With an older problematic sound reinforcement system, more often than not the entire sound system does not have to be replaced. It's not uncommon for me to replace and/or add 2 - 4 new pieces of equipment to work with what you already have. A common situation would be to install a very good quality headset microphone system for the Pastor, a high quality microphone for the Pulpit or Lectern and possibly a device to make the existing speakers sound more natural and clear for spoken word. I have done variations of this type of work with numerous sound reinforcement systems over many years, its not only affordable, it also makes a huge difference. Over time, other pieces of gear can be added or upgraded if needed or desired. I will be happy to provide you with contact info of a few customers that I have done this type of work for and you can reach out to them and see what they have to say. I had one customer that reached out to me for help. When I visited with them I was informed that 3 contractors gave them a quote that involved replacing the entire sound system, the original contractor was no longer in business. My assessment of their system was that their system is very good quality quality sound system and professionally installed. My advice was to sell them 2 microphones (one headset wireless mic system and a one hand-held mic) and that's all that they needed. Changing everything is a last resort and providing what is needed is all it takes to make a very much needed improvement.
Live streaming systems
As we all know, the last couple of years have been very challenging and trying times for all. For churches to keep in touch with their in-person and on-line congregation members, the need to stay in connected is needed more than ever. Prior to Covid, the majority of my work was mainly sound reinforcement in churches with some video work. Not all that long after Covid surfaced I found myself installing video cameras and audio/visual system for church members and the general public to view the live church service on-line. The majority of my systems are rather simple and affordable. Many can be installed in one day and more elaborate systems require more time and equipment. Not all streaming system needs are exactly the same. Some require different zoom range lenses and an minor adjustments to the audio portion of the project but generally they are relatively similar. There are times that an HD PTZ camera is not needed because the church might have one and all that is required is to improve the audio quality of the live stream so that the on-line viewer is able to clearly hear the service including the sounds in the church like the choir singing, the piano, the organ and even the congregation singing along. It is extremely important for the on-line viewer/listener to have the experience of being in the church with all the sounds associated with a typical church service while in the comfort of their home. Churched have realized that even if the congregation is coming back, not all do and the need to provide a good quality church experience is very much needed and appreciated. Also, I have found out that once a live service is posted on the churches website or social media, past members that have moved away have reconnected with their hometown church and new members will discover the church and become an on-line member. Please feel free to reach out to me and I will supply you with a link of one of my installs of a live streaming system that would be suited for your needs.
Microphones.....Microphones.....Microphones
Over the last 9 months I have installed microphones with all the upgrades during that time, many have been microphones only. This has provided the biggest improvement with many existing sound reinforcement systems and at an affordable price. I had a recent customer call me to look at their church sound system, they felt that they needed to upgrade the entire sound system upgrade. When I arrived at the site I was very impressed with the existing sound system. It was one of the best and most expensive systems I have seen in awhile. I looked at the gear and talked into a couple microphones and at that point it was clear what the problem was. After meeting with the potential customer for about 20 minutes they asked me what I thought and I said you need 2 new microphones. They responded with...."and what else?" Nothing else needed I replied, just 2 good quality microphones. A couple weeks later I returned to install the 2 microphones and tested them with the customer. The following Monday I received a text that said "Everyone in the congregation could hear the difference!" If you want to make an improvement with your existing system do not hesitate to contact me.
Made it to the big screen.....well kind of.
A movie set builder reached out to me to inquire about a mixing console that would be suited for a recording studio set that takes place in the 70's. I did have a console that suited his needs and it was supplied to Netflix Productions for a movie.
Choir Monitors/Speakers
The one thing I have found to be a common request is to address poor sound quality in the choir area(s). The request from customers is, what would it take to help people hear better and generally it's a relatively simple and inexpensive upgrade. In most cases what happens is a small speaker or two can be put in the problem area(s) to specifically cover those areas. What this provides is clear sound so that the choir members or whoever may be in that designated area can clearly hear (monitor) what's going through the sound system. Generally in a small Church these small areas are behind the Pulpit and Lectern and the main sound system is directed at the congregation and whatever gets back to the choir area is late (delayed) and very unintelligible. Choir speakers are small monitors that specifically allow the people in those areas to clearly hear the service. It's not uncommon for the church to only require a small speaker or two, maybe a volume control and install time is all that's required as long as the existing equipment is compatible to power the choir speakers and the mounting location is accessible. It is a very beneficial addition to existing systems and in many cases it's an affordable upgrade. I have customers that I have installed choir monitors for and every single customer likes the results very much. I'll be glad to furnish you with contact info for other churches than have choir monitors installed. Many people have dealt with poor quality sound for years and sometimes decades because choir monitors are generally overlooked. A small change can make a big difference. Please message me on my contact page if you require further information/assistance.
