fraroc Posted January 31, 2015 Share Posted January 31, 2015 I didn't really read any horror stories about it for the Snakes and Arrows and Clockwork Angels tours, but I've heard plenty of complaints about the Time Machine tour having one of Rush's worst live sounds ever with complaints of the sound being so brickwalled that some people couldn't tell what songs were being played live. I didn't see them for TM, so did any of you notice this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garyg7133 Posted January 31, 2015 Share Posted January 31, 2015 Over the years I've caught a couple that started off rough or had the odd muddy sound for a brief period, but usually the sound guys get it straight within a few seconds... Never anything that I would say WOW , that sound sucked... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReRushed Posted January 31, 2015 Share Posted January 31, 2015 I saw them at the PNC Bank Arts Center on that tour and they put on a fantastic show. It sounded fine to my ears, but so do mp3's! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lerxt1990 Posted January 31, 2015 Share Posted January 31, 2015 I had to look up brickwalled. I did find this to be the case at some recent shows. I actually use a modified earplug which improved the sound some (to my ears). I also think (and those that know more can chime in) that sometimes the volume level works against them, they were one of the loudest shows I saw in a year when I saw 6-7 shows, and sometimes the volume just creates a racket and with no space or dynamic range some of the good stuff gets lost. Again, IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LittleRushmonkey Posted January 31, 2015 Share Posted January 31, 2015 (edited) It sounded good to me from my memories of it. I can't really remember it too well though. I'm not entirely sure what brickwalled means... Edited January 31, 2015 by LittleRushmonkey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LocalsBandGuy Posted January 31, 2015 Share Posted January 31, 2015 It's not the 'live sound', it's how the sound reacts with each venue. A totally crappy sound guy can get a decent sound at a good acoustics venue, ala Red Rocks, and the best sound man struggles to get any clarity at all in a boom box, ala Nassau Colisseum. On top of that, you have to account for weather at outdoor shows. Any decent wind at places like Jones Beach just washes away the highs and causes a wishy-washy sound mess. Humidity causes lots of sound issues also. Keep those things in mind when talking 'brickwalled'. The sound guy may have to lower the gain on mics because of wind problems, and then crank the fader up to get it back in the mix....which will give you that brickwalled sound. He may have to compress other channels if they have high heat or humidity that day, which can lead to the Vapor Trails effect. Too much compression and you start getting distortion artifacts in your sound. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grover Posted January 31, 2015 Share Posted January 31, 2015 They always have compressors or limiters in use at live shows because it lessens the chances of feedback and blown speakers or amplifiers. I have found the sound can be horrible one night and excellent the next. Not sure why. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garyg7133 Posted January 31, 2015 Share Posted January 31, 2015 It's not the 'live sound', it's how the sound reacts with each venue. A totally crappy sound guy can get a decent sound at a good acoustics venue, ala Red Rocks, and the best sound man struggles to get any clarity at all in a boom box, ala Nassau Colisseum. On top of that, you have to account for weather at outdoor shows. Any decent wind at places like Jones Beach just washes away the highs and causes a wishy-washy sound mess. Humidity causes lots of sound issues also. Keep those things in mind when talking 'brickwalled'. The sound guy may have to lower the gain on mics because of wind problems, and then crank the fader up to get it back in the mix....which will give you that brickwalled sound. He may have to compress other channels if they have high heat or humidity that day, which can lead to the Vapor Trails effect. Too much compression and you start getting distortion artifacts in your sound. You're dead on about Nassau. I saw them for PW and RTB there and WOW was it loud. There's a boot out there of the '86 PW tour and it is god awful sounding because of the volume in house. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fraroc Posted January 31, 2015 Author Share Posted January 31, 2015 It's not the 'live sound', it's how the sound reacts with each venue. A totally crappy sound guy can get a decent sound at a good acoustics venue, ala Red Rocks, and the best sound man struggles to get any clarity at all in a boom box, ala Nassau Colisseum. On top of that, you have to account for weather at outdoor shows. Any decent wind at places like Jones Beach just washes away the highs and causes a wishy-washy sound mess. Humidity causes lots of sound issues also. Keep those things in mind when talking 'brickwalled'. The sound guy may have to lower the gain on mics because of wind problems, and then crank the fader up to get it back in the mix....which will give you that brickwalled sound. He may have to compress other channels if they have high heat or humidity that day, which can lead to the Vapor Trails effect. Too much compression and you start getting distortion artifacts in your sound. You're dead on about Nassau. I saw them for PW and RTB there and WOW was it loud. There's a boot out there of the '86 PW tour and it is god awful sounding because of the volume in house. I've definitley noticed that Trans Siberian Orchestra sounds WAY heavier and distorted than how they do on the record and in Youtube videos at Nassau. