Our venue has a sound limiter, will this be a problem?

Sound Limiters:
The Super Honest Lowdown

Sound limiters are becoming more and more common at venues, especially where there are nearby neighbours and council noise rules to keep happy.

And while that’s great for local residents who want quiet, it can be a little challenging when live music is part of your plans.

So here’s my explanation of what sound limiters are, why bands sometimes struggle with them, and what you can do to avoid any problems on the night.


First things first: what is a sound limiter?

A sound limiter is a device installed in a venue that measures how loud the room gets. It uses a microphone fixed somewhere in the space and measures sound levels in decibels (dB).

If the noise level goes over a set limit, the limiter kicks in and cuts the power to the band or DJ.

Lights out.

Silence.

Vibe…. interrupted.


Some venues have a little “traffic light” system, so us musicians can see when we’re getting close to the limit, and adjust things before the power cuts off. This is a MUCH better option than the ones that cut the power off without warning, both from your point of view, and ours.

Why sound limiters can be tricky for live bands

The biggest issue isn’t that sound limiters exist, it’s that no two venues set them up the same way.

The microphone that measures the sound might be:

  • In a corner of the room

  • Near a stone wall or big glass area that reflects sound

  • In a spot where even clapping can set it off

  • Sometimes really close to where the band speakers will go…

That means a band can play comfortably in one venue at a certain level (for example 110 Dbs), then trip the limiter constantly in another venue using exactly the same equipment and setup and the same 110 Bbs limit. This is what makes it tricky.


“Can’t the band just turn down?”

This is one of the most common questions, and the answer is: only to a point.

The volume of a live band is largely dictated by the drums.

Acoustic drums don’t have a volume knob.

Playing them too softly changes the entire feel of the music and can make it sound flat and lifeless, not to mention really mess up the mix, and your vibe!

Once the drummer is playing, the rest of the band has to set their levels around them.

In some rooms, the drum kit alone can trigger the limiter before anyone else has even plugged in. At that point, there’s very little anyone can do unless the venue adjusts the limiter.

How loud is “too loud”?

As a very rough guide:

  • Under 90dB – Suitable for quiet background music, pretty unrealistic for party bands that are trying to get people up and dancing.

  • 90–95dB – Fine for jazz trios / quartets, still very restrictive for party bands

  • 95–100dB – Often workable, but can feel a bit restrained

  • 100dB+ – Generally much more comfortable for energetic live music, provided the limiter microphone is not right on top of the stage.


So, what do we do to avoid problems?

If live music really matters to you, here are the smartest steps to take:

  • Ask the venue early whether they have a sound limiter

  • Find out the actual dB level it’s set to and let your band know asap

  • Then let us know and we will give you our honest opinion or whether or not a band can properly perform there

Some venues are wonderfully honest about their limitations.

Others… a little less so. A bit of homework can save a lot of stress.

What happens if our venue has a sound limiter but we still really want a band?

Fret not, Beat Connection has you covered.

Sound Limiters are so common nowadays, that we have come up with a great sound-limiter-friendly option for live music lovers.

And this is it:
A high-energy party band without drums and bass, which uses a high-quality custom track to play drums and bass, but with very controllable volume.
Please note: this is not a cheap and low-quality karaoke-like track that would sound awful.
This is a professional-quality, sound-engineers and musician approved pre-recorded track that feels just like the real thing.

But don’t take our word for it, watch this video and you will notice that you can still hear realistic and high-quality drums and bass, when actually you only have keyboards, vocals and sax on stage.

With these hybrid-bands, we can give you any instrument combination that you like the idea of, and make your venue and their sound limiter extremely happy.

Why not book a chat with me to talk this through?

Alex