I can definitely see the dangers in excessive volume at clubs. I've
been to shows where my hearing has been considerably comprimised for
several days afterwards. On the other hand, some of the best shows I've
been to have been almost excuciatingly loud and I would not have had
them any other way. The last Koxbox show I saw definitely falls into
that category.
If anything, I think clubs should do a better job of tailoring the EQ to
fit the space. Too many times I've been to shows where all I could hear
is thudding bass and weak high hats and couldn't really make out any of
the midrange. Or at other places its been all midrange without enough
bass or treble to give any sense of power or vitality.
With better sound equalization, there shouldn't be the need to
overcompensate by cranking the bass. Plus, I think the sense of
immersion in the music comes across more readily when the sound is balanced.
That said, I expect the volume to be CRANKED when I got out!! I don't
want to be able to easily hear the conversations of the people around
me. If they want to chat without having to raise their voices, they
should hang near the bar/lounge, go to the local greasy spoon or maybe
stay at home.
Blaauw, Martijn de wrote:
UK CLUBS TO TURN IT DOWN
It's not everyday that DJs are told to turn the music down, especially
not by politicians
but now 365Mag can reveal that has just happened. The UK government is
set to
reduce the level of noise in British clubs by up to 5% from April 2006
with a law that is intended
to protect the hearing of those in the music industry.
When the new levels are passed by parliament in the Spring, employers in
clubs and
venues will be expected to protect their staffs hearing with a reduction
in volume and
a decrease in time spent exposed to excessive noise. Lawrence Waterman,
President of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH)
says:
"We need to help employs who work in the music industry to understand
the risks of noise exposure".
According to UK Heath and Safety statistics, around 170,000 people
suffer from work related tinnitus,
deafness or other ear-related problems.
DJs who suffer from damaged hearing are Rocky from X-press 2 fame,
Laurent Garnier and Tall Paul,
who consulted a specialist in the late 90s, only to be told he had done
irreparable damage to his hearing.
This law raises the question of the use of ear filters once again. DJs
such as Roger Sanchez, Jeff Mills, Laurent Garnier,
Sander Kleinenberg and Erick Morillo all use custom-built earplugs to
protect the ears from those
dangerous high frequencies coming out of the monitors. Maybe the
familiar ringing in the ears
the next morning after a club-night could about to become a thing of the
past for those on
the dancefloor too after purchasing these plugs, or is that 'whistling'
sound simply an integral part of a good night out?
