DT live sound. What should I expect?

[Thiago]

Hey!
I'm with my DT tickets just waiting for the shows in Brazil.
Of course it will be amazing, but I'm a little worryed about the sound quality.
What should I expect?
thanks!

[Farren]

Venue_Specific.

[Thiago]

about the sound quality, the mix...
is there any chance of not hearing some keyboard or guitar parts because the mix sucks, or just hearing the drumm kicks...
all that things that go wrong when in a rock concert.
(the concert will be in Credicard Hall in São Paulo)

[Liquid Shadow]

It's been good at the two venues I've seen them at. Not a perfect mix but I don't expect that at any venue, especially large ones. There's no way that something will sound good in all areas...because it may be great towards the front of the stage but fuzzy in the back seats. Or it could all be clear by the soundman (which it usually is...for obvious reasons...he mixes what he hears) but on the edges of the crowd there might be too little of a few instruments and way too many of the others.

But the mix has been just fine at the two shows I've been to. I walked around during both as well, so I could tell what it was like in different areas and it wasn't bad at all, anywhere that I went.


What I do recommend is earplugs. They make any live show sound better IMO, because they filter out that "live" sound...you know what I'm talking about...where the sound quality is much lower, much tinnier and with a lot more excess noise than we'd like. Earplugs clean all of that up, and make everything much easier to hear.

(Plus there's the added benefit that they help you keep your hearing longer ;))

[maJ estY]

Liquid Shadow and Farren are both right.

I've had a nice and pretty long conversation with Bert Baldwin in Stuttgart and we also talked about the sound. In Stuttgart, many people were not satisfied with the sound - especially the ones who were in the front rows. Bert said that every venue has its own character in terms of sound. The venue in Stuttgart, Bert said, was a very tough one because of the hall's form. I've seen that Nigel was really pissed during and after the show, he was not satisfied, but nevertheless he always does his very best.
It's a fact that you will always have the best sound when you're near the mixer. It is possible that you have a great sound in the first couple of rows, too, but it is not guaranteed as Nigel (or whoever is mixing) does not hear what's going on there.
Earplugs will help as well. Liquid Shadow explained why.

So, I think it depends on what kind of fan you are. The South American crowd is actually known as a "rocking" one. When I see what's going on on all the "Rock in Rio" shows of different rock bands, the people seem to be there to rock and not to count how many mistakes John Petrucci makes during the show. The German crowd, as a contrast, is usually a pretty "calm" one.
Are you a headbanger? Try to get in the first row. Do you want to enjoy the music at its best? Go near the mixer.

By the way: If I'm close to the stage, I'm usually in front of Jordan, but I remember my first DT show in Offenbach back in 2000 where I stood in front of JP. I did not hear much of Jordan there!

[Thiago]

thanks for the words guys!
Well, I'm definitely not a headbanger, I bought the upper seats and I'm going to the concert with my dad and sister, I hope I can watch every second of that show, calmly seated and crying like a baby :-)

[Awake]

So, I think it depends on what kind of fan you are. The South American crowd is actually known as a "rocking" one. When I see what's going on on all the "Rock in Rio" shows of different rock bands, the people seem to be there to rock and not to count how many mistakes John Petrucci makes during the show. The German crowd, as a contrast, is usually a pretty "calm" one.Guess I should figure on seeing DT in Germany, then. ;) I've only had to stand at one DT show (Manchester, SFaM tour), and it sucked; every other time I've been able to get seats. If I had my way, everyone - band and audience - would be seated and the band would be in tuxedos and also seated. But presumably, running around the stage adds some "feel" to the music, and I seem to be in a minority of one. Oh well. :p

[maJ estY]

When I visit more than one show of a tour, I usually sit during one show and stand during the others.

[metropolis2k]

With earplugs the sound on this tour has been the best I've heard (and I've seen 15 shows). The drums sound incredible on this tour with the Audix mics on the toms, snares and kicks.