Sound in playhouse

[clarkttopcat]

Why is the sound in the playhouse so loud?. Went to a show last night and it was spoilt by the ridiculous level of the sound. They work hard on production yet it all spoilt because they can not get a decent sound level.

 The show was astonishing on Azura. Decent show but came out with a headache

Edited May 16, 2019 by clarkttopcat

[jeanlyon]

I'm glad you agree with me.  Just back from Aurora - 2 shows completely spoilt by the volume.  Absolutely deafening.  However others on here on the same cruise found it OK???

[Harry Peterson]

Found very much the same thing on Azura - I suspect, though, it has a lot to do with P&O's age profile and the increasing incidence of deafness amongst the elderly.

 

What's too loud for some will inevitably be inaudible to others.

[jeanlyon]

The other odd thing is we went to Applause and the volume was perfect.  Astonishing was deafening right from the first drumbeat.  Runaway kids was also far too loud.

[clarkttopcat]

1 minute ago, jeanlyon said:

The other odd thing is we went to Applause and the volume was perfect.  Astonishing was deafening right from the first drumbeat.  Runaway kids was also far too loud.

 

[clarkttopcat]

The 70s disco show was also so loud my 9 year old son was in tears and refused to go to another show. Lots of the more seniour people sat around me not happy at all with the sound. Its a real shame as they obviously work really hard on putting on the productions

[jeanlyon]

We are 72 and 80 and our hearing is perfect, which is why I have to leave and I don't want it damaged.

 

It was just painful to sit there.

[kruzseeka]

We also find the sound levels leave a lot to be desired - as has been said, all that effort into production and spoil by a belief that the louder the better!  The sound so often is distorted and makes for uncomfortable listening. 

We've just returned from Oriana and suddenly realised three quarters of the way into our cruise that we hadn't found any show with, to us, unacceptable sound levels.  So it can be done.  I really don't think anyone would complain it hadn't been loud enough, but thankfully we weren't subjected to levels that were painfully loud.

[jeanlyon]

yes I agree.  We were 2 weeks into our cruise and the sound levels were very good, until Astonishing and the runaway kids.  I really don't know how people sit there.  I had my fingers in my ears from the start and left after 20 minutes.

[P-L-B]

45 minutes ago, docco said:

Found very much the same thing on Azura - I suspect, though, it has a lot to do with P&O's age profile and the increasing incidence of deafness amongst the elderly.

 

What's too loud for some will inevitably be inaudible to others.

I have another take on it.

Have you forgotten in your distant youth seeing live rock bands, in those days music played loud was cool.

Maybe they are aiming for a younger audience.

Just a thought.

[jeanlyon]

Nope, haven't forgotten.  Don't think it was that loud.

[Harry Peterson]

21 minutes ago, P-L-B said:

I have another take on it.

Have you forgotten in your distant youth seeing live rock bands, in those days music played loud was cool.

Maybe they are aiming for a younger audience.

Just a thought.

You could be right! Or maybe we’re the ones with ears damaged by 60s and 70s gigs....

[terrierjohn]

55 minutes ago, jeanlyon said:

yes I agree.  We were 2 weeks into our cruise and the sound levels were very good, until Astonishing and the runaway kids.  I really don't know how people sit there.  I had my fingers in my ears from the start and left after 20 minutes.

Jean which time shows did you go to, I wonder if the sound level appears louder if the theatre is not full?

[P-L-B]

29 minutes ago, docco said:

You could be right! Or maybe we’re the ones with ears damaged by 60s and 70s gigs....

Good point.

[P-L-B]

32 minutes ago, terrierjohn said:

Jean which time shows did you go to, I wonder if the sound level appears louder if the theatre is not full?

That’s a good point, I run social dances and I find that I have to adjust my sound settings according to the amount of people in a room.

I would have assumed that the sound desk would have a decibel meter to monitor sounds levels and adjust their output accordingly.

Some venues will cut off the supply to your equipment if you exceed their permitted sound levels.

[jeanlyon]

Usually the late show.  Strangely the Headliners did a show in Carmens at 0730.  It was perfect.

 

In the theatre we are always there late for the 10.30 show.  As I said, first 5 shows, which included Fogwell Flax and Headliners, all absolutely fine, until Astonishing.

[kruzseeka]

2 hours ago, P-L-B said:

That’s a good point, I run social dances and I find that I have to adjust my sound settings according to the amount of people in a room.

I would have assumed that the sound desk would have a decibel meter to monitor sounds levels and adjust their output accordingly.

Some venues will cut off the supply to your equipment if you exceed their permitted sound levels.

I'm sure at times the sound would exceed the dB level permitted in the workplace and would require the workforce to wear ear defenders.  It would be extremely interesting if it were to be measured!  

[P-L-B]

1 hour ago, kruzseeka said:

I'm sure at times the sound would exceed the dB level permitted in the workplace and would require the workforce to wear ear defenders.  It would be extremely interesting if it were to be measured!  

Yes, tempted to pack my DB meter for our next cruise.

Then again it’s probably unwise to attract attention from my fellow theatre goers when I start taking readings.

Or worse still being escorted off the ship at the next port.