Posts made by John Sayers

you are right Tom - it might not necessarily end up being a pit but to ignore the acoustic aspect of the modern church wishing to perform modern church music is surely going to lead to ongoing problems which in the long term could cost more to resolve than if one tried to avoid it in the first place.

Yes - I was a bit abrupt on reading back my post. I appologise, it's my aussie directness.

It's been my observation that architects see church sound as Cathedrals with long reverberation times whereas musicians see it the other way around. Modern musicians want a tight sound, short reverb time, clean definition between instruments etc. You can't achieve that in an open reverberant space like a large church, but you can in a tight acoustic pit.

In that Mix article you will note that they did use the pit, but for the reasons I mentioned above. The pit can be acoustically treated to absorb the loud sounds created in it, like drums, bass and guitars which leaves you free to treat the hall as an acoustic space suitable for large choirs etc.

My point is that sound systems can't solve acoustic problems. If the drums in an acoustic space are louder than everything else, which they usually are, no PA can make them quieter but a properly designed pit can. When you put 20 musicians up against 20 singers the band will always win

Unforuately you didn't give us any idea of what size church you are referring to or how big the orchestra is.

Do I have experience in this area? Yes - I design recording studios and have been a recording engineer producer for over 30 years. I also wrote the School of Audio Engineering (SAE) reference material on acoustics http://www.saecollege.de/reference_material/index.html and operate a forum on studio design and construction. see my signature.

If I can be of assistance in your project I'd be happy to help.

cheers
john

I suggest you listen to the musical director.

@unknownuser said:

Can't today's technology offset the sound problems

he obviously knows more about sound than you do

cheers
john

I'm around an hours drive south of Bernard - type "Bilambil NSW" into google.
I'm still in the country yet close to the Tweed Coast.

cheers
john

it's common practice for rioters, e.g. The Cronulla Riots here in Aussieland, to be arrested after being identified on TV footage.
This is no different IMO.

---

Recording Studio Design Forum

I have 4 children but they are all grown up. (i.e over 20 yrs) I trust that the discretion I have taught them will influence their net activity.

---

Recording Studio Design Forum

you don't seriously think parents have any control over what their kids do on the internet do you James?

---

Recording Studio Design Forum

Milton Friedman made some pertinent remarks regarding this subject. We live in a totally new world due to the Internet and youtube. Those kids who appear in these videos ought to think about their image into the future. One day one of these kids might stand for congress or apply for a new job and outta the blue this video might appear and stop them right there.

It's about personal responsibility. Being involved in a video of this type shows your level of responsibility to the world not just your school friends.

As The Police said - "every move you make I'll be watching you."

---

Recording Studio Design Forum

For me the glass is too blue and the sun too high

cheers
john

Very nice work Ross - thank you for sharing it.
Excellent presentation.

cheers
john

I'm also sorry to hear that Gaieus.

Edson - I think I'm around the same latitude as you (28.5) and we are experiencing a cold winter. The mountains inland from me are getting severe frosts and the snow in places.

I love the heat hate the cold

wow - thankyou guys - the hot linseed oil sounds like a good idea. I'm not sure that her chooks could keep up with the egg white though Wink

cheers
john

---

Recording Studio Design Forum

A girlfriend is building her own house and she's doing it on the cheap. Fortunately where she is is right on the border of her shire in the forest where they aren't too specific about building standards, well, that's what she says Wink

So far she has laid down a termite nest floor made by grinding up used termite mounds, common in her area and floor type used by our pioneers.

She is now adding a finishing layer which is a 2:1 mixture of cow manure and clay. She tells me it has come out really smooth and she's happy with it but wants to seal it.

I remember laying a brick floor once where we were particular about not getting the cement on the brick surface so we actually poured cement into the 1/2" spaces between each brick. We then finished it with coat upon coat (10+) of Johnson's Durosil floor wax. The final finish was very nice, smooth and soft to walk on and the grey cement had turned a soft fawn and the colour in the bricks really shone through. Unfortunately Johnson have discontinued that product.

So - has anyone had any experience in this?? any suggestions to seal and finish her cow dung floor??

cheers
john

yes - but a concrete verandah (porch) is not the same as a timber one. Must be at least 12' wide, preferably 15'

we call it the Queenslander. Up on stilts to let the air cool underneath. Single skin cladding with only the inside clad and the studs exposed with triangular bracing. High pressed metal ceilings inside.

sorry Coen - I though you meant rolleyes - maybe you should have used

shouldn't you discuss it with them?

---

Recording Studio Design Forum

@ross macintosh said:

John -- every time I see an Australian vehicle I can't help but think of the bush mechanics of the central desert. I happened upon the tv program a few times and it was among the most entertaining TV I've ever seen. One time my then six-year old son saw it with me. He watched with his mouth wide open in curious amazement. I probably had my jaw dropped too.

Regards, Ross

yes - that was a wonderful program Ross. I enjoyed it too.

I drive a Delica 4WD van - it's a turbocharged diesel. I bought it so I could take it camping.

---