sound systems - NERD ALERT!

[el decimato]

So. 2019 was my first ever glasto (didn't get tix this year, queue violins...) and one thing I noticed at the pyramid stage when we were watching bastille is the quality of sound. for a live band... in a field... it was exceptional (in my opinion!) !! I assumed it would be good but it still stopped me in my tracks! 

so... it got me wondering... are there different crews and sound systems for the different stages? who are they? how long have they been at glasto? where else are they? is there competiton between them ? 

and.... is there any small stages that a lot of people don't know about that have a banging sound system? 

then so I came here! the glasto hive mind! 

someone here just know!

 

finally... if anyone has jobs/volunteering going for 2020 please think of me😂😂😂

Edited January 4, 2020 by el decimato

[stuartbert two hats]

Quite a bit of info on this thread:

There's not a massive amount of rivalry, they have to coordinate a fair bit to reduce sound bleed and keep off-site dB levels down - so you don't get competing crews turning up with bigger and bigger rigs each year to outdo each other.

The biggest beef was when dance specialists Funktion One were selected to run the Pyramid on a year that had "unusual atmospheric conditions", bouncing the sound off the clouds increasing the off-site levels and leading to a rather quiet Saturday headliner. They were dumped after one year, leading to this rather bitter press release.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.funktion-one.com/dl/files/365.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjHup6v7enmAhWCYcAKHbEiAKAQFjAAegQIBxAC&usg=AOvVaw1pztDk0OxOnwcfcT8YZSHt&cshid=1578137797469

In any event, Martin Audio rigs can be found on Pyramid, John Peel, W Holts, The Park, Genosys and IICON and to my ears they're all great, with possibly The Park the worst sounding, although it's not exactly bad. They're provided by RG Jones, but do have on-site assistance from Martin.

Funktion One are still involved in The Glade, which is a far cry from the days when they could be found all over the site as well as the Pyramid.

There are various smaller crews around the site handling sound in the smaller areas. @ian the worm - do you know much about how the soundsystems in The Park are organised? I'm particularly keen on the sound of the PA in the Bimble Inn.

[circus92]

2 hours ago, stuartbert two hats said:

Quite a bit of info on this thread:

There's not a massive amount of rivalry, they have to coordinate a fair bit to reduce sound bleed and keep off-site dB levels down - so you don't get competing crews turning up with bigger and bigger rigs each year to outdo each other.

The biggest beef was when dance specialists Funktion One were selected to run the Pyramid on a year that had "unusual atmospheric conditions", bouncing the sound off the clouds increasing the off-site levels and leading to a rather quiet Saturday headliner. They were dumped after one year, leading to this rather bitter press release.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.funktion-one.com/dl/files/365.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjHup6v7enmAhWCYcAKHbEiAKAQFjAAegQIBxAC&usg=AOvVaw1pztDk0OxOnwcfcT8YZSHt&cshid=1578137797469

In any event, Martin Audio rigs can be found on Pyramid, John Peel, W Holts, The Park, Genosys and IICON and to my ears they're all great, with possibly The Park the worst sounding, although it's not exactly bad. They're provided by RG Jones, but do have on-site assistance from Martin.

Funktion One are still involved in The Glade, which is a far cry from the days when they could be found all over the site as well as the Pyramid.

There are various smaller crews around the site handling sound in the smaller areas. @ian the worm - do you know much about how the soundsystems in The Park are organised? I'm particularly keen on the sound of the PA in the Bimble Inn.

Great post.  Just read that press release - very interesting stuff

[Mouseboy11]

Interesting read about the Funktion One stuff...aren't they very highly regarded these days in terms of sound? I know a lot of nights I've been to use their rigs.

[Suprefan]

They focus more on EDM events now because that music is more suited for their sound systems than actual bands. 

[jfaragher]

None geeky post - don't know who provided the soundsystem in the Clash stage in Shangri-la, but it was by far the heaviest on site and perfectly suited to the bass heavy genres they had on that stage. 

Samula was also pretty solid. 

[Madyaker]

The glade is the best sounding stage imo.

[Bisque]

41 minutes ago, Madyaker said:

The glade is the best sounding stage imo.

Agree. Sonic is the worst.

[Bisque]

9 hours ago, Mouseboy11 said:

Interesting read about the Funktion One stuff...aren't they very highly regarded these days in terms of sound? I know a lot of nights I've been to use their rigs.

For D&B and dance I don’t think they can be beaten.

Interesting vid for anyone wanting to build their own & destroy people. It came to Plymouth once & my ears were ringing for days & it was half the set up.

 

[ian the worm]

21 hours ago, stuartbert two hats said:

There are various smaller crews around the site handling sound in the smaller areas. @ian the worm - do you know much about how the soundsystems in The Park are organised? I'm particularly keen on the sound of the PA in the Bimble Inn.

No. 

[scaryclaireyfairy]

14 hours ago, ian the worm said:

No. 

It's past my bedtime and I'm clearly over-tired but this has had me giggling for far too long.  It's all in the timing. 🤣

[Sasperella]

On 1/5/2020 at 12:17 AM, Bisque said:

For D&B and dance I don’t think they can be beaten.

Interesting vid for anyone wanting to build their own & destroy people. It came to Plymouth once & my ears were ringing for days & it was half the set up.

 

Aaaaaah.... The Valve. That sure brings back some beautiful, hazy memories of Bristol days (well, more nights I suppose). 

Absolutely batshit crazy levels of loud. 

So the Valve guys used parts of Funktion 1 tech to make their own, off-the-chart sound then, yeh? Whatever happened to it in the end?

 

Edited January 6, 2020 by Sasperella

[lukethekid]

I suffer with tinnitus now and I’m 97% sure that it’s all down to that bloody Valve Soundsystem 

[Sasperella]

30 minutes ago, lukethekid said:

I suffer with tinnitus now and I’m 97% sure that it’s all down to that bloody Valve Soundsystem 

Worth it though

[HattersBoy]

On 1/4/2020 at 11:32 PM, Madyaker said:

The glade is the best sounding stage imo.

Was going to say this until I saw your post. Did help being off my head tho

[lukethekid]

3 hours ago, Sasperella said:

Worth it though

Ohhh deffo. Wonder where it is now, I reckon Dillinja’s probably just using it as a coffee table and an array of different bedroom furniture. 

[BambooShanks]

16 minutes ago, lukethekid said:

Ohhh deffo. Wonder where it is now, I reckon Dillinja’s probably just using it as a coffee table and an array of different bedroom furniture. 

He's got it plugged into his alarm clock.  Mans not been late since