Worrying news about sound quality at Glasto.

[johnny-yen]

I have to admit that the sound quality at gigs and festivals is getting increasing important to me. Poor quality sound can spoil my experience of music events. And consequently, a great sound system can make me enjoy something that's not usually my taste.

A few years ago at Glastonbury (2010, I think) we stumbled across an Experimental Surround Sound stage near the Glade. It wasn't big or that well attended but the sound produced there blew my mind. I have since found out it was provided by a company called Funktion One, who have supplied equipment to the festival for years, including the Spirit of 71 Stage.

When I realised there was no Spirit of 71 Stage this year, I e-mailed them to see if they had plans to do anything else this year at Glasto and received a worrying reply.

Essentially, it said that they, and other top-end sound system suppliers, have not been selected this year, in favour of cheaper alternatives. It didn't appear to be sour grapes that they haven't been selected as they quoted the names of some of their competitors that haven't been chosen too.

I do hope we don't hear too much of a reduction in sound quality. And I wonder if this policy of cost cutting will show itself in other areas of the festival too. I sincerely hope not.

[frostypaw]

Funktion One systems were used for the pyramid sound in 2007 - was incredibly good, but they aimed them badly and there was horrific sound leak in the village and dead zones in the audience area

they are not held in good favour

i suspect this means they'll be going for all line arrays - which have got better.

[stuartbert two hats]

That is bad news. Funktion 1 have been used all over the site for years to good effect. One of the things I most look forward to hearing. Lovely, lovely Funktion 1!

I don't see line arrays being used on anything smaller than The Park, I only remember seeing them on Pyramid, Other and W Holts. I expect similar configurations to Funktion 1, just from a different supplier. As far as I know, the incident in 2007 didn't affect their usage on the smaller stages, where there were no questions about their performance. This seems to be entirely about price.

I'm sad

[Brave Sir Robin]

Funktion One fell out with Eavis after doing the Pyramid in 2007. Last year they only did the sound for Arcadia, Sonic and WOW, not So71.

http://www.audioprointernational.com/news/read/funktion-one-handles-audio-duties-for-three-glastonbury-2013-stages/06159

The first two got a fair amount of criticism (although I thought Arcadia worked as intended) so not entirely surprised they've now severed their relationship completely.

Here's their take on '07:

http://www.funktion-one.com/dl/files/365.pdf

Loads of technical details about 2013's sound, stages, lighting here:

http://www.tpimagazine.com/production-profiles/2025820/glastonbury_2013_part_one.html

[stuartbert two hats]

Funktion One fell out with Eavis after doing the Pyramid in 2007. Last year they only did the sound for Arcadia, Sonic and WOW, not So71.

http://www.audioprointernational.com/news/read/funktion-one-handles-audio-duties-for-three-glastonbury-2013-stages/06159

The first two got a fair amount of criticism (although I thought Arcadia worked as intended) so not entirely surprised they've now severed their relationship completely.

Here's their take on '07:

http://www.funktion-one.com/dl/files/365.pdf

Loads of technical details about 2013's sound, stages, lighting here:

http://www.tpimagazine.com/production-profiles/2025820/glastonbury_2013_part_one.html

You're much more informed than me brave sir Knight. Any idea about which stages they did in 2010?

[she bangs the drums]

^{It will be really interesting to see what level of noise Metallica bring to the Pyramid. When they played Leeds in 2008 the sound was the loudest and best I have heard on any main stage at a festival. Apparently you could hear Metallica in the NME tent which is a fair distance away as the Cribs played (they're from Wakefield).}

[carlosj]

^{It will be really interesting to see what level of noise Metallica bring to the Pyramid. When they played Leeds in 2008 the sound was the loudest and best I have heard on any main stage at a festival. Apparently you could hear Metallica in the NME tent which is a fair distance away as the Cribs played (they're from Wakefield).}

Hearing a Leeds gig from Wakefield? Wow, I thought onlytmy mother was that loud.

[JoeyT]

If Leeds fest is on a same size scale to Reading then not surprised there was sound bleed.

Went to Reading in 2010 and could not believe how small the 'arena' was.

