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How are concert sound guys so terrible?
Posted on 2/25/23 at 10:56 pm
Posted on 2/25/23 at 10:56 pm
Most concerts I’ve seen have decent sound, but a couple stand out as awful. One was last night in North Little Rock for Turnpike Troubadours.
Avett Brothers was an opener. They were crystal clear and plenty loud. I knew little about them, but they won me over. I could understand every word of songs I’d never heard before.
Turnpike, I know their songs and many of the lyrics. Their recordings have easy to understand vocals. But the sound last night was so distorted and shitty that some of the songs were barely recognizable. Several folks commented the same online.
How can the board guy sit there and let that kind of pure shite continue with no improvement throughout the show? I’m honestly curious as to whether they think it sounds good, have no real control, or what?
Avett Brothers was an opener. They were crystal clear and plenty loud. I knew little about them, but they won me over. I could understand every word of songs I’d never heard before.
Turnpike, I know their songs and many of the lyrics. Their recordings have easy to understand vocals. But the sound last night was so distorted and shitty that some of the songs were barely recognizable. Several folks commented the same online.
How can the board guy sit there and let that kind of pure shite continue with no improvement throughout the show? I’m honestly curious as to whether they think it sounds good, have no real control, or what?
11
Posted on 2/26/23 at 1:15 am to Twenty 49
Sound guys are the best annd most important part of a band. How do you know? They will tell you.
My opinion is most of them suck. They spend too much time look at computer screens. Why? Because their ears suck.
My opinion is most of them suck. They spend too much time look at computer screens. Why? Because their ears suck.
This post was edited on 2/26/23 at 1:16 am
Posted on 2/26/23 at 4:33 am to Twenty 49
Many of them are deaf from sitting at the board for years in front of PAs. Some are lazy from working with the same band for years. Good ones are an extension of the band and make a show. What you described is probably a combination of the two.
Example of a bad one: I saw Motley Crue last Summer and was stunned at how bad the sound was. Their show sounded like my head was stuck in the kick drum. I actually got up and left my seats and got something to eat until Def Leopard came on.
Example of a bad one: I saw Motley Crue last Summer and was stunned at how bad the sound was. Their show sounded like my head was stuck in the kick drum. I actually got up and left my seats and got something to eat until Def Leopard came on.
Posted on 2/26/23 at 5:03 am to RoscoeSanCarlos
If it’s their same sound guys they’re really good. Problem is the venue sound will override the bands sound out of pure ego. And that sucks.
Posted on 2/26/23 at 8:33 am to RoscoeSanCarlos
quote:
I saw Motley Crue last Summer and was stunned at how bad the sound was.
I saw them about 5 or 6 years ago and it was awful. Was like they were playing in mud. And it wasn’t the venue because KISS was on the bill too and they sounded fine.
Surely someone has told them how bad they sound. Do they just not listen?
Posted on 2/26/23 at 8:54 am to Twenty 49
There are infinite numbers of variables. Not all venues are built for sound. Bands travel with a whole range of equipment that may or may not accommodate what the venue is using, at least not on a 100% compatible range. Equipment ages/wears out and there might not be a high quality backup, so they use what they have. Every band's music is going to be optimal at a particular volume range and the size or shape of the venue might require pushing beyond that range.
A mix that works perfectly in a Houston open air might be worthless in Dallas, and so forth.
Probably the latter, but the instinct would be to not chase the needle. Get something that is usable and not mess with it. However, what worked in soundcheck might no longer be valid when the arena is full and buzzing and the opening act might have thrown something off. Tweaking is usually very measured and often directed by the act, based on what they hear on the monitors.
It is far more art than science in getting the mix tuned perfectly.
A mix that works perfectly in a Houston open air might be worthless in Dallas, and so forth.
quote:
I’m honestly curious as to whether they think it sounds good, have no real control, or what?
Probably the latter, but the instinct would be to not chase the needle. Get something that is usable and not mess with it. However, what worked in soundcheck might no longer be valid when the arena is full and buzzing and the opening act might have thrown something off. Tweaking is usually very measured and often directed by the act, based on what they hear on the monitors.
It is far more art than science in getting the mix tuned perfectly.
Posted on 2/26/23 at 8:56 am to RoscoeSanCarlos
quote:
Many of them are deaf from sitting at the board for years in front of PAs. Some are lazy from working with the same band for years. Good ones are an extension of the band and make a show. What you described is probably a combination of the two.
I don't disagree with this, either.
Posted on 2/26/23 at 9:26 am to Ace Midnight
quote:
Not all venues are built for sound.
