Nearly all bodies of worship congregate in a central location, which may include elaborate, soaring spaces reminiscent of cathedrals, or unassuming strip mall storefronts re-purposed for meetings. No matter what room is used, its acoustics determine whether or not the experience is inspiring or irritating. Good church sound system design encourages enthusiasm, while poor acoustics create fatigue and frustration.
Most people have experienced discomfort in rooms having problems with amplification, and understand how elaborate amplification setups may eliminate some problems, but can make others worse. The volume may be fine in one area, but ear-shattering across the room. Voices might be loud, but impossible to clearly understand. Podium speakers may seem far away or disembodied, or else obscured by embarrassing, ear-shattering feedback.
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.
Good analysis relies on digital electronics for critical measurements, and the human ear for final judgments. Every room has its own unique acoustical footprint, and that can be determined best using specialized audio reference software. Spots that encourage echo or that swallow certain frequencies can be eliminated, creating a dynamic range that is not only aesthetically pleasing, but which is also universally audible.
A single speaker may work well in small areas, but large spaces may require several, sometimes creating cold or hot spots. Proper timing and balancing helps to re-shape those spots and provide clean signals to all seats. Without the right testing equipment, precise calibration may be difficult or impossible. Working with an experienced audio room designer takes most of the guesswork out of optimizing a system.
Most services are a combination of speech and music, and a well-designed configuration should be able to reproduce both equally well. Speech amplification needs microphones that clarify specific types of output, but those same devices must also be capable of reproducing musical tones without listeners noticing or complaining. Both speakers and microphones should be chosen based on reputation, not necessarily on cost.
Professional installation can help ensure that there are no inadvertent electrical errors that may violate local codes, or that may cause inductive humming noises. The process also includes properly concealing all the wires and connections, and making sure that any hanging speakers are not a safety hazard. Most consultants will also train designated church members in electronic control panel operations during services.
Most people have experienced discomfort in rooms having problems with amplification, and understand how elaborate amplification setups may eliminate some problems, but can make others worse. The volume may be fine in one area, but ear-shattering across the room. Voices might be loud, but impossible to clearly understand. Podium speakers may seem far away or disembodied, or else obscured by embarrassing, ear-shattering feedback.
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.
Good analysis relies on digital electronics for critical measurements, and the human ear for final judgments. Every room has its own unique acoustical footprint, and that can be determined best using specialized audio reference software. Spots that encourage echo or that swallow certain frequencies can be eliminated, creating a dynamic range that is not only aesthetically pleasing, but which is also universally audible.
A single speaker may work well in small areas, but large spaces may require several, sometimes creating cold or hot spots. Proper timing and balancing helps to re-shape those spots and provide clean signals to all seats. Without the right testing equipment, precise calibration may be difficult or impossible. Working with an experienced audio room designer takes most of the guesswork out of optimizing a system.
Most services are a combination of speech and music, and a well-designed configuration should be able to reproduce both equally well. Speech amplification needs microphones that clarify specific types of output, but those same devices must also be capable of reproducing musical tones without listeners noticing or complaining. Both speakers and microphones should be chosen based on reputation, not necessarily on cost.
Professional installation can help ensure that there are no inadvertent electrical errors that may violate local codes, or that may cause inductive humming noises. The process also includes properly concealing all the wires and connections, and making sure that any hanging speakers are not a safety hazard. Most consultants will also train designated church members in electronic control panel operations during services.
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.
