Often, the threshold for sound limiters are set far too low for live music, and can be set off by something as little as clapping or a rowdy audience! Add live drums, bass and electric guitars into the mix and the threshold is going to be met very, very quickly. It’s possible to perform in one part of a room and not set the limiter off, but regularly trip the limiter if playing in a different location in the same room. A problem often faced by musicians is the huge difference between how limiters are set up between different venues. Sound Limiters can sometimes cause a tricky situation – not just for the band, but the venue staff and even the client as well. Occasionally sound limiters are installed in small venues to ensure the hearing safety of their guests. Some old old venues will have them in place to prevent structural problems caused from rumbling bass. Sometimes it can be due repeated complaints from neighbours unhappy about the excessive noise levels late in to the night. It is a legal requirement for some venues to have a sound limiter installed, based on their proximity to other public spaces and buildings. This means that the electricity supply will be cut off for anything between 10 and 15 minutes. It’s not unusual for a limiter to be activated 2-3 times in any 1-hour period. This can cause unwelcome disruptions for both the guests and the musical act who are performing. In some cases, Sound Limiters need to be manually reset and in the best case scenario, it might take a minute or so for the electricity to come automatically back on again. In other words, power to guitar amplifiers, PA speakers and keyboards will be automatically switched off if the threshold is reached for a consistent period of time. If the audio volume exceeds a pre-defined ‘loudness’ (or dB level) for more than a few seconds, the unit will cut the electricity supply to the rest of the equipment plugged in to that electrical circuit. A microphone is fitted inside a unit and placed somewhere on the wall of the performance space, measuring the ‘loudness’ of any audio activity in decibels (dB). A sound limiter is a device installed within certain venues to ensure that the noise level does not exceed a certain threshold. If you’re looking to book entertainment for your event, it’s worth asking your venue if they have a sound limiter installed.
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