I don't like blasting my customers' (or my) ears out, and thought maybe a helpful way for me to deal with this is by using a handheld volume decibal reader that I could send out during a dance to make sure volumes are correct. Anything like that exist?

thanks

You mean a decibel meter.

Is this what your looking for?
sound-level meter

Jan

[This message has been edited by Exound (edited 12-17-2004).]

[This message has been edited by Exound (edited 12-17-2004).]

Hi Chony,

Free advice is worth what you pay for it.

In that regard I say save your money. Getting usable information dealing with human ears is like trying to catch a shadow. There are to many variables, hall size, your equipment, tolerance of your audience, etc.

Having a trusted listener move around the room to give you a thumbs up or down has worked for me, and it's a lot cheaper than a meter.

If it's really a problem and money is no object go for the Bose PAS, bingo problem is minimized.

Have a great holiday!

rp

i bought a sound level meter at radio shack for about $60.00 after many complaints about volume. i used my singer's husband to walk around while we played only to find out later(after his death) that he had a hearing loss in his ears. i bought this as a guide in setting overall volume. i used it once, after that i trusted my instincts. since then i have never had a complaint.
wrinkles303

Thanks Exound,

That's what I was looking for.

I'm aware that its not a full solution, but when I'm standing on a stage with a monitoring system, I can't "trust my ears" for the dance floor, as I'm not listening to the speakers on the dance floor. Additionally, not always is there someone you can trust to give you those "thumbs up".

Thanks everyone,
Chony

Decibel Meters are great in certain situations. If the Band is onstage pumping out the music through the house speakers or PA, etc. while the Band is using floor Monitors, it can sometimes be difficult for the Band to know what the audience is really hearing decibel wise. If the Band has a Sound Man at the back of the building or somewhere in the house where the house speakers or PA speakers are reaching, then a Decibel Meter gives the sound man a good idea of sound levels, especially if he has hearing loss and can't really judge correctly by just listening to the sound himself. Besides the fact the sound man may be using headphones periodically also.

Even if you don't have a sound man or are not pumping your music out of a separate PA or house speakers, i.e. something besides floor or other kind of Monitors, a Decibel Meter can come in handy. Although in that particular scenario, i.e. (NO house or other PA speakers used) the ears are the best judge of what the sound levels are and what everybody is actually hearing volume wise. Just make sure your ears can accurately judge what those levels are though.

The best way to determine if you have a hearing loss is to visit your nearest Audiologist and get a hearing test. It's nothing to be ashamed of either. Let your Ego slide down a notch or two (if you have one that is ) and go do it. After you determine your ears, i.e.- your hearing is fine, then you will be equipped to accurately judge dB levels and adjust them accordingly without the need for a Decibel Meter.

Best regards,
Mike