Pastor-Friendly Sound Systems by Power Trade Media

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PA S T O R - F R I E N D LY S O U N D S Y S T E M S Presented by: Renkus-Heinz, Inc.

CHURCH EXECUTIVE • P A S T O R - F R I E N D LY S O U N D S Y S T E M S

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Table of Contents MAKING SOUND (SYSTEM) DECISIONS

It’s hard to overstate the importance of a good sound system to your church. Few things are more critical than getting the message across. A service that fails to communicate and inspire will not keep its congregation for long. By Rik Kirby & Daniel Keller

SYSTEM COMPONENTS: KNOWING YOUR OPTIONS

UNDERSTANDING LOUDSPEAKER SYSTEMS -WHAT’S RIGHT FOR YOUR CHURCH? 8 Though your church’s audio system is comprised of a lot of different components, loudspeakers are arguably the most significant. As the final link between the message and the listener, the right loudspeaker system can make the difference between indifference and inspiration. By Rik Kirby & Daniel Keller

SPECIFYING A CHURCH SOUND SYSTEM

A sound system is one of the biggest technology investments your church will make. And although you must respect your budget, it would be a serious mistake to cut corners — or just go buy something from a big-box store to save a few bucks. By Rik Kirby & Daniel Keller

SOUND (SYSTEM) DECISIONS — WHY YOU NEED A CONSULTANT

If you were ill, you’d seek a qualified doctor to diagnose and treat what ails you. After all, trying to diagnose and treat yourself — without medical expertise — is likely to lead toa bad outcome. When you have problems with the sound in your church, the same reasoning applies. By Rik Kirby & Daniel Keller

SOUND (SYSTEM) DECISIONS — MAINTAINING YOUR INVESTMENT 14 Over the past few months, we’ve talked extensively about what to look for in a sound system. We’ve looked at different types of loudspeakers and audio technology. We’ve talked about evaluating your sanctuary space, your style of service, and your budget. And, we’ve talked about the importance of hiring a professional for what amounts to one of the biggest investments your church will make. It makes sense, then, to conclude this series by talking a bit about maintaining your investment. By Rik Kirby & Daniel Keller churchexecutive.com

P A S T O R - F R I E N D LY S O U N D S Y S T E M S • CHURCH EXECUTIVE

PASTOR-FRIENDLY

SOUND SYSTEMS

Presented by: Renkus-Heinz, Inc.

(SYSTEM)

MakingSound Decisions It’s hard to overstate the importance of a good sound system to your church. Few things are more critical than getting the message across. A service that fails to communicate and inspire will not keep its congregation for long. By Rik Kirby & Daniel Keller What defines good sound? While some might argue that the concept is subjective, there are certain aspects of a good sound system that we can all agree on. Spoken word should be intelligible. Musical performance should be clear and full-range. And sound should be consistent, everywhere in the house. Of course, addressing these goals will vary widely from one church to another. Are you welcoming your flock in a 1,000-seat sanctuary? Clearly, your needs will differ from a congregation meeting in a 300-seat chapel, an auditorium, or a converted warehouse space. Consider your space Larger, traditional worship spaces — with their soaring walls and tiled floors — tend toward a natural reverberance that’s ideal for enhancing pipe organ and choir, but less so for speech intelligibility. Echoes from reflective surfaces can add up to a massive cacophony, particularly for those seated further away from the source. Another effect of reverberant spaces is a loss of directionality. Every listener should be able to tell where the sound is coming from. The sound system must be positioned and time-aligned so that imaging is consistent — if the piano is on the right and the guitarist is on the left, listeners should be able to distinguish this, even with their eyes closed. Consistent coverage is equally important, and equally challenging, in many worship spaces. Ideally, every seat will receive the same level of sound and the same tonal balance. Architectural considerations can make this difficult to achieve, with peaked ceilings, windows, balconies and other reflective surfaces creating hot spots and dead zones throughout the venue. Consider your style Another defining factor in choosing a sound system is your style of worship. A traditional liturgy, with the sermon supported by choir and organ, will have markedly different sonic needs than a contemporary service sporting amplified instruments and multiple singers. Even within the realm of contemporary worship, system needs will differ for a service featuring a light semi-acoustic duo versus a nine-piece amplified praise band. While it’s obvious that a system designed for music will require greater performance than a system for speech, the differences are not as great as one might think. Despite the classic connotation of “speech systems” as low-budget paging horns, producing human speech with good intelligibility and minimal distortion requires a system capable of excellent, full-range fidelity. The only major difference is that the music system requires greater low-frequency response and greater volume levels. Volume requirements are another consideration. A good sound system will be capable of getting loud enough to project the presentation — whether it’s a sermon or a praise band — to the back rows without distorting. 4