Fellowship Halls, Social Halls and Kitchens
These areas in older churches generally do not have sound systems in them or if they do its a stand alone system. If they have a system I ask if its tied into the main sanctuary and they almost always say no like its not possible and then they ask the question with the look of surprise and say....”can it be done?!” Once they find out that it can be done they realize the importance of connecting this area to the main church sound system so that when there's a function like a group preparing a holiday meal or special event they can listen to the church service and not be left out. It can also be used as overflow for a large gathering like a Christmas eve service, etc... I have tied into existing systems a number of times and what that requires is a connecting line between the two sound systems and using interface devices to make the connection. In some cases the church has members that will run supplied wire to save on labor and keep cost down. Another situation is that the existing church sound system has the capacity to add remote speakers to it and run a volume control to the fellowship/social hall, kitchen, etc... and install just the speakers. In some cases I have taken the old gear (from the main system during an upgrade) if compatible and working and relocated it to the fellowship/social hall to be the stand alone system in that area with main sanctuary input. There are ways to provide sound in these areas and some are resourceful. To have the ability of distributed sound in other areas of the church has been very well received by all. Please message me on my contact page if you require further information/assistance.
FCC Wireless microphone system restrictions within the 600 and 700 mhz band
The FCC has restrictions within the operating range of 600 and 700 mhz band for wireless microphone systems. To see if your wireless system(s) fall within this range check the receiver or transmitter. The receiver is the device with antennas that is generally near the main equipment like a mixer, amplifier, etc.... If you look on the back or bottom there should be a sticker with the operating frequency in megahertz (mhz), it can also be found on the transmitter (belt-pack or hand-held wireless mic) generally on the back of the belt-pack transmitter or inside the battery compartment of the hand-held transmitter. If you are experiencing problems with your wireless system the operating range of your wireless mic system could very well be the reason why. Please message me on my contact page if you require further information/assistance.
The importance of helping a Hearing impaired person
It is very common for some members of a Church to have some level of hearing loss (hearing impairment). There are a couple of ways to address this issue. One would be to make adjustments to an existing sound reinforcement system to make the spoken word as clear and intelligible as possible. Sometimes this may require an additional piece of gear to be used with your existing equipment. Often, nothing else is needed at that time. However, there are times that the system needs more attention like re-configuring the gear, re-aiming speakers, re-locating speakers, etc.... Sometimes the existing system was designed incorrectly from the start and has limitations. An example would be music store gear like big black speakers on stands that do well with music but not well for spoken word, not to mention the eyesore in the Sanctuary. All of these things contribute to making a sound reinforcement system unintelligible. Many of my upgrades or just working with a sound reinforcement system has allowed individuals with some level of hearing loss to be able to hear more clearly and not require hearing assistance at that time. Another way to address this problem with members that have a more significant hearing loss would be to install a hearing assist system so that the individual(s) who need help most have a personal device to allow them to hear more clearly and they control the volume that they require. These devices will allow for most ear pieces or headsets to operate with a wireless receiver pack. Blocking out some or most outside noise and controlling what goes into the ear makes for a more comfortable listening experience. With a hearing assist you do not need an entire "Sound System" to have a hearing assist system. All you need is a good microphone and a stand-alone hearing assist system. I have done this many times in cases where the Church is too small for a system but some people that have hearing loss still need assistance. A big plus with some of the more advanced assisted listening systems I install is the ability of the end user to take their personal receiver pack to a venue and use it with the in-house hearing assist system where available, operating within the FM 70 MHz band (common). Calling ahead to see if the system is available to the general public will provide for an enjoyable listening experience. All you have to do is press the scan button and your personal receiver pack will locate the operating frequency of the in-house hearing assist system transmitter. The other advantage of this system is the ability to wear a neck loop with the receiver pack to be used with "T-Coil" hearing aids or Cochlear implants. For people that have hearing loss, this is a handicap and for some, it’s an embarrassment. With that said, many will quietly attend church and struggle to hear the service. I have heard from some churches (before I have done work there) that a member over time will slowly work their way to the back of the church and at some point, they will leave and never come back. One of the stories from a Pastor was that he reached out to this person and inquired if they were ok. This is when he discovered the extent of hearing loss and offered a solution that will help. This person came back to the church and sat closer to the front and was now engaged in the weekly church service. We need to pay closer attention to people with hearing loss and watch for the subtle cues and address it sooner than later. It could be that the person is uncomfortable with the type and quality of headphone, ear muff headphones, ear buds, etc.... Find out what they prefer and make sure they are comfortable with it, or better yet, supply their own. Also monitor (listen to the audio) the system at times to make sure it is working properly. Unfortunately, users may not alert you of poor quality or an issue like a buzz or hum in the system. Another helpful thing if you can do this is to have the individual/user take the hearing-impaired system home with them so that they take care of it and keep it clean and make sure it has fresh batteries. It very helpful if you advertise that you have this in the church newsletter and social media so that a potential user will approach you for help with this sensitive subject matter. For those that do not want to be seen with listening devices on their heads, provide a selection of different choices like ear buds or even headphones that has a band that goes around the back of the neck and can be hidden with their hair, a scarf or something else. Make them feel as comfortable as possible so they come back to church and hear the church service. Please message me on my contact page if you require further information/assistance.
