tedmanzie Posted March 22, 2015 Posted March 22, 2015 (edited) I saw Chic at the Camden Roundhouse last night. It was fun, they got the place really rocking and they have THE tunes, but OMG! - the sound in that place is SO awful. Can they not do anything to improve it?? Standing perhaps 20ft from the stage it is no exaggeration to say I couldn't define ANYTHING below about 200hz. No kick drum, no bass. And I don't mean boomy, I mean just not there, completely lost in a mass of echo. If you've got no bass or kick in a disco band then what are you left with? At least they had the tunes to be able to rock the place with melody and vibe, if not the rhythm section. We ended up near the bar at the back ( ) where at least the kick drum was now audible, even though it was the depth charge variety. Still no bass though. None at all. I could[i] just about[/i] hear it for 'Good Times' when all the other instruments dropped out. I would really love to Chic in a decent venue I bet they would be amazing. The roundhouse in all other respects is a great venue - atmosphere, uniqueness, nice staff, quick bars, good loos, easy to get to etc. I've been before twice and it was the exactly the same with regards to the terrible sound. Edited March 22, 2015 by tedmanzie Quote
molan Posted March 22, 2015 Posted March 22, 2015 I haven't been for a while but last couple of times I was there for Dweezil Zappa and Brian Wilson the sound was OK. Could certainly Scott Thunes on bass with Dweezil Quote
Duarte Posted March 22, 2015 Posted March 22, 2015 Ive seen them 6 times, once at parklife in manchester was the worst sound ive ever experienced - right in front of the stage and couldn't even make out what song they were playing. Warehouse project in manc, in the carpark under picadily station, however, was just phenomenal. That jerry barnes on bass is a monster when you can hear him trust me! Quote
tedmanzie Posted March 22, 2015 Author Posted March 22, 2015 [quote name='Duarte' timestamp='1427024629' post='2724754'] Ive seen them 6 times, once at parklife in manchester was the worst sound ive ever experienced - right in front of the stage and couldn't even make out what song they were playing.[/quote] Crikey that is poor! I should count myself lucky. Quote
Graham Posted March 22, 2015 Posted March 22, 2015 Saw Opeth there back in 2006, from what I remember the sound was very good; the live album/DVD from that show sounds superb, but of course you never know what mix was done in the studio. Quote
JTUK Posted March 22, 2015 Posted March 22, 2015 Was offered tickets for last night but couldn't go... Don't feel so bad now Quote
Mr Arkadin Posted March 22, 2015 Posted March 22, 2015 Can't say I've ever been impressed with the sound at Roundhouse for any gig I've been to. I like the venue but maybe they need to hang some giant 'mushrooms' like that other round building that's acoustically challenged: Royal Albert Hall. Maybe round buildings just don't lend themselves to good sound. Also it never seems loud enough, and this is from someone who hates over loud gigs. Quote
yorks5stringer Posted March 22, 2015 Posted March 22, 2015 [quote name='Mr Arkadin' timestamp='1427034231' post='2724886'] Can't say I've ever been impressed with the sound at Roundhouse for any gig I've been to. I like the venue but maybe they need to hang some giant 'mushrooms' like that other round building that's acoustically challenged: Royal Albert Hall. Maybe round buildings just don't lend themselves to good sound. Also it never seems loud enough, and this is from someone who hates over loud gigs. [/quote] I once played a gig in the circular Chapter House within York Minster. The sound was just bouncing back in every direction. We were almost acoustic playing by the end. Afterwards we were told the Bishops had designed the building so they could all hear each other, no matter where in the room they were. Quote
Cosmo Valdemar Posted March 22, 2015 Posted March 22, 2015 [quote name='Mr Arkadin' timestamp='1427034231' post='2724886'] Can't say I've ever been impressed with the sound at Roundhouse for any gig I've been to. [/quote] This, I'm sorry to say. Except for Deep Purple, they sounded great! Experience has lead me to stand at the back for optimum sound. Quote
SimonSteamyhead Posted July 6, 2023 Posted July 6, 2023 (edited) I have vowed never to return to the roundhouse as the sound is so bad. I’ve seen a dozen gigs there over a span of ten years or so and each and every one has been spoilt by a lack of definition,soundstage and clarity. Nothing but a flat boomy wall of noise. The venue needs a serious amount of attention to its accoustic capabilities. Surely Computer modelling for damping treatment and sound traps needs to be done for it to be a worthy music venue. Without a great sound,every other aspect of a live event is pointless… Edited July 6, 2023 by SimonSteamyhead Quote
Lozz196 Posted July 6, 2023 Posted July 6, 2023 I’ve seen The Darkness, The Professionals & Stiff Little Fingers there, pretty decent sound for all, a bit boomy at times on the more energetic material maybe. Quote
Linus27 Posted July 6, 2023 Posted July 6, 2023 I've actually played their three times and on all 3 occasions the sound was shocking and on all 3 occasions the headline artist, Paul Weller also had terrible sound. Quote
Fionn Posted July 7, 2023 Posted July 7, 2023 I performed there in 2019. A friend at the front of the balcony said the sound was good, another on the floor said the contrary. From the perspective of the stage it was very boomy. The stage is big holllow bass trap that hums to the subs. Quote
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