My band-spl

[BigYinUK]

Hi all and apologies for another boring spl question.

 

With all the talk of noise regs and so on and a degree of paranoia in the band about being "too loud", we took some measurements on Saturday night.

 

At the first row of tables, about 5ft from the front of the stage, I measured a peak spl of 106dbs (A weighted). Given that we are a rock band, would this be considered excessively loud ?

 

Regards

[Mr.Si]

It's not excessively loud.

 

It's likely that a lot of that sound could've been direct from the stage.

 

I'd be more interested in the L_eq (Averaged over a period of time - which you can set - provided your meter can do this).

All the Peak means is exactly that, a peak sound level at a particular moment in time. Peaks and troughs are nice in music, rather than a wall of constant noise.

 

It also depends on the size of the venue which will deem how acceptable it is.

 

Just a couple of initial thoughts to get some sort of ball rolling.

[BigYinUK]

It's not excessively loud.

 

It's likely that a lot of that sound could've been direct from the stage.

 

I'd be more interested in the L_eq (Averaged over a period of time - which you can set - provided your meter can do this).

All the Peak means is exactly that, a peak sound level at a particular moment in time. Peaks and troughs are nice in music, rather than a wall of constant noise.

 

It also depends on the size of the venue which will deem how acceptable it is.

 

Just a couple of initial thoughts to get some sort of ball rolling.

 

Not sure if my meter can do that but we'll have a play this weekend. In smaller venues the PA is only used for vocals + kick, so as you say most of the noise was coming from the backline and drums.

 

Good to know that a 106db peak is not excessive - We didn't have any complaints about volume either from punters or the management but still the band (less myself) are paranoid about being too loud. I've been in rock bands since aged 17 though and we're a lot quieter than I've played in my "youth". :)

 

tx for the comment.

[Simon Lewis]

Just bear in mind that what you mean by "peak" (I suspect the highest reading that your meter showed when the set to "fast") and what Mr Si meant (probably the instantaneous C-weighted peak sound pressure level) are different - possibly by 10 or 15dB depending upon the source material. The peak level is higher than the maximum SPL on "fast". /pedant.

 

106dB(A) SPL isn't that loud by rock band standards, but if in employment, then under the new regs you would be allowed to listen to that (without hearing protection) for 3.75 minutes in a day that was otherwise quiet. You can average it over a week as well.

 

No wonder they gave us 2 years to come up with a "solution"...

 

Simon

[foh_al]

under the new regs you would be allowed to listen to that (without hearing protection) for 3.75 minutes in a day that was otherwise quiet.

 

Now that really puts things into perspective!

[Jivemaster]

Too loud for you?

Too loud for the punters?

Too loud for the venue management?

Too loud according to regulations?

 

Four very separate questions and likely four very different answers!

 

106 is nothing specially loud for a rock band and afficionados probably want more. The venue management probably want less so they can hear at the bar, the incoming noise regs prob want less to avoid hearing damage over a working lifetime.

 

It's worthwhile to aim for a little less sound, within the artistic limits you have. Most aging rockers are deaf because of ridiculous on stage and rehearsal levels.

 

Your first immediate problem is venues that have power-off sound limiters, these you can watch the indicators. The next happenings willl be when a noise specialist does noise surveys including you. There will be better trained people and better measuring.

[BigYinUK]

Too loud for you?

Too loud for the punters?

Too loud for the venue management?

Too loud according to regulations?

 

Four very separate questions and likely four very different answers!

 

106 is nothing specially loud for a rock band and afficionados probably want more. The venue management probably want less so they can hear at the bar, the incoming noise regs prob want less to avoid hearing damage over a working lifetime.

 

It's worthwhile to aim for a little less sound, within the artistic limits you have. Most aging rockers are deaf because of ridiculous on stage and rehearsal levels.

 

Your first immediate problem is venues that have power-off sound limiters, these you can watch the indicators. The next happenings willl be when a noise specialist does noise surveys including you. There will be better trained people and better measuring.

 

A very useful reply Jivemaster. (and thanks to others for their replies)

 

Too loud for me - Definitely NOT. I mixed it and judged it to be about right. I've been doing this 32 years after all but never felt the need for a dB meter.

 

Too loud for the punters - Some maybe, some definitely not. Deaf rocker that I am, I am constantly surprised by how loud some of the younger bands are.

 

Too loud for the venue management - Not in the case of Sunday night when we did our first measurement. They were quite happy with it. Other pubs have complained on occaision which is why we wanted to do some measurements to get a feel for "how loud is loud ? etc ". It may be that we have been louder in the past without really realising it.

 

Too loud according to regulations - Now that is another can of worms altogether.