In my early days in the recording industry, we used a practice called the car-test. Simply put, to hear how your mix translated to the most likely listening environment, you’d make a copy of your mix (typically on cassette back then), pile into the Chevy Nova with the...
In the world of church AVL, it’s easy to turn to social media for quick answers and advice. Platforms like Facebook and Instagram are full of enthusiastic tech directors and well-intentioned volunteers, eager to share their latest gear recommendations and DIY...
Rose Hill Church In Baton Rouge, LA, recently relocated to a spacious 46,000 square foot facility to accommodate its growing congregation. After extensive renovations, the impressive new sanctuary features 50-foot vaulted ceilings and can seat up to 1,000 guests, a...
Most modern churches invest substantially in creating welcoming lobby or foyer environments. Spacious layouts, lots of seating options, coffee bars, or cafes are all designed to make guests and regular attenders feel at home. This has almost become the standard over...
“Old drummers never die, they just become audio engineers,that mix really loud.”-Anonymous. I grew up in an environment almost predestined to produce a musician with a passion for audio engineering and production. My mother was a self-taught musician with a beautiful...
For good or bad, audio engineers typically judge each other based on their drum sounds. It just comes with the territory. When I'm at an event I rarely think to myself, “Wow, that guy is really bringing the thunder with that mandolin tone.” If I find myself having to...
The Benjamin Brown Graham Memorial Chapel at Washington University in St. Louis, MO has undergone an extensive audio transformation, marking a significant milestone in its rich history. Spearheaded by project manager Jeff Allen and executed over a meticulous 18-month...
Welcome back to Worship Production Talk! This month's question comes from Gary in New Hartford, NY, who asks. " How can I keep my XLR Cables from being damaged?" He adds, "Recently I lost signal to our single podium microphone, it was a new cable that already seemed...
Not long ago, I had a conversation with a young church Tech Director. He said their auditorium had some audio issues, mostly dead spots in the coverage, so they scheduled a contractor to re-tune the PA and remedy the issue. This brief discussion reminded me that there...
When it comes to using in-ear monitors, there are two camps of thought -- those who like them and those who don't. Either way, many musicians will be confronted with the prospect of having to use in-ear monitors (IEMs) at some point. For example, a venue that requires...
“Pretty much any time the church staff calls me up and asks if we can do this or can we do that, the answer I can always give them is, ‘Yes!’” says Parker Gann, System Engineer at MessengerAVL, the Conyers, Georgia-based integration firm that designed and installed a...
Recently I polled a number of church production forums with the question: Who uses the scene function on your digital audio consoles, versus those who mix their entire service manually? For the uninitiated, scenes, (also called snapshots by some manufacturers) are...
Everyone knows as we age it's natural to lose some hearing. Those of us who rely on our ears for a living, or for our service to the church, think about this a lot once the mirror starts reflecting more salt than pepper. Like most audio engineers and musicians, I am...
Originally established over 200 years ago in Raleigh, North Carolina, Edenton Street United Methodist Church (ESUMC) is known, in particular, for its famous pipe organ, its alluring chandelier, and its majestic stained-glass windows that dominate the sanctuary. To...
When it comes to church PA systems there are several commonly used designs and multiple variations within those designs. Engineers and audio experts all have their individual preferences. As with so many issues we discuss here, there are always proponents of one side...
RDL is proud to announce their latest creation, the RU-NMP44, a cost-effective, quality network mixing processor that delivers the flexibility of network audio for any system size or budget. Designed to be versatile, and to support a wide range of system designs, the...
Sponsored by Renkus-HeinzIntelligible speech and clear music reproduction have a significant impact on the congregation’s experience in a house of worship. If the sermon is hard to understand or the music is garbled, worship attendees have a hard time connecting with...
One of the first pastors I worked with used to say, “serving in church is a grind, and it's not for everybody”. As we recover from the post-Easter-hangover, I thought it would be a good idea to reflect on the grind and discuss how we can protect ourselves from two of...
Recently Bridgetown Church in Portland, Oregon, announced that going forward they were only going to stream the teaching portion of their services. I respect their decision. I believe every church should be intentional with their use of technology as a reflection of...
If you've spent any time on social media lately, I'm sure you've seen lots of content created by worship musicians. Typically these are short clips with a POV camera showing the musicians doing their job. Sometimes we get a glimpse of their equipment, but for the most...
Column array systems have become increasingly popular due to their sleek design, ease of setup, and crisp sound. However, with so many options in the market, it can be overwhelming to choose the best one for your needs. When it comes to selecting column array speakers...
Subscribe to Audio Connections newsletter
Interested in Worship Audio? Eager to learn? Subscribe to the only newsletter devoted to audio in the church. Written by audio pros working in the church, you will learn from the best.
Audio Connections is published twice per month.
| SUBSCRIBE NOW |