Cotswolds church has ‘epic sound’, whichever way you turn

[ST JOHN’S CHURCH in Burford, on the edge of the Cotswolds in Oxfordshire, is a fine Grade One*-listed building with many interesting features accumulated since construction began in 1175.

Not surprisingly, proposed works to update the sound system and add an installed camera, streaming and projection system were examined in fine detail by the DAC to ensure that the aesthetic impact was minimal. APi Sound and Visual were chosen as the supplier of their new system.

With its large evangelical Anglican congregation, the church decided that it was more inclusive to turn through 90º so they could gather in a more relaxed theatre style layout of chairs. However, for more traditional services, such as funerals and Remembrance Sunday, they need to be able to switch back to the original layout. That has been achieved by adding a third loudspeaker – with a simple switch the audio orientation can be changed.

The audio system is based on an Allen and Heath digital desk, which offers a good-sized touch screen plus full wireless control via an iPad. It is a great step up from their existing digital desk, with its microscopic screen and fairly daunting control app.

A four-channel digital amplifier gives a good choice of equalisation options, limiting and crossover adjustment, which allowed for their existing subwoofers to be included in the new arrangement.

Two remote HD pan, tilt, zoom (PTZ) cameras were installed in locations which suit both church orientations. These are controlled by APi’s own ultrasimple button control pad with back-lit display behind each button, allowing the functions to change over various pages of options. That unit also controls the video switching and streaming unit, thereby removing the need to understand a potentially baffling array of additional controls. Streaming to YouTube is just a matter of a single button push, with a monitor screen displaying both camera images, the outgoing image and the sound levels.

APi Sound and Visual set up the audio processing so that the sound is optimised for listening on a device with smaller speakers – such as a tablet or laptop – by compressing the music and speech to deliver a comfortable, consistent level.

The projection scheme is yet to receive Faculty approval. The proposed scheme will consist of two winch-down screens hidden behind the arches between the nave and side aisle, plus two long-throw HD projectors in the opposite aisle.

On the day the sound system was handed over APi Sound and Visual received this message from the customer: “Trial run this afternoon with band practice. All very good and epic sound. iPad App is very easy to use and so great to be able to wander around the church with it.”

APi Sound and Visual look forward to returning to complete the project with the installation of the projection system.