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DJ's.. would you play a show without subs?
Posted: Sat Oct 17, 2009 10:46 pm
by kani
Wondering where drawing the line between 'supporting the scene' and 'cashing in on the dubstep bandwagon' should fall.
Case in point,
one venue that is bringing a lot of names into my town is holding their shows at a spot that has less than sufficient subs. I know for a fact that these subs dont produce below 60Hz and then they have them compressed and limited to protect them. Pretty much have to be within 10 feet of the stack to feel any bass and from being familiar with the songs, i know that the lower notes arent even coming through, and if your more than 20' from the stack, its nothing but >100hz ala the highs.
How crucial is faithful representation of the recorded music to a night?
Any thoughts on scrimping on bass so you can maximize your profit?
Too bad the states dont have the audio policies of uk and europe, clubs near me seem to let the audio budget be the first thing to get axed.
any thoughts?
Re: DJ's.. would you play a show without subs?
Posted: Sat Oct 17, 2009 10:52 pm
by lojik
Nope.
No point playing if you can't hear the music properly.
Re: DJ's.. would you play a show without subs?
Posted: Sat Oct 17, 2009 11:23 pm
by tacospheros
obviously the answer is no but i think what you're dealing with is bars or clubs that just have whatever shitty systm they have and its fine for shitty bands that come thru and that's all thy care about . they're not gonna invest in some crazy sick soundsystem just cuz some new style of music needs more bass. they make their money primarily off the bar and shitty bands bring in people paying at the bar. supply and demand my friend
but if i was a "dubstep" dj I wouldnt' wnt tp play on a shitty system . so the answer is NO
Re: DJ's.. would you play a show without subs?
Posted: Sat Oct 17, 2009 11:24 pm
by ghst
Correct me if im wrong but 100hz isnt exactly a high frequency...
but yeh not much point playing if people genuinely arent gonna hear the tunes to full effect.
Re: DJ's.. would you play a show without subs?
Posted: Sat Oct 17, 2009 11:28 pm
by surface_tension
most clubs don't have anything below 40hz anyway... clubs aren't your home studio. I'd play the show, yes... I'd talk to the promoter about better sound and have them talk to the venue owner about the likelihood that people won't come back next time.
Re: DJ's.. would you play a show without subs?
Posted: Sat Oct 17, 2009 11:32 pm
by abZ
Half the people in my area hate me now because I won't play out for anyone. Most of the sound companies here don't know their ass from a hole in the ground. I don't see the point in playing when you can't feel anything. Kind of takes the point of dubstep away. That said I did take a gig to play at this little bar where I know they only have these shitty Mackie tops. It is going to sound like fuck but I need to get out of the house and I also need free beer. Still pisses me off. I am moving to Chicago.

Re: DJ's.. would you play a show without subs?
Posted: Sat Oct 17, 2009 11:55 pm
by domhunt
Nah not at all,
good thing my city have aload of amazing soundsystems.
Re: DJ's.. would you play a show without subs?
Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2009 12:03 am
by hellfire machina
Depends on the club/bar. The venue we host Darkroom at has had a complete revamp on the system with more on the way. The owner recognised the potential and made the investment, 6 months down the line he's happy as a pig in shit, there's several other promotors throwing regular edm nights there now due to the improvments.
Not trying to be smug just wanted to show that its not all horror stories, it takes an open minded bar/club owner but they do exist.
Re: DJ's.. would you play a show without subs?
Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2009 1:05 am
by MikeE
Hence why I'm building a sound system.
Plan to not have to worry about that problem in the future
Just roll with a system.. problem solved

Re: DJ's.. would you play a show without subs?
Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2009 1:21 am
by jolly wailer
anything worth doing is worth doing right.
Re: DJ's.. would you play a show without subs?
Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2009 8:55 am
by gwa
I'm sure there is a 30K watt soundsystem in MN
Re: DJ's.. would you play a show without subs?
Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2009 9:42 am
by collige
gwa wrote:I'm sure there is a 30K watt soundsystem in MN
MN is half the size of your entire country.
Re: DJ's.. would you play a show without subs?
Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2009 9:47 am
by Pistonsbeneath
most superclubs have the system peaking at 100hz...hence a lot of big producers in d&b and now dubstep making their snares peak at 100hz
Re: DJ's.. would you play a show without subs?
Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2009 9:49 am
by spire
MikeE wrote:Hence why I'm building a sound system.
Plan to not have to worry about that problem in the future
Just roll with a system.. problem solved

ditto.
Re: DJ's.. would you play a show without subs?
Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2009 9:52 am
by gwa
collige wrote:gwa wrote:I'm sure there is a 30K watt soundsystem in MN
MN is half the size of your entire country.
and? I know it's more of a techno system, but
it had weight behind it. Sorry I should of
said minneapolis / st Paul
Re: DJ's.. would you play a show without subs?
Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2009 10:22 am
by PAEBAC
have done lots of times in the past, you can't be choosey when you are playing illegal raves ! Some of the sound systems I've played on have been shocking. However, I've played on some beasts too ... Desert Storm !
edit: should add this has been playing dnb though not dubstep
Re: DJ's.. would you play a show without subs?
Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2009 7:43 pm
by gunjack
yea. then i would jump on the mic and be like "ay there is a fucking monster sub here but you cant hear it but trust me its there and its sick you
stnuc!"

Re: DJ's.. would you play a show without subs?
Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2009 8:33 pm
by seckle
this starts and ends with promoters. don't support parties that take shortcuts on sound. get your money's worth. simple.
Re: DJ's.. would you play a show without subs?
Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 12:27 am
by dash
Keep dubstep off the radio too.

Re: DJ's.. would you play a show without subs?
Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 3:39 am
by just jim
i'd like to say no...but i have before and i'm sure i will again.