Feedback from the sound system is one of the most annoying distractions from the sound system. As a new volunteer sound tech, feedback was my arch nemesis! A successful service was defined by the simple test of whether there was feedback in the middle of service or not. The interesting... read more
Great sound doesn’t just happen. It takes time, energy, and commitment from a team of dedicated individuals. This not only goes for those on the sound team, but from other leaders in the church as well. Great sound doesn’t start with your sound system. It doesn’t even start with your... read more
A proficient live sound tech is always aware of time. Besides the obvious mandate of showing up early for soundcheck and being ready when the event or service starts, a sound tech needs to manage a variety of critical components that factor into a great mix. 1. Running an efficient... read more
In an effort to “get our church online and live streaming”, many teams make the mistake of forgetting one CRUCIAL element… …The Audio Quality! I’m going to make a bold statement here: the audio for a live stream is more important than the video. We’re tuning in to hear... read more
Mixing sound is an art It is also a technical craft. And like any art or craft, you must commit to learning and practice in order to stay proficient and mix with excellence on a regular basis. This begs the question: How do you practice mixing? This is going to... read more
The humble EQ is the most important audio effect you’ll ever use. It’s so common that we often forget to think of it as an effect at all, but it is critical to our mix. I like to think of EQ as salt and pepper for my sound. Other effects... read more
A discussion about direct boxes might seem like a terribly simple concept for some. But to be honest, this topic confused me for at least one or two seasons as a new live sound tech. In order to address the reason why we should do something or use some tool... read more
Sermons are carefully prepared. Worship songs are thoughtfully selected and arranged. The band is warmed up and ready to go. And the tech team has everything in place for a quality service. But there are still sound system problems… EVERY WEEK! Maybe these problems are minor and “easy” to... read more
It seems like there is a lot of mystery and mythology centered around the selection of “the perfect microphone.” So what is it that makes a mic sound good, and how can we select the right mic for our live sound application? Step 1: Placement Listen. I don’t care what... read more
I’ve got a confession to make. I used to be addicted to headphones. Pathetic, right? And there was even something worse that I let happen because of this (I’ll explain that in a minute). Let’s get this straight. Headphones are an extremely important tool in your live sound toolbox. They... read more