Many of us in church tech can get caught up in the temptation to complain about the things we don’t have or can’t afford. This grumbling may seem justified by our limited (or non-existent) budget, a lack of appreciation, or apparent disrepair of certain system components. A common refrain in... read more
As we move into the new year, I’d like to share some of our favorite blog posts from 2017. These articles were written by several church media leaders – those who are in the trenches of production – either on staff at a church or in a ministry setting of... read more
Lesson 3: Distractions & Listener Fatigue Few things are more frustrating for a listener than preventable and unnecessary distractions coming from the sound system. One of the worst offenders in church is that high-pitched, tinny noise that feels like a microphone is just on the verge of feedback. While feedback... read more
Lesson 2: Mixing Priorities As a live sound engineer, you have the capability of shaping and reshaping the entire mix that is delivered to the listening audience. You are constantly faced with making crucial decisions about volume levels, EQ, monitor mixes, and channel muting cues. This can be used to... read more
Lesson 1: Listen The most important skill for achieving great sound is to listen. You can’t be good at mixing sound if you don’t know how to listen. To listen is to make an effort to hear something; to be alert and ready to hear something (courtesy New Oxford American... read more
In-ear monitors or personal monitor systems can be a great tool for both the worship team and the sound team. One of the primary benefits of using in-ear monitors is that they can dramatically reduce the overall volume on stage. This lower stage volume helps the sound tech craft... read more
When most people think about church sound, they immediately think of speakers, microphones, and the mixing console in a sanctuary or worship center. And that makes sense. However, quality sound reinforcement at church often involves more than just making sure your primary worship space sounds good. It’s important to... read more
When was the last time you went through and inspected your gear closet at church? Be honest! A lot of tech rooms, drawers, and bins can get filled with old gear, bad cables, broken mic stands, and other gear that isn’t needed or just doesn’t work. While it can... read more
Compression is a great tool that can tighten up your mix and enhance the punch or power of certain instruments. But it can also cause some serious problems if you’re not careful. An audio compressor is used to control the dynamic range of an audio signal, or the difference... read more
Great sound at church is the result of thoughtful preparation and diligent effort. Sure, there can be some rather technical components involved, but I would argue that the thoughtfulness and care that you bring to your mix plays a much bigger role in achieving great quality sound than that... read more
Mixing live sound is a lot more involved than simply raising or lowering the volume level of various audio sources. You’ll want to use a few simple tools to help create a mix that has depth, texture, clarity, and focus. Fortunately most consoles have these simple tools built in... read more
Did you know that there is a dress code for church techs? I know this sounds like a trivial topic, but it is an important consideration that I’ll explain in a minute. Some industry professionals will chime in and say that you can wear anything you want, as long as... read more