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluefox4000 Posted January 31, 2015 Share Posted January 31, 2015 (edited) The 2 times i saw them they were loud but it was clear at the same time so no complaints here. I've been to show that nearly killed me, lol P.S. Nassau does suck.......Roger Waters wall tour was ear splitting there.......but boy did we all have fun, lol Mick Edited January 31, 2015 by bluefox4000 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lerxt1990 Posted January 31, 2015 Share Posted January 31, 2015 It's not the 'live sound', it's how the sound reacts with each venue. A totally crappy sound guy can get a decent sound at a good acoustics venue, ala Red Rocks, and the best sound man struggles to get any clarity at all in a boom box, ala Nassau Colisseum. On top of that, you have to account for weather at outdoor shows. Any decent wind at places like Jones Beach just washes away the highs and causes a wishy-washy sound mess. Humidity causes lots of sound issues also. Keep those things in mind when talking 'brickwalled'. The sound guy may have to lower the gain on mics because of wind problems, and then crank the fader up to get it back in the mix....which will give you that brickwalled sound. He may have to compress other channels if they have high heat or humidity that day, which can lead to the Vapor Trails effect. Too much compression and you start getting distortion artifacts in your sound. I would think with indoor venues and with the sophistication of their sound guy's work before the show that a lot of this can be eliminated right? I remember the documentary where the sound guy discussed all these features. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EagleMoon Posted January 31, 2015 Share Posted January 31, 2015 I think the clarity of sound depends on where you're sitting but for the most part it's sounded pretty consistent at each concert I've been to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LocalsBandGuy Posted January 31, 2015 Share Posted January 31, 2015 Lerxt, they always do what they can before the show, but keep in mind 2 things: you can't fix structural problems (bad corners, un-audio-friendly materials), and the audience itself causes tons of changes compared to the empty house during sound check.....thus the 1st song mixing you often hear at a show to get it settled in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Analog Cub Posted January 31, 2015 Share Posted January 31, 2015 All of the indoor shows I've gone to, I've been lucky enough to have good sound. United Center in Chicago, Sprint Center in Kansas City, but the BEST sounding show by far was the second Time Machine show I went to in Omaha at the Qwest Center. Absolutely perfect sound. The amphitheaters are hit and miss. The one in St. Louis has always been good sound, but the First Midwest Bank Amphitheater in Tinley Park has AWFUL sound. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
On TheRoad To Adventure Posted February 8, 2015 Share Posted February 8, 2015 I had to look up brickwalled. I did find this to be the case at some recent shows. I actually use a modified earplug which improved the sound some (to my ears). I also think (and those that know more can chime in) that sometimes the volume level works against them, they were one of the loudest shows I saw in a year when I saw 6-7 shows, and sometimes the volume just creates a racket and with no space or dynamic range some of the good stuff gets lost. Again, IMO. I would be interested in hearing details about your earplug. The last 2 concerts I attended. I had loud crackling in my ears after a few songs which really detracted from the enjoyment. I already wear a hearing aid in one ear, so I don,t want more hearing damage. I wear cheap earplugs now which help a bit. The worst was in Portland on CA tour. 3rd row Alex's side. Best view I,ve ever had, but Geddy sounded like Donald Duck. (Some rush haters would say he always sounds that way, but I love his voice and was so disappointed!). It might just have been b/c we were right under the speakers, though. I would like to get some good earplugs which will keep the quality of the sound while lowering the volume Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disk98 Posted February 8, 2015 Share Posted February 8, 2015 Sounded fine to me both times I saw them, but then again MSG and the Pru have notoriously good sound, so I'm lucky. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Analog Grownup Posted February 8, 2015 Share Posted February 8, 2015 It took FOH 3 songs in Amsterdam to get the sound "right". Alex' piezo sound was too loud or had way too much presence, because it felt like having your eardrums stabbed. After that it was fine. I was standing near FOH. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
analog guy Posted February 9, 2015 Share Posted February 9, 2015 I think the venue is as much involved as anything else. I've seen Rush at Red Rocks twice and I thought they sounded much better there than at Pepsi. Pepsi Center was all cymbals and sub bass and little else. Actually sounded better with my fingers in. I am going to take plugs this time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ALifeson85 Posted February 9, 2015 Share Posted February 9, 2015 (edited) When I saw the Clockwork Angels show at the 1st Mariner Arena in Baltimore, my friend and I were on the floor, dead center (right next to the mixing consoles. I even spoke with Howard Underleider for a minute before the show. Very cool dude.)...but anyway...the sound at that show was PERFECT. Every instrument, including Geddy's vocals, cut through crisp and clear. The show before THAT, at the Toyota Center in Houston, my father and I were on the upper deck, on Geddy's side. The sound wasn't BAD - but not quite as crisp as the Baltimore show. Many things factor into the sound quality of a concert, especially depending on where you are located in the arena. Edited February 9, 2015 by ALifeson85 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EagleMoon Posted February 9, 2015 Share Posted February 9, 2015 Sometimes it's not the venue itself but where you're sitting. I knew several people that went to the last concert at Riverbend in Cincinnati and several said the sound was a bit muffled. To me it sounded very crisp and clear. But I was in the third row and they were about the 30th. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ljr869 Posted February 12, 2015 Share Posted February 12, 2015 Ever since the Vapor Trails tour, they've sounded fantastic. Brad Madix knows what he's doing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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