Good Church Sound on any Budget:
What You Need to Know

It’s clear. Your expanding sound requirements are beginning to strain the rig you’ve been using for the past several years. Maybe you’ve added theatrical performances to your worship menu. Maybe your congregation is expanding and you’re on the building committee. It’s time to look at your sound system.

Before you create your shopping list, take a few steps back and gain some perspective. Think about goals. Develop standards.

Since every congregation – large, small or mobile – is bound to face this challenge periodically, we asked two experts for their opinions on how to approