Volume consistency in a bar

Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2008 2:14 pm

Hi Folks…

I’m wondering if you all can help me figure this out for a friend of mine.

My friend owns a bar and uses a jukebox for the music. The jukebox is loaded with all different types of music and the problem is that he cannot get a consistent volume. If someone plays an older song the volume is too low and the newer songs are way too high and blow everyone out.

He is looking for something that will provide a fairly consistent volume regardless of what a customer plays. I am thinking of a DBX 166XL compressor/limiter. Would this or something like it give him what he is looking for?

Thanks for any advice.

Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2008 2:29 pm

You can't beat a person for this job. I know what I'm saying goes against the point of your question.
I believe the benefits of having a human control the volume in relation to the mood of the occasion far outweigh any benefits tech could possibly offer.

Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2008 2:38 pm

Yes, I know, Greener. I suggested this but because of space limitations it is not an option.

Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2008 2:49 pm

Unfortunately your basic compressor/limiter isn't going to help with this (at least in any way that is good musically). All it will do is clip the heck out of music that has already been compressed to within an inch of its life.

My advice is no more practical than Greeners - kick those damned overcompressed songs off the jukebox.

Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2008 3:13 pm

You may actually want a limiter instead. If it was me I would use a waves L2 for that application, however any compressor will act as a limiter with the ratio maxed.

THe DBX 166XL may not be the most transparent in this application though.

Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2008 11:54 pm

Try this:

http://www.rdlnet.com/product.php?page=242

Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2008 11:59 pm

Or something like this:
http://www.rdlnet.com/product.php?page=114

RO Admin Joined: Mar 20, 2000 Posts: 4352 Location: Canada

bent wrote:

Or something like this:
http://www.rdlnet.com/product.php?page=114

Good one Ben! Looks like this may do the trick.
krazykorg, what ever you choose, lets us all know how you make out.

Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2008 6:54 am

Also, Symetrix manufactures a device called the "SPL Computer". It was designed to regulate the SPL of a sound system by sensing the ambient noise in an environment (via an external mic) and then adjusting the systems' gain to match the level, according to how it is programmed. I have used it's predecessor in the past for the same reasons you have stated. I simply placed the detection mic ( a Shure 57) near the system loudspeakers and let the SPL adjust the volume to the program levels. Worked pretty well.

Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2008 10:18 am

I installed one of these at the club I used to look after, to keep deaf DJs under control. Works very well.

Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2008 4:28 pm

BobRogers wrote:

Unfortunately your basic compressor/limiter isn't going to help with this (at least in any way that is good musically). All it will do is clip the heck out of music that has already been compressed to within an inch of its life.

My advice is no more practical than Greeners - kick those damned overcompressed songs off the jukebox.

Dang. Get rid of all that loudness war music and you will have nothing left.

You are pretty much hosed. This is a problem that broadcasters face too. We need a standard. It will never happen.

I know that the joke box is a source of revenue, but why not go another route? There are music services that one can subscribe too that provide better mixes based on your demographics and hours of operation. You could always do the Sirus/XM radio thing. They have business licenses that are not bad. The music is better and it is all smashed out.

Posted: Mon Aug 18, 2008 11:30 am

BobRogers wrote:

Unfortunately your basic compressor/limiter isn't going to help with this (at least in any way that is good musically). All it will do is clip the heck out of music that has already been compressed to within an inch of its life.

My advice is no more practical than Greeners - kick those damned overcompressed songs off the jukebox.

If you can find a compressor that keys from RMS levels rather than peak levels you might manage to improve matters. Time constants would need to be set as long as possible, especially the release time.

But a dedicated unit such as the AVC2 I linked to above will do better.

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