noise pollution control systems

[dubbish]

has any one got any ideas about bypassing or sorting out npcs's because i venue i go to on a regular basis has just had one fitted and as a engineer there i need to try sort it out. the trouble is if you use the house system you have to go through the npcs.

[choby]

i am new to this message boad, i have a lot of fans in real life and m an expert gitarist.

[Gadget]

Hi Mate, what type of control is it?? The most used type are the cheapest which turn of power when the sound exceeds the preset limit . you need to find out what the permitted level is and if unit has been calibrated.

( the trouble is if you use the house system you have to go through the npcs)

Do you have to use the installed PA ?

[dubbish]

yes it is the chepest sort and for there open mike nights you do have to use the in house system

[John Bell]

I have only had one encounter with an NPCS. I was performing at charity gig with my band and I used the stage power sockets, that the NPCS was controlling.
However, the DJ had his sound & lighting rigs powered off another ring main. Great for him, but every time he exceeded the limit, only my rigs would turn off. So don't tamper with the NPCS, just use another power source.
I do agree that very excessive sound levels are very harmful and cause permanent damage, but some of these devices seem to be set ridiculously low.

[dubbish]

yeah as soon as you strum a guitar it shuts down and the venue is now dead because of the system the system seem to shut off when it gets to the first orange light

[Simon Ryder]

Those things are real nightmare and whilst they can be set to what appears to be very loud when compressed recorded music is being played through them, they are set far too sensitively for when live music of the sort that you are likely to encounter at an open mic is occuring. It is as much due to the response time of the unit. Live music being largely uncompressed contains far greater peaks than recorded music and whislt it is often at a lower average volume, the peaks will set off the NPCS. The best thing to do is look for an alternative power source ie. unplug there amps etc and use a differnt socket. Just make sure that you keep the volume at a reasonable and comfortable level so as not to reintroduce the problems that caused them to have the device fitted in the first place. Make sure you put it back again afterwards as well.

In the long term, it sounds like the unit needs recalibrating as they normally cut off power at three red lights with the others giving warning of the impending catastrophy.

[dubbish]

i will have a chat with the owner