Subjective levels in corps

[NIGHTFLY3000]

Just curious. When you are asked to play at forte vs double forte vs triple forte, or ppp vs pp vs p, where does twice as loud live for you? Is it forte to triple forte? Does it vary within a group depending on what piece of music you're playing?

[Sideways]

It's all relative.

[NIGHTFLY3000]

It's all relative.

Of course, but relative piece to piece, or, for example, are all triple fff within a show set to be equal? I'm asking based on personal experience. I'm sure that every performing group has their own standards. I'm just curious about individual experiences.

Edited May 9, 2008 by NIGHTFLY3000

[Feathers Up]

I never really think of it as what is twice as loud. In terms of dynamics, it really does depend on the piece and the group in my experience. I've never heard anyone teacher or instructor say "this dynamic is twice as loud as this one."

[friceox]

well, it's simple for drummers. stick heights justify it.

[raphael18]

I'm assuming you have have some musical training - because you're into corps. So, think back to your own training (drum corps doesn't exist in a vacuum). As you play with the group over time you develop an idea of what each dynamic level is based on your instrument, and the part of the chord you are playing (field position will matter as well). FF is not necessarily twice as loud as F - it's simply one notch higher.

The writing of the music also helps determine the relative volume. Consider that your music never gets above a forte on the sheet. To me, that would imply that forte was my maximum good tone, so in that case forte would be louder than it would on a piece where the highest dynamic marking was FFF. If the piece has a peak volume of FFF, then obviously forte would no longer be my maximum volume.

Hope that was coherent.

However, I'm not even sure if this is what you are going after...

Edited May 9, 2008 by raphael18

[IllianaLancerContra]

A ten decible increase is twice as loud. But you need a sound meter to verify. Maybe the way would to set a reference volume,based on the meter. Then get louder or softer relative to that.

[smit90]

A ten decible increase is twice as loud. But you need a sound meter to verify. Maybe the way would to set a reference volume,based on the meter. Then get louder or softer relative to that.

Actually, 3db increase is twice as loud :)

10 dbs would be more than 8 times as loud.

Edited May 9, 2008 by smit90

[Old School Contra Guy]

As much as I hate Wikipedia, here is an explanation of how things double Inverse square law I learned this years ago regarding studio lighting in photography. The same principle applies.

[IllianaLancerContra]

Actually, 3db increase is twice as loud :)

10 dbs would be more than 8 times as loud.

You are correct - my bad.

I should never do math in public...