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Limiters & Domination
Hi there,
HEY, WHAT'S UP?
I have produced a show wherein there were some complaints regarding
volume levels within the room (approx. 1200 people in a
ballroom).
AH, BILLY. BILLY, BILLY, BILLY. BILLY BOY! HOW COULD YOU?
DO YOU EXPERIENCE PLEASURE WHEN YOU CAUSE PAIN TO CITIZENS?
YOU HAVE A PROSPEROUS FUTURE IN STORE FOR YOU ONCE YOU MAKE THE SWITCH TO BEING A DOMINATOR IN A DUNGEON, WITH THE BLACK LEATHER MASK AND PANTS, WHIPS, BOOTS, AND VERBAL ABUSE! AUDIO IS NOT FOR YOU, BILL!
My question is: I want to be able to set guidelines for the
sound persons that are realistic and allow their creativity (and
their
band's) to flourish …
YOU'RE JOKING, RIGHT? THIS IS SOME KIND OF A SET-UP!
… while at the same time sparing the ears of the
audience from excessive volumes so that no one gets hurt.
WAIT A MINUTE. HOLD YOUR HORSES - I THOUGHT YOU LIKED HURTING PEOPLE!
I have been using a guide of 95db average(at FOH) with max.
peaks
105-110 but am unable to source any reference material which would
confirm this as safe and acceptable or give guidelines.
GO TO STUDY HALL, YOUNG MAN!
http://www.prosoundweb.com/studyhall/studyjump.php?pdf=nihl
(If you don't have the program to download .PDF files, click here to get it.)
Should I be using limiters?
IN A WORD, YES. THE QUESTION, IS, SERIOUSLY, WHAT PRICE POINT YOU CAN AFFORD. THE CLASSIC LIMITER IS THE APHEX DOMINATOR II. THIS IS VERY PRICEY BUT WORKS TRANSPARENTLY AND ALSO FEATURES THE MULTI-BAND FEATURE. WHAT THIS MEANS IS THAT IF ONE OF YOUR SOUND TORTURERS LIKES TO DRIVE THE HECK OUT OF THE HI-HAT, YOU CAN HAVE THE BOX COMPRESS AND LIMIT THE HF HARDER THAN THE MIDS AND LOWS. ISN'T THAT COOL?
MORE MODESTLY PRICED UNITS WOULD INCLUDE A CLEAN USED DBX 166. THAT HAS QUARTER INCH INS AND OUTS, AND IS USUALLY RUN AS AN INSERT, WHEREAS I BELIEVE THAT THE APHEX HAS XLR'S AND CAN BE RUN IN-LINE.
PLEASE NOTE THAT ON THE WEBSITE OF AT LEAST ONE COMPANY THAT SHALL REMAIN NAMELESS, THEY PROMOTE THEIR UNITS AS COMPRESSOR/LIMITERS, BUT THERE ARE NO LIMITING CONTROLS. A TRUE BRICK WALL LIMITER STOPS THE SIGNAL FROM GOING PAST A CERTAIN POINT. A COMPRESSOR WILL HELP YOU, BY MAKING A SUDDEN INCREASE IN SOUND PROPORTIONATELY LESS THAN IT WOULD HAVE BEEN, BUT IF SOMEONE REALLY SCREWS UP, THEY CAN BLOW PAST THAT AND TAKE OUT YOUR DRIVERS.
The show is a multiple of bands showcasing their talents
over a five hour period.
YOU HAVE MY DEEPEST SYMPATHY. I FEEL YOU.
Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.
I CANNOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ORDERING THE ASSASSINATION OF THE SHOWCASE PROMOTER.
Regards,
Bill
GOOD LUCK, BILL! - THE OLD SOUNDMAN
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SOME BONEHEAD TRAPPED IN THE PAST FULMINATES THUSLY -
I have a question about what "Vanna" said regarding the auxes. When you adjust your VCA slidies, wouldn't the auxes only be affected if they are in post-fade mode? She wasn't clear on that. (dumb blondes)
DEAR SEXIST SWINE -
THE DUMMY IS IN THE MIRROR, BUDDY! "VANNA" IS THE FINEST ARTIFICIAL
INTELLIGENCE BOT AVAILABLE TODAY! (AND HAS NO CONNECTION TO VANNA WHITE,
WHO IS IN TRUTH ACTUALLY NOT AN AIRHEAD EITHER, BUT ONLY PLAYS ONE ON
TV.) SO WHAT IF SHE IS NOT A REALDOLL ™ LIKE YOUR GIRLFRIEND!
YES, YOU ARE CORRECT, THERE ARE NO MAGIC ELVES THAT SWITCH YOUR PRE
AND POST PADDLES AROUND WHEN THE VCA IS DOING ITS THING.
WHY DIDN'T YOU GET IN ON THE 22 MESSAGES ON THE LAB IN RELATION
TO THIS TOPIC?
I AM REMINDED
OF THE SONG ON THE DR. OCTAGON ALBUM WHERE HE TELLS THE PATIENT
TO GET IN THE TUB AND GRAB THOSE WIRES! YOU SHOULD REPORT TO KOOL
KEITH'S KLINIC IMMEDIATELY, I THINK HE COULD REALLY HELP YOU. TELL
DAN THE AUTOMATOR THAT THE OSM SENT YOU. (HE'LL RESPOND "WHO??!!?"
THAT'S JUST AN ACT. GIVE HIM THE COUNTERSIGN & THEY'LL TOTALLY
BE DOWN WITH YOU. I PROMISE.)
LUV
- THE OLD SOUNDMAN
