Silly Question Time!!

[Shakermaker Promotions]

I know this will probably sound like one of the silliest questions ever but I'll ask it anyway.

The other week when I was doing a wedding for DJ Frankie's sister, the venue I was had a handheld sound limiter type thing. It didn't cut the volume or anything but someone was always on hand with it and if the volume got too loud, they would let me know.

It was set at 90db which was ok actually and I think I hit 98db at one point. It was a fair sized marquee so I thought it was fine.

Over the next few months, I have a number of bookings at a venue near to me. One of the bookings is this weekend. The last time I was at this venue was a couple of years ago and there wasn't a sound limiter. I visited the venue yesterday and now it has one installed. I asked what the level was set at and it's 105db apparently. It is the traffic light system. This venue is also smaller than the marquee that I played in.

So....I know it sounds silly but compared to sound limiters that some of you have had to endure before, is 105db loud enough not to cause any problems? I think it's probably common sense on my part that 90db in a bigger venue with no problems means that 105db in a smaller venue should be ok?

What do you think?
What's the lowest db sound level that you have had to deal with?

Cheers

[Corabar Entertainment]

The lowest one we've ever encountered was set at 85 dB - with the mic right next to where the DJ was set up, in a reasonably-sized venue.

It was a real pain with people complaining about how quiet it was and asking us to turn it up all the time - So much so, that you couldn't really hear what was playing at the back of the venue!!!!!

Needless to say, we stopped playing there many years ago.

Actually, I haven't heard anything about the venue for a couple of years, so maybe they've given up trying!!

[Booche]

Just remember that the first venue you as at was a Marquee so you will lose sound were as in a hall,room etc the sound will bounce back so just watch the levels

Sorry it's not very helpfull advice :D

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

http://www.rcaanews.org/noiselev.htm

That might help Gary.

[WWDJ]

Wow! so a set of RCF 722A's 130db @ 1m (which you could quite easily be close depending on the setup scenario) are as loud as

Military jet aircraft take-off from aircraft carrier with afterburner at 50 ft . . . 130 dB :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

[Shakermaker Promotions]

Thanks Darren....interesting (and quite funny actually). Judging by the charts on that link, 105db should be ok I think.

Booche - Yeah, I kind of understood that mate and I suppose it depends on where the mic is situated too. As I said, the marquee had a hand held sound level meter and she was more or less hanging around the dancefloor and me throughout the evening. I can't see there being a problem really but if there is, it will give some idea for the other bookings.

[addoaddo]

Sound levels are only relevant compared to the actual location. For example next to your speakers you could easily be over 105db but at the other end of the hall it might be less than 85db.
85db is the magic number for working staff. Above this level extra protection is needed. This is measured where they work so not next to your speakers. (Actcual measurement is a weighted average)

My guess is that as long as it is not next to your speakers your should have not problem but is it always worth pushing your system before the start just to see how far you can go.