[VApeople]

When we visited The Villages, we listened to the outdoor music at Spanish Springs and Lake Sumter, but not at Paddock Square.

When I pulled up a few Youtube videos to show our kids, it seemed the music sounded better in the ones taken at Paddock Square. Have you ever noticed this when you are there in person?

[John_W]

There are only a couple of bands we go to see, Uncle Bob's Rock Shop and Cactus Jack & the Cadillacs and ocassionally Rocky and the Rollers. I've seen all these bands dozens of times at all 3 squares and they all sounded great to me. I cannot distinguish between one venue to the next. Uncle Bob we've seen the most, at least 30 times and inside Katie Belle's another 5 times, they always sound great. I listed these bands because they are actual bands. Probably 3 to 5 nights a week they don't really have live bands, but rather a live singer backed up by a 'band in the box'. However, I've noticed those setups sometimes have better sounding drums when pre-recorded. There is also an ocassional DJ who is is simply yelling through a PA while they spin records, not something I really care for, but people who like to line dance go to those shows.

Do you have similar hearing problems when you go to the movies? Listen to the stereo loud at home? I been a music person my whole life. I've bought records since the 60's and had over 4,000 albums when I moved here. I owned and operated a record store for ten years and another 15 years a mail order online record store. I've been to so many concerts I've lost track, everything from Ambrosia to ZZ Top, from Pink Floyd to Boston, from 3 Dog Night to Bon Jovi, From Journey with Steve Perry to Peter Gabriel. You get the point, I'm very adept to live music and frankly TV live shows for the most part are very good soundwise.


Here's Uncle Bob at Brownwood.

[Vladimir]

It depends on who is running the sound system. I have noticed that the sound system is not turned up high enough at LSL and it is difficult to enjoy the music. I have talked to others at these venues who also felt the same way. Brownwood is a little better.

[billethkid]

plus each group has all their own amps and speakers and etc.

[memason]

Originally Posted by billethkid

plus each group has all their own amps and speakers and etc.

Even though they have their own amps, they are mic'd through the bigger sound system and mixed.

Brownwood has the best sound system, since it's newer. LSL is better than Spanish Springs, although I believe they upgraded that system a year or two ago.

As someone else stated, a lot depends on the sound engineer running the board.

[goodtimesintv]

All 3 squares have excellent sound systems and Brownwood's is probably the best. BUT, sometimes a total amateur in the sound booth has the sound so imbalanced and distorted that the decades-old famous tunes can't even be recognized, as was the case Sat. night.

It was terrible and made the good performers look bad when they're some of the best. Sound person can make or break a reputation!

Also, youtube videos posted by others can vary widely depending on what kind of video camera they used. The iPhone video camera does a far better job than the other phone cameras like droids.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

The big difference between Brownwood and the other two squares sonically is that SS and LSL are in the round. Sound is being projected 360 degrees.

At Brownwood, the stage faces the area and no one sits behind. It's much easier to control the sound in a more specific direction.

[VApeople]

Thanks for all of your responses. John W, thanks for mentioning the web site that had lots of videos of the performers. I really liked the one of Suzie Casta singing Halleulah and the one of Rocky & Rollers singing Duke of Earl, but I thought the one of DJ Scooter having the kids singing Let it Go was especially wonderful. Our grandkids would have loved being there.