to “92dB” in another venue or application is not few seconds, minutes, or whatever is preferred) style” or “I can’t understand the words” and the
absolute, but is relative, and invalid. Someone as a data file. Want to know if today’s worship listener may not even realize this is what they
once made this analogy: “saying 100dB is set was really that much louder than last really mean to convey. These may or may not
like saying I got paid 1500 money last week. week’s? Review that data. be actual loudness issues. Some other factors,
What is the value of the money?” That’s really
which are out of the mixer’s control, are:
Another way of expressing loudness in sound
meaningless.
reinforcement, which I believe relates best 1) Direct-to-reverberant ratio changes across
There are different types and qualities of sound to human perception in live worship, is Leq the audience area. Indoors, a listener further
level meters (hardware, software, integrated (Equivalent Sound Level). This averages the from the loudspeakers hears relatively more
handheld, mobile app, etc.). Any good meter level over a stated period of time. A 20-minute room reverberation (a lower D/R ratio) and
should at least offer a choice of weighting and music set bouncing between 90-100dB SPL may perceive the lower intelligibility as tougher
time modes. There are also Type I and Type II followed by 40-minute sermon that ranging 78- to understand and, sometimes, mistake this
meters, which are built to different standards 86dB SPL might produce an Leq in the range for an inappropriate loudness. Changing level
(Type I meters cost more). Any meter is only as of 84dB Leq for the whole hour, or something won’t fix that.
good as the measurement microphone in use. in that range. Listener exposure of 84dBA over Also, measuring absolute loudness requires a one hour duration is not unsafe.
calibration by a “microphone calibrator” tool.
2) Some people are hypersensitive to sound.
It’s a real thing. Hearing protection or a quieter
Measuring loudness is often misunderstood and
seating area (if available) are possible solutions.
The variables explained above must be taken expressed incorrectly, making measurements into account in any valid measurement. Other between venues or applications improper. Relative measurements aren’t useless. Say you
considerations: Proper measurements, expressed correctly, measure one day with an un-calibrated meter,
• MICROPHONE TYPE - there are big variations can be compared. Comparing measurements or you don’t notice which weighting or time
• MICROPHONE POSITION – the front row, of the same type is okay, but comparing mode is selected. If you measure again at the
especially near a live drum kit, will probably measurements with different weighting or time same location and same meter settings you can
measure
louder
than
the
back
row. compare that difference meaningfully. While the
Sometimes, engineers measure multiple actual numbers aren’t absolute, the difference
listener positions across the venue and
average them.
• MEASUREMENT DURATION - measuring during
several loud songs will result in higher
measurements than during a quiet song or a
sermon (in most cases). Measuring over time
is very useful.
CONCLUSIONS
Say you are mixing around 94dBA Slow SPL on
an arrangement with full bass energy. Switching
the meter to C weighting may result in readings
of 10dB higher, or more, because C weighting
If someone feels is useful. Stating that “this song is about 4dB
an experience is knowing the absolute SPL is ok. But comparing
too loud, it may
louder than the last one,” for instance, without
that measurement to one from another venue
or a different application is invalid.
be (for them) Mixing live sound (including understanding
and they won’t mixing live worship, we are mixing “feel”. The
care what any
meter indicates.
loudness) is all about listener perception. When
responsibility of the mixer is to make it feel “right”
while conveying the stage performance across
the house. This is highly subjective, and judging
loudness is similar to judging mix balance...get
factors in more low frequency information than away from the booth, walk the house, listen,
A. Neither is necessarily wrong, as long as the and know your room. Sound level meters are
user understands the difference. Keep in mind
factors is often misleading.
that +10dB sounds about twice as loud, and
-10dB sounds about half as loud.
a useful reference tool when understood, but
should never replace good listening skills.
If someone feels an experience is too loud, it
may be (for them) and they won’t care what any
Some SPL measurement tools offer data meter indicates. But often “it’s too loud” really
logging. These store periodic SPL values (every means something like “I don’t like the musical
Kent Margraves
Heads up training and education at MUSIC Tribe, and
continues to mix FOH for various worship artists.