Ben Jamin Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 Next weekend's venue might be fun! Just wondered if anyone knew any tricks to make it sound good/alright/not completely awful as I'm rubbish at acoustics and all that! It's a full on sports hall - big high ceiling and sports hall floor etc. We haven't got any subs for the FOH, just running two QSC K10 speakers, so the bass will just be coming from my Barefaced Compact. There's also an acoustic drum kit! Is there anything I can do to make us sound less reverby/boomy? Cheers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 Hmmm, watch lows - all instruments, and get anyone with reverb/delay/modulation, unless it`s an essential part of the sound to switch it off. Drums, maybe tune them up a bit higher than usual, and on the pa for vox again, drop reverb and get the depth by using mids not lows. Get all amps off of the floor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deepbass5 Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 One trick I read and have successfully applied is reducing the number sound sources that are being reflected or reduce the chance of them being reflected. Sounds crazy but by putting both PA speakers together on one side of the stage works wonders. The other would be use a bigger PA and not use individual amps on the back line and use monitors. As I guess you are stuck with what is listed the main thing is keep the volume under control, don't push the hall beyond that point of intelligibility. Another - you could avoid facing the opposite wall, set up in the corner so the sound is going round the angles. Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leschirons Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 [size=6]Good luck with that..[size=5] that...[size=4]that...[size=3]that....[size=2]that....[size=1]that.....[/size][/size][/size][/size][/size][/size] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHW Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 Best sound I've heard in a sports hall was the levellers, basically the walls were completely draped in fabric. Is this even remotely possible for you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
51m0n Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 You are screwed unless its entirely packed with meat acoustic absorbtion (ie an audience) Even then the R60 on that space will be huge, vary massively with different frequencies and there is likely to be unpleasant resonance with any bass from something in the room (sports equiptment, ducting, the ceiling) depending on the construction. Keep as quiet as possible and accept the fact that the audience are going to experience your band down a well.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
essexbasscat Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 (edited) [quote name='deepbass5' timestamp='1391018228' post='2352357'] One trick I read and have successfully applied is reducing the number sound sources that are being reflected or reduce the chance of them being reflected. Sounds crazy but by putting both PA speakers together on one side of the stage works wonders. The other would be use a bigger PA and not use individual amps on the back line and use monitors. As I guess you are stuck with what is listed the main thing is keep the volume under control, don't push the hall beyond that point of intelligibility. Another - you could avoid facing the opposite wall, set up in the corner so the sound is going round the angles. Good luck [/quote] I'd be tempted to print the above post off and show it to the band, as a means of seeking everyone's understanding and agreement to keep the volume down Oh, also have a 31 band graphic with feedback detectors to hand Best of British Edited January 29, 2014 by essexbasscat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Jamin Posted January 29, 2014 Author Share Posted January 29, 2014 [quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1391017663' post='2352346'] Hmmm, watch lows - all instruments, and get anyone with reverb/delay/modulation, unless it`s an essential part of the sound to switch it off. Drums, maybe tune them up a bit higher than usual, and on the pa for vox again, drop reverb and get the depth by using mids not lows. Get all amps off of the floor. [/quote] It's going to be one of those rare instances where vocalists ask for LESS reverb haha Looks like I'll be high-passing everything! Getting amps off the floor is a good shout - could borrow a couple of X-frame keyboard stands; maybe some DIY gramma pads? [quote name='deepbass5' timestamp='1391018228' post='2352357'] One trick I read and have successfully applied is reducing the number sound sources that are being reflected or reduce the chance of them being reflected. Sounds crazy but by putting both PA speakers together on one side of the stage works wonders. The other would be use a bigger PA and not use individual amps on the back line and use monitors. As I guess you are stuck with what is listed the main thing is keep the volume under control, don't push the hall beyond that point of intelligibility. Another - you could avoid facing the opposite wall, set up in the corner so the sound is going round the angles. Good luck [/quote] Those are some neat ideas, thanks! We should have the afternoon to set-up so we can try out some different speaker arrangements. [quote name='leschirons' timestamp='1391023609' post='2352428'] Good luck with that.. that...that...that....that....that..... [/quote] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Jamin Posted