When the lights start to flicker and you seem to have lost control of a DMX lighting fixture or in some cases numerous fixtures, it may be time to get a DMX splitter amp and run a few new direct lines. In a single DMX chain, you can connect up to 32 devices...
Bill Di Paolo
Worship Facility Gear Report: In Ear Monitors
A great pair of in-ear monitors (IEMs) can be a revelation. In-ear monitors (also known as IEMs or in-ears) represent a special category of headphones commonly used by live performers, while traditional headphones deliver sound through earcups on the outer ear,...
How to Make New AV Gear for Your House of Worship More Affordable
As audio-visual (AV) equipment costs rise, many houses of worship are facing challenges in maintaining or upgrading their tech systems. Tech leaders are asking about audio visual equipment costs getting more expensive and how their church can afford new equipment?...
Smaller Option Video Displays
For a house of worship, the decision between a 98” flat screen TV and a 4' high x 8' wide video wall depends on factors like visibility for congregants, content flexibility, and ease of use. large box stores are now now selling 98" screen TVs and they are easy to...
Holiday Lighting Planning
Holiday lighting in a church can create a beautiful, immersive atmosphere that enhances the spiritual experience during sermons and events. Having your lighting plot ready for Christmas is essential because the holiday season tends to bring larger audiences and...
GEAR REPORT – Wired & Wireless Headset Microphones
Headset microphones are essential for energetic performances that require hands-free singing. A headset microphone is a type of microphone worn on the head, similar to a pair of headphones, but with a microphone attached near the mouth. It allows hands-free operation,...
The Importance of Training Your Tech Team
I always get a lot of questions regarding tech training for worship tech crews. I can't stress enough that training and hands-on experience will always increase your tech crew's knowledge and comfort level. Starting 2025 off with training sessions for your worship...
Live Sound Loudspeaker Demo at CFX 2024
The Live Sound Loudspeaker Demo at CFX 2024 in Chattanooga, Tennessee, showcased various audio companies like TW Audio, Renkus-Heinz, Electro-Voice, Biamp, Crest Audio and alcons. All these companies demonstrated a portable system and a compact line array system. ...
Holiday Video Graphics & Stock Footage
Well it’s that magical time of year, and you want to create a different holy experience at your services, by Incorporating holiday video graphics and stock footage into your worship services you can enhance the atmosphere, convey powerful messages, and engage the...
The Big Lighting Dimmer Question
If that title caught your attention then you know you're dealing with this issue currently or you're about to have this conversion with your leadership. I have been dealing with this issue at a house of worship in my area. Currently the dimmer they have was purchased...
Worship Facility Gear Report: Projectors
A projector is a device that takes images generated by a computer or another source type and reproduces them by projection onto a screen, wall, or another surface. In most cases, the surface projected onto is large, flat, and lightly colored. You could...
Pinning The Difference in DMX
Some manufacturers seem to being using both 3 pin and 5 pin DMX, which is starting to get house of worship Tech Crews and Directors unsure of what direction they should stock up and in some cases start having issues when trying to substitute a 3 PIn DMX cable for a...
Why Do Some Moving Light Fixtures Move Slower Than Others?
Hello everyone and welcome back to Production Tech Talk with Bill, this month’s question comes from Dominic D from Syracuse, NY, who asks "Why are some of my moving light fixtures moving slower than others?" Well I recently had to trouble shoot this issue as well,...
Understanding What Goes into a Church Lighting Design
Designing lighting for a house of worship involves balancing functionality, aesthetics, and atmosphere. The lighting must support various activities, enhance architectural features, and create the right ambiance for worship services. The lighting atmosphere should...
Gear Test: Pioneer DJ Speaker
Over the last 30 days I tested out the new XPRS2 models which are the new models bookending the series. There's the 8-inch XPRS82 and 15-inch XPRS152 full-range units, along with two new upgraded active subwoofers: the 15-inch XPRS1152ST and 18-inch XPRS1182ST. So...
Holiday Video Planning
Getting your video graphics and streaming setup ready for the Fall holidays in a house of worship requires attention to both technical details and the spiritual atmosphere of the services. Let's lay out a plan to ensure it is a smooth experience. You will need to...
Cant You See The Font On The Screen?
When selecting the proper font size for video streaming in a house of worship, it’s important to consider visibility, clarity, and the overall worship experience. By following the basic guidelines you can achieve the right balance on all of your displays. Understand...
Answers to Common Sound System Questions
I recently received a lot of questions regarding Facility Sound Systems from entry level sound tech crew members, so I would like to cover a few basics to clear up a lot of the common questions. Sounds like a great idea right? Addressing common questions about...
Worship Facility Gear Report: LED Lighting Fixtures, Moving and Stationary
Choosing new lighting fixtures for a house of worship involves considering various factors to ensure the space is appropriately illuminated, aesthetically pleasing, and functional. This Gear Report will help cover a few of the leading items. to help you make an...
Preventing Lighting Console Failures
Recently, I was working on a brand new professional lighting console, which will remain nameless, I had numerous issues from the start, and a few calls had to be made to customer support to get things resolved. While this was happening, in my mind I just really wanted...
Getting the Right Aspect Ratio
In the video display world, getting your image right is key. Whether you're working on a large-scale video wall, projection screen, a video monitor, or just editing or streaming, you know getting the resolution and aspect ratios right is a major part of displaying....