Complaints about the sound at Glade 2008

[k3str3l]

i think it was appalling especially for the whole of Bang Face. Its breakcore...you need it loud to even move. the most disappointing thing was definitely Remarc's set when he was playing oldskool jungle which i love...i could hear the bassline but to even hear the top end and the amens everyone was crowding around the speakers at the back of the tents - JUST SO THEY COULD HEAR THE MUSIC. im glad that Shitmat came on for a surprise set and refused to play until they turned it up...just a shame that for the whole of Bang Face (which is what i went for) i couldnt fucking hear it. I also talked to Saint Acid after bang face had finished and he couldnt hear himself on the system...the DJ couldnt hear himself on the system..what a joke.

Less people will go next year than ever before unless Glade actually say that it will be alright.

I agree, i enjoyed bangface because of the wacky atmoshere that surrounds it, but the sound was piss poor, I will seriously be considering other options next summer

[baldmosher]

What Beatmonkey and Tigmyth said.

[pd2h]

What Beatmonkey and Tigmyth said.

And for me to!!

However what is more annoying than low sound is people stood behind you shouting about the fact now that is down right rubbish and really put you on a downer if you don't like it vote with you feet and leave!!!

[Renagade]

Ok, firstly, it definitely was quiet all round, this might be fine for some people - but for many its evidently quite a big issue.

This was my first Glade, and I personally was a little bit dissapointed with the sound levels across all the stages. Although I wasn't around it much, I could definitely hear the delay with the Origin system. When you go out to a club its much easier to have high SPL's because of the way the sound can be reflected and amplified just by using the walls. There are ways to replicate this effect outdoors which would have been nice to see.

I can understand why they might need to turn the sound down at night (perhaps to daytime levels, but really can't understand why it was as quiet as it was during the daytime in general, unless there were liscence restrictions on spill then too. The quality of the soundsystems is pretty darn good, it seems a shame that they were being a little bit wasted. Even right next to some of the main stacks I could still fairly easily hold a conversation even at supposed peak volume. There were a couple of sweet spots where the bass became a little louder, but didn't really make up for overall volume.

Overkill on Friday was an odd one. Sound down so so low for Bong-ra's set it was a joke could hear people talking a couple of meters away...then they turned it back up again, then back down again

Im also not quite sure how the impromptu junk-band on sunday that were parading around (before ending up in the Rabbit Hole) managed to distrub some people right down the end of the valley, seems an aweful long way for un-amplified sound to travel.

Saying all that, what pisses me off the most is the people that start to get mouthy or blaming the PA / Stage organizers, when there really is nothing they can do - its a legal liscence restriction, and not something they can suddenly ignore. It has to be prearranged before and stuck to in order to avoid pretty major fines.

[soundclash]

Makes me laugh when there are people saying that those who thought the sound levels were low had hearing difficulties lol.
Im a sound engineer and my hearing is spot on 100% and checked regulary, it was bloody quiet in comparison to other festivals and previous years of Glade. Even spoke to the guy from Audio Plus who were supplying the Function one rigs and he couldnt do a thing about it due to level restirctions. I felt for him as he was constantly getting stick and was doing the right thing as they do. The quality wasnt the issue it was the level.
Glade re-locate or bribe some one before you kill this fantastic festival through ignorance of the most important element to a MUSIC fetival and that is the sound!

[Exulus]

Phew, back now

I didnt really have a problem with the sound apart from Friday Bangface with Remarc being sillyquiet.

And i have to admit, I also thought Liquids setup was the best of the festival. I remember someone from opus coming on here telling us about their own sound cancelling technology and i reckon they are right! You could hardly hear the tent until you got near it, but then inside in the middle it was proper chunky

[yohankiwi]

I have to agree that the levels on friday night were a bit of a joke. I first went to origin to hear pogo's closing set and was chatting to my friend without a raised voice right next to the speak. Bangface was even worse (gave up half way through so didnt hear saint acid), and the main stage was also rubbish and liquid and breaksday were a little better, but still far from acceptable IMO.

The rest of the weekend was fine though, jeff mills was again a little quiet but it was loud enough to have a good time.
Glade really needs to start sorting this issue out, they are going to lose a lot of regulars and damage their reputation if this becomes a staple of the festival.

[magneticgrooves]

Phew, back now

I didnt really have a problem with the sound apart from Friday Bangface with Remarc being sillyquiet.

And i have to admit, I also thought Liquids setup was the best of the festival. I remember someone from opus coming on here telling us about their own sound cancelling technology and i reckon they are right! You could hardly hear the tent until you got near it, but then inside in the middle it was proper chunky

Opus rigs in all the stages next year please. They were by far the best a the festival, I could actually hear the high sounds unlike the Glade stage!

[Sperge]

The rest of the weekend was fine though, jeff mills was again a little quiet but it was loud enough to have a good time.
Glade really needs to start sorting this issue out, they are going to lose a lot of regulars and damage their reputation if this becomes a staple of the festival.

But people have been saying that for five years. If the majority of Glade punters were as bothered about the levels as some people keep saying on forums like this, why are so many repeat customers coming back year after year? Are they all masochists?

