Why why why? More sub abuse/misuse.

I've heard of them putting too much bass in the mix, but kick?

 

If they were running their own sound, they may not have been aware.

It's possible that the kick drum mic was bumped and moved closer to the beater. Or maybe a gain control in the subwoofer signal path was bumped.

Also, in my experience most players tend to sandbag during sound check. Then when the show starts and the adrenaline starts flowing, they play like they actually mean it. So maybe it sounded great during sound check and then during the show the drummer started kicking the crap out of bass drum.

The level changes can result in volume wars between the musicians. One person players louder and suddenly no one else can hear. So all the other players turn up. Then the first person can't hear and reaches for the volume. This tends to go round and round over the course of a performance.


It's also possible that whoever dialed in the mix actually intended it to be that way. Believe it or not, some people actually think this is how a mix should sound. I am not one of them, but it's very common.

 

There are few bands that run their own sound from the stage that ever approach what someone sitting in the house hears and implements. I can think of only one I ever heard that had it dialed in.

 

That's not sub abuse.. it's a terrible mix..

 

[QUOTE:”but it's very common.”[/QUOTE]
Mostly in country. I’m not much into country, but my wife is. Almost every concert I’ve been to with her sounds like that. Zac Brown and Dwight Yokum being two notable exceptions. I don’t get it.

 

[QUOTE:”but it's very common.”[/QUOTE]
Mostly in country. I’m not much into country, but my wife is. Almost every concert I’ve been to with her sounds like that. Zac Brown and Dwight Yokum being two notable exceptions. I don’t get it.

 

Good gear doesn’t mean good sound tech.

 

I run sound most times, I also use a wireless, and an iPad to mix.
I save shows for different venues.
The kick issue is far too common.
And many bassists, unfortunately , dial in a bedroom tone without any idea that it doesn't work in the mix

 

Recently went to see Bonnie Raitt and the sound was similar. Tons of kick and the bass was mud and really loud. I know it wasn't the sound system because opening act Lucinda Williams had excellent sound. Is there a new school for sound engineers I haven't heard about?

 

Some years back I went to see Thievery Corporation at an outdoor venue in DC. (TC is NOT country, FYI) They had several opening acts.

The sound was awful. All kick and bottom end mud. Couldn't hear a note, and even with earplugs in at the back of the crowd it hurt my ears and gave me a headache. I was there with friends and couldn't talk to anyone, the show was ruining the night, not making it.

The following summer I went to the same show again, also TC with some different openers. Same story: awful skull-crushing bass mud and kick.

So this is not just a country thing by any means. Whoever was running sound needed some adult supervision.

 

the craziest thing is that the ‘engineer’ is listening to the same thing as us.. like what

 

There's no harm in making a suggestion to the person running the board. I've done it and I usually get thanks for trying to help. Obviously don't try to tell them everything that you think should be corrected, but letting them know the kick is too loud should be well received.

 

Engineer? Likely got their meagre mixing education from youtube...

 

Likes it to sound like a loud car stereo does on the outside.

 

You can't hear a single subwoofer unless your about 10/20 feet away from it. Or, your standing in the opposite corner that it's bouncing off of. They didn't know it was loud. They've got highs and mids screaming in their faces.

 

My stereo sounds like it's in your car from the outside.

 

I heard Earth Wind and Fire open for Santana recently, and their mix was so bass heavy you couldn't hear the bass, if you know what I mean. Nothing but woof. More like shockwaves than sound. The kick drum was ludicrously loud.

I used to be impressed by speakers and amplifiers. Now I just want to hear the notes. Is that too much to ask?