[Rumblestripe]

WRT to sound from the Pyramid. There was (IIRC) and issue with sound leakage/polution in the Acoustic Tent last year during at least one of the headliners resulting in the curtailing of at least one set. Anyone remember better than my addled old grey matter? In that vein I would hope ad expect that Metallica are no louder than anyone else.

[FloorFiller]

^{It will be really interesting to see what level of noise Metallica bring to the Pyramid. When they played Leeds in 2008 the sound was the loudest and best I have heard on any main stage at a festival. Apparently you could hear Metallica in the NME tent which is a fair distance away as the Cribs played (they're from Wakefield).}

i agree about Metallica at Leeds - i was right up front and it was LOUD. i remember there were loads of sound problems on the main stage that year but the sound for Metallica was perfect. hopefully it'll be similar at Glastonbury this year. would be downright rude for Metallica to be turned up to anything bar 11

[smogo]

Leeds is a fair bit bigger than Reading, and IIRC the NME tent is uphill from the main stage and behind a barrier of trees.

Best main stage sound I've ever heard was at Bestival in 2011; Beardyman dropping loud, heavy dubstep beats at lunchtime in the blazing sun was a sound I've never forgotten.

[mrtourette]

If Leeds fest is on a same size scale to Reading then not surprised there was sound bleed.

Went to Reading in 2010 and could not believe how small the 'arena' was.

It wasn't anythign to do with standard sound bleed, it was the same at Reading - the Metallica sound quality was louder and clearer than anything else I've ever heard on that stage.

Edited May 16, 2014 by mrtourette

[JoeyT]

Ah fair enough.

I can't think Metallica will be allowed to be louder than any other headliner due to licensing restrictions though.

[Mr.Tease]

I do think there's a bit of an 'emperors new clothes' thing about some expensive sound systems- like those dr dre headphone things! My favourite ever stereo was a pretty cheap one- I've had more expensive ones since then but I still prefer the sound from that one.

[mrtourette]

I do think there's a bit of an 'emperors new clothes' thing about some expensive sound systems- like those dr dre headphone things! My favourite ever stereo was a pretty cheap one- I've had more expensive ones since then but I still prefer the sound from that one.

I think it's probably slightly different for the systems they use to project sound to 80,000 people.

[Memory Man]

funktion 1 is the brand, they can be brilliant or absolutely terrible. the only difference is how, and by who, they are set up.

a good setup will give fantastic sound but a bad setup by a non specialist will result in a very poor result.

to be honest the sound at glastonbury is rarely that good, it is about average to below average for festivals.

there have been occasions i have been appalled (mount kimbie sonic last year, cribs john peel in about 08) and been occasions that have been stunning (Boys noize spirit of 71 last year!)

they are best for small to medium scale dance events. I have never heard a live band sound good through one of their systems to be honest and i wouldnt expect a stage with predominantly live bands to use them.

Edited May 16, 2014 by Memory Man

[Ratpat]

WRT to sound from the Pyramid. There was (IIRC) and issue with sound leakage/polution in the Acoustic Tent last year during at least one of the headliners resulting in the curtailing of at least one set. Anyone remember better than my addled old grey matter? In that vein I would hope ad expect that Metallica are no louder than anyone else.

Glen Hansard (subbing, not headliner though) started with ~15 minutes of delay because the soundcheck was never-ending because of massive acoustic-feedback problems (He called that the Glastonbury-fairies doing their work )

[Dog Burger]

It's hard to believe the sound could get much worse. The Other Stage particularly was absolutely dreadful last year, I thought. I remember watching Alt-J, well in front of the mixing desk, and it was so quiet you could hear the people around you talking at normal level. It was also really 'thin' and that stage seems to suffer more than most from the sound being blown around in the wind. Foals, directly after, seemed far too quiet, too. Anything on The Park is almost pointless if you're not in front of the mixing desk - Rodriguez was a total non-event from where we were. Almost inaudible.

It seems to have been a growing problem for years, almost certainly licensing-related I imagine. I remember when I started going to Glastonbury in 98, as soon as you got near the main stages you could feel the bass rumble in your guts, and it was incredibly loud if you were anywhere near the stage. Overall levels seem far, far lower now.

