Most of you are familiar, I'm sure, with the NRA's stance on gun control. Is it EAW, EV, JBL or Meyer's fault that people are losing their hearing due to the misuse of these manufacturers’ products? Of course not.

Is it the SR company's fault? Maybe. Is it the client’s fault for asking us to do something we should know better than doing? Definitely.

But in the end it is the responsibility of the person with their fingers on the faders. Should government get involved in regulating SPL at venues? Well, they already have, and with mixed reviews on their techniques.

Not long ago I did a gig on the Boston Common on a Saturday afternoon. After our soundcheck, a man with a Radio Shack SPL meter came up to me and my A2, and sternly warned us that the PA could be no louder than 80db.

After we asked "Who are you?"(he worked for the parks department) - I asked him 80db “A” or “C” weighted, and where his measurement would be from. He had no idea why this mattered, and warned me he would be measuring from wherever he felt it necessary. I then asked him if he was aware that he had been talking to me over nearby traffic noise, and he himself had been louder than 80db.

This, of course, seemed to him to be a defiant type of question and he snarled and walked away. I told the client about this, and explained the risk of a fine, if we couldn't get the guy to understand his responsibility as "SPL watchdog". The client didn't care, said they would pay any fine, and I mixed while my A2 dealt with the parks guy.

My point is that it is the responsibility of the engineer to protect his/her hearing and promote the safety of the audience. If the client demands volume, with no regard to safety, maybe they shouldn't be a client. Do you really want to work for someone that puts you in danger of cutting your career short?

Fletcher and Munson proved that frequency response becomes flatter at higher volume. Maybe this is why some engineers mix so loud. They can't hear the subtlety of the mix in the first place and couldn't do a well balanced mix to save their career. These guys make pros look bad and help hype the client into thinking louder is better.

We live sound engineers have a moral and ethical obligation to deliver a quality product without endangering those that our profession relies on.


Posted by Tom Young on November 23, 1999

Right on. This issue has been surfacing on this board and others, in conversation and in the press for a long time. And still we are not dealing with it ourselves and anyone can see that it will become necessary for laws to be written (and clauses in contracts) due to more lawsuits being filed.

Just to throw in one more analogy: Car manufacturers are not held liable for producing vehicles able to far exceed the highest of speed limits. The driver is responsible.

Tom Young


Posted by Mike Russell on November 23, 1999

I think it's the listeners’ responsibility to protect their hearing. Anyone who goes to a concert should know that it can get loud, that's just common sense. Maybe the venues should have hearing protection available for the audience and leave it up to them to choose for themselves.

My 1/2 cent
Mike Russell


Posted by Charlie Escher on November 23, 1999

Hopefully not off topic, but auto racing has been dealing with SPL regulation for many years. The CART race I attended last year had ear plugs conspicuously for sale (for a buck I believe). VIP ticket holders got them for free with their tickets. Not many people there failed to use protection, at least close to the track where I was. I couldn't handle the SPL for even a minute sans protection during the race. These guys get away with very high levels, presumably sound companies have similar constraints and rights? Just food for thought...


Posted by Jim Gould on November 23, 1999

I feel the whole thing about level has to be controlled, or someone will do it for us.I do think that, when most people come to a rock show, they expect it to be loud. I guess the question should be what is loud.

It is a matter of what you are used to, I think. Not that long ago, I put a very potent system in a church. The purpose of the system was to have the ability to do concert levels in a 1200 person sanctuary. I remember talking with the commitee and some of the older members were concerned that it would be loud.

I asked them loud in comparison to what? Would it be louder that what you listen to your car radio at or your tv? Yes louder than that. Would it be louder than a normal theatrical performance? No that is what it was meant to do. It was also designed to make the seats rattle with special effects for dramas and things. I have mixed all types of bands for many years, and it is easier to be too loud these days that it ever was.

I have always watched the crowd. I can tell when it is getting to the point of too much. So much of it to me is very frequency dependent. I have heard mixes of 100db that hurt me, and mixes of 110db that sounded very good. I think the main thing missing in a lot of the time is basic good musical taste.

I do not, and never will, wear earplugs when mixing. If I could find some that kept the tonality exactly as it is without them, I may, but so far no good. My ears, seasoned as they may be, are the best judge, and if I am being hurt by it, it is too loud.