NWB - Community Blog

14 Aug 2009

Are We All Simply Too Loud ?

Filed Under : Hello

Posted By : Cornerstones | Comments : 11

Do we need to crank up the volume or turn it down when we all gig ?

Ok this is very subjective but I'd like to know people's opinions on volumes at a pub gig. Are we all simply too loud ? Are we too quiet? what is the happy medium ? Does live music become an uncomfortable experience when the volume's cranked up ? What do you think ?

Steve,
Cornerstones.

Comments

# Posted by Angel Of Sin - 14/08/2009, 12:56 (GMT)

I think most bands have the FOH volume level about right. Many are badly mixed or have guitar and/or bass backline too loud though. Just my opinion.
Jon

# Posted by 45's (RICK) - 14/08/2009, 13:07 (GMT)

I always take my ear plugs just in case. I don't like to tell bands that they're too loud in case they're offended but if someone told my band that we were too high or low, i would appreciate the comment and adjust accordinally. I think it's always worth checking with the audiance though.

Rick.

# Posted by Viva La Coldplay - 14/08/2009, 13:38 (GMT)

You can't turn a drummer down tho! :)

# Posted by Bad Horsie (Mick) - 14/08/2009, 13:45 (GMT)

If your drummer is an amateur cannoneer like ours, it's a fine line to walk. We generally find a way of not being too loud though. I'm very conscious of it because we play pubs, and punters don't always like a wall of 6 guitar speakers attempting to extract their tonsils via their eardrums.

# Posted by Bad Horsie (Mick) - 14/08/2009, 13:55 (GMT)

"# Posted by The 45'S covers Band - 14/08/2009, 13:07 (GMT)

I always take my ear plugs just in case. I don't like to tell bands that they're too loud in case they're offended"

At the end of the day mate, we're there to please the punters, not the other way round.

When Twin Lizzy played the Hop Pocket, the bass was too low in the mix by a mile (general concensus). I told Roj, Roj told the sound guy, who looked OFFENDED. lmao!

# Posted by Blind Justice (Sarah) - 14/08/2009, 16:00 (GMT)

Depends on the venue. Some venues ask you to keep the volume at an acceptable level, others listen to crowd and ask you to turn it up. I think most of us get it right......
........you can always use the age old method....if the audiences ears are bleeding you're probably too loud :)

# Posted by Drum Bloke - that bloke that d... - 14/08/2009, 16:14 (GMT)

Yes turn it down please...

# Posted by The Kerbcrawlers - 14/08/2009, 17:01 (GMT)

We're lucky in that our drummer mainly uses a quite high end Roland electronic kit. Two grand or so spent really wisely. Our ears don't ring on stage anymore and we can get a consistent onstage sound, so the backline stays at a sensible volume. Easy to get a really good mix too. We can play at almost practice level if the venue really badly needs us to.

Every sound in the wrold you could want, too...

# Posted by markk (Vankwish) - 14/08/2009, 22:24 (GMT)

i dont think all bands are too loud, alot of the problems is that 'some' musicians are practically deaf ! hence they play loud so they can hear it themselves, thus being very loud off stage !

# Posted by Black Rose Roj - 16/08/2009, 11:35 (GMT)

Simple fact, We play at a volume that is acceptable to the venue, crowd and band. It's bloody stupid playing at level that hurts everybody's ears. I can't stand it if our stage sound to to loud, it ruins the whole show..

# Posted by SABRE - 16/08/2009, 15:19 (GMT)

cornerstones play at a lower level and consequently need a very volume sensitive drummer to bring the whole thing into balance, this does matter in cornerstones, you can allways turn up a bit for the larger venues,

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