As I've already said in this thread, I agree that sound levels were a bit quiet at times myself. It was particularly noticeable to me during Jeff Mills on Saturday, although others have said this was an issue with the front left speaker stack and that it was fine on the other side (wish I'd known ). Levels in Bang Face were fine during Doubtful Guest, but I'll agree that it got very quiet when I came back for Bong-Ra.

I've already given some of the reasons why those issues came up this year, I'll get more detailed responses in due course. I did speak to Ans backstage about the sound issues on Saturday and he does feel that although there had been a few problems, they were far less serious than last year. Watch this space for more details when I get them. But once again, if it was that big an issue for most punters, there wouldn't be so much repeat business.

[baldmosher]

Liquid was definitely louder but it wasn't THAT loud and after listening to the quality of the F1 rigs all weekend, the Liquid rig didn't sound that great IMHO. But after 5 mins dancing to it I didn't notice any more.

EDIT:

Sperge, agreed, it was as loud this year as it's ever been.

[Renagade]

The reason people come back is because the festival as a whole is really fun and enjoyable. But I cannot see any punters complaining if the sound was turned up.

It would definitely improve my festival experience, and im sure that of many others. Is there a reason for the sound (in general) being as quiet as it is, are there daytime sound-spill limits for example?

[Gand]

But people have been saying that for five years. If the majority of Glade punters were as bothered about the levels as people who keep saying on forums like this, why are so many repeat customers coming back year after year? But once again, if it was that big an issue for most punters, there wouldn't be so much repeat business.

so please explain why it wasnt a sell out this year.

~Gand

[baldmosher]

I cannot see any punters complaining if the sound was turned up.

That's irrelevant.

so please explain why it wasnt a sell out this year.

Did Glastonbury sell out?

[Sperge]

It would definitely improve my festival experience, and im sure that of many others. Is there a reason for the sound (in general) being as quiet as it is, are there daytime sound-spill limits for example?

West Berkshire Council has laid down some very strict limits on sound levels. And with the legal powers they now have in the UK, they can shut down the festival immediately on the basis of a single complaint.

This really, really sucks but I'm afraid that's what we're up against.

I think the question people really need to ask is why the Glade people are so keen on sticking with the Wasing Estate when the restrictions are so tight?

[Sperge]

But people have been saying that for five years. If the majority of Glade punters were as bothered about the levels as people who keep saying on forums like this, why are so many repeat customers coming back year after year? But once again, if it was that big an issue for most punters, there wouldn't be so much repeat business.

so please explain why it wasnt a sell out this year.

What, again? How about you using Search? See are-you-suffering-festival-fatigue-t5586.html for example.

We are at the start of an economic downturn, people are spending less, this is affecting UK festivals as a whole, especially at the niche end of the market more than the 'cattle market' ones like Leeds/Reading and TitP. Last year's weather was also a factor affecting many festivals, including Glastonbury, and the fact that the UK festival market has been saturated for some time is another.

If you're still so sure the only thing affecting Glade's ticket sales was the sound issues then fine, you're welcome to your opinion. Why not vote with your feet and go some place else next year? Chopper has already made that decision and respect to him for that.

[Renagade]

I think the question people really need to ask is why the Glade people are so keen on sticking with the Wasing Estate when the restrictions are so tight?

Definitely...but I guess for them its easier to stick to what they know - especially as its still quite a young festival. Im don't think a change of location to an area with more reasonable sound restrictions would do them any harm at all, but I guess they have their reasons for not doing so - would be interested to know if there is anything specific.

[Gand]

Why not vote with your feet and go some place else next year?

Naaaa im definitely going again next year its just an issue i think needs to be sorted out for everyone to enjoy the festival more.

Did Glastonbury sell out?

no, because of Jay-Z

[yohankiwi]

I think the question people really need to ask is why the Glade people are so keen on sticking with the Wasing Estate when the restrictions are so tight?

Yes definately. A change of location should certainly be on the cards for next year. I'm sure they can find one that looks just as good and yet is more isolated from surrounding neighbours

[Sperge]

Why not vote with your feet and go some place else next year?

Naaaa im definitely going again next year its just an issue i think needs to be sorted out for everyone to enjoy the festival more.

I don't think it's an issue that will ever be sorted out to some people's liking, this is the whole problem. The number of hoops organisers have to jump through now to put on a legal festival are just plain ridiculous - and they keep piling more and more on. I think that's another reason for the growing popularity of overseas festivals.

If things continue this way, I can see a point being reached when people give up trying to put on legal festivals and they either put ones on abroad - or they start getting into the free parties scene.

Edit: re Jay-Z, yes, he was a factor behind some people not going, certainly. But most of the people I know who didn't go put it down to the recent bad run of shit weather, the ever-spiralling cost and Mr Eavis's daft quotes about wanting a younger crowd (he was misquoted, by the way, but he should know by now how easily his words can be twisted).

[fletcher]

Why not vote with your feet and go some place else next year?

Naaaa im definitely going again next year its just an issue i think needs to be sorted out for everyone to enjoy the festival more.

Did Glastonbury sell out?

no, because of Jay-Z

thats like blaming pendulum for glade not selling out.

oh hang on, maybe ive hit on something there...