People used to rag on Hirsch Coliseum in Shreveport for "bad acoustics," but I saw some shows there (AC/DC and Garth Brooks in particular) where the sound quality was amazing. AC/DC was loud AF but also crystal clear. So some sound guys are really good or at least lucky.
Municipal Auditorium in Shreveport generally has good sound, but the crew for Dwight Yoakam managed to do a horrible job. It was painfully loud and distorted. Worst I've heard there among more than 20 concerts. Dude, you don't always have to turn the knob to 11.
Posted on 2/26/23 at 4:52 pm to Twenty 49
I saw Steely Dan in New Orleans at the Lakefront arena maybe 10 years ago.
The sound for the opening song was crappy and the look on Donald Fagen's face got noticed (fire in his eyes). Withing 5 seconds a dozen or so dudes descended on the stage and started to mess with the wires.
Fagen kept playing and before the end of the opener, the fire left his eyes and a great show ensued.
The sound for the opening song was crappy and the look on Donald Fagen's face got noticed (fire in his eyes). Withing 5 seconds a dozen or so dudes descended on the stage and started to mess with the wires.
Fagen kept playing and before the end of the opener, the fire left his eyes and a great show ensued.
Posted on 2/26/23 at 7:21 pm to Ace Midnight
quote:
based on what they hear on the monitors.
IEMs are an issue. Band hears the board mix and may think it’s fine, but that does not take into account EQing the venue. What they think sounds great may not be great sounding out front.
I personally think IEMs have been a detriment to live music sound. I see bands that just send everything direct to FOH and it just sounds to tame and sterile. Drummers are the worst on IEMs. They are either too quiet or deafeningly loud ruining the whole mix.
Posted on 2/26/23 at 8:13 pm to Twenty 49
quote:
Municipal Auditorium in Shreveport generally has good sound, but the crew for Dwight Yoakam managed to do a horrible job. It was painfully loud and distorted.
I was thinking about the exact concert. Not only was Dwight utterly terrible (he seemed like he was sick and high on cough syrup or something), but the mix was AWFUL. And I thought it couldn’t get any worse than the opener…
Posted on 2/26/23 at 11:36 pm to LSUGUMBO
quote:
Not only was Dwight utterly terrible (he seemed like he was sick and high on cough syrup or something), but the mix was AWFUL.
He was sick. He mentioned something about appreciating everyone putting up with his sniffling and snorting (but I could barely understand what he said). He canceled a show a couple days later due to illness.
Posted on 2/27/23 at 3:43 pm to Twenty 49
You need your own sound man, not the venue's. And if you have your own make sure they're worth a shite.
Posted on 2/27/23 at 4:37 pm to Twenty 49
quote:
North Little Rock for Turnpike Troubadours.
We were at that show Friday night too. And II 100% agree with you. The sound for the Avett Bros was fine but the sound for Turnpike was absolutely awful. It made zero sense.
Posted on 2/27/23 at 8:27 pm to Twenty 49
Saw U2 at JerryWorld on The Joshua Tree anniversary tour. In general that stadium's sound is bad unless the roof is open - and it wasn't for this show. The first two songs of the set sounded like crap. On the third song, that sound guy got it perfect and it stayed that way the rest of the show.
I guess the sound check is one thing; once the place is full of people, it changes the sound
I guess the sound check is one thing; once the place is full of people, it changes the sound
Posted on 2/28/23 at 7:34 am to Twenty 49
I saw the Van Halen tour in 2007, first night in Charlotte. We had upper level and the sound was almost unbearable.
So much, that to this day, I don't like indoor stadium concerts. Give me the smaller outdoor venues all day.
So much, that to this day, I don't like indoor stadium concerts. Give me the smaller outdoor venues all day.
Posted on 2/28/23 at 1:20 pm to Twenty 49
I was at that show too. I really love the Turnpike Troubadours and had the same thoughts. It did seem that they got better later on in the set but starting out after the quality of the Avett Brothers production it was way too loud.
Posted on 2/28/23 at 8:39 pm to Twenty 49
jambands are easy to make fun of but...typically they care about audience sound and have made a science out of dialing in the PA to the venue. The dead spent all of their money in the 70s and 80s on concert sound and their successors have stayed with it
lights shows as well. Phish has the most sophisticated light show ever produced
lights shows as well. Phish has the most sophisticated light show ever produced
Posted on 3/1/23 at 5:39 am to SEClint
quote:
You need your own sound man, not the venue's. And if you have your own make sure they're worth a shite.
Local sound guys and production crews will absolutely frick with bands if they think the performers are dicks or prima donnas. Was listening to a couple guys joke about that at a get together just the other night.
Posted on 3/1/23 at 7:08 am to wareaglepete
quote:
I personally think IEMs have been a detriment to live music sound
disagree
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