A sound limiter is a device some venues fit that cuts the power to the stage if the music goes above a set volume. They are most common in marquees and in venues with close neighbours. A good live band can still fill the floor under a limiter by setting up for it, using an electronic kit or in-ear monitoring and keeping stage volume under control. The key is to ask your venue early whether they have one and what the limit is.
What is a sound limiter?
A sound limiter is a small device wired into the stage power supply, usually with a set of traffic-light style lights. Green and amber are fine. If the volume hits the red level for too long, the limiter cuts the power to the stage. It is measuring how loud the room gets and enforcing a ceiling the venue has set.
Why do venues have them?
Limiters almost always come down to neighbours and planning permission. A venue close to houses, or a marquee in a quiet rural spot, may only have a licence to operate if it keeps noise below a certain level. The limiter is how they prove it. It is not the venue being difficult, it is usually the condition that lets them host weddings at all.
What a limiter means for a live band
A limiter does not stop a live band, though it does change how we set up. The risk is simple. A sudden loud moment can trip the limiter and cut the power mid-song, which kills the energy in a heartbeat. So the job is to keep the overall volume steady and under the ceiling, with no spikes. A band that has done it before knows exactly how.
How a good band plays under a limiter
There are a few tried and tested ways to keep a great sound under a limit. An electronic drum kit replaces the loudest thing on most stages. In-ear monitoring removes the stage volume that wedge monitors would otherwise add. Careful control of amps and brass keeps the peaks down. Done right, the floor still fills and most guests never know there was a limit at all.
What to ask your venue
If you love a venue, just ask three questions early. Do you have a sound limiter? If so, what level is it set to in decibels? And where is the sensor in the room? The answers tell your band everything they need to plan for it. Share them with us and we will tell you exactly how we would set up on the night.
Venue has a sound limiter?
It is not a problem for us. Tell us your venue and the limit and we will tell you how we make it work.
Check your date →Sound limiters: common questions
What is a sound limiter at a wedding venue?
It is a device wired into the stage power that cuts the supply if the music goes above a set decibel level. Venues use them to stay within noise limits, most often near neighbours or in marquees.
Can a live band play with a sound limiter?
Yes. A good band fills the floor under a limiter by setting up for it, using an electronic kit and in-ear monitoring and keeping stage volume steady so it never trips.
What decibel level is a typical wedding sound limiter?
It varies a lot by venue, commonly somewhere between ninety and one hundred decibels. The exact figure matters, so always ask your venue what theirs is set to.
How do I find out if my venue has a sound limiter?
Just ask them directly, ideally before you book the band. Ask whether there is a limiter, what level it is set to and where the sensor is, then pass that to your band.