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The perfect system While it’s easy to get caught up in marketing hype and sound system envy, it’s important to realize there’s no one-size-fits-all loudspeaker. The right system for one room will be entirely wrong for another, so don’t make the mistake of choosing a system based on what you’ve heard in other venues. As stated earlier, your acoustical environment will largely dictate your sound system priorities. A large, acoustically designed theatrical-style venue might be an ideal candidate for a concert-style line array. That same system might be largely ineffective in a smaller sanctuary, where a point-source system might be a better choice. Many larger, more traditional spaces have benefitted from a relatively new technology: the digitally steered array. These digitally steered systems are capable of tightly focusing their output, directing the sound toward the listeners, while keeping it away from walls, ceilings and other reflective surfaces. Aesthetics is another important consideration. Particularly in more traditional settings, both congregation and clergy will object to a large cluster or array of loudspeaker boxes hanging from the ceiling. Many of the newer steered array systems offer a slim profile that will more easily blend with your sanctuary’s architecture. Often, these boxes can be painted to match the décor, or even concealed behind grilles, rendering them nearly imperceptible to the casual congregant. Go with a pro It’s often been said that a church will purchase two or even three sound systems before finding the right one for its space. While this is frequently the case, these days it’s a scenario that can easily be avoided. The science of loudspeaker design has evolved to the point where we can accurately predict the performance of a system before hanging a single speaker. That’s why even the smallest sanctuary will benefit from working with a professional systems designer. With today’s acoustic modeling software, a competent system designer can not only identify the best loudspeaker choices, but where to place them for optimal performance. Being able to predict the performance of different loudspeakers before installing them in the room goes a long way toward streamlining the decision-making process. The money invested in hiring a good systems designer can more than offset the expense of installing the wrong system, and can even make the difference between installing a good system and installing a great one. Rik Kirby is Vice President, Sales & Marketing at Renkus-Heinz, Inc. www.renkus-heinz.com . Located in Southern California for over 35 years, Renkus-Heinz is a manufacturer of high-end professional loudspeaker systems. Daniel Keller is CEO of Get It In Writing, Inc.® www.getitinwriting.net . churchexecutive.com

P A S T O R - F R I E N D LY S O U N D S Y S T E M S • CHURCH EXECUTIVE

PASTOR-FRIENDLY

SOUND SYSTEMS

System components: knowing your options

In the ongoing quest to create better, more effective worship, the need for good sound is paramount. Whether clearly articulating a meaningful sermon or delivering a praise band’s impactful musical performance, it’s important that every person — in every seat — is treated to the best possible sonic experience. By Rik Kirby & Daniel Keller Assembling a good-quality sound system is rife with complexity and detail. If you’re not well-schooled in matters of audio, it’s a job best left to professionals. Even so, it’s a good idea to have at least a basic understanding of what’s involved to ensure your worship team makes the right decisions. What’s in a system? Sound systems are commonly viewed as a chain of devices that capture, combine, process, route and reproduce audio. Four key components are: #1: Microphones. At the source, microphones capture the sound. While traditional services might only need one or two microphones, contemporary churches — with their larger, often amplified praise bands — can require dozens. While identifying the many microphone options is beyond the scope of this article, here are several helpful resources for those interested in delving in deeper: Microphones: Educational Content, Microphone Basics, A Basic Mic Primer: The fundamentals of microphones and how they work, Microphone Basics, Video: Microphone Basics, How do Microphones Work? #2: Mixers. Mixers combine and control your sound sources and route the signals to processors, power amplifiers, monitor systems, and front-ofhouse speakers. Mixers come in a wide range of sizes and formats. While traditional analog consoles remain popular in smaller installations, today’s digital consoles are much more affordable, powerful and flexible, and they usually offer built-in signal processing. Some also provide recording features. Digital mixers are, therefore, fast becoming ubiquitous in even the most budget-conscious churches. #3: Signal processors / matrix devices. Depending on the complexity of the system, you can route the signal directly from the mixer to the loudspeakers or via a signal processing / matrix device. This device typically allows zone control over multiple loudspeakers; so, for example, you can route the direct signal to the sanctuary while sending a slightly 6

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delayed or processed signal to the foyer and the cry room. In modern digital systems, the processing and matrix might also be built into the mixer. #4: Loudspeakers. Loudspeakers are arguably the most critical part of the system, since they’re creating the sound you hear in your room. For this reason, the remainder of this article is devoted to discussing types of loudspeaker systems you might want to consider for your church. Exploring your options As with mixers, loudspeakers come in a wide range of shapes and styles. Many modern loudspeakers are “powered” or “active,” meaning they have onboard power amplifiers. The best choice for your church depends on your space, the type of worship service or other event, and your budget. When selecting and configuring loudspeakers, goals should include: intelligibility for speech and music; even coverage throughout the venue; and aesthetics. To accomplish these goals, it’s crucial to direct the sound from the loudspeakers at the congregation with minimal reflection off of ceilings, floors and walls. If your sanctuary is small and acoustically well-behaved, you can do this with a familiar, point-source-type PA system employing conventional speaker cabinets, positioned on or above the stage. These systems might be arranged in a classic left-right pattern or in a central speaker cluster. Point-source systems are relatively simple and affordable — and in some cases, portable — making them a good choice for small or mobile churches. However, they tend to distribute sound equally in all directions, so some sound reflects off ceilings, floors and walls, causing echoes and reverberation. In a larger room, this creates intelligibility problems, making it difficult (or even impossible) to clearly discern what’s being said. Congregants in the rear hear fewer high frequencies, so the sound is increasingly dull. Since some sound energy is wasted off to the sides, more level is lost further from the loudspeakers. As a result, people in the back of the room get less sound, while those up front get blasted. In mid-sized or odd-shaped rooms, a distributed point-source system can be created that adds satellite speakers, positioned along the side walls and in the rear of the room. A properly set up, distributed system can fill the room with sound more evenly than a single set of front speakers. However, those speakers still are generating broad beams of sound, along with plenty of reflections. In many cases, therefore, you should consider a well-designed distributed system — or better yet, a digitally steered array. Digital beam steering uses digital signal processing (DSP) and custom software that enables the system designer to create multiple beams of sound to very precisely focus the loudspeakers’ output on the audience and away from reflective surfaces. Moreover, most of today’s digitally steered arrays are slim, low-profile speaker enclosures that blend seamlessly into the environment and are relatively easy to install. Many larger, contemporary worship spaces consider concert-style line arrays, mimicking the systems they see on tour. Correctly designed, these line arrays provide consistent coverage and are an excellent solution for deep rooms with single-level seating. However, traditional arrays are large and heavy, often impinging on sightlines and requiring extensive structural work to hang from ceilings and aim correctly. In spaces with one or more balconies, traditional line arrays need to be supplemented with additional speakers to ensure even coverage. With recent innovations in steerable array technology, digitally steered arrays can achieve concert-style performance while also delivering the benefits of tighter pattern control, fewer reflections, and improved intelligibility. Get the good stuff Loudspeakers are the only part of a sound system that generates sound; except for the mics, everything else in the system chases electrons or crunches numbers. To get the results your congregation deserves, be sure to choose only highquality loudspeakers that are appropriate for your space. And, have a professional install and tune the system. Rik Kirby is Vice President, Sales & Marketing at Renkus-Heinz, Inc. www.renkus-heinz.com Located in Southern California for over 35 years, Renkus-Heinz is a manufacturer of high-end professional loudspeaker systems. Daniel Keller is CEO of Get It In Writing, Inc.® www.getitinwriting.net . churchexecutive.com

P A S T O R - F R I E N D LY S O U N D S Y S T E M S • CHURCH EXECUTIVE

PASTOR-FRIENDLY

SOUND SYSTEMS

Understanding loudspeaker systems — what’s right for your church? Though your church’s audio system is comprised of a lot of different components, loudspeakers are arguably the most significant. As the final link between the message and the listener, the right loudspeaker system can make the difference between indifference and inspiration. By Rik Kirby & Daniel Keller

