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So we are having to cancel a gig this Friday because the venue (a lovely pub who are not to blame) have been told the noise level for a band cannot exceed 75dB.
Now I've worked with noise limiters many times and never had a problem. As a band we can go quieter and louder - but a live band with a drummer can't really go down to that level practically can they? At 75dB the people in the pub are going to be louder than the band.
The council were there last week and they stipulated 75dB in the venue and outside you should not be able to hear the band to recognise the song they are playing.
As much as we'd like the money and the fun that comes with playing live we genuinely don't think we could go that low. A single snare hit is going to be above that and to be honest our singer unamplified is probably above that (she's got a great loud voice).
Anyone else had a dB limit this low?
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Comments
Done a couple like that but the venues have agreed with the council for bands to be finished by a certain time, only turn the limiter on after the curfew.
You need to know and understand the definition of 75dB (what weight will be applied) and where it will be measured (typically at the property boundry for this type of thing).
As you point out an average crowd of drinkers are going to bust that limit inside the pub without any instrumentation whatsoever. In lots of the holiday resorts around europe the premises must be pretty soundproof and only the occasional opening of the external doors lets the noise out. It can be made to work but internally the pub will be noisy, as long as H&S protection is offered to the staff the upper limits are less critical.
P.S.
Accourding to a source I found on the interwebs. Chamber music in a small auditorium will register 75-85dB A Violin goes from 82dB to 92dB a telephone dial tone is 80dB
see here:
http://www.gcaudio.com/resources/howtos/loudness.html
So having a 'band' at 75dB is a complete nonesense and needs a better definition.
Edinburgh is set to bring in similarly stupid limits. I used to live above a pub, so I'm not unaware that excessive noise can be a problem, but I chose to live there...
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
In a band a few years back I remember a pub manager asked us to drape it over a fence so we could plug into a socket in the house next door.
It's exactly this from what I can gather.
Spoke to the landlady who confirmed there's one (new) neighbour who is complaining about the noise. The council have been round for the past few weeks whilst bands are on and have measured the sound. Stopping the band if they're too loud. She's also been measuring the sound and agrees that 75dB is far too quiet.
The pub is next to a railway station and the train noise outside the pub is louder than 75dB - I wonder if he's complained about that?
So we've cancelled and I gather they're now cancelling all bands from now on. Huge shame as it was a great venue to play.
If a venue makes no effort to contain or curtail the music beyond reasonable boundaries (e.g. insisting on closed doors/ windows whilst music is playing, music not blaring out into the early hours) AND it is generating numerous complaints from numerous residents, that is of course a different matter.
I guess it would be too much for a local council to use a bit of common sense and discretion.....
Do I sense a council cashing in here.......?
Win/ Win for the council - they placate the moaner AND still get the licence money from the venue.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
Well the landlady and agent have both been back today and really want us to play.
They are moving where the band is to the other side of the pub into an alcove bit and we are going to work with the landlady (!) to find a reasonable level.
At the end of the day we've agreed to turn up and play to the best of our abilities at the lowest volume we can with an acoustic drum kit. If it's still too loud we get paid and go home.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein