Your House of Worship should be maintaining its line array sound system. Like any other piece of professional audio equipment, regular maintenance is crucial to ensuring optimal performance and longevity. System problems are inevitable, even for a top-of-the-line church sound system, and should be addressed at the same high level. Preventative maintenance is perhaps the most important type of maintenance for all church sound systems and their users. This means proactively protecting the system from elements such as light, heat, dust, and smoke, which can severely impact performance.
Maintain the Connection
Every input, output, rotary knob, and push-button in a system is a point of connection and requires ongoing maintenance. For instance, on I/O connections and soldered joints, applying an electronic contact cleaner such as DeoxIT dissolves oxides and sulfides that form on metal surfaces. It also restores the contact’s integrity and leaves a thin, microscopic layer that protects the metal. The product company also makes a spray that cleans and lubricates console faders, keeping them quiet as you make level changes on Sunday mornings.
Support the Use of Loudspeakers
Loudspeakers are at risk of being damaged by events like transient power surges or power overloading. This can be avoided with the use of power-conditioning products and proper matching of loudspeakers and amplifiers. Loudspeakers can also deteriorate over time due to factors such as repetitive mechanical stress (the constant movement of the diaphragm and suspension ring) and environmental factors such as humidity. Keeping the climate of the space where loudspeakers and other electronics are located within a specific range — ideally, 70 degrees to 77 degrees Fahrenheit and 35% to 65% relative humidity — will help stave off such environmental deterioration.
Decrease the Dust
Everyday dust may be the most pernicious adversary your sound system will face. Dust is everywhere, and over time, it settles and creates problems. For instance, it will drift in-between the controls on audio consoles and eventually interfere with electrical contacts. Even loudspeakers are affected: Tiny dust particles can be relatively sharp, causing microscopic damage to the elements of the loudspeaker. Furthermore, the dust build-up will impede the proper movement of the speaker while also causing greater friction and retention of unwanted heat.
Preventative dust-maintenance procedures include regularly using canned compressed air across console work surfaces, horizontal I/O and other openings, and computer fans. Good HVAC system filtering can also help keep PA speakers from accumulating too much dust.
Keep Static Away
Static electricity is nearly as dangerous as dust. However, it can damage systems instantaneously, rather than over time, by electrically overcharging and damaging components or connections. It’s important to avert a build-up to what could be hazardous levels of static energy by using anti-static floor mats — specifically, at points where staff interact with the system such as at FOH and monitor consoles, and at AMP and DSP racks.
Update Components as Needed
You may need to replace church sound system components over the course of time and use, switching out a loudspeaker or amplifier for one that’s given up the ghost. However, there are downsides to constantly repairing systems. For instance, older systems may use components that are no longer available, and new replacement components may not integrate with older systems. In addition, as with many types of electronic systems, usable life spans have decreased in recent years. Significant factors include higher-temperature operation and more constant use, as many churches turn their auditoriums into music and theatrical performance spaces.
Finally, sound-system technology has changed and advanced at a much more rapid pace than ever before. In fewer than 20 years, church sound system technology has transitioned from conventional stereo systems to surround-sound systems to immersive-type systems. It’s a fact of technology that part of the preventative-maintenance regimen of the future will be to replace entire systems. Whether you call it preemptive strategic renovation, it’s an increasingly valid strategy.
Innovations in PA Systems Bring Ease of Maintenance
More recent advancements in PA systems are making maintenance requirements easier to address in the future. Columnar line arrays have grown in popularity in recent years, largely because they combine more speakers into a single unit, thus reducing both capital costs (built-in amplifiers inside the powered column speakers reduce the number of amps needed) and maintenance requirements. Preventative maintenance is how church staff can address that. Here are some general maintenance tips for a line array sound system:
Regular Inspections: Perform visual inspections of the entire system, including speakers, rigging hardware, cables, amplifiers, and signal processing equipment. Look for signs of damage, wear and tear, loose connections, or corrosion.
Cleaning: Keep the system clean by regularly wiping down surfaces with a soft, dry cloth to remove dust, dirt, and debris. Use compressed air to clean speaker grilles and other hard-to-reach areas. Avoid using harsh cleaning chemicals that could damage the equipment.
Amplifiers and Signal Processing: Check amplifiers and signal processing equipment regularly for proper operation and cooling. Ensure adequate ventilation to prevent overheating, and clean air intake vents to remove dust buildup.
Cable Management: Inspect cables for signs of damage, such as frayed wires or broken connectors. Replace damaged cables promptly to prevent signal loss or electrical hazards. Use cable management tools to organize and secure cables, minimizing tripping hazards and strain on connectors.
Rigging and Suspension: Inspect rigging hardware, including flying frames, shackles, and safety cables, for signs of wear, corrosion, or fatigue. Ensure that all rigging components are properly secured and rated for the weight of the speaker arrays. Follow manufacturer guidelines for rigging and suspension procedures.
System Calibration: Periodically recalibrate the system using manufacturer-recommended software tools and procedures. This ensures that the speaker arrays are properly aligned, time-aligned, and tuned for optimal performance in the venue.
Environmental Considerations: Protect the system from environmental factors such as moisture, humidity, extreme temperatures, and saltwater exposure, especially in outdoor or maritime applications. Use weatherproof covers or enclosures when necessary, and store equipment in a climate-controlled environment when not in use.
Documentation: Maintain detailed documentation of system configurations, setup parameters, calibration settings, and maintenance records. This information helps troubleshoot issues, track equipment performance over time, and plan future upgrades or modifications.
Training and Education: Provide training for personnel responsible for operating and maintaining the line array system. Ensure that they are familiar with best practices, safety guidelines, and troubleshooting procedures to minimize the risk of damage or malfunction.
Professional Servicing: Schedule periodic inspections and maintenance by qualified technicians or service providers, especially for critical components such as amplifiers, drivers, and signal processors. Address any issues promptly to prevent costly repairs or downtime during events.
Maintaining a healthy church sound system is essential to getting a message through to an audience. By following these general maintenance tips and implementing a proactive approach to care for your line array sound system, you can maximize its performance, reliability, and lifespan, ensuring that it delivers high-quality sound reinforcement for years to come. This will ensure consistent, high-quality audio for worship services and events.
