SOUND LEVEL MANAGEMENT ISSUES

When it comes to determining how loud a concert should be, there are so many different forces at work.  Juggling these can be a tough management job.  The artist and the promoter want free rein, whilst others want quiet.  If the city owns the facility there is an additional factor of ambivalence.  With the city representing the people, some citizens want a loud concert and some want it quiet.

So amidst this turmoil is the real need for quality, reliable, sound level data.  Using a Grozier system, the following questions can be clearly answered:

There is also of concern that if limiting sound levels is in order, whether it can be done proactively.  If not, then each concert runs its course and the consequences, perhaps administering fines, dealing with a hostile press and potential law suits, have to be dealt with in turn.

However, the analysis of sound level data for typical concerts shows that in order to meet sound level limits set by regulation, it is possible to monitor concerts as they proceed and estimate whether a noise limit may be exceeded. Sound level limits can be established on minute by minute basis that are good indicators of eventual compliance.  This recommendation is explained with sample data from Beach Boys and Chicago.

Calibration

Calibration is carried out every concert using a 94 dBA acoustical calibrator that uses a 1000 Hz tone. This is required to establish data credibility. The process is simple. But be sure to make those microphones easily accessible from inside the music facility. Microphones outside the facility decrease security and increase costs.