Volume...

sundodger5

not sure if this can be answered... but here goes.
now do you judge when playing live if you are too loud or not loud enough as the case may be.
I appreciate this would not be an issue if you have a guy on a desk FOH.
Would be interested to hear opinions.
Thanks

off.the.walls

I'm a sound engineer and its simple when your practicing songs you should also practice your group dynamics eg who plays loud and in which part of the song that they play loud in. If your amp is too loud usually we will tell you to turn it down or turn it up. If its too loud you will be able to hear it on the stage and if its not loud enough you wont evenhear it threw your monitor without some serious feedback.

maccored

im not a sound engineer (say that up front). Normally I'd see whats its like without having the kit mic'd and build everything around that and eventually mic up the kit if needs be. really depends how big the venue is and how far you need the sound to travel. off.the.walls mention of dynamics would make perfect sense as well.

sundodger5

Thanks for the replies was more aiming at the overall volume from the PA.
I do one man band and have to try to judge from behind the speakers.
Dont want to be too loud but need to have enough to fill the place.
Was gonna invest in a Db meter if it would add some science to it..

off.the.walls

sundodger5 wrote: »

Thanks for the replies was more aiming at the overall volume from the PA.
I do one man band and have to try to judge from behind the speakers.
Dont want to be too loud but need to have enough to fill the place.
Was gonna invest in a Db meter if it would add some science to it..

Thats a waste a money just get one of your mates to stand front of house about 4 feet from the speakers and have him judge it by ear. If its to loud he can tell you what to turn up and down. Be alot cheaper than investing in a db meter.

The_D_Man

Weve a serious problem with our drummer. He doesnt use electric drums so then, the guitars and p.a have to be turned up a **** load even to be heard which just turns the sound into a mush. Anyone any suggestions?

off.the.walls

The_D_Man wrote: »

Weve a serious problem with our drummer. He doesnt use electric drums so then, the guitars and p.a have to be turned up a **** load even to be heard which just turns the sound into a mush. Anyone any suggestions?

Get toilet paper and sellotape and then on the outter rim of the skins on the inside of the drum sellotape the toilet paper to the skin that'll dampen the drums down for cymballs put duck tape on the underside of the cymballs that'll deaden them out and if you turn everything up then it'll just sound muffled ya should use the pa to boost instead of turning up amps.

sundodger5

off.the.walls wrote: »

Thats a waste a money just get one of your mates to stand front of house about 4 feet from the speakers and have him judge it by ear. If its to loud he can tell you what to turn up and down. Be alot cheaper than investing in a db meter.

A cheap Db meter is only around 34 euro. Compared to the cost of all the other gear it would be a small price to make sure things are right. Dont always have a mate with me so have to judge myself.
Bit of a pain hence the reason for the thread.

off.the.walls

sundodger5 wrote: »

A cheap Db meter is only around 34 euro. Compared to the cost of all the other gear it would be a small price to make sure things are right. Dont always have a mate with me so have to judge myself.
Bit of a pain hence the reason for the thread.

suppose do you play in venues or is it busking that were talking about?

sundodger5

Pubs small to medium sized.