sound on the main stage

[googlebrain]

anyone else getting sick of the continuous shit quality of sound on the main stage during the day. ive been to enough readings to know this isnt a one off and i think it takes the piss you pay so much for a ticket and thenn can barely hear the artists. offspring on friday was awful and i feel sorry for the fans and band that have to put up with such mediocre standardS. SSE SOUNDS have had there chance if melvin and festival republic were serious about music they would ditch these amateurs and use a real sound company like brick row. someone establish by artists. if you feel the same please let me know as i would be most interested to hear wat others thought. i was 20 rows from front in the centre of the stage and couldnt believe how quiet it was. the singin wasnt audible and the music was barely any better. if this was mcdonalds and the burger was cold you say something but no one cares when there full of cider and weed but when you get back have a think and tell me if you thought the sound was really up to standard? cheers looking forward to both sides of the fence on this.....

[Hart Attack]

Yeah, I thought the sound was terrible for Architects and Rise Against yesterday - way too quiet, could barely hear some parts, and people were even easily able to talk over it. Didn't notice it so much for Offspring, but then I'd had quite a few drinks by then...

[Vacant0]

Aye, sound was absolutely terrible for Jimmy Eat World and wasn't great for most of The National and all of Pulp either.

[mrtourette]

No idea what you guys are on about, the sound quality for me has been noticeably better this year on the main stage and in the NME tent. The sound was shot for JEW because of the strong wind, not sure about the others but I doubt anyone who heard The Joy Formidable on the main stage could complain about sound quality as they made an almighty racket. I didn't think it was bad during The Offspring either. Even The Strokes sounded crystal clear last night and that's no mean feat.

[westwardhoboy]

I was going to post this also.

Totally agree with OP. Absolutely shocking quality.

[Rudzkii]

Not sure about Reading but at Leeds it seemed as though they had the volume turned down until the headliners came on. Must have been saving on the leccy bill!

[gazza_20]

Not sure about Reading but at Leeds it seemed as though they had the volume turned down until the headliners came on. Must have been saving on the leccy bill!

[Budweiser]

Sound was shit. Always has been.

[DJL]

Unless you were at the fron it was terrible at reading and, as has been said, always has been in. I don't know what the problem is, whether it is the pa itself or perhaps they have sound restrictions due to local residents? The wind doesn't help as it is flatter with less natural wind breaks than most festival sites. It almost seemed as if they just didn't turn the volume up until the second to top acts each night.

It's the only festival where I don't wear ear plugs and plan where I stand purely based on proximity to speakers...

[JC-Mo'Fucka]

It ruined rise againsts set. Nme tent sounded beautiful all weekend. (at reading anyway)

[glasgowpete]

the sound at leeds main stage was terrible, standing just in front of the sound desk and you cant really hear some of the bands. Yet when you walk away from the stage to the top of the hill the sound was much better, louder and clearer. it was the same during pulp, It was very disapointing and at times taking the piss.

[glasgowpete]

It's the only festival where I don't wear ear plugs and plan where I stand purely based on proximity to speakers...

[Jaybles]

I had no problems at Reading.

Maybe that's because i either went to the front or stood near a speaker stand. Thought the sound was fine.

Muse in particular sounded amazing

[pablopablo]

I thought all the sound was very good even in Leeds on sunday when it was very windy, I was always pretty near the front though so can't speak for further back

[rivalschools.price]

yeah,sound for rise against was a disaster.couldnt even hear the vocals for the first 3 or 4 songs.

luckily ive got tickets for their nov tour but was looking forward to them this weekend.

[Joe-]

It was bollocks at Reading for some bands. Especially Offspring, it ruined the set for me :'(

[DTichborne]

Sound on the main stage was fine until 2008, and has been dreadful from 2009 onwards. This is beyond dispute - I know my hearing still works.

[rivalschools.price]

over on punktastic forums everyone says rise against had the worse sound.

real shame as they seemed to be playing their bollocks off.

[DaveElNino]

Rise Against were the only main stage band I saw who had noticeably poor sound - the vocals were almost non-existent next to the right side disabled platform. A little better in the middle but still quiet.

Most of the others I saw ere acceptable, but I definitely make sure that I stand somewhere where I know there should be good sound.

As for it being fine from 2008 and before, in 2008 it was poor for most of the weekend - it was only Metallica sticking two fingers up at the regulations that gave them fantastic sound.

[johnmcga]

I sort of agree with the OP - main stage sound quality seemed below-par at times, but as far as I could see that was usually when the wind picked up. The main stage at Reading does seem to suffer a bit more than other festivals, but I didn't think it was anywhere near as bad as the Metallica year. (With the exception of Metallica themselves, obviously...)

Pulp sounded good from where I was standing, but then I've got into the habit of positioning myself close to speakers at Reading.

It probably didn't help that my point of reference for sound quality at big festivals this year is Glastonbury, which was the best sound I've ever heard on big festival stages.

I'm fairly sure the terms of the licence allow the festival higher noise limits for the headliners, which is why the sound often seems to improve for them.

[The Mean Bean]

Elbow, Muse and Pulp all sounded perfect for sound, but that's as much as I can say for any main stage acts, the rest weren't very good. The sound was one of the many things that was rubbish during The Strokes set, the Offspring didn't sound very loud or clear. Friendly Fires sounded very good, but you could tell they weren't on a very good soundsystem. Madness were OK for sound but not the best. Seasick Steve sounded very good though. Can't really remember anything about sound for the rest of the main stage acts, only thing I had a problem with in the NME tent was that Yuck's opener sounded a bit weird, but that fixed itself it seems, and they played a great set. I do notice that my thoughts on the Main Stage sound quality very much depended on where I was stood (with the exception of Strokes, during which I was basically stood where I stood for Elbow and Muse).

[Budweiser]

Lets put it this way, you shouldn't be able to talk to your mates easily right at the front of the stage. And I was able to that and have been for the last 4 years. The only time i could remember the sound being good was for Metallica, who literally blew my socks off for sound. Arcade Fire and Muse had good sound too.

[Josepipe]

The sound was definitely quieter during the day. We live two miles from site (Leeds) and could here muse quite clearly. Yet when we went up for the day on Sunday you couldn't hear the pigeon detectives until you could see them!

[MEGABOWL]

Absolutely shocking for the most part, and the worst out of all the major festivals. It would make me reconsider going back. I can get around the no booze in the Arena thing by smuggling spirits in, I can afford the stay in a hotel so the campsites don't bother me but I can't be bothered with having to watch the volume of my singing along because I'll be drowning out the music for others.

Is it something to do with it being so close to the town? If not Melvin needs to have a word with whoever does the sound on the Pyramid at Glastonbury. In fact, the Other Stage at Glastonbury has better sound. Ironically, I thought the huge NME Stage at Reading was brilliant and the sound was fantastic.

[rivalschools.price]

yeah, the sound on the NME was amazing for the bands that i saw,peaking with glasjaw who had an awesome sound.

on the subject of glassjaw,why are they being slagged off for playing the colouring book? its an amazing sat of tracks.not everyone wants to play a 'greatest hits' set.dont forget that theyve only got two albiums and a few EPs.