Let There Be Sound

[Scott]

In the beginning there was a great void in worship services. A place
where the readings and sermons could not be heard and the message lost
to the flock. However, a booming voice could be heard, "Let there be
sound!" And there was sound, and the flock saw that it was good, and
they said that it was good and it was good.

While I am paraphrasing scripture to make a point, I have great
reverence for spiritual services and for the word of God. My
experience with services has varied from small communities of worship
to large congregations, bursting at the seams on Easter or Christmas
Masses. The one thing that I found in all was a message of hope and of
brotherly love. The problem was I couldn't always hear that message
well. This was not due to a lack of vocal ability by the pastors or
lectors; it was simply the effect of a large venue and the aggregate
noise of many people together. Adding in curious and bored children
and it can often be very difficult to focus in on the Word, as it is
shared. That is why many congregations have cried out "Let there be
Sound!"

The solution to this problem is simple, and no longer prohibitively
expensive; a professional sound system. One company which produces
many different products to meet the needs of this market is Anchor
Audio. Other sources of professional sound equipment include Bogen,
CSI-Speco and Amplivox. From large PA systems, to voice and music
systems, many options exist. A church has considerations which many
other venues do not, which makes it wise to seek out a professional
audio dealer for advice on how to best meet those needs. Certainly, a
good voice system, which provides comprehensive sound coverage
throughout the church, is required. This system should offer high
quality sound, with low distortion to ensure that the message is heard
clearly. Multiple audio inputs are likely necessary, to accommodate
the lectors, musical leaders, choir, and pastor or priest. Some of
these inputs are well suited to wired technology, but others are
better suited to wireless options. The fixed positions, like a podium
for the lecture and/or musical director are well suited for wired
microphones, as they do not require mobility. The choir can also use
wired, dynamic microphones, to provide coverage of the entire choir
without the need for a complex network of microphones. The pastor or
priest is usually best suited to a wireless microphone with a belt-
pack transmitter, as this allows free movement in delivering a sermon
and in preparation of offerings or the Eucharist. All of these options
can be integrated into appropriate sound systems. The Anchor audio
products are largely modular, offering flexible designs, which can
accommodate these various input and speaker configurations without
being overly expensive or complex.

Speaker options are important to consider as well. Depending on the
size, layout and acoustic qualities of the church, different speaker
types and configurations may be best. Once again, a trained sound
system expert from a full line dealer would be able to assist in the
development of speaker system plans. In new buildings, built in sound
systems are often the way to go, as they can be seamlessly designed
into the structure. Ceiling speakers, tile speakers, horn
loudspeakers, baffle speakers, foreground and background speakers,
column speakers and self amplified speakers are all available to meet
various needs. Knowing what each type can accomplish, as well as the
significance of frequencies and decibel ranges and distortion values
are all important when designing the complete speaker layout.
Understanding coverage areas and dispersion of sound from the various
speakers is also crucial to prevent sound dead zones or, just as bad,
echoes or overlaps. Lastly, it is important to know where the
microphones and speakers will be placed to avoid feedback problems
from close proximity. For those who are not familiar, feedback is the
cause of the loud screeching noise when a microphone is placed to
close to a speaker.

By properly designing a church sound system, the message can be heard
and enjoyed by all in attendance. For churches with multiple services,
it also reduces the strain on the voices of the readers, speakers and
choir members. Speak with a full line audio dealer to see about the
sound system to meet your needs and varied pricing options, and "Let
there be sound!"


To explore the Full Line of Sound System Products visit CAM
Electronics at http://www.camelectronics.com</a><br>
or call 1-800- 772-1605 to inquire about specific items or what
products would match your sound system needs.<br>
Scott Schwartz - SDS Consulting Group - Greenwich, CT - 203-979-9822 -
http://www.ctoutsourceservices.com</a><br>
Full service independent consultant. Services offered include website
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