Whats loud ?

[onetooloud]

Due to all the noise problems around as of late I wandered what everyones feeling of what loud is to them.

Is it the 3:00 in the morning train that wakes you, the neighbors barking dog. Maybe you love metal cranked until you ears bleed. But can't stand Johnny cash at 10 miles played on a small radio.

Something which seems loud to me often is simply one frequency or one thing which I would say is tearing my head off. It could also be the whole mess.

It seems you really do need to understand whats loud to different people. Or what about something makes it loud.

I guess thats where the noise police come in at.

Along the same lines what the loudest thing you've ever heard (or felt)musical or not? For myself it would have to be high pressure natural gas escaping from a gas line saftey valve. The shockwaves kinda took my breath away.

[lonewolf]

With the PLCB, loud is defined as whatever the enforcing officer deems loud.

I think the loudest thing I ever heard was this past monday. I was walking on Chestnut avenue to go into Ford's Music when a fire truck came flying down the street and honked its superhorn 5 feet away from me just before it passed.

[songsmith]

I think that's a kind of frequency-dependent thing. Humans are tuned to hear high-mids pretty well, probably because that's the range of the average human voice, give or take. It's been scientifically proven that perceived loudness is also dependent on tastes, and interestingly enough, whether the listener has any control over the source... if you have the TV remote in your hand, you can stand the TV volume a bit more than the others in the room.
It's funny, too that your hearing peaks around age twelve, but senior citizens are most likely to complain about volume.
Also, I've noticed that back in my youth, car stereo's were still very loud, but didn't have the subs like now... okay, a thousand watt amp was a ludicrous idea then... they still achieved high SPL's then, but highs are much more directional than sub-lows, and didn't carry near as far, so you didn't really piss off everybody in a 3-block area like now. Okay, I could also point out that rap didn't exist then either, and the sh*t we cranked is considered classic rock now... that goes back to the taste argument.
The loudest thing I've ever heard was at a biker party. The general idea was to make the loudest noise for your favorite girl in the titty contest. I was so engrossed in the boobies (have I mentioned how much I love those?) that I didn't notice the guys behind me had set up a stolen railroad locomotive air horn with a tank of compressed air. It went off no more than 3 feet from my head. Not only did it scare me to death ( I'm pretty sure I put a urine spot on the front of my pants) but it was extremely painful, and I could still hear the ringing more than a week later. I had to play another set not being able to hear much of anything. I understand the guys who did it got the sh*t kicked out of them when i complained over the mic (sometimes being the frontman RULES). I eventually healed, and tested with no long-term damage, but it hella-sucked at the time, not knowing if I was going to be partially deaf because of an a-hole. BTW, that girl really did have nice ta-ta's.------->JMS

[aleesha]

The loudest thing I have ever heard is indeed the band KORN I saw them back in 98 on the SICK AND TWISTED TOUR with STAIND. I could not hear for three days afterward. I soon found out that that year KORN made Guinness Book of World Records for loudest sound system! The next loudest was a CHEVELLE show at Shakeys in Hershey. I was wrecked for another couple days, so intense!

[Jim Price]

I agree that taste probably has a lot to do with what is considered "loud;" and therein lies part of the problem we presently deal with, as rock bands and music are profiled as "loud" whether they actiually are or not.

I often wonder if some of the folks riding around with those massive bass and sub systems blasting in their cars might have hearing problems later.

The loudest thing I ever heard was probably two F-18 jets flying over my head after taking off at a Fayette County air show a few years ago. A B-1 bomber did a fly-by during that same air show that was pretty loud, too.

The loudest concert I ever attended was my first, Ozzy and Motorhead at the Cambria County War Memorial in 1980. My ears rang for a week after that show. Being it was my first major concert, though, my ears might not have been accustomed to that type of volume, so the impact may have felt greater to me.

Checking out local bands over the years, I notice that I can be in a loud show situation and not experience ringing ears if the sound system is good and the sound person knows what they are doing. But I've had nights where a band played through a rinky-dink system without an experienced sound person, and my ears would be ringing for days afterward.

[nighthawk]

i feel that you should be able to speak to the person sitting next to you buy simply rasing your voice. if you have to yell in that persons ear for them to understand you then the band is to loud. this is when sitting up close to the sound system. well lets face it. there are not to many places around here that you are not sitting close to the system.

[tonefight]

Well inside a bar I would say its the high and mid frequencies that will make it uncomfortable , from the "outside" as seems to be the big issue these days I would say its the low end that carries and makes people a mile away complain.

[bfoust]

i feel that you should be able to speak to the person sitting next to you buy simply rasing your voice. if you have to yell in that persons ear for them to understand you then the band is to loud. this is when sitting up close to the sound system. well lets face it. there are not to many places around here that you are not sitting close to the system.

I disagree, unless by 'sitting close' you mean at least 15 feet away and the band is NOT heavy (rock, punk, metal, etc.). When you're less than that, and the band is a rock band, then no, you shouldn't be able to just "raise your voice".

