Parish
Enforce Existing Noise Ordinance; Don't Emasculate It
RECEIVED Fri., Nov. 9, 2007
Dear Editor,
As a former member of the task force that wrote the existing Noise Ordinance, I'm disappointed at the current efforts to emasculate it [“Page Two,” Nov. 9]. The existing one, though not what I wanted, was a compromise that at least allowed live music to exist. As the representative of the Austin Federation of Musicians and with my background in live sound, I was able to convince the task force that levels lower than 85 decibels would effectively outlaw performance. There has to be a certain amount of dynamic range over crowd ambient in order to make amplified sound intelligible and 85 decibels is about it. Anything lower, and all you will get for a performance is seeing people play instruments and watching the singer's lips move. I thought I helped keep live music from being outlawed in 2003, but it looks like it is at risk again. I owe the live-music community in this town a lot, and I would sure hate to see it go away. Everybody, please do what you can to prevent this change to the existing ordinance.
As a former member of the task force that wrote the existing Noise Ordinance, I'm disappointed at the current efforts to emasculate it [“Page Two,” Nov. 9]. The existing one, though not what I wanted, was a compromise that at least allowed live music to exist. As the representative of the Austin Federation of Musicians and with my background in live sound, I was able to convince the task force that levels lower than 85 decibels would effectively outlaw performance. There has to be a certain amount of dynamic range over crowd ambient in order to make amplified sound intelligible and 85 decibels is about it. Anything lower, and all you will get for a performance is seeing people play instruments and watching the singer's lips move. I thought I helped keep live music from being outlawed in 2003, but it looks like it is at risk again. I owe the live-music community in this town a lot, and I would sure hate to see it go away. Everybody, please do what you can to prevent this change to the existing ordinance.
John Nelson