The sound circle you speak of is obviously a unique case as it's 'surround-sound' stereo, with the speakers in a ring around you, projecting inwards. You're right, though, it sounds frigging awesome!

Edited May 16, 2014 by Dog Burger

[Craig_G]

One of the best sets, soundwise, at a festival was actually Massive Attack on The Other stage about 5 years ago. I think a lot of that was due to their own excellent production. The heavy bass lines felt they were coming from a mile under the ground and were earth shattering, while the top end just cut clean through the site.

Funktion 1 seems pretty standard fare these days but as already stated, it really depends on who did the setup to what quality you actually get.

[russycarps]

The other stage is a funny one. Portishead was best sound I'd heard at glastonbury in years - clear, loud, great bass - yet other sets were utterly dreadful.

Flaming lips sound was really good there a few years back too.

[Harry3]

I have to admit that the sound quality at gigs and festivals is getting increasing important to me. Poor quality sound can spoil my experience of music events. And consequently, a great sound system can make me enjoy something that's not usually my taste.

A few years ago at Glastonbury (2010, I think) we stumbled across an Experimental Surround Sound stage near the Glade. It wasn't big or that well attended but the sound produced there blew my mind. I have since found out it was provided by a company called Funktion One, who have supplied equipment to the festival for years, including the Spirit of 71 Stage.

When I realised there was no Spirit of 71 Stage this year, I e-mailed them to see if they had plans to do anything else this year at Glasto and received a worrying reply.

Essentially, it said that they, and other top-end sound system suppliers, have not been selected this year, in favour of cheaper alternatives. It didn't appear to be sour grapes that they haven't been selected as they quoted the names of some of their competitors that haven't been chosen too.

I do hope we don't hear too much of a reduction in sound quality. And I wonder if this policy of cost cutting will show itself in other areas of the festival too. I sincerely hope not.

What other brands did he mention? Void?

[swede]

It's hard to believe the sound could get much worse. The Other Stage particularly was absolutely dreadful last year, I thought. I remember watching Alt-J, well in front of the mixing desk, and it was so quiet you could hear the people around you talking at normal level. It was also really 'thin' and that stage seems to suffer more than most from the sound being blown around in the wind. Foals, directly after, seemed far too quiet, too. Anything on The Park is almost pointless if you're not in front of the mixing desk - Rodriguez was a total non-event from where we were. Almost inaudible.

It seems to have been a growing problem for years, almost certainly licensing-related I imagine. I remember when I started going to Glastonbury in 98, as soon as you got near the main stages you could feel the bass rumble in your guts, and it was incredibly loud if you were anywhere near the stage. Overall levels seem far, far lower now.

The sound circle you speak of is obviously a unique case as it's 'surround-sound' stereo, with the speakers in a ring around you, projecting inwards. You're right, though, it sounds frigging awesome!

At festivals your always going to get so called "dead zones" of noise at the larger stages, its all about getting yourself placed in the right areas. I watched a fair few bands on the other stage last year and though the sound was excellent. I positioned myself in pretty much the same place for Chase and Status and then Smashing Pumpkins the next day and the sound was amazing for both sets. Theres no point watching a set if the sound isnt right, even if youve got a good viewing position, so my advice would be to keep moving until you find a sweet spot, in theory that sounds like you could be moving around for a large part of the set but in reality it doesnt take long to find a spot where the sound seems to be that much better.

Edited May 16, 2014 by swede

[TomWales]

Talking Metallica, at Reading 2008 they purposely said balls to the noise restrictions and personally paid for the subsequent fines the festival got, Metallica will make sure they sound the best they can.

[Craig_G]

I guess at lower volumes, environment makes a big variable difference too. Hot/cold, dry/wet, windy, crowd dampening.

[stuartbert two hats]

The other stage is a funny one. Portishead was best sound I'd heard at glastonbury in years - clear, loud, great bass - yet other sets were utterly dreadful.

Flaming lips sound was really good there a few years back too.

Yeah, it seems to depend where you stand. The reflection from the back stalls can cause havoc, yet when it's good, the sound from that stage is good. Probably the best sonic experience I've ever had was the end of Hyperballad in 2007. My jaw was on the floor. It can sound powerful like no other rig on site.

I stand on the right, that seems to help to me?