CHURCH EXECUTIVE • P A S T O R - F R I E N D LY S O U N D S Y S T E M S

Whether you’re thinking about upgrading your existing sound system or installing one for the first time, chances are you’ve already discovered a nearly infinite, somewhat overwhelming range of options. Loudspeaker systems come in all shapes, sizes and configurations. Your choices will depend on a number of factors, including the size of your sanctuary, its seating arrangement and acoustical character. The type(s) of services your church offers also make a difference — a traditional, sermon-based service will have different requirements than a contemporary service with a high-impact praise band. It’s important to understand the different types of loudspeaker systems, and what features are best to meet the needs of your church. Some basics: passive, powered and distributed systems In a typical sound system, each individual loudspeaker is powered by a dedicated amplifier. (As with your home hi-fi, this can often be a multichannel amplifier, with essentially two or more amplifiers combined into a single unit.) In recent years, there has been a growing trend toward self-powered loudspeakers — that is, loudspeakers with a dedicated amplifier built into the system. More than just a matter of convenience, self-powered speakers ensure that the amplifier and loudspeaker are well matched to each other, as well as cutting down on the cost of installation. Many commercial loudspeakers also include transformers in their designs, allowing them to be incorporated into 70- and 100-volt distributed audio systems. While lacking the power needed for a large-scale PA system, these low-voltage distributed systems offer some advantages for smaller rooms, and as supplemental and / or ancillary systems. Fewer power amplifiers are required to drive multiple loudspeakers, and each speaker’s volume can be adjusted independently, making them a cost-effective solution for hallways, anterooms and other areas where wide coverage and differing volume levels is needed.

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Line arrays do present their own challenges, however. Even smaller ones tend to be large and heavy, requiring considerable structural work to hang from ceilings. Even if your sanctuary’s has fairly high ceilings, line arrays normally work optimally when hung lower, and they can interfere with sightlines for some of your audience. In many cases, they can also interfere with the room’s aesthetics, looking very out of place in an otherwise traditional architecture. Finally, you might consider a digitally steered array system. Traditional line arrays can be designed to distribute sound evenly across a given coverage pattern; however, they can introduce other issues. With some sound bouncing off of walls, ceilings and other reflective surfaces, spoken word intelligibility can suffer, particularly in larger sanctuaries. Digitally steered arrays use DSP (Digital Signal Processing) to help direct a speaker’s output into a tight, focused pattern that can be shaped and directed with precision.

What’s in the box? As mentioned earlier, loudspeakers themselves come in a wide range of shapes and sizes. Here’s a look at some of the basic types of loudspeakers, and their characteristics. Ceiling speakers. Often used in distributed systems, ceiling speakers are built into the ceiling, with the outside of the loudspeaker mounting flush with the ceiling surface. These types of loudspeakers are ideal for installations where the speakers should be pretty much hidden from view. Due to their broad coverage pattern and lack of directionality, ceiling speakers are a common choice for background music in offices and public spaces. They are also frequently used for supplemental coverage in larger systems. Surface-mount speakers. Surface-mount loudspeakers are usually built into a cabinet-type enclosure that is mounted with a bracket on a wall or ceiling. They are available in a wide range of shapes, sizes and configurations. Most manufacturers offer an assortment of different mounting options, as well, to allow for different types of architecture and differing placement and positioning requirements. As with ceiling speakers, surface-mount loudspeakers can be used as primary sound sources in small to mid-sized facilities, or for supplemental coverage in larger systems. Point-source systems and line arrays. For many sanctuaries, a pointsource system is the most common solution. Depending on the desired coverage pattern, these systems can be configured in a number of different ways. For smaller spaces and shallower rooms, a horizontal cluster can provide short-throw coverage. Depending on the width of the room, this can be configured as a single center cluster, left and right clusters, or leftright-center clusters. For deeper rooms requiring longer throw coverage, a vertical line array might be a good solution. Though mainly used in touring sound, line arrays are also available in smaller form-factor and installation-friendly designs for smaller rooms. They are a popular option due to their relatively easy installation and flexibility of coverage. churchexecutive.com

