Noise Limiter Problem

[Johnny]

I play at a venue that has a noise limiter fitted; it was originally fitted because of one neighbour who kept complaining about the music level.

The company that fitted the noise limiter set the limiter to a level they felt would be acceptable to the customers of the venue, while at the same time would keep the neighbour happy. However over the coming months the neighbour kept complaining that the music coming from the venue was too loud.

Myself and a number of venue staff have over a period of a couple of months, been around to his house while a function has been in progress to see if we could hear any music and to what level the music was in his house. with no exception all of us reported that you could not hear the music in the neighbours house however, if you were in the garden you would be able to hear the music in the background.

It was at this point the venue called in the company that fitted the noise limiter to reset the limiter to a level that I consider to be too low, not only myself but their customers as well, with quite a few complaints every weekend from unhappy customers.

Now as there is only one neighbour complaining and no complaints from the other neighbours, the venue is wondering if he took his complaint to the council would they look on him as having a bad noise problem and the council taking away the venue licence for entertainment or would they see the neighbour as some unhappy person who's complaints are not justified.

I was just wondering if anyone else has come across this sort of problem and what the outcome was/could be if the neighbour went to the council.

I should add that this venue only holds normal family functions for which us mobile dj's play at.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

I think the council would send round environmental health with a noise meter and see exactly what the level is.

[Shaun]

There's a council hall just up the road from me that has a sound limiter set too low (78dB if I recall correctly). The sensor goes into orange with just the guests talking. There's also no way of bypassing the system, as the hall manager is jobsworth and thoroughly checks that everything is routed through the limiter. I just don't take bookings for that venue anymore, I've turned down 8 bookings in there so far this year....it just not worth it.

[Paul James Promotions]

There's a council hall just up the road from me that has a sound limiter set too low (78dB if I recall correctly). The sensor goes into orange with just the guests talking. There's also no way of bypassing the system, as the hall manager is jobsworth and thoroughly checks that everything is routed through the limiter. I just don't take bookings for that venue anymore, I've turned down 8 bookings in there so far this year....it just not worth it.

I feel sorry for whoever does play there. That's lower than background music level :(

[Arnold_disco]

There's a council hall just up the road from me that has a sound limiter set too low (78dB if I recall correctly). The sensor goes into orange with just the guests talking. There's also no way of bypassing the system, as the hall manager is jobsworth and thoroughly checks that everything is routed through the limiter. I just don't take bookings for that venue anymore, I've turned down 8 bookings in there so far this year....it just not worth it.

Thats just plain stupid. One person shouting could probably set that off.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Thats just plain stupid. One person shouting could probably set that off.

Shhhhhhhhhh. :p

[Shaun]

Thats just plain stupid. One person shouting could probably set that off.

It is, and it does.

Low background music is all that's possible in the venue. It's impossible to speak on the mic in the hall. It never used to be set so low, it was always around the low to mid nineties (dB) before. A vindictive resident close by soon sorted that.

[DJWayne]

It is, and it does.

Low background music is all that's possible in the venue. It's impossible to speak on the mic in the hall. It never used to be set so low, it was always around the low to mid nineties (dB) before. A vindictive resident close by soon sorted that.

Have been in the opposite position to that

A pub i used to work in regularly had complaints ffrom neighbours about the noise so they fitted a noise limiter as they were instructed to by the council. They came and installed it and the first week i worked there it wasnt calibbrated so i bypassed it as it was completely unuasable. The second week the engineer had been out and had apparently set his PA up and calibrated the limiter with loud music playing and a db meter outside the pub to ensure thhe sound wasn't travelling outside.

So i set my system up dreading having to watch the limiiter all the time as it was the type that just disconnects your mains if you play to loud. As the night went on i got louder and louder and not for the want of trying ;) i couldnt even get the limiter into the yellow let alone cause it to switch me off so what thhe neighboours were complainiing about beats me :D

[dj-jaym]

id take me generator :D

And thrash it out teach him :D

[flatliners]

i worked in a place the other week that had one but the manager told me to plug my system into a socket that was in the room where the beer was kept as they found out that socket wasnt wired up to the limiter

[sleah]

i worked in a place the other week that had one but the manager told me to plug my system into a socket that was in the room where the beer was kept as they found out that socket wasnt wired up to the limiter

That's :cool: and errrrr :cool: . At least it's not your fault if anyone complains, you were just doing as the manager asked. I like that kind of Manager:D

[Johnny]

Thanks for the replys guys, I think what Darren said will be the most likey outcome. Just hope they don't set it any lower.

[CRAZY K]

There's a council hall just up the road from me that has a sound limiter set too low (78dB if I recall correctly). The sensor goes into orange with just the guests talking. There's also no way of bypassing the system, as the hall manager is jobsworth and thoroughly checks that everything is routed through the limiter. I just don't take bookings for that venue anymore, I've turned down 8 bookings in there so far this year....it just not worth it.

This is going to go full circle.

If the local DJs and bands all refuse to play there EVENTUALLY the council will find no one is hiring the hall very often---THEN someone will have to use their common sense---but who knows if anyone has any???????:eek:

Do you suggest an alternative venue--might be worth your while--I refuse certain gigs where im told theres a limiter and suggest people shop around for somewhere else--mentioning that the LIMITER MAY RUIN their special event:eek:

No Entertainer wants to work under those conditions with an unreasonably low sound level---

What I want to know is how do Wembley Stadium get away with it?????????

Is it to do with money?:eek:

CRAZY K

[Silver]

Not wishing to go into 'I've got a bigger one than you' mode, a pub I play in once a month has the limiter set so low, if you clap your hands below it the thing hits the red. It also hits the red if you stand below it and chat! BARMY!

The company that set it are the company who supply the house sound system and I don't think they know the correct way to set the limiter up. I was told you set the limiter at whatever decibel level (94 I think) based on a reading taken 1 metre from the nearest residential property complaining about the noise.

This limiter was set at 94 db within a metre of the limiter itself, which makes it very sensitive. Now I do not know the legislation and I appreciate it could vary from council to council but this cannot be set correctly.

The pub, under it's license has to have ALL windows and doors shut while music is being played which does not make for a happy working or partying environment even with an extraction unit at max.

Even background music keeps it in the amber, sometimes red. How do I overcome it............. same as everybody else, don't use the 'limiter sockets' naughty but effective.