The most important microphone in the room
Clarity of the spoken word is what I strive for; intelligibility is extremely important for the entire Congregation. The one piece of gear that is the most important in almost every situation is the Pastor's microphone. I have installed wireless headset mics in most of the churches I have worked in; some churches have more than one. The headset mic frame can either be a single or dual ear frame that is difficult to detect at a distance. When adjusted properly for the Pastor it works very well week after week even if the Pastor moves around; the mic element stays in place and sounds very natural and clear. I have had many customers say that they do not want a headset-- "I don't want to look like Garth Brooks or a televangelist" they say. I carry one with me so they can see for themselves what a real headset looks and feels like. Almost every single one who holds it and tries it on orders one, sometimes two. They are more affordable than others and sound great. Three extra cords are provided with the system for replacement if needed. Cord failure is the most common issue with wireless systems that use headsets and lavaliere mics. Extra cords are included with the purchase. I have sold and installed more wireless mic systems that anything else. I will come to your Church even if this is the only piece of gear you require/need at this time. Please message me on my contact page if you require further information/assistance.
Installing and upgrading in stages or phases
This is something that has become typical of the way I install/upgrade sound systems. It is very common for potential customers to respond to me this way when when I initially start conversing with them....."We don't need everything replaced right now" I can only assume that this misconception comes from the "all or nothing" approach when other companies make their pitch. I have heard this many times for customers that were told to replace it all in order to get a new sound system. In some cases this is true but in the world of churches that just require a spoken word sound reinforcement system this approach is not always needed. What is required is to install what is needed not more and no less. This requires attention to the room/space and to provide a support system to clearly and accurately project sound where needed and to not excite the listening space. Every Sanctuary is unique and has personality so the sound reinforcement system needs to work with the space, not against it. To circumvent the issue of not being able to deal with an entire overhaul of a sound system I strongly suggest in almost every situation that the install/upgrade can be done in phases and to build on the original phase/design without redoing anything. This approach has been very well accepted. To improve as budget allows has been very well received and appreciated. The other thing that generally happens is that the congregation notices a difference and they are more anxious to proceed with more upgrades. I had a Church that hired me to install choir monitors only. I did just that and not long after that I was contacted again to upgrade their main Sanctuary speakers and make adjustments for overall sound quality. The 2nd phase was completed two weeks after the first phase was completed; this was one very happy customer. I will do the best I can to get you a clear and natural sound reinforcement system with budget in mind and keep working with you as time goes on. Please message me on my contact page if you require further information/assistance.
Recording a service for uploading or emailing
One item that I have been installing lately is a digital SD/USB recorder. These devices are becoming very popular due to the ability to easily record a service and then put the file on a church website, social media page, etc.... I have yet to run into a sound system that did not allow me to install a digital recorder. Customers have been very happy with the operation and quality of the recordings. The recorder will need to have the person/people that are speaking to either have a Pulpit mic, Lavaliere mic, headset wireless mic or be close to an open mics in the room. The recording will have a more of a studio sound quality because the recorder will be picking up whatever mics are on in the space and have less ambient room sound. In most cases of spoke word if the person with the mic has it properly positioned the recording will pick it up well and sound very clear.
Wireless Headset Microphones
Headset wireless microphone systems are becoming one of the most desirable and popular systems to have for spoken word reinforcement. The overall quality and sound reproduction is very good. The market is saturated with many systems varying in quality and cost. Being the main microphone in the room it should be reliable and sound natural, ease of operation and comfort is very important. Many companies sell headset systems and you can be expected to pay a couple hundred dollars to over a thousand. Unfortunately the ones that are more affordable do not hold up well at all and the ones that are expensive generally do not fall within the churches budget. I sell a system that is somewhere in the middle but the quality is well within systems that cost twice as much. The headsets that are supplied with this system come with 4 cables that connect to the headset mic element to the belt-pack transmitter. This is one of the most common points of failure with headset mics and depending the type and quality of headset mic either the cable needs replaced or the entire headset needs replaced. Having 3 spare cables provided at no charge when purchasing the headset mic is very cost effective. The headset microphones sound very good and almost all of my customers have one, some have many. They are very happy with comfort, ease of use and the very natural and clear sound that they reproduce. Entire headset wireless systems can be purchased but more importantly if you have an existing system that you are happy with and its working well and compatible, the headset can be purchased with the proper connector to plug into most of the transmitter belt-packs that are available. Headsets come in two levels of quality and two styles, single ear and dual ear headset frames. For some its personal preference and for others that have a hearing aid behind an ear the single frame will generally work better. The wire on the frames is thinner and more comfortable than others. They come in two different colors and are not easily seen at a short distance. Please message me on my contact page if you require further information/assistance.
Spoken word, Praise and Worship
Over the years many churches have made the decision to introduce praise or worship into their traditional church service. When done right it works well and is embraced by the congregation as a means to help the congregation grow. I have noticed an increased interest in bringing live music into a once "spoken word" only sanctuary. Sometimes the existing sound reinforcement system will handle light praise or worship, other times (more commonly) additional upgrades are needed to achieve this. The blend and balance is important as well as keeping the sanctuary, especially in an old historical church, as clean and uncluttered as possible. Every church is unique and every system requires special attention to achieve this. I will be happy to review your church and current system to see what could be done to bring everything together and make this happen. Please message me on my contact page if you require further information/assistance.