Scrimping will cost you more As we’ve stated in previous “Pastor-Friendly Sound Systems” installments, the first step in deciding on a loudspeaker system should be to shop for a qualified professional sound contractor and / or consultant. In the long run, the money spent on getting a pro to help plan your system is the best expenditure you can make. An experienced systems designer will work with you to create a system that fits your church’s space, message and budget. Many a small and mid-sized church has been tempted by the lower cost of purchasing a big-box-store “pro-sumer” system and installing it themselves, only to discover that their budget system creates more problems than it solves. While many budget loudspeakers can play loudly for extended periods, they can’t deliver the pattern control, intelligibility or performance of a professional system. Budget systems also lack the long-term durability to meet the demands of a weekly service. Generally, the extra budget spent on a professional system designed by an experienced consultant will be worthwhile in the long run. Investing in a budget system will pretty much guarantee that you’ll be replacing it sooner than you’d planned. Rik Kirby is Vice President, Sales & Marketing at Renkus-Heinz, Inc. www.renkus-heinz.com. Located in Southern California for more than 35 years, Renkus-Heinz is a manufacturer of high-end professional loudspeaker systems. Daniel Keller is CEO of Get It In Writing, Inc.® www.getitinwriting.net.

P A S T O R - F R I E N D LY S O U N D S Y S T E M S • CHURCH EXECUTIVE

PASTOR-FRIENDLY

SOUND SYSTEMS

SPECIFYING A CHURCH SOUND SYSTEM A sound system is one of the biggest technology investments your church will make. And although you must respect your budget, it would be a serious mistake to cut corners — or just go buy something from a big-box store to save a few bucks. By Rik Kirby & Daniel Keller

A professional-caliber sound system delivers clear, intelligible sound exactly where your church needs it, with minimal reflections off walls, ceilings and other surfaces. The right system has plenty of power to deliver ample sound without strain, without wasteful overkill or sound levels that overwhelm the room. Your church’s new sound system should be designed to suit your space and the types of services and other events hosted there. Once you have the right components, they have to be properly and safely installed and then adjusted or “tuned.” There is much to consider, and it’s important to take time to educate yourself so you can make informed decisions. Get professional help Assessing the acoustics and vagaries of a room and choosing, installing and adjusting professional sound equipment is a job for a skilled system designer and installer. In the long run, the money spent on getting a pro to help plan and install your system is the best expenditure you can make. An experienced systems designer will work with you to create a system that fits your church’s space, message and budget. Your church will get a system that suits its needs for many years to come — and in the long run, it will save money. When it comes to choosing a designer, there are basically two choices: the “design build” route wherein you choose a company that will design, install and commission the system; or, you can hire a consultant to design the system, with the installation portion going out to bid. In either scenario, choose your system designer and installer carefully. If you go to an audio equipment dealer, you might only be introduced to products from the lines that dealer sells. Of course, the dealer might 10

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happen to carry exactly the right products for your room — or have access to a wide enough selection — but you can’t assume that. You might not always be made aware of all your best alternatives. This is a good argument for going to an independent systems consultant. These firms and individuals specify products from a very wide group of suppliers. Whether you choose loudspeakers from Company A or from Company Z will be a matter of which best suits your needs. In the end, the oldest method of finding an installer or consultant is often still the best: word-of-mouth. Begin with contacts at other churches in your region. Talk with people who have been through this process in recent years. Some probably had great experiences with their system designers; perhaps some were not so happy. Learn from both. Working with your system designer The designer’s job is to help specify and set up the right system for your church. A good system designer will take the time to communicate with you and get a feel for your overall requirements, budget and special considerations. For starters, discuss the types of services and events you usually host. The designer’s understanding of how the system will be used is of critical importance. Contemporary services with a praise band, worship music concerts with electronic instruments, and live music for holiday theater productions require a system capable of delivering music with great clarity at relatively high sound levels — without seeming too loud. For this, you need a system that can handle everything from low bass to high frequencies. Traditional services, on the other hand, might call for a system entirely focused on speech intelligibility. (Your church’s pipe organ and choir churchexecutive.com