January 29, 2014 Author Share Posted January 29, 2014 [quote name='CHW' timestamp='1391025974' post='2352466'] Best sound I've heard in a sports hall was the levellers, basically the walls were completely draped in fabric. Is this even remotely possible for you? [/quote] I wish! It works though really well though - played a festival in a big cow shed - the team outfitted the whole place in a thick heavy DIY starcloth, looked pretty cool too. Takes some effort to put up though and some pretty big steps on wheels! [quote name='51m0n' timestamp='1391026319' post='2352472'] You are screwed unless its entirely packed with meat acoustic absorbtion (ie an audience) Even then the R60 on that space will be huge, vary massively with different frequencies and there is likely to be unpleasant resonance with any bass from something in the room (sports equiptment, ducting, the ceiling) depending on the construction. Keep as quiet as possible and accept the fact that the audience are going to experience your band down a well.. [/quote] Cheers, here's hoping it'll be well attended! We're not expecting a good sound but hopefully we can make it reasonable [quote name='essexbasscat' timestamp='1391026362' post='2352474'] I'd be tempted to print the above post off and show it to the band, as a means of seeking everyone's understanding and agreement to keep the volume down Oh, also have a 31 band graphic with feedback detectors to hand Best of British [/quote] Thinking of just sending them all the URL to this thread haha. Hopefully we'll be taking a digital desk so we can high-pass and take out offending frequencies pretty efficiently Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom skool Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 I've played a few weddings in different halls where the sound is usually terrible but theres been a huge silk type tent hung inside. It makes all the difference. I don't know if you could find something similar. Even if did part of the hall it would help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thisnameistaken Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 (edited) I once played a gig in a school gym, it was basically impossible! Everything we played came back at us - pretty much unattenuated - about a quarter of a second later, so it was a struggle to even play in time. Enjoy! SRSLY try to get some dampening on the walls. Preferably lots on all the walls but if that's not possible at least try to do the wall your speakers are facing. Edited January 29, 2014 by thisnameistaken Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gjones Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 I played in a huge gym hall at Colne Great British R&B Festival. The sound was atrocious, both on stage and in the audience. All I can suggest is to play quietly and make the audience come to you, instead of trying to project yourselves to the four corners of a huge room. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BetaFunk Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 I must be getting old but some of the best gigs and bands i've ever seen were in sports halls. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lojo Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 (edited) Cant help re sound, but last time we played in a school sports hall, I tried to get the Sax player to allow us to lift him up a few feet on a rope during one step beyond, he didn't play ball, perhaps you'll have more luck. Edited January 30, 2014 by lojo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crez5150 Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 Not sure if this is a function gig or not but whenever we quote for gigs in sports halls we always get a drape hire contractor in.... adds a bit to the cost but makes the event so much more enjoyable for the guest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gapiro Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 +1 to drapes. Try to not point the speakers directly at a wall - slightly off axis will help. +1 to EQ - you are going to get all sorts of feedback issues Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevB Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 Seen one or two bands in sports halls and they always seemed out of place and the sound was sh*te at both. Only played one, or at least it was a big hall in the general design of a sports hall. Works thing, daytime and low key. We played it small and kept down one end with the sound low so drew the crowd down to a gathering an ddidn't affect other things going on elsewhere in the room (charity stalls etc) so not a normal gig at all. The main thing i recall about the sound was that I was trying out my wireless system and had to ditch it as my combo was picking up the University's in-house radio station Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BetaFunk Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 I saw David Bowie in a sports hall and he was fantastic. I saw Yes in a sports hall and they were awful. Actually thinking back i'm not sure the sports hall had much to do with either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vsmith1 Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 Reflections also off the ceiling can be problematic. If you can get a canopy above the band/stage area that would help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spacey Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 See if they will allow a smoke machine, works wonders at damping the air. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.