Thursday, December 4, 2014

Setting The Standards For Church Sound System Designs

By Claudine Hodges


The audio needs of each chapel are unique because of the structural features, range of activities and expectations in each case. However, there are important tenets that are used to define ideal church sound system designs. They form the basis of any quotation and are especially important when requesting for services from engineers and other audio services providers.

An ideal system will help you utilize all corners of your chapel. It is the secret to capturing the attention of everyone inside the building. It feels comfortable to sit and follow proceedings from any corner. Congregants will easily follow proceedings from all corners beyond guaranteeing active participation in sermons and other activities.

The standards are developed out of extensive study and analysis of audio settings in different churches and relatively similar auditoriums. The quality is compared across different chapels with the aim of improving the audio experience. Mastering the interplay between space and equipment makes both the preacher and the congregants comfortable within the available space.

The design affects all other aspects of audio production and quality within the chapel. Advanced technology will not produce better results if the design is flawed. There are different and befitting options regardless of the budget a church is operating on. Audio specialists ensure that you get maximum value for your budget.

There are basic facts with all systems, whether they are in churches or in other auditoriums. It is natural for human beings to face the direction of sound. This source must therefore capture the attention of congregants and point it towards the altar, performance, stage or the preacher. Sounds distracts attention when they come from the sides or behind.

Intelligibility threshold must be maintained regardless of the technology used. The microphone is placed 18-24 inches away from the mouth for the speaker to feel comfortable. The range must thus be set in a way that it will pick the sounds without being too loud or too soft. The positioning of speakers should match the needs of your chapel.

Necessity dictates that churches use several microphones at a time. A poorly designed network will be disrupted by constant feedback. This increases the level of participation without moving the microphones from one location to the other. The assembly of equipment, microphones and speakers must be synchronized to simplify control.

The technicians who setup the audio network do not remain behind during normal services. This means that the system must be easy to control by a layman. A speaker who is loud and one who is soft should use the same equipment without the need for adjustment.

Hearing impaired congregants must be accommodated in your plan. They include individuals using hearing aids and those in various stages of hearing loss. This provision must be made regardless of their number within the congregation.

To test if the system is right, you should close your eyes and listen to the sound from the speakers. With your eyes closed, face the direction of the sound. When the eyes are open, you should be facing the center of action. A good system will increase participation and concentration in the church.




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