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The volume is too damn high on flights

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Re: The volume is too damn high on flights

#131

Post by mikeash »

sokoloff wrote: post #108
mikeash wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I can't remember the last time I heard an in-flight announcement that I actually needed to hear. They're far from "usually important." 99% of flights could happily go from start to finish without a single use of the PA, if it were legal to do so, and if the airline could exercise self-control. The PA system should be reserved for actual important safety-related announcements. It's outrageous that the same system that…

There is a specific legal requirement for the passenger briefing. You'll notice that the briefing pretty much follows the script required by the law: http://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/14/91.519

That would be why I said "if it were legal to do so...."

Re: The volume is too damn high on flights

#132

Post by MichaelGG »

specialist wrote: post #114
lfam wrote: post #96

This is a pet peeve of mine that I developed while doing video production in the live event industry. Unfortunately almost nobody cares about protecting their hearing. Pretty much everyone in food service in the US exposes themselves to dangerous audio levels throughout their work shifts. My coworkers with SPL meters routinely measured sound pressure levels above 105 dB for hours at a time. But try wearing earplugs a…

As a father and fan of live music: I get cranky when I see kids without ear protection, especially toddlers and younger, who have no control or way to escape. I make a point of praising the parents who put ear muffs on their infants.

Why make the music so loud as to require hearing protection? That seems inefficient.

Re: The volume is too damn high on flights

#133

Post by ashark »

KeytarHero wrote: post #126
ashark wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Relatedly, does anyone know why so many bars with live acts crank the volume up so high that it becomes extremely loud white noise with thumping bass under it? It really sucks if you want to hear the music, and the point at which it's ears-ringing-the-next-day and clothes-vibrating loud but you can still at least tell when a key change happens is usually well under where they set it. I love small venues, but I hate h…

At small venues it's often just because the band is playing loudly. Some drummers play pretty loudly, some guitarists play amps that sound better with the volume cranked, and then singers are going to want the vocals louder in the monitors so they can actually hear themselves over the loud drums & guitar. If stage volume is loud, the sound guy is likely going to push the volume even louder, both so that he has some l…

Interesting. I find it hard to imagine that the reflected sound from the wall could be worse than the ear-against-tv-speaker-volume-at-full-tuned-to-static effect that ~2/3 of small venues I've been to end up with, but that does explain the motivation for it, at least.

Re: The volume is too damn high on flights

#134

Post by KeytarHero »

ashark wrote: post #133
KeytarHero wrote: post #126

Earlier quoted context omitted.

At small venues it's often just because the band is playing loudly. Some drummers play pretty loudly, some guitarists play amps that sound better with the volume cranked, and then singers are going to want the vocals louder in the monitors so they can actually hear themselves over the loud drums & guitar. If stage volume is loud, the sound guy is likely going to push the volume even louder, both so that he has some l…

Interesting. I find it hard to imagine that the reflected sound from the wall could be worse than the ear-against-tv-speaker-volume-at-full-tuned-to-static effect that ~2/3 of small venues I've been to end up with, but that does explain the motivation for it, at least.

Well, in most cases the stage volume is already in so-loud-you-lose-clarity territory, so the clarity you gain from the sound guy turning up the mains a bit is worth the clarity you lose due to the extra volume. We're not talking massive increases in volume here.

Re: The volume is too damn high on flights

#135

Post by GrinningFool »

arrrg wrote: post #129
GrinningFool wrote: post #120

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You had me up until "rights". Consideration (or lack thereof) for their comfort - and just for them as individuals- yes definitely. For their rights? that's a lot less clear.

Well, in my country people do have the right to sleep unimpeded (between 10pm and 6am). One that is regularly enforced, actually, so it’s not just on the books. Is that such an outlandish concept?

Interesting. Here in the States, that's usually a regulation at the municipal level if it exists at all. Even in that context, it's not defined as a right - just a law to be completed with.

