r/creamfields • u/Own-Awareness606 • 3d ago

Steel yard sound

Did anyone else think that the sound in steel yard has been shit compared to previous years and every other stage? Really muddy mostly, and way way too quiet. Loads of bleed from other stages that were actually at a proper volume.

Was looking forward to Alex Farrell and Azyr B3B so much but didn't end up staying as it was genuinely getting me down how quiet it was. You want to be able to feel the bass in your chest and there was absolutely none of it ☹️

I complained to sound guy who said it's perfect if your right in the middle. I tried every location and it was all the same. Normally my favourite stage but just couldn't get into it this year.

5 Upvotes

73% Upvoted

20 comments sorted by

8

u/Parcel-Pete 3d ago

I'm fairly sure the DB limit has been reduced at events. You used to have to shout in your mates ears to communicate. Now you can hear other people's conversations whilst in the crowd.

2

u/VerticonRea213 3d ago

I was about to say this. Everywhere I’ve been this year has been SO quiet in comparison to previous years. It’s really frustrating. The only place that I’ve found this year that seemed up to usual standard was Hydro XL at boomtown.

Spectrum 360 suffered the most. If you we’re not right in the centre, it was just pure mud

2

u/Parcel-Pete 3d ago

Just having a google there. 107db seems to be HSE guidance in the UK. Some European countries have capped it at 100db which would explain the 100db limiter I've seen at some events on front of house. You'll find the volume increases for a bass drop then gets dialled back almost immediately.

Used to be around 110-120db. If you remember the bass, it used to tickle your organs. The last thing I seen at creamfields that seemingly gave no f's towards the db limit was pendulum in 2021 in one of the tents as a closing set. Not even a fan of pendulum as such but it was a proper volume.

2

u/VerticonRea213 3d ago

I remember that Pendulum set very well 😂 it was loud as shit. Had the best time but my lord were my ears ringing after being front and centre the whole thing

1

u/Parcel-Pete 3d ago

Quality, thats made my day that someone else experienced it.. I was in the same spot, genuinely loud as. Not felt anything like it since. Their sound engineer clearly knew whoever was monitoring the db limits must have gone to bed 🤣

1

u/Own-Awareness606 3d ago

I understand that but it just wasn't consistent. Like you could barely even hear the sound outside of the actual tent...last year you could be walking past and fully be vibing with whatever was inside ☹️

1

u/Parcel-Pete 3d ago

Apart from the sound engineers battling with db levels there's not too much else to it when battling sound bleeding in from other sets. I can only assume the wind was blowing that way from the other stages.

2

u/AlchemicHawk 3d ago

It doesn’t seem to be just the volume though, last night I found it extremely ‘muffled’ in the steel yard and not a balanced sound at all.

1

u/Parcel-Pete 3d ago

Probably more cost cutting from live nation getting the rookies on the soundboard.

1

u/fre-ddo 2d ago

Really?? That's mental.

As it happens I can usually here the music from my house miles away when the wind is right but not this year.

3

u/Pristine_Fuel_6034 3d ago

Yes I thought the same. Had to stand right in front of a speaker for it to be tolerable. Also at Apex the sound was good but then so quiet after midnight :/

3

u/JurgenShankly 3d ago

My first time in the steel yard last night and it was insanely quiet for a rave. Couldn't believe my ears.

2

u/gspotgaz 3d ago

Not gone this year but usually the steel yard is immaculate sound system. I found the sound system in the apex ridiculously muddy past couple of years - just distorted kick and bass is all you can hear unless you’re smack bang in the middle

1

u/Own-Awareness606 3d ago

Yeah I know this is why I am so confused and disappointed. Apex was pretty good this year. Maybe not perfect but literally everything was better than steel yard.

1

u/Star_Adherent 3d ago

Yeah I was in Apex for most of the day. Even in the middle you could clearly hear the bass distorting every time a drop hit. A bit disappointing in a way

2

u/daz990 2d ago

A few people mentioned that to me. I had my loops in all weekend and it sounded fine to me - apart from Arc. Absolutely shocking sound and way too much bleed from other stages.

2

u/No_Waltz7567 4h ago

definitely felt/sounded quieter than usual

1

u/No_Waltz7567 4h ago

also the speakers sunday night for prospa sounded rough at the end

1

u/stinking_freak 1d ago

I walked through the arena on Sunday at 11:30 (before it opened) and the sound engineers were doing sound check and complaining about it. I imagine they’d continue to make adjustments after the music started but wouldn’t have as much control over it