? Really? Or you dont' know which direction is down? Which is it? Might want to check the owners manual of your gear. I bet its in there.
So what's your idea of the lower limit of a 1500 watt amplifier driving a pair of 2x10's in decibels?
How loud is your PA with the sliders down all the way? If you can hit 0 dB, why can't you hit 70 dB? Or anything in between?
Randy
Screw the DB meter. I have played two venues with the same set up. Outdoor decks
and city ordinance is 10:00 oclock. No DB meters.
At 10 we have to shut down, period.
and city ordinance is 10:00 oclock. No DB meters.
At 10 we have to shut down, period.
was the gig in a suburban area? If so, then the ridiculously low db limit is unsurprising. More info needed though, what time was the gig? How close was it to residential buildings/houses? I realize 70 db is low, but depending on these factors, it could be understandable (people need peace/sleep). However, if it was the middle of the day and a good bit away from any houses, it's probably just a case of self-important suburban politicians having nothing better to do at town council meetings than pass fascist ordinances.
(Maybe "fascist" is a slight exageration. But only slight.)
that's probably it. Especially if the neighbors are self-righteous townies who like to mail out political flyers around election time. Jus he kind of thing that happens all the time in suburbia. I don't like politicians.
(Maybe "fascist" is a slight exageration. But only slight.)
that's probably it. Especially if the neighbors are self-righteous townies who like to mail out political flyers around election time. Jus he kind of thing that happens all the time in suburbia. I don't like politicians.
You may have had to, since you may have exceeded 70 dB just unloading and setting up, depending on where they're measuring.
A fellow bass player giving volume knob instruction with the manual in his hand should be included in the video.
Necessary in any rock oriented plot.
Yeah, a 70-dB figure is completely meaningless by itself. 70-dB where? A-weighted decibels? Average sound pressure level vs. momentary?
If someone sneezes that's immediately over 70 dB. If people raise their voices to chat over the background noise, they will be over 70 dB. And any noise meter measures all of the sound present; there is no enchanted meter that can magically filter out the entire amount of sound caused by everything else going on and only measure the band's noise level.
If someone sneezes that's immediately over 70 dB. If people raise their voices to chat over the background noise, they will be over 70 dB. And any noise meter measures all of the sound present; there is no enchanted meter that can magically filter out the entire amount of sound caused by everything else going on and only measure the band's noise level.
No doubt, with volume knobs everywhere, input attenuator, master volume, (master volume on power amp for pre/power users), volume on the bass, all of which can reduce the output to zero, its hard to know which one to use...
Randy
We were scheduled from 6:00 to 10:00. We were in a downtown area.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helen,_Georgia
Nutdog, your profile says you're in GA. Ever play in Helen?
- Status
