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Loudest Drum Corps -- 2011 Atlanta Edition


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I personally would love to see the differences in volumes between a corps' sound in the lower levels as compared to that at somewhere closer to the press box. And also, if you ever get a chance to take measurements from horn arcs, you would be my hero (I want to know which brass line really is the loudest lol).

That's an interesting concept, since corps spend time with horns level, and horns pointed to the box. But when they have the horns level, do the upper decks get the same level of sound, and when horns are to the box, does the lower level lose the sound....? But in terms of loud horn-arc, I think I should refer everyone to the Santa Clara '09 video from when they were in the convention center.... :worthy:

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Parallel harmonic resonance will always amplify a sound, if I understand it correctly. Like a well-made acoustic guitar, when it hits that low E perfectly in tune, the entire guitar just booms. You could tune all the strings perfectly in tune with one another, but not on that pure E tuning and there is a substantial difference.

Also, when multiple voices (instruments) play together perfectly in tune, the syncing of the wavelengths invokes the overtone series...5ths, 3rds, octaves, 7ths, 9ths, etc. which will also add, not only to the lushness of the sound, but also to the perceived (perhaps measurable) volume.

These are nothing more than guesses as I have zero technical knowledge. :tongue:

Edited by BigBadMadMan
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I think you're on the right track with harmonics supplying perceived, if not actual, loudness. This could also be why G brass can be perceived as louder than a brassline with Bb and F brass. Because of the shared fundamental pitch of the G horns, the partials, harmonics and overtones will synch up, therefore at least being perceived as louder.

Or something like that.

Garry in Vegas

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I personally would love to see the differences in volumes between a corps' sound in the lower levels as compared to that at somewhere closer to the press box. And also, if you ever get a chance to take measurements from horn arcs, you would be my hero (I want to know which brass line really is the loudest lol).

I tried to do this at Finals last year as we were in one of the upper levels. However, we were sitting in the Crown block seats with large groups of Cadets and Cavies fans close by. The crowd noise and cheering made it impossible to get an accurate reading.

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  • 4 weeks later...

No closer for Spirit?? It also would've been interesting to see the compared results of Atlanta and Finals. The 2 weeks in between is when corps really start kicking it up notches.

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I think you're on the right track with harmonics supplying perceived, if not actual, loudness. This could also be why G brass can be perceived as louder than a brassline with Bb and F brass. Because of the shared fundamental pitch of the G horns, the partials, harmonics and overtones will synch up, therefore at least being perceived as louder.

Or something like that.

Garry in Vegas

Ralph Hardiman used to preach that it was tone and not attack that projected sound. Because of that, we used heavier mallets in the pit instead of harder mallets. I would assume that the same would be true for the brass. Sure you can blow harder, but there is probably a point of diminishing returns. You have to be in tune before you get over that hump.

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I really didn't have great seats for Prelims this year -- Section 139 Row 23 Seat 10 which is the next to last row in the back of the lower section on about the right 40 yd line -- so I was considering not posting the Prelim measurements, but why not? Overall, it looks like the Prelims were a few dB below Atlanta mainly because I was a bit further back.

Below, the 2nd number is the Prelim measurement (loudest value).

We'll try again next year. I promise I'll upgrade my meter so I won't have to switch ranges, so I won't miss anything.

Oregon Crusaders: N/A 104

Blue Devils B: N/A 107

Pioneer: 106 101

Jersey Surf: 112 112

Teal Sound: 109 105

Mandarins: 109 104

Cascades: 110 106

Crossmen: 112 107 (Prelims: Warmup facing backfield 92 dB)

Pacific Crest: 108 104

Colts: 111 110

The Academy: 110 105

Glassmen: 113 111

Troopers: 110 107

Blue Knights: 108 102

Blue Stars: 108 105

Spirit of Atlanta: 113 108

Santa Clara Vanguard: 111 106

Boston Crusaders: 107 104

Madison Scouts: 119 115

Bluecoats: 111 107

Phantom Regiment: 114 111

Carolina Crown: 120+ 115

The Cavaliers: 113 113

The Cadets: 110 104

Blue Devils: 109 110

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Woo! Look at those numbers for Jersey Surf!

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