enjoy a metal concert where the decibels averaged say 85-100db? I've always wanted to experiment and have a hard rock/metal concert at this decibel range. I'm not considering this for venues like Radio City Music Hall or some large venue like that but something along the lines of Volume 11 or Lincoln Theater here in North Carolina where the pit is basically no larger than my bedroom (literally, well Volume 11 maybe...)
Would it be possible to
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AngraRULES
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AngraRULES
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No, but I would assume it'd be respected. I will add that at least at the shows that I've been to, the crowds aren't really that loud. I mean even at prog power most of the audiences I've seen are usually just chilling and digging the tunes while they're being played unless the band playing motions for some noise and what not.
One of the best crowds I've been in
One of the best crowds I've been in
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AngraRULES
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OrbWeaver
BECAUSE FALCONER
The last time I saw Nightwish at the House of Blues in Chicago the decibles weren't too high. I couldn't tell you what they were at, but I didn't need to wear my ear plugs. The crowd noise level was no issue, either. You could hear the band just fine.
I've noticed that if you turn up the volume in any given venue, whether concert hall, dive bar, or just your car, if there is a group of people, they will generally attempt to match their noise level to that of the noise level of whatever band is playing, whether live or recording playing over a speaker system.
I've noticed that if you turn up the volume in any given venue, whether concert hall, dive bar, or just your car, if there is a group of people, they will generally attempt to match their noise level to that of the noise level of whatever band is playing, whether live or recording playing over a speaker system.
I'm convinced that those working the boards have hearing loss as a job requirement. It is amazing how in tiny venues that bands can be way too loud.
Diamond45
Terminate Bad Music
When I saw Trans-Siberian Orchestra last November, the volume was just right. Loud enough that it could be heard throughout the venue (10,000 seat stadium) but not so loud that you had to wear ear plugs to keep your eardrums from hurting!
I assume they had speakers set up all over the place and had them placed in such a way where the speakers were not aimed directly to the audience. Probably not practical in all situations such as Center Stage.
I assume they had speakers set up all over the place and had them placed in such a way where the speakers were not aimed directly to the audience. Probably not practical in all situations such as Center Stage.
Kaosaur
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What it is, actually, is that your ears attenuate sound better at higher volume. You can't listen at that high a volume for very long though.
The problem is that bands sound better, louder. Probably this alone has created the phenomenon of people skipping all the openers to see the headlining band. How many shows have you been to where you show up early and by the time the band you want to see is on, your ears are worn out? (Eh, just get drunk and who cares, right?)
A band that sounds good, properly mixed does NOT need to be that loud. The situation is that you're dealing with a ton of variables.
The band could be shit, the band's gear could be shit, the PA could be shit, the FOH guy could be shit, the guy the band brought to mix them could be shit...or somebody could just be all "metal needs to be loud" or just not have the balls to mix properly.
It's pretty much the exact same thing as the loudness wars with CDs...
I'd like to add...That Fates Warning set that ProgPower I thought was very well-mixed. It was at the perfect volume level and contributed greatly to my enjoyment. The fest has always been "interesting" with volume levels for me. Some of my favorite bands I couldn't listen to inside the room because the keyboards or guitars were so high they felt like icepicks in my ears....and some others are just perfect in every way.
dcowboys311
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AngraRULES
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skyrefuge
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Yes, most definitely. I enjoy most metal concerts that I go to, and I would guess that every one of them is in the 85-100db range.
That's because, not being an idiot, I always wear earplugs. I don't bring an SPL meter, but I'm pretty sure that should be enough to keep almost all concerts below the 100db threshold for me. That's still more than loud enough. Way louder than I listen to metal on my stereo, and I enjoy that just fine too.
So yeah, that would be awesome if I could get similar SPLs at my ears *without* the imperfect attenuating effects of earplugs. Fight the good fight, and I hope you can win over the half-deaf powers-that-be and pull it off!
Neil
OrbWeaver
BECAUSE FALCONER
dcowboys311
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AngraRULES
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Yeah, but people who don't wear earplugs and complain about shows being too loud shouldn't even talk about the spectrum.
FTR I do wear earplugs. First lesson was Porcupine Tree 07 where I was fooled by the PA system just playing the tracks by cd or w/e. I had just been to outdoor festivals or the (does the hawks stadium have concerts? Family Values Tour?) before that.Been wearing them to every show since ProgPower XI (my 2nd year). Other shows before that I usually just didn't go in the pit and just sat where the bar was and that seemed to be alright(most of these shows were at Bogarts in Cincinnati). Even at symphony x here in NC I forgot to pack my good ear plugs even though I was thinking about them.. bought the cheap kind and even forgot it when I left my bros apartment and had to have him drive the 8 minute drive again to bring them to me.... & was I ever thankful for that.
OrbWeaver
BECAUSE FALCONER
Do you wear them? Because if you do, that's a contradiction to your statement implying lower decibles = no fun. By that logic, wearing ear plugs = no fun since it blocks out some of the noise.
Conversely, if you don't wear ear plugs, you won't be enjoying any metal concerts after awhile if you lose your hearing. Which is also at the opposite end of the fun spectrum. No fun if you can't hear because you refused to protect your hearing.
I'll even add to that by saying sometimes the mix is even better with the earplugs in.
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