Why are sound limiters required by venues, particularly wedding venues?
Sound limiters are increasingly being installed at live music venues for 3 reasons primarily:
So that venues comply with Environmental Protection Act 1990 by preventing excessive noise which could be deemed a statutory nuisance. To this end, a sound limiter is now a requirement in many UK councils for the granting or renewal of the venue's entertainment licence.
So that venues comply with the Control of Noise at Work Regulations, designed to ensure that workers' hearing is protected from excessive noise at their place of work.
To protect the structural integrity of especially old and historically important venues from damage caused by excessively loud music, particularly from powerful bass note vibrations.
If you've booked a wedding venue with noise restrictions in place, we recommend hiring a smaller or acoustic band.
See Our Recommended Acoustic Bands
We've put together some Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about sound limiters.
See Our Recommended Acoustic Bands
The following wedding bands all have experience with sound limiters or are perfectly suited to such situations.
We find that acoustic roaming bands are a great way to get around onerous noise limiters: they don’t need a PA system or amplifiers and as such are generally much quieter than amplified rock and pop bands.
View some of our acoustic weddings bands performing live...
Wandering Three are our most popular acoustic wandering band. They consist of a violinist and two acoustic guitarists, all singing. Although acoustic, they are still guaranteed to get your guests dancing.
The Manhattan Roamers are a high-energy acoustic roaming band based in London.
They perform modern and classic pop and rock acoustically at weddings, parties and corporate events.
Hiring a duo is another popular option. The Tonics use clever live-looping to make a sound that mimics a much larger band, but as there are only two of them, it means their overall sound level will be much lower than a larger band.
They can add a cajon player to the band for an extra bit of rhythm, which also works well for venues with noise limiters.
Acoustic Nights are a trio consisting of vocals, acoustic guitar and electric drums. The electric drums make this group ideal for venues with noise limits. Unlike acoustic drum kits, with an electric kit, the drummer can adjust the volume to an exact level without compromising on the percussive nature of the sound.
The Sidekicks are a popular 3-piece band based in Somerset. Their repertoire consists of folky pop music, including covers of Mumford & Sons and Ed Sheeran. They frequently perform with an acoustic guitar and double bass – often amplified, but their style means the band is frequently booked for events in more intimate settings and often at venues with sound limiters.
Starboard are an acoustic band based in London, consisting of female vocals, acoustic guitar, sax and cajon. Their acoustic line-up means they are perfect for wedding venues where noise needs to be kept to a minimum. But the size of the 4-piece group means they still grab the attention of guests and have a big impact at each event. They are in particular demand for hire at corporate events in London.
If you prefer a modern jazz or swing band rather than rock or indie band, then look no further than Swing Masters. Their repertoire consists of modern renditions of jazz classics, as well as jazzy arrangements of current pop songs. They perform upbeat songs in a light arrangement that suit smaller events venues and ones with sound limiters.
Sound limiters are now installed at private venues throughout the UK, particularly those that host wedding receptions with live wedding bands.
Thanks for reading our guide to sound limiters. Feel free to get in touch with us if you have any questions or comments and we'll do our best to help!
You can read more about FixTheMusic and their team of Ed, Adam and Zazie here.