Re: The volume is too damn high on flights

#136

Post by tricolon »

omegant wrote: post #94
rottyguy wrote: post #27

I've always wondered why bars crank up the music so high to the extent you're yelling to convey conversation to the person next to you. One of my friends hypothesized that it was done to focus patrons on drinking and not chatter, but socializing is a big part of the bar scene... Anyone know?

A very good private party DJ(He plays for artist and actors) told me that if you want people to dance, the volume must be very high. As it was my party I told him to do it as he saw fit and indeed almost all the people (200) danced. Then one neighbour complained and he lowered the volume (just for a while ;) ) and most people stopped dancing almost immediately. When he boosted the volume again, they all jumped to dan…

> former s.XIX coastal battery fortress

For a second there I thought that was one hell of a typo but I found out that "s. XIX" is the Spanish way to write "19th century". "Siglo" is another word for century. Now I'm wondering... why? And why use Roman numerals? Was this originally a Catholic thing?

Re: The volume is too damn high on flights

#137

Post by dothething »

6stringmerc wrote: post #97
3pt14159 wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Dude, I'm only 29 and I've flown in about 50 or 60 flights. I don't need to hear that I should put on my own oxygen mask before helping a toddler yet again . I get why they do it every flight, but I certainly don't need to pay attention.

Yeah, but do you pull out the airplane schematic to familiarize yourself with the layout of the airplane you're riding in? Serious question: Without looking it up on your travel itenerary, can you honestly tell me what make/model airplane you last flew on? I can, because I read the pamphlet, which gives me knowledge that could save my life, but if you don't want to live to see 30, that's your perogative...but it's th…

Yeah, but do you pull out the airplane flight control manual to familiarize yourself with the flight controls of the airplane you're riding in? Serious question: Without looking it up on your travel itenerary, can you honestly tell me how to fly the make/model airplane you last flew on? I can, because I read the manual, which gives me knowledge that could save my life, but if you don't want to live to see 30, that's your perogative...but it's the law you have to listen to flight crew, even if you don't want to interrupt your aircraft identifying.

Re: The volume is too damn high on flights

#138

Post by Alupis »

GrinningFool wrote: post #118
dikaiosune wrote: post #82

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Probably worth noting that shooting without "ears" can still leave you basically unable to hear anything for a good while depending on the firearm, shooting environment, etc. It's not an instant ear-bleeding rupture but it's still VERY loud and will cause significant hearing loss with little repetition. Side note: I'm always curious how soldiers/SWAT/HRT/etc. are able to hold normal volume conversations. If they're w…

Most of the hearing protection I've used when shooting seemed designed to disrupt the sound wave move than actually reduce it. You can achieve reasonable short-term protection by holding your hands flat over your ears. It doesn't reduce the subjective volume, but it does [anecdotally] prevent subsequent symptoms that indicate temporary or long-term damage has occurred.

> You can achieve reasonable short-term protection by holding your hands flat over your ears.

Not flat... that won't do much. They must be cupped... basically you make a letter "C" with your hands then old that up to your ear with your side of your palm (pinky side) resting on your temple.

This will deflect the sound wave around your ear. Old-school artillery trick.

Re: The volume is too damn high on flights

#140

Post by ctdonath »

abduhl wrote: post #125
e40 wrote: post #119

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The PA system is not there just to provide something to listen to in case you are bored. Yeah, but there's no reason for the people operating the PA to blast our ears for mundane drivel. I was on a flight last weekend where, because I was right next to a speaker, I had to cover my ears for 5 minutes while the flight attendant droned on about non-emergency stuff. It was so loud it hurt my ears. I already have tinnitus…

The PA system is used to announce to the cabin non-trivial details: emergency exits, how the safety features of the airplane work, what is expected of passengers during the flight, flight times, expected turbulence, late arrivals, etc. These are not "mundane" details.

It's mundane when everyone is keenly aware of the details.
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