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Gear / Technical Help => Microphones & Setup => Topic started by: splumer on October 19, 2011, 08:39:24 AM

Title: Maximum SPL
Post by: splumer on October 19, 2011, 08:39:24 AM
I was reading the specs on my mics (Beyerdynamic MCE86-II shotguns) and read that the maximum SPL they can handle is 128 dB. How loud do most indoor rock shows get? I seem to recal the world record for the loudest band was the Who at 120 dB. Don't know if that still holds, but if that's the case, most shows probably don't even approach the max SPL, do they?

Title: Re: Maximum SPL
Post by: page on October 19, 2011, 09:22:12 AM
I was reading the specs on my mics (Beyerdynamic MCE86-II shotguns) and read that the maximum SPL they can handle is 128 dB. How loud do most indoor rock shows get? I seem to recal the world record for the loudest band was the Who at 120 dB. Don't know if that still holds, but if that's the case, most shows probably don't even approach the max SPL, do they?

OSHA says there is damage from short term exposure to anything over like 120 or 125. You could hit that in a tiny club with Dinosaur Jr while standing in the impact zone. I've gone back and done the math based on the max output and I've run across that a couple of times. Never heard distortion that made me regret setup location/settings though.

My ck930s have a max of 125 and I think my 950s top out at 123 or so (without pads). I've never used the pads on the 930s but I don't stage-lip tape with them often which would be the one situation I'd really consider it. I'd probably set the pads on the 950s if I was in a crazy loud environment.
Title: Re: Maximum SPL
Post by: splumer on October 20, 2011, 09:49:29 AM
Thanks for the info.