"You're not f'd up enough...." *psssht*
Any further yowls will be far more primal, and we'll 'relocate'....😏
Why does rock concert sound suck?
I have been to two rock concert in the past year : Brit Floyd in Bridgeport CT and Eric Clapton at Madison Square Garden, NYC (last Monday)
For Brit Floyd I was about 40 feet form the stage and treble end was an ear-splitting distorted sound - the soprano solo on Dark Side of the Moon sounded like a chain saw running at 5x speed.
For Eric Clapton I was sitting at floor level about 20 rows behind the mixing desk - i.e., the opposite end from the stage. In this case the high top end was not so distorted, but the voices were still very harsh - seemingly a massive response peak at ~1500hz. Imagine AM radio with the treble turned up 20db.
I knew a lot of the words form the songs ahead of time of course, and just about recognized them, but otherwise the lyrics were unintelligible. The only exceptions were when he sang a quieter song - e.g., “Tears in Heaven” . Clapton moved back from the mic rather than place his mouth right next to it. Then the sound was quite listenable .
Of course managing the acoustics in such a big venue is no doubt a challenge — but does it have to be this bad?
Showing 4 responses by asvjerry
@77jovian , down with that....👍 Living where we do, most concerts are min. 2+ hours away (Raleigh/Durham, Charlotte, Knoxville...Atlanta is an overnight, and it had better be 'early seat pick') If I expect it to be an issue, we don't go. So much easier to cue up a file of some source and enjoy it on my own sound reinforcement...and my own 'mix'. ;) Don't have to tip-toe through the too-tripped with beer at ridiculous $s', can light up something of a non-retail variety without making the 'down-wind' crowd start head swiveling for source, Sal stoner with gal Sally either howling like wolves or loud on the cells... I often wished for a jar of ether with a battery fan....My version of The Cone of Silence...*L* That, and aerosol LSD... |
I’ve become very picky over the venue choice v. the performance to be attended. Leaning towards smaller halls, outdoor venues, and who is headlined and what they do.... Larger venues, esp. outdoors, draw fans that either spend too much time on a cell or loud chatting with whomever you came with. Esp. with the $ for even a mediocre seat (tending to under a balcony or nosebleed... The cheers/yowling of the audience is my downfall, the 'beige racket' typically louder than the flown drivers on stage. I've literally had my ears go 'pop' and toss the towel. Between that and loud machinery, my hearing required earplugs, later aids for just the day by day... I’ve been to enough concerts over the span to ’who/where’ determines go or no go. Fortunately, more good than awful. The occasional ’flawless’: Paul Simon, Cyntia Woods Pav., north of Houston. Terrific thunderstorm prior to and delaying the opening of the set, we watched as the front rolled in, soaked Everyone (we had grown a brain, rented chairs and brought a tarp (had noted the forecast and the radar...). Opened with ’rainforest noodling’, perfect choice that brought cheers... Talking Heads~David Byne: Previous at the Greek Theatre, Berkeley, Byne twice right here in AVL, small hall. Both times, front row balcony dead center. Pefect. Others: Anything Bill Graham had anything to do with back in the Bay Area.....within ’practical limits’... I suspect all had their own mix crew, sure sounded that way... |
@waytoomuchstuff , Right Arm!...uh, I mean, On....*L* ;) A few years back, Smashing Pumpkins played a local small venue louder than flesh 'n feathers could stand. Inside, you could yell at lungs's top to the person next to you and not be understood...misunderstood, Yes... "I NEED TO TAKE A PISS!" (spouse) "WHA....? YOU WANT HIS WHAT??1" 3 deep on the sidewalk outside had a better 'experience'...*L* At least Pink Floyd was enjoyable in contrast, even when the rain came and went....while it poured, the inflatable pig over the infield crowd appeared to be urinating on the people below, a goofy sight to see and recall even now.... ;) @ the BMG 'The Complex' show attended @ CWP/HOU, smallish attendance for a not so large outdoor facility. BMG show opens with a pair of reader boards left and right stage that initially started a conversation with each other. One began to play the 'victim', a bit of bitch and moan about this 'n that. The conversation began to draw in the audience for yay 'n nays, which led into the performance... Talk about an unusual 'warm-up' act....*L* And some things should just be played loud, just because. The Cult > She Sells Sanctuary is one....Prodigy's Narayan is another.. The latter has a nice 'growl' goin' from the woofs... But....too much has this 'additive effect'....makes you play chit like this at the stoplight, windows down, cranked..... Trampsta>Work (Tell me it doesn't make you want to dance...yeah....*L*) |