CrownBariDad Posted August 13, 2010 Share Posted August 13, 2010 There has been some discussion on DCP about which WC Drum Corps is loudest, so I decided to try a little experiment. At the WC Quarterfinals, I brought a sound level meter and measured each of the corps loudest moments. The results are below. First: Every corps that performed in Quarterfinals has a GREAT and SOLID sound. The members and staffs should be proud of how well they play!!! Second: As my stats professor used to say, all this does is present results for one day, at a particular location, for the current members, for this set of performances, and with the measuring equipment I used. Your mileage may vary. Finally: This is just for fun and maybe encourage a little friendly discussion. Please, no flames! Method: We were seated down front (Sec 141, Row 6, Seat 6). We were on the first row behind the corps staff section and on the left 40-yard line. I used a Radio Shack Sound Level Meter (#33-2055). It was set to Fast Response (updates every 0.2 sec) and Weighting "C" (flat response for 32-10,000 Hz). During the corps loudest moments, I set the meter to remember the max dB value. I tried to measure sustained sounds versus short attacks which are often punctuated with the bass drum in the Pit. (One of the corps had an exposed bass drum piece where the player used hard wooden mallets. The volume level of the strikes was easily 109-110 dB.) The Results (presented in order of performance): Pioneer 109 dB Cascades 108 Jersey Surf 106 Teal Sound 107 (g) Mandarins 109 (s) Pacific Crest 106 Crossmen 111 (e,s) Spirit 111 (e) Troopers 110 Colts 110 The Academy 111 Glassmen 111 (e,s) Madison Scouts 111 (s) Blue Knights 112 (s,b) Boston Crusaders 107 Blue Stars 107 Santa Clara Vanguard 108 (s) Phantom Regiment 111 (s) The Cadets 112 (s,b) Carolina Crown 112 (s,x) The Cavaliers 111 (s) Bluecoats 109 (s) Blue Devils 111 (s) Footnotes: (e) - Off scale at measured range (90-110 db). Estimated--Sorry! After Glassmen, I switched to the 100-120 dB range. (g) - Guitar ensemble measured at 100 dB during a solo section. (s) - Low-end synth was noticeable (this is VERY subjective--some just added some bottom; others were more noticeable.) For corps scoring at the 112 dB level: (b) - Highest sound level occurred when brass was in "block" formation (x) - Highest sound level occurred when brass was spread across the field I guess that's it. I had really wanted to take some measurements with the roof open to see if that made a difference. Oh, well.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Denning Posted August 13, 2010 Share Posted August 13, 2010 Nerd Alert! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drummergirl Posted August 13, 2010 Share Posted August 13, 2010 Very cool! Curious as to what the numbers might be tonight and tomorrow. I'm smelling a field pass episode. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrownBariDad Posted August 14, 2010 Author Share Posted August 14, 2010 Nerd Alert! Guilty as charged and proud of it!!! And I've got my script of "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan" signed by Leonard Nimoy to prove it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikekhs Posted August 14, 2010 Share Posted August 14, 2010 Wow! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrownBariDad Posted August 14, 2010 Author Share Posted August 14, 2010 Very cool! Curious as to what the numbers might be tonight and tomorrow.I'm smelling a field pass episode. Yes, it would be interesting to compare numbers. I'm sure the adrenaline of semis and finals, and performing in front of the usually larger crowds could have added a few more dBs. Plus, I would have liked to measure the sound power Star was putting out. Our seats for semis and finals are in the upper decks, so it wouldn't have been a good comparison with quarters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peel Paint Posted August 14, 2010 Share Posted August 14, 2010 Very interesting. I would predict a much greater spread in sound levels between corps, if you were seated up high, in a full stadium, outdoors. But of course then you'd have to disregard measurements taken when the crowd was loud. At times at finals, the crowd drowns out the corps at least in the seats. As you know, decibel levels fall off quickly as distance increases from the sound source. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Denning Posted August 14, 2010 Share Posted August 14, 2010 Guilty as charged and proud of it!!! And I've got my script of "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan" signed by Leonard Nimoy to prove it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FHdork Posted August 14, 2010 Share Posted August 14, 2010 There is something seriously wrong with a study that says Pioneer and Bluecoats are putting our equal amounts of sound... It may be true...but the EFFECT of the sound those two corps make is anything but equal - For the record, I've enjoyed both shows this season - numbers of times - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3rd Glasgow BB Posted August 14, 2010 Share Posted August 14, 2010 Crown were loudest last night.... from my seat! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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