BBC Big Weekend
Discussion
Scaleybrat said:
FurtiveFreddy said:
Audio quality is really dire, as always these days.
You'd have thought as technology gets better it would improve, but I wonder if it's deliberate.
Listened to Orbital for a short time last night but switched off due to lack of interest. My pet hate with Glastonbury, T in the Park, etc is BBC’s inability to provide a clear sound track. Mushy, dull sound lacking any sparkle, almost as if they’ve put a sweaty sock over each microphone.You'd have thought as technology gets better it would improve, but I wonder if it's deliberate.
Thinking about it, it’s not just outside broadcasts. The smaller sessions they did in November were equally poor. The Tears for Fears sound was very poor but that might not have been all down to the BBC.
I was at the Swansea event today with my brother as we had some free tickets and i must admit the headline acts were quite the letdown but i did enjoy Wolf Alice, Clean Bandit and Craig David was proper Bo.
Unfortunately its the same old story with most festivals where the organisers seem to get the basics so wrong. 26,000 people, maybe 100 porta loos max located at the extreme ends of the site miles from the stages, 2 bars where you end up queuing for ages and if you try to be clever and buy a few drinks at a time the helpful staff open them all and wont give you a lid(applies to soft drinks to) and rip off crap food spoil it.
Unfortunately its the same old story with most festivals where the organisers seem to get the basics so wrong. 26,000 people, maybe 100 porta loos max located at the extreme ends of the site miles from the stages, 2 bars where you end up queuing for ages and if you try to be clever and buy a few drinks at a time the helpful staff open them all and wont give you a lid(applies to soft drinks to) and rip off crap food spoil it.
MitchT said:
Scaleybrat said:
FurtiveFreddy said:
Audio quality is really dire, as always these days.
You'd have thought as technology gets better it would improve, but I wonder if it's deliberate.
Listened to Orbital for a short time last night but switched off due to lack of interest. My pet hate with Glastonbury, T in the Park, etc is BBC’s inability to provide a clear sound track. Mushy, dull sound lacking any sparkle, almost as if they’ve put a sweaty sock over each microphone.You'd have thought as technology gets better it would improve, but I wonder if it's deliberate.
Thinking about it, it’s not just outside broadcasts. The smaller sessions they did in November were equally poor. The Tears for Fears sound was very poor but that might not have been all down to the BBC.
I guess it is about giving those who pay what they want, but a part of me would love to hear good songs with some wow, or even ooh as an addition. Even recorded music seems to be going that way, or went some time ago.
DukeDickson said:
Seems to be a craft that's been lost for a long time, if it ever existed at all. Been a little while since I went to anything actually, but the decent amount I did go to seemed all about loud, bass, singer & popular song. Which is fine if you accept that, get trashed and have a good time, less so with songs that you know could sound amazing.
I guess it is about giving those who pay what they want, but a part of me would love to hear good songs with some wow, or even ooh as an addition. Even recorded music seems to be going that way, or went some time ago.
I don't know if the craft has gone or if it's simply that the craftsmen have to do what they're told to get paid.I guess it is about giving those who pay what they want, but a part of me would love to hear good songs with some wow, or even ooh as an addition. Even recorded music seems to be going that way, or went some time ago.
Most live music is too loud and, like you say, all bass and singer. It's all about giving the kids what they want. Same goes for recorded music - there's a loudness competition going on. I was talking to a producer about this just last weekend - tracks being mastered for certain levels of loudness depending where they're being played and, similarly, live production being all about making lots of noise. I'd much rather they turned everything down a bit and focused on quality rather than volume. I've found that York Barbican is quite good for this. Been to a few gigs there and found that, in most cases, I could hear everything. Arena gigs are always going to a nightmare though. I've been a fan of Jean-Michel Jarre my whole life - his music has always been about the sounds and the finer points, but even his arena gigs have been more like being stuck in a nightclub even though his audience are more seasoned connoisseurs than cool kids.
Edited by MitchT on Sunday 27th May 09:58
Chicken Chaser said:
Is it just me, or does anyone identify with the fact that electronic dance music is the preserve of the young? I know we all get old, but to see Orbital at an advancing age and Underworld still bouncing around on stage at 60 odd full of drugs is either a bit sad, or exciting that the gulf between young and old has narrowed through popular culture.
For me the music you enjoy is the music you enjoy regardless of age? I'm late 30s and grew up with a few different genres but house / electronic has always been my biggest love and still is.
It's a bit like saying the bands and fans into rock in the 70s/80s that still listen to it, go to gigs etc. is a bit sad?
Leonard Stanley said:
Thought Orbital were somehow depressing. Their music hasn't aged well.
Underworld, for me, really still work. That banging kick drum, and the synths. Still does it for me.
I thought the middle of the Orbitsl set was a little heavy and chuggy but there's no denying Chime still sounds good and I liked the track P.H.U.K from the forthcoming album too. Underworld, for me, really still work. That banging kick drum, and the synths. Still does it for me.
Edited by Leonard Stanley on Sunday 27th May 00:14
Edited by Leonard Stanley on Sunday 27th May 00:45
I usually listen to this kind of stuff, keeping an ear open for how quickly some artists get the plug pulled due to "unacceptable language". This time I was listening to Rita Ora, they had Radio 1 presenters in between the songs in her set, not talking over her, but I got the impression they were perhaps primed and ready to drown her out if she swore. I did wonder also if they were broadcasting a few seconds behind, just to be ready.
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