But if you're out somewhere enjoying some nice classical music, that's different, it doesn't have to be loud.

[tonefight]

i feel that you should be able to speak to the person sitting next to you buy simply rasing your voice. if you have to yell in that persons ear for them to understand you then the band is to loud. this is when sitting up close to the sound system. well lets face it. there are not to many places around here that you are not sitting close to the system.

I disagree, unless by 'sitting close' you mean at least 15 feet away and the band is NOT heavy (rock, punk, metal, etc.). When you're less than that, and the band is a rock band, then no, you shouldn't be able to just "raise your voice".

But if you're out somewhere enjoying some nice classical music, that's different, it doesn't have to be loud.

I think from the seating area you should be able to at least communicate without using sign language but not necessarily right in front of the band like on the dance floor.

[bassist_25]

i feel that you should be able to speak to the person sitting next to you buy simply rasing your voice. if you have to yell in that persons ear for them to understand you then the band is to loud. this is when sitting up close to the sound system. well lets face it. there are not to many places around here that you are not sitting close to the system.

I disagree, unless by 'sitting close' you mean at least 15 feet away and the band is NOT heavy (rock, punk, metal, etc.). When you're less than that, and the band is a rock band, then no, you shouldn't be able to just "raise your voice".

But if you're out somewhere enjoying some nice classical music, that's different, it doesn't have to be loud.

I think from the seating area you should be able to at least communicate without using sign language but not necessarily right in front of the band like on the dance floor.

Fershizzle!!!

Being exposed to sounds of 90 db or greater for even a small amount of time can damage your hearing. A lot of musicians feel the need to play at high volumes. Of course, they might need to reevaulate that decision in 20 years when they are suffering from hearing loss and tinnitus. People will spend thousands of dollars on guitars, basses, cabs, drums, and PA but never spend $300 on one of the most important pieces of musical equipment: custom earplugs.

[Banned]

If it's too loud then f#*k 'um!! Just my 2 cents worth which ain't worth much!

[bfoust]

i feel that you should be able to speak to the person sitting next to you buy simply rasing your voice. if you have to yell in that persons ear for them to understand you then the band is to loud. this is when sitting up close to the sound system. well lets face it. there are not to many places around here that you are not sitting close to the system.

I disagree, unless by 'sitting close' you mean at least 15 feet away and the band is NOT heavy (rock, punk, metal, etc.). When you're less than that, and the band is a rock band, then no, you shouldn't be able to just "raise your voice".

But if you're out somewhere enjoying some nice classical music, that's different, it doesn't have to be loud.

I think from the seating area you should be able to at least communicate without using sign language but not necessarily right in front of the band like on the dance floor.

Agreed, I just thought the guy meant from the dance floor

[songsmith]

Good point. When we're all sitting around the day room at the Old Musicians Home, I don't want to have to sit through anybody bitching about how their hearing is gone, or for that matter, how their tattoos all turned that nasty blue-green color and the ink spread, or how their backs are shot from those heavy slabs of mahogany Les Pauls, or how their livers are rock-hard from long-term Jagerization, or how they only have the one lung left. I want to hear about the high-school chick on the band bus, and how 200 people pumped their fists during your big song. Don't hurt yourself, or at least don't expect mercy from me if you do.----->JMS

[HurricaneBob]

I DEFFINITLY HAVE HEARING LOSS FROM THEM DRUMS...oops sorry, i was shouting again. Im gonna hire Garrett Morris from the old SNL to translate for me.

[esa]

::folds her arms:: and what's so wrong with sign language? ::happens to be an interpreter::
actually, i think it's an even mix of things. it can't be too loud that the next day your throat is killing you. not from screaming the songs along with the band, but from having to order your drink from the waitress for the 12th time...and she still didn't hear ya.
but i also don't want to strain to hear the band. i will not head bop much or dance unless i can feel the bass in the music.
same thing with my car. trebble's turned up medium-a little high, but bass is the full way up. i dig music... but it's the beat that gets me every time.
plus, no bass hurts my earts. too much trebble is killer to me.
the loudest things i ever heard... dayummmmn. that's a tossup. Practice at hells shed was intense after jamie got the new rigg. they had to test it out just once like that.. pricks never gave me a set of ear plugs! lol. or it could have been the gun that went off in the cement bassment 4 days ago. kamakazee weapons of mass destruction. that hurt. or it could be the show that pelt did with deviance. great tunes, great show to both bands...but good lord, my ears ached! i don't know if deviance turned down after that or if i just went deaf... oy!

[bassist_25]

i will not head bop much or dance unless i can feel the bass in the music.
same thing with my car. trebble's turned up medium-a little high, but bass is the full way up. i did music... but it's the beat that gets me every time.
plus, no bass hurts my earts. too much trebble is killer to me.
the loudest things i ever heard... dayummmmn. that's a tossup.

