Sound at Baybeats Powerhouse Stage

[hardpan]

So is it just me or are the sound levels at Baybeats (in particular the Powerhouse stage) really soft? I was there just now standing right in the middle of the crowd, well within coverage of the line arrays, and pretty much all I could hear was kick drum and bass. Everything else sounded like it was coming off the stage. Guitars were terribly muddy, toms sounded like plastic, vocals were not cutting through at all.

Apparently NEA came down with their SPL meters on Friday and told Esplanade that the levels were too loud and people in the nearby buildings were complaining? Anybody know anything about this?

Love Me Butch brought their own engineer and I could tell he was trying his best to get a balanced mix even with the tight control of SPL limits, and it paid off, the LMB set was great! I just hope when Anberlin play tomorrow, the sound system will do them justice.

Does anyone else feel the same way?

 

[RolandLim]

Hey Hardpan

what u apparently heard is true , unfortunately NEA did come down and told the baybeats people that either they turn it down or the festival would be shut down.

 

[soft]

The sound was indeed soft.

In fact, the left speakers went out a few times when I was there.

They should have added some 'delay clusters' to fill the area. No need relay on the main spk to throw.

Roland, do you know what is the SPL they were limited to?

 

[RolandLim]

The sound was indeed soft.

In fact, the left speakers went out a few times when I was there.

They should have added some 'delay clusters' to fill the area. No need relay on the main spk to throw.

^ they wouldn't have needed to use delay clusters if they were allowed to operate at the optimum level. Their main speakers are underpowered cos they have to keep the spl down and that results in muddiness and a flatness in the sound

 

[soft]

If they are not allowed to play the main speakers at optimum level, they would need to have more small speakers spread among the audience.

When the FOH engineer turned on his monitors, it was louder than the signal coming from the FOH speakers. I was standing in front of him.

 

[hardpan]

'Throw' is never an issue for line arrays man. That's the whole reason why they were developed, to be able to 'throw' sound evenly over long distances.
If ever something was to be added, I think it should have been side fills to cover the crowd that was spilling onto the left.

Using my ears as an SPL meter, I reckon the max SPL was probably only about 90dB. I think the services in my church run even louder than that man.

 

[kadense]

I could still have a proper phone conversation during Opposition Party's set. =_=
And it's been so many years! why are they only nit-picking now? or have there actually been cases like this in the past?

 

[kerplunk182]

I remember there was a noise level issue 2 at the Baybeats 07.

 

[biopromax]

There have been complaints on 'noise' from the neighbouring hotels/appartments, especially for places like Youth Park.

During LMB set just now, it was super soft. Those are the far left or right, couldnt hear anything loud.

I think its not noise, its music. Why are the people actually complaining?

 

[MadWerewolfBoy]

Oh, talking about soft..

Volume for friday's Great Spy's set was totally over the top halfway through their set. Everything was so pumped up, there was mic feedback when nothing was played, and yet the vocals were drowned during each song. I was wondering whether the sound peeps were testing out the limit for the stage. imo, a lil overdone. It was most probably this incident that caused NEA to step in.

Saturday's Opposition Party was soft and it was kinda disappointing for a thrash metal act. Only things I hear are frequencies below 150Hz. Glad the sound guys turned up all the 3 mics' volume after their 1st song though, but still, needed to concentrate to hear toms and guitar solos near the far-center of stage

 

[BleedsNoMore]

Well, surprisingly, i was watching Beat!'s performance, and i believe the levels were pretty much higher than those at powerhouse.. and it stretches till 1am, so i don't think it's justifiable if they said it's too loud for powerhouse..

really disappointing!

 

[vx02]

apparently, alot of the complaints were from residents of The Sail (hearsay, citations required). It might get alot worse when the IR is completed. they might even have to move baybeats to a entirely new location. my guess.

 

[Dalif_Murderdoll]

It is relatively soft,to be honest and i honestly cannot fathom as to why the NEA thingys made a ruckus and said that it was above the noise level.They are insane in the membrane,for all i care.Even when Meza Virs was in,i actually had to strain a little just to hear the music and I guess this incident shows just how "open" Singapore is.Loosen the tie boppers,its only once a year!

 

[machinegrace]

We want it that way and We want it now.

We should have Machine Head and Lamb Of God play our Baybeats next year.

 

[bigblackbear]

audiocean lead guitarist no sound from him

 

[Gr3y]

it just came to my mind.. what about our biggest birthday celebration? Is that going to be soften down too? I guess the blackbirds will have to fly way way higher next time!

 

[kadense]

today's sound was a lot better, thank God. wonder what changed..

 

[hardpan]

Thank God today was so much better. Just hope the NEA won't kick up a fuss after the sound levels today.

 

[biopromax]

I guess some of the esplanade crews saw this forum ah.. Well done, today's sound is much much better! And not to say, the lightings, MASSIVE!!!!

 

[l0u5y]

all the performances i went too were seriously too soft. Nea can go screw themselves man. bet they dun even understand the fundamentals of sound propagation, just bring their microphones and see the VU meters and say too loud. Even the concourse was so dam soft. No one can hear shit.