probably do not need amplification.) That’s no guarantee, however, that a very simple system is right for your sanctuary. As we’ll discuss next, the acoustics of your space will largely determine the system you need. Architectural considerations The architecture and acoustics of your church are a major factor when choosing a sound system. Professional system designers have tools, experience and skills for measuring the acoustical properties of the room and designing a system that will work in your sanctuary. For instance, ensuring that everything is heard clearly in a transept or beyond an archway might present a challenge. Your systems designer should be able to assess these issues, but it won’t hurt for you to point them out. You also might have special needs related to the room’s architecture about which the designer should be made aware. Perhaps the mixing console must be located in a balcony where it’s currently hard to hear. Armed with this information, the designer might specify loudspeaker arrays that employ steered-beam technology, which enables multiple beams of sound to be directed in very precise ways. One beam might cover that mixing space in the balcony, while other beams of sound fill the main room. To design these sophisticated systems, most professionals employ acoustic modeling software such as AFMG’s EASE, which provides detailed, realistic modeling and simulation of your sanctuary’s acoustics and potential sound system performance. This takes the guesswork out of system design, helping eliminate costly mistakes and reducing installation time. The designer can predict what works and what doesn’t work before installation begins and changes become more timeconsuming and expensive. We’ll touch on one more architectural consideration: visual impact. Be aware that your new loudspeakers need not detract from your sanctuary’s appearance. Many loudspeaker companies will customize the color of your loudspeakers to match the décor, enabling the speakers to “disappear” into the background. Discuss this with your system designer, who will plan accordingly when specifying speakers.

EASE model showing the coverage of a traditional horn-based loudspeaker system. While coverage of the audience is good, there is a also lot of sound hitting the ceiling, which will cause reverberation. EASE model showing the coverage of an Iconyx Digitally Steerable Array. Again, the audience area is well covered; but, the tight control of the steerable array means the ceiling is avoided and reverberation is better controlled.

The cost Since budget is a major consideration for most churches, discuss your expected costs with the system designer from the start. With a good consultant, you are highly likely to get a knowing and proactive response. System design professionals can often find ways to save a little money in less important places in order to spend more money where you ought to go a bit higher-end. Perhaps the designer will specify a slightly less expensive speaker for the choir loft but employ a higher-end array for the main part of the sanctuary. Or, maybe by using a larger array, with more beams, the designer can dispense with extra speakers entirely. Your system designer can probably find a variety of ways to meet the room’s challenges while staying within your church’s financial means. churchexecutive.com

Testing, testing … Having assessed your church’s needs, the systems designer might bring a sample system into your church so you can hear what it sounds like in your space. Of course, the test system might not be placed exactly like the final installed system. For instance, the test system will probably be mounted on tripods, whereas the installed system might be flown. But, particularly with loudspeakers that can be aimed precisely — such as steered-beam arrays — the test system can give a close approximation of what the final system will sound like. Let’s get started As you have seen, choosing a sound system is a complex and multifaceted process. Today’s loudspeaker systems are more advanced than ever, designed to deliver exceptional fidelity, power and performance. But, designing the right system doesn’t need to be overwhelming. With the help of a qualified professional, you can create the best possible system for your service, your worship space, and for your budget. Rik Kirby is Vice President, Sales & Marketing at Renkus-Heinz, Inc. www.renkus-heinz.com . Located in Southern California for more than 35 years, Renkus-Heinz is a manufacturer of high-end professional loudspeaker systems. Daniel Keller is CEO of Get It In Writing, Inc.® www.getitinwriting.net. P A S T O R - F R I E N D LY S O U N D S Y S T E M S • CHURCH EXECUTIVE

SOUND SYSTEMS

SOUND DECISIONS

(SYSTEM)

— why you need a consultant

By Rik Kirby & Daniel Keller

If you were ill, you’d seek a qualified doctor to diagnose and treat what ails you. After all, trying to diagnose and treat yourself — without medical expertise — is likely to lead to a bad outcome. When you have problems with the sound in your church, the same reasoning applies.

Trying to solve the issues without professional help is likely to be a waste of time and money, with grim results. The last thing you need is buyer’s remorse after a system is installed because you tried to “wing it” on your own. A professional systems designer will work with you to analyze your church’s space and needs and create a system that sounds great, is consistent with your message and budget, is easy to operate, and suits the type of service and events your church hosts. Your congregation will enjoy the results for many years to come, and you’ll save money by avoiding waste and false starts with equipment that is not best suited to your space or properly installed and adjusted. The best time to engage a systems consultant is right at the beginning of the process. Before you do, it’s helpful to understand what’s involved in choosing the right team. The systems designer Your church’s new sound system should enable every member of the congregation to clearly hear and understand what is said and to enjoy every note and subtlety of the music, no matter where they’re seated. If sound is bouncing all over the room, for example, speech could be unintelligible and music could turn into a muddled mess. To achieve clarity and intelligibility, the sound system should direct the sound toward the congregation — not at walls, floors, ceilings, windows and other reflective surfaces. It should also deliver quality sound to hardto-reach locations, such as balconies. 12

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the exact places and angles required by the plan, while protecting and maintaining the beauty of your church. A good installer also considers access to the system components should they need service — a big deal if you have loudspeakers mounted high overhead or hidden behind a wall panel. In most cases, your systems designer will know qualified installers with whom they have worked successfully in the past. That gives you a proven team. The design-build approach Some firms provide a turnkey package in which one individual or small team handles acoustic analysis and systems design, supplies the sound system, and installs the equipment. This approach is referred to as “design-build.” This firm might also be an equipment dealer. If the individual or firm is expert in all these disciplines, and coordination is good, everyone involved should be on the same page from the beginning. The design will account for installation challenges because the same person or group handles both — not always the case where the designer and installer are different. The main drawback to this approach is that each part of the process — acoustic analysis, system design, installation and tuning — is a complex science that takes years to master, so you need to find a firm that has all this expertise. Assuming you can find the right company, design-build is a good way to go.

Assessing how sound will behave in any given space is complicated. While large halls and cathedrals — with their high ceilings, soaring walls, and domed ceilings — are typically challenging, even the smallest sanctuary can have acoustic issues. Designing a system that’s right for your space is a job for a professional system designer who understands the science of acoustics. Your church’s needs depend on the types of services and events it usually hosts. Traditional services might call for a system entirely focused on speech intelligibility, while contemporary services with a praise band require a system capable of delivering music with great clarity at relatively high sound levels — without seeming too loud. A professional systems designer will take these factors into consideration. The systems designer will then employ specialized acoustical modeling software to figure out how sound behaves in your space. Armed with this information, they will work with you to identify the best loudspeaker choices and decide where to place them and how to tune them for optimal performance. The installer Assuming the design plan meets with your church’s approval and budget, a contractor specialized in sound-system installation will work with the systems designer to implement the plan. Installation is far more than screwing in a few bolts and mounting brackets; it involves understanding the engineering and legal regulations involved in safely and securely mounting heavy speaker systems in churchexecutive.com

The consultant and the contractor An alternative is to choose an independent systems consultant who handles acoustic analysis and specifies the equipment and its placement, while employing a separate contractor that handles installation. Independent systems consultants are not limited to the lines of equipment they sell, so they can recommend whatever they believe best suits your needs. The contractor is expert in construction, the vagaries of church architecture, and how to legally and safely install audio equipment in a way that carries out the system design while maintaining the aesthetics of your church. Your systems design consultant and contractor will coordinate to ensure that the design works with the installation considerations. This cooperation is key; if done well, it achieves the same integration as design-build, but with a broader range of expertise and a great choice of equipment. Getting started As noted earlier, you should engage an expert as soon as your church has made a decision to investigate a new sound system. That way, your subsequent decisions will be well-informed, and you won’t waste time and money on false starts and blind alleys. Word-of-mouth is still the tried-and-true way to find this partner. Talk with people at other churches in your region who have been through this process in recent years. You might also learn a lot from schools and other non-church institutions that have hired companies you’re considering. Ask for references and do some Web research; many firms list past projects on their sites, and you might be able to find and follow up with some of them. Then, meet with companies who have proven themselves, and decide for yourself which company you want to work with. With patience and research, you will wind up with a system that will fully satisfy your church’s needs and please your congregation for years to come. Rik Kirby is Vice President, Sales & Marketing at Renkus-Heinz, Inc. www.renkus-heinz.com. Located in Southern California for more than 35 years, Renkus-Heinz is a manufacturer of high-end professional loudspeaker systems. Daniel Keller is CEO of Get It In Writing, Inc.® www.getitinwriting.net.