That's funny, because I never really liked "boomy" sounding bass. I like to be to hear the overtones of a note. Usually when bass is cranked so loud it's shaking, you are only hearing the fundamental. It sucks when you're playing something really melodic or double-stops or something and it's getting lost in a wall of mud. Some folks dig the thumpy sound, though.

We run everything through the PA, so I really don't have any control on what's coming through the mains other than my onboard EQ and pickup selection. I often wonder what it sounds like out front.

[byndrsn]

That's funny, because I never really liked "boomy" sounding bass. I like to be to hear the overtones of a note. Usually when bass is cranked so loud it's shaking, you are only hearing the fundamental. It sucks when you're playing something really melodic or double-stops or something and it's getting lost in a wall of mud. Some folks dig the thumpy sound, though.

I agree - I can't stand it when there isn't an even mix.

The bass overload that you hear all the young punks playing in their cars drives me insane!! (I almost find it funny - like today's "Muscle" cars, they are extremely funny)

[esa]

Well.. like I said.. that's why the trebble has to be up too.. but if it has too much trebble and not enough bass, then it hurts my ears. Too high pitched or something. But I like the feel of the bass. Now, if it's too much bass and no trebble and sounds muddy then forget it. It has to be even mixed but a little bumpy for me. not over bumpy. just a tid bit.

[lonewolf]

That's funny, because I never really liked "boomy" sounding bass. I like to be to hear the overtones of a note. Usually when bass is cranked so loud it's shaking, you are only hearing the fundamental. It sucks when you're playing something really melodic or double-stops or something and it's getting lost in a wall of mud. Some folks dig the thumpy sound, though.

I agree - I can't stand it when there isn't an even mix.

The bass overload that you hear all the young punks playing in their cars drives me insane!! (I almost find it funny - like today's "Muscle" cars, they are extremely funny)

Those "muscle" cars are called "lil' buzzy cars". I derive a great deal of comedic satisfaction every time one buzzes by with the trailing subwoofer's THUMP, THUMP, THUMP, THUMP. Yeah, a spoiler on a Ford Escort...way cool...zzzzzzzzzzzZZZZZZZZZZZ...THUMP, THUMP, THUMP, THUMP, thump, thump......Yeah, a hood scoop on a Subaru...way cool...zzzzzzzzzzzZZZZZZZZZZZ...THUMP, THUMP, THUMP, THUMP, thump, thump......

[bassist_25]

[quote="lonewolf"]
Yeah, a spoiler on a Ford Escort...way [\quote]

It's even funnier when it's a spoiler that doesn't look close to being stock, like they just threw a dart at a page in the JC Whitney catalog and decided to order whatever it landed on.

[HurricaneBob]

::folds her arms:: and what's so wrong with sign language? ::happens to be an interpreter::

Well if you know who and what im talking about youd probably laugh, Lemme splain.... It was a skit for the hard of hearing, and Garrett yelled what Chevy Chase was saying on the old Saturday Night Live.

Fart pipes suck!

Gimme a roadrunner with a 383 and lets have a blast...

[songsmith]

Oh, helly hell yeah! Except put a 426 Hemi in that Superbird... or did they come with the 440 six-pack... I think it was the 426. I look at these rice-rockets sort of like high-school wrestling. There's no doubt the 98 pounders are wiry little buggers, and very strong for their size... but I hung around with the fat boys, the 180 pounders and heavyweights. '68 Chevelles and such were still really common when I graduated school in '81, lots and lots of cubic inches, and gas was about $.80 per gallon.
What REALLY bothers me are those giant wings on the back of Escorts and Neons... this ONLY CREATES DRAG... these cars are front-wheel-drive, and already have a short ramp on the back, no more down-force in needed, especially at their top unmodified speed of 70 or so mph. These aren't necessarily bad cars, but they were designed to be cheap transportation, not dragsters.
As far as giant subs go, we're musicians. We don't need that sh*t to get attention, and anyway, we'd rather have another guitar or bass rig, or drumkit. Subs are for PA's, where people actually PAY to hear them.--->JMS

[ERiC_AiXeLsyD]

With the PLCB, loud is defined as whatever the enforcing officer deems loud.

That's just insanity. It's kind of like the FCC...

[lonewolf]

Oh, helly hell yeah! Except put a 426 Hemi in that Superbird... or did they come with the 440 six-pack... I think it was the 426.

They came stock with 3 configurations, all hemi:

440 - 4bbl
440 - 6pack
426 - dual quad

Don't forget the Pontiac GTO "The Judge" with its 455 and dual quads.

[onetooloud]

now that could be a loud combo, but only the 426 is a hemi head the 440 is a wedge head.

when talking about a hemi your talking about combustion chamber shape. Hemi would be hemispherical, wedge would be just that wedge shaped.

In an odd twist of things some of these little rice rockets have hemispherical head designs.

I find those little ricers to be just like lack of low end end in a pa they just don't sound beefy.

I was on a web site in the past that poked fun at some of the more insane looking imports. I think it was riceboy.com I'll have to check. The site showed cars with spoilers that wouldn't clear some bridges.