From elegant cathedral-like structures to humble store-front rooms in strip malls, most congregations have a weekly gathering place. While a house of worship is more than just a building, its acoustics determine whether worshipers can comfortably hear both music and message. Good church sound system design makes the difference between an involved and enthusiastic congregation, or one that is struggling just to hear.
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.
In some rooms, thick carpeting and panels eliminate any trace of echo, while other locations grapple with layers of reverberation. People sitting toward the front might hear the minister easily, but those a few pews back might as well have stayed home. Microphones are not all created equal. Some reproduce human speech well, but when faced with a wide musical frequency range they create muddiness, overtones, and distortion.
Members may try to correct those problems themselves, but fine tuning a room or equipment to a achieve the necessary balance for good live reproduction may require professional acoustic analysis. Although most congregations have limited budgets, equipment costs are only one factor in choosing and developing a new audio setup. In some cases, simply spending a great deal on speakers or microphones is not cost-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.
Many rooms require more than one speaker, and that can create regions where there are acoustic hot or cold spots. When properly balanced and timed, those spaces are eliminated, providing clean signals to every single location. Calibration may be difficult to achieve without the proper equipment, but an experienced consulting and installation firm takes the guesswork out of optimization.
Because church services usually emphasize both music and the spoken word, a new design must be able to handle both. Speech requires microphones that are able to accurately clarify what is being said, and they should also be able to seamlessly switch from words to music without volume issues or noticeable distortion. While cost is always an important consideration, choosing speakers based on price alone can be disappointing.
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.
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.
In some rooms, thick carpeting and panels eliminate any trace of echo, while other locations grapple with layers of reverberation. People sitting toward the front might hear the minister easily, but those a few pews back might as well have stayed home. Microphones are not all created equal. Some reproduce human speech well, but when faced with a wide musical frequency range they create muddiness, overtones, and distortion.
Members may try to correct those problems themselves, but fine tuning a room or equipment to a achieve the necessary balance for good live reproduction may require professional acoustic analysis. Although most congregations have limited budgets, equipment costs are only one factor in choosing and developing a new audio setup. In some cases, simply spending a great deal on speakers or microphones is not cost-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.
Many rooms require more than one speaker, and that can create regions where there are acoustic hot or cold spots. When properly balanced and timed, those spaces are eliminated, providing clean signals to every single location. Calibration may be difficult to achieve without the proper equipment, but an experienced consulting and installation firm takes the guesswork out of optimization.
Because church services usually emphasize both music and the spoken word, a new design must be able to handle both. Speech requires microphones that are able to accurately clarify what is being said, and they should also be able to seamlessly switch from words to music without volume issues or noticeable distortion. While cost is always an important consideration, choosing speakers based on price alone can be disappointing.
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.
About the Author:
Coherent Design provides counsel as audio visual design consultants for church sound system design. For info on our theater design and project management services, visit us on the Web today at http://www.coherentdesign.net.
