Sound limiters explained…

Sound limiters are devices that are wired into the main electricity supply in venues. They pick up sound / noise from the venue and raise an alarm and switch off the electricity if the noise is greater than the limit set. They measure decibels (dB).

Here are a few examples:

50 – 75 dB air conditioner
50 – 80 dB electric shaver
55 – 70 dB dishwasher
60 – 85 dB vacuum cleaner
60 – 95 dB hair dryer
65 – 80 dB alarm clock
75 – 85 dB flush toilet
80 dB ringing telephone
110 dB baby crying
90 – 115 dB subway
130 dB jackhammer, power drill
130 dB percussion section at symphony
140 dB airplane taking off (next to you)
95 – 110 dB motorcycle
110 dB symphony concert
110 dB car horn
110 -120 dB rock concert
112  dB CD player on high
117 dB football game (stadium)
150 dB firecracker
157 dB balloon pop
162 dB fireworks (at 3 feet)

Why have them?

They were originally designed to be installed if noise has been a problem, for example if neighbours have complained about noise because they live close to a venue, but increasingly we find old Manor houses, Barns, and Farms and ‘Halls’ where flats are being built or converted within the actual grounds or even in the same building above the room your event / wedding is taking place and a caveat added to the building or council regulations means noise must not exceed a certain level. Sometimes a building is so old that the owners worry about vibrations in old glass windows etc. too.  The Wedding Industry is above all a money-making machine and many owners of old buildings or disused Barns have converted these into Wedding Venues up and down the country and have installed sound limiters to pacify the locals who don’t like the idea of their once peaceful surroundings now holding parties and creating noise – and who would blame them.

Here comes the crux of the matter…the limit set on these devices is often between 80-90 decibels. Now as a prospective Bride or Event planner, or average Joe – this means nothing and is very quickly mentioned in your tour around the premises, and then not mentioned again. Lots of folk would even forget about it.  The problem is that the average kettle or food mixer makes between 60-80 decibels and the cry of a single baby also is approx 80-110 decibels! Amazing isn’t it?

Our experience of sound limiters is that our system is hardly on (making about as much noises as a kitchen radio) when a handful of guests start dancing and singing along and the limiter switches everything off. Our speakers or laptop is left damaged and your party atmosphere is deflated. Our equipment is of the highest quality Theatre / TV sound, it is not a Base-Boomy Pub DJ system it produces clear amazing clarity of sound (if switched on) but once you turn it below a certain level even the best performers in the world would sound weak. I have even triggered a limiter recently by singing solo ‘Happy Birthday’  in a room without a microphone being turned on.

This is the point where the venue mention their ‘In-House DJ’ (not necessarily an ‘A’ rated professional) who apparently has no problem adhering to the limit : beware!!

To have a great party you need the right ingredients, you need a professional, you need the right mix of music, you need lights, energy, excitement… and above all you need to be able to hear the music above people talking. Can you imagine a party where the disco is making less noise that the kitchen ovens? Put it another way, can you imagine this senario…you save up and stretch to afford the best chef who creates a beautiful menu for your special day, he arrives at the venue to be told he cant use the oven to cook the food. Impossible to imagine right? Well the same goes for Parties and Sound Limiters.

Many professional entertainers refuse to play if a sound limiter is present.

A final piece of advice

Before you book a venue, check if they have a sound limiter, check the level they tell you it is set at. When you visit the venue,stand near the device and look at the traffic lights flickering on it. (If there are no lights then they have turned it off for your visit). The lights will flicker from green, to amber, to red. Once it reaches red for more than a few seconds it would cut of a DJ or Singer, or Band at your party. You can clap your hands, or if brave enough shout out and see how the noise you make effects it, then imagine 50-150 guests all laughing, talking, dancing, children crying or laughing, people enjoying themselves and then music on top of this…then make your decision about the venue.

Good Luck

Kirsten x