Best approach to counter noise complaints.

[funkymook]

My local pub/music venue has just been officially advised one local resident has been keeping a log of loud music and has complained.

Obviously compromises must be made - has anyone had experience of how best to phrase a reply and be seen to be offering a solution?

I'm thinking of advising that live music will end at 11pm and DJ's will be routed via a limiter/compressor set to a reasonable level (from the log it appears it's bass from the DJ sets that's the problem).

Any hints, tips, legal advice etc would be welcome.

[lazersounds]

Tell the misrable sod to move lol

But to be serious, the suggestions you have already said or the venue to install their own sound system with built in compression, I work at a wedding venue and I plug my mixer directly into a rack which limits how loud I can go, is very expensive mind, and not gonna be something a landlord can probably afford.


Its does a great job, no sound can be heard outside and if anyone moans to turn the music up, I just explain that i'm limited. No watching the meter all night and no chance of being cut off, just cut down lol

I was under the impression nothing could be done until 11pm anyway which is why many venues ask you lower the volume after this time, not 100% on this though

[funkymook]

Tell the misrable sod to move lol

But to be serious, the suggestions you have already said or the venue to install their own sound system with built in compression, I work at a wedding venue and I plug my mixer directly into a rack which limits how loud I can go, is very expensive mind, and not gonna be something a landlord can probably afford.


Its does a great job, no sound can be heard outside and if anyone moans to turn the music up, I just explain that i'm limited. No watching the meter all night and no chance of being cut off, just cut down lol

I was under the impression nothing could be done until 11pm anyway which is why many venues ask you lower the volume after this time, not 100% on this though

First thing I checked was the 11pm point - but frequently occurring noise at any time can be viewed as a nuisance apparently.

[Jonathan Ford]

I had a similar problem in a restaurant I used to co-own. While looking at dealing with the problem at source through limiters etc., it's also worth looking at the building itself to work out where the noise is escaping from. We hired a consultancy called Vibrock (http://www.vibrock.com/consultancy.p...noise-services) who advised some simple measures that helped. For example, changing the angle on some wall mounted speakers, we lined the fire doors with sheet steel which reflected the majority of noise back into the building, put some acoustic tiles in the ceiling. As long as they show that they are willingly engaging with the process, the local authority is likely to be reasonable

[Shakermaker Promotions]

Martin, I have experience of this and it's almost an exact same scenario.
I have been DJing at my local now for around 8 years with no problems at all.
There used to be one guy who lived over the road that complained whenever and wherever possible. The pub is opposite a police station and next door to the council offices.
The funny thing is, the guy used to complain on a regular basis BEFORE the pub ever had Discos or live music.
In the end the guy moved away and the complaints stopped.
Funny thing is, at the end of the car park there used to be a car showroom but that got knocked down and houses were built on the plot. There has not been 1 complaint as far as I know and those houses are nearer to the pub than the house where the guy used to complain.
About a year ago the pub installed a sound limiter to show the council that they were aware that volumes could be loud. I went in one day and pumped up the volume so that the settings could be set on the limiter. It was stupidly loud and much louder than I would normally have it but the council were happy after doing checks.
The rules state (in this pub) that Discos have to finish at Midnight (unless it's Christmas Eve or New Years Eve) and Karaokes and Live Music have to finish at 11.00pm.

I think the best bet would be for the venue to install a limiter so it shows that they are aware of the volume and are doing their best to co-operate?

[Creature]

from the log it appears it's bass from the DJ sets that's the problem

You have answered your own question ! Turn the bass down

[funkymook]

You have answered your own question ! Turn the bass down

Yep, no getting away from that. My question was how to best present it to the Council. They'll be looking for a bit more than a vague promise, a pro-active plan of action would be better. Just seeing if there's any points we haven't thought about already.