These are mostly college (and some highschool) students that get together for several months in the summer for 12 hours a day to practice for a show where they are practically sprinting for 12-14 minutes straight while playing basically flawlessly in front of crowds of thousands. There are like 3 rounds of auditions. So, you basically have the best of the best in one group playing and moving around a field at speeds no college band will come close to and in time signatures they won't play. There are good sounding college bands, but they also play easier music and have many more members, with far simpler drill. Mistakes get masked and arent that important and no one is judging you, so you don't really hear it. If a DCI group makes a mistake, you hear it, because usually only one person messed something up and sticks out. If you listen to the individual section runs after the main warm up, you can hear articulate and controlled they all play. Their tone is also very good and consistent, as is their timing. Now imagine doing that with a heart rate at 150+ bpm. That's why they're special. This is coming from a drummer; I have all the respect for horn lines, because I never had to worry about my breathing when I played. If you ever get a chance to see a DCI show, which you should, cup your ears when a big hit comes and you'll understand. it's just better.

@@SALEENS7GTR5 thanks for the info! It’s pretty impressive when you explain everything they have to do. I like to listen to them but I don’t have the ear to tell them apart on a small enough scale to pick out the minute details that separate a good band from a great one.

@@kevinpitts22able That's fair. It really comes through best in person, when they're on the field. A microphone, and especially whatever equipment you're using to listen, only does so much. Having been in college band and seen DCI shows, I know just how synchronized and powerful a DCI horn line can be.

@@SALEENS7GTR5 yeah I can understand that. Thanks for giving me the scoop on it. It’s always been impressive but like I said I just don’t think I have the ear to tell what separates the upper echelons lol

thanks