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So how long have you been a sound engineer for? It was so we didnt sound like a band in the corner.. I think you may have missed the part at the end where we said we turned all the drums out of the pa and we were still too loud.. apparently..
I can't see how a drumkit can be tiring and deafening unless the drummer has no sense of dynamics and just full on belts the living daylights out of his kit - in which case I wouldn't want to be working with him.
For us, the idea of mic'ing everything up isn't to be louder, it's to have more control, and to allow us to be quieter on stage - back line amps don't need to be anything like as loud when in effect they are mostly just monitors for the band cos the PA is handling the FOH sound. Quieter on-stage levels = drummer not having to take to his kit like he's trying to get it small enough to fit in the recycling bin.
EDIT: For me, our drums sound better in the mix when they go through the PA than they do on their own trying to compete with vocals etc
Learning how to tune kit, and having right kit for bands sound also helps. I do agree that it's a bit dependant on music genre, just that after all these years guitarists have used pedals to get their sound at lower volumes for consistency, but a lot of drummers are still stuck in the dark ages.
I have total control over the mix and have years of experience live and in the studio, and it works very well.
I know I'm playing devil's advocate here on a musician's forum, but I think a lot of bands totally lack empathy with the real audience in front of them sometimes, and end up playing the type of gig they wish it was rather than what's really in front of them.
If you play in a covers band you will sometimes end up playing to an audience who wish there wasn't a band at all, but it's your job to make it work. These people don't care about your onstage mix, or whether your cymbals are overwhelming your toms, they want you to be entertaining and not too bloody loud!
Yes, I know drums sound better miked, I've been doing this for years, but it also makes them louder, and hearing musicians say they MUST have this or that in order to perform at their best when it's contrary to the requirements of the gig or desire of the audience is why I used the word "conceited".
Anyway, back to the topic...
My band - Crimson on Silver For sale - Blackstar HT-5S
Gear - Guitars, amps, effects and shizz. Edited for Phil_aka_Pip, who is allergic to big long lists.
I've experienced much of this too. Got asked at a venue to turn down because people couldn't hear themselves talking!!! #-o
A good tip when faced with sound limiters, is to say " Yes i'll plug my rig into it, after you sign this contract taking responsibility for any damage it causes my gear!" And having the mains pulled WILL damage something, so don't ever use them.
You will sometimes get the odd arse hole who will say "If you don't plug into it you don't play!" That's when it's good to be able to say "I can either play and get paid, or you can send me home and i'll sit in front of my telly and wait for the Equity/Musicians Union solicitors to get me paid!"
This kind of thing is great to keep up your sleeve purely as a last resort. But you should try to be as accommodating as possible first. More often than not a compromise can be reached. There is a fine line between being a prick, and justifiably standing your ground.
Seriously: If you value it, take/fetch it yourself
Seriously: If you value it, take/fetch it yourself