By Marylou Forbes
Nearly all bodies of worship congregate in a central location, which may include elaborate, soaring spaces reminiscent of cathedrals, or unassuming strip mall storefronts re-purposed for meetings. No matter what room is used, its acoustics determine whether or not the experience is inspiring or irritating. Good church sound system design encourages enthusiasm, while poor acoustics create fatigue and frustration.
Most people today have been in spaces with unpleasant amplification issues, and are aware that simply throwing a lot of money at a poor setup may indeed resolve some issues, but can actually end up creating others. Volume may become normal in some parts of a hall, but horrendously loud a few feet away. People using microphones may be loud enough, but impossible to understand. The pulpit speaker might seem disembodied or distorted.
Most people today have been in spaces with unpleasant amplification issues, and are aware that simply throwing a lot of money at a poor setup may indeed resolve some issues, but can actually end up creating others. Volume may become normal in some parts of a hall, but horrendously loud a few feet away. People using microphones may be loud enough, but impossible to understand. The pulpit speaker might seem disembodied or distorted.
Some congregations must cope with too much reverberation, or meet in a room so deadened with panels and carpeting that all echo disperses. The people sitting up front may hear adequately, while those back a few rows might feel that they are not even present. Some microphones pick up spoken words reasonably well, but cannot handle the extended frequency range of music, creating irritating overtones, distortion and muddiness.
Church members sometimes attempt to correct these issues without outside help, even though acoustically fine-tuning a room for both music and sermon may be best accomplished through professional analysis and necessary equipment improvements. Most churches have limited resources, but the costs involved are only one factor in selecting the best components and controls. While sometimes necessary, spending a great deal may not be effective.
An experienced consultant begins an analysis by critically listening with both electronic devices and well-trained human ears. Most analysts employ specialized audio software designed to accurately outline the acoustical shape of a room, along with the problem areas where sound will either echo or disappear. This process helps to achieve a comfortable dynamic listening range for every single seat in the pews.
A single speaker may work well in small areas, but large spaces may require several, sometimes creating cold or hot spots. Proper timing and balancing helps to re-shape those spots and provide clean signals to all seats. Without the right testing equipment, precise calibration may be difficult or impossible. Working with an experienced audio room designer takes most of the guesswork out of optimizing a system.
Most services are a combination of speech and music, and a well-designed configuration should be able to reproduce both equally well. Speech amplification needs microphones that clarify specific types of outp
Church members sometimes attempt to correct these issues without outside help, even though acoustically fine-tuning a room for both music and sermon may be best accomplished through professional analysis and necessary equipment improvements. Most churches have limited resources, but the costs involved are only one factor in selecting the best components and controls. While sometimes necessary, spending a great deal may not be effective.
An experienced consultant begins an analysis by critically listening with both electronic devices and well-trained human ears. Most analysts employ specialized audio software designed to accurately outline the acoustical shape of a room, along with the problem areas where sound will either echo or disappear. This process helps to achieve a comfortable dynamic listening range for every single seat in the pews.
A single speaker may work well in small areas, but large spaces may require several, sometimes creating cold or hot spots. Proper timing and balancing helps to re-shape those spots and provide clean signals to all seats. Without the right testing equipment, precise calibration may be difficult or impossible. Working with an experienced audio room designer takes most of the guesswork out of optimizing a system.
Most services are a combination of speech and music, and a well-designed configuration should be able to reproduce both equally well. Speech amplification needs microphones that clarify specific types of outp
An experienced consultant begins an analysis by critically listening with both electronic devices and well-trained human ears. Most analysts employ specialized audio software designed to accurately outline the acoustical shape of a room, along with the problem areas where sound will either echo or disappear. This process helps to achieve a comfortable dynamic listening range for every single seat in the pews.
A single speaker may work well in small areas, but large spaces may require several, sometimes creating cold or hot spots. Proper timing and balancing helps to re-shape those spots and provide clean signals to all seats. Without the right testing equipment, precise calibration may be difficult or impossible. Working with an experienced audio room designer takes most of the guesswork out of optimizing a system.
Most services are a combination of speech and music, and a well-designed configuration should be able to reproduce both equally well. Speech amplification needs microphones that clarify specific types of output, but those same devices must also be capable of reproducing musical tones without listeners noticing or complaining. Both speakers and microphones should be chosen based on reputation, not necessarily on cost.
After finalizing the equipment choices and room design, professional installation avoids code-breaking electrical errors, while eliminating inductive noise sources. Other important requirements include concealment of intrusive connections and wiring, and making sure that heavy, hanging speakers are safely anchored. After installation, most firms also train selected church members in audio control panel operations.
A single speaker may work well in small areas, but large spaces may require several, sometimes creating cold or hot spots. Proper timing and balancing helps to re-shape those spots and provide clean signals to all seats. Without the right testing equipment, precise calibration may be difficult or impossible. Working with an experienced audio room designer takes most of the guesswork out of optimizing a system.
Most services are a combination of speech and music, and a well-designed configuration should be able to reproduce both equally well. Speech amplification needs microphones that clarify specific types of output, but those same devices must also be capable of reproducing musical tones without listeners noticing or complaining. Both speakers and microphones should be chosen based on reputation, not necessarily on cost.
After finalizing the equipment choices and room design, professional installation avoids code-breaking electrical errors, while eliminating inductive noise sources. Other important requirements include concealment of intrusive connections and wiring, and making sure that heavy, hanging speakers are safely anchored. After installation, most firms also train selected church members in audio control panel operations.