Noise Management: The Biggest Obstacle of Outdoor Public Event Production
What is Noise Management?
As exciting as holding an outdoor live event is, such as a festival or concert, one of the first obstacles that you will encounter will be applying for governmental or council licences to make the event production go ahead. As well as location and timing limits, one of the largest restrictions that you, an event producer, will have to bypass will be noise management legislation.
Not appeasing local noise management restrictions for your outdoor event will most likely end up with a festival seeing an earlier closure than expected. We know that noise management for your outdoor concert seems like a lot of red tape, but without a solid plan, the neighbours will be shutting you down in minutes.
But, just because there is a limit on the event audio, that doesn’t necessarily mean that the volume has to be simply turned down. We at APH have methods of controlling the soundfield and directing the audio so that it doesn’t even reach the limit without compromising the event experience. So, how can you create a noise management plan that doesn’t ruffle the feathers of the local authority?
The First Steps of Audio Production Hire’s Noise Management Plan
Once the festival or outdoor event site is located, noise management surveyors will assess it to see the noise sensitive areas within the location. At APH, we don’t just want to turn the sound down, as audio event producers, Audio Production Hire looks for ways in which the soundfield can be reduced on the outer perimeter without disturbing the neighbours and disrupting the audience’s experience.
First of all, we have to start with the council noise management licensing. When an event organiser is planning something outside, their first step should be to ask for written endorsement from the local council stating the permission for the event. This will state where the event will take place, over what time period and hours the event will happen, and the nature of the outdoor event.
When it comes to noise control and management for outdoor events, the licence agreement will tell the organisers what the highest decibel limit is for the closest residencies.
Are there any Ramifications to not Applying Noise Management?
Putting on outdoor events can be a risky game if you do not comply with the regulations. Whilst most open air concerts go off without any fuss, failing to adhere to the noise management and decibel limits could lead to some hefty ramifications:
First of all, if one of those neighbours who you forgot to abide to the noise management regulations for decides they’re disturbed, you could be looking at a large fixed penalty fine
Improper noise propagation prior to the event might lead to the local authority having their say on whether it goes ahead or not
If you exceed the limit dramatically enough to sustain a generous amount of warranted complaints, you could be looking at live closure of the gig
Whilst a little fine for an event producer when planning something outdoors is almost synonymous with the term ‘event planning’, if you don’t properly plan the noise management and sound testing then, in some extreme cases, your all day open air concert could remain as just a matinee.
How does APH reduce noise spill?
While many production companies tackle noise management by reducing their event’s sound system or by simply lowering the volume, APH controls the audio through controllable software DASaim with digital steering technology. Beam steering technology allows for sound to be projected away from sensitive areas on the site by using peripheral bass frequencies to counteract the direction of the lower frequency range.
Whilst treble frequencies are less of an obstacle for noise management because their frequencies don’t have as much reach as bass, audio control through for treble is achieved through our DASaim directional speakers.
Along with beam steering, APH use FIR technology within each speaker cabinet to both focus sound on desirable sections of the audience as well as create, what is known as, “strong avoidance” areas for the sound to be restricted.
Not only is Audio Production Hire one of the only companies in the UK to own our own DASaim technology, we employ our own in-house noise management trained sound engineers. By using our noise management services for your outdoor festival or event, you can be safe in the knowledge that no riled neighbour or council inspector will be able to shut it down.
Get in touch to secure your noise management plan
Are you facing noise management issues and need professional assistance? Get in touch with us today to see how Audio Production Hire can help you comply with your noise management requirements.