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SOUND SYSTEMS

SOUND (SYSTEM) DECISIONS — MAINTAINING YOUR INVESTMENT By Rik Kirby & Daniel Keller Over the past few months, we’ve talked extensively about what to look for in a sound system. We’ve looked at different types of loudspeakers and audio technology. We’ve talked about evaluating your sanctuary space, your style of service, and your budget. And, we’ve talked about the importance of hiring a professional for what amounts to one of the biggest investments your church will make. It makes sense, then, to conclude this series by talking a bit about maintaining your investment. Unlike today’s disposable consumer electronics, professional audio equipment is not designed to just “set and forget.” Like any precision instrument, it should be maintained, calibrated and tested on a regular basis to keep it running at peak performance. Consider that in an average church audio system, the signal might be passing through hundreds — or even thousands — of electronic components before reaching your ears. As with any complex system of many parts, a simple failure can always occur. Although today’s modern electronic equipment is exceptionally robust, heat, dust, and general wear and tear can cause components to deteriorate over time. Inexperience can also play a role. In a great many of today’s churches, most (if not all) of the technical staff are volunteers, with varying degrees of expertise. Carelessness and a lack of training can contribute to short- or longer-term equipment damage — microphones get dropped or yanked from their connectors, equipment racks get bumped, and liquids get spilled. In short, stuff happens. Many of the most important steps to protecting your equipment come down to pre-planning. Most churches don’t have the luxury of a separate room for front-of-house position, which is all the more reason to invest in locking equipment cabinets. Making essential audio equipment inaccessible to all but qualified personnel will prevent inexperienced users from trying to adjust system settings that should be left to those who are properly trained. If you’ve invested in a mixing console, a locking cover can keep dust and liquids out. A good system designer will suggest these and other protective measures, and include them in the overall system design.

installer provides one as an optional service. If they do, it makes good sense to consider entrusting your system’s upkeep to the people who know it best. Just as every system is different, the cost of a good maintenance contract can vary, depending on the complexity of your system and the availability of qualified technical professionals in your area. As a very general rule of thumb, some professionals suggest calculating your maintenance budget by taking the original cost of the system and dividing it by the expected useful life of the main components. For example, if your system costs $60,000, and its projected lifespan is 10 years, you can expect to pay about $6,000 per year, or $500 per month. (Again, these are only estimates.)

Keeping up the upkeep Going with the premise that an ounce of prevention is worth an expensive repair bill, it makes good sense to consider a regular maintenance contract. Many professional A/V firms offer maintenance contracts, and in many cases you will find that your system designer or 14

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Many churches make the mistake of assuming that since their system is new, they can forego a maintenance contract. After all, even if something breaks, it’s under manufacturer’s warranty, right? While that might be true, it’s important to consider whether anyone on your technical staff has the expertise to identify the problem. Also, most manufacturers’ warranties require you to return the equipment to them for repair. Consider whether you can afford to be without a critical part of your system for what could potentially be weeks, if not longer. Most regular maintenance agreements include periodic visits; these are typically scheduled once or twice a year (though a complex and / or heavily used system might be better served by a monthly visit). Here too, your system designer can advise you of what’s best. A routine maintenance inspection can take several hours, and usually includes a full operational evaluation. Your audio pro will route signal through all major paths, testing and calibrating levels for consistency. A physical inspection and electrical safety check are also performed, including checking for loose wiring at critical points such as microphone and speaker connections, battery contacts and so on. Loudspeaker and amplifier performance is measured. If your church uses any wireless systems — including microphones, in-ear monitors, or mixers — those systems are tested, as well. One of the benefits of maintaining a regular system maintenance schedule is the ability to keep track of system performance. Your maintenance engineer will keep a log of test measurements, enabling you to see any long-term changes that might impact system health, and address them before they become larger, more expensive problems. Some maintenance agreements also include the services of a professional for a number of events per year — useful if your church holds large Christmas and Easter services, for example. Of course, a regular service contract will also offer the benefit of telephone support, emergency repairs, and even loaner gear to get you back up and running, should a problem arise. Another often overlooked advantage of a regular service contract is access to knowledge. You and your technical staff get the benefit of regular contact with an expert who can answer questions, educate and inform, offer training, and teach best practices. He or she can observe your church’s use patterns and offer suggestions and advice on any future upgrades, additions or improvements you might want to consider. You’ve done your research, you’ve hired a pro, and you’ve crunched the budget numbers to put together the best sound system your church can afford. Now, it’s important to invest in taking care of your new sound system. Keep it in top condition so it can deliver to your church many, many years of service. Rik Kirby is Vice President, Sales & Marketing at Renkus-Heinz, Inc. www.renkus-heinz.com. Located in Southern California for more than 35 years, Renkus-Heinz is a manufacturer of high-end professional loudspeaker systems. Daniel Keller is CEO of Get It In Writing, Inc.® www.getitinwriting.net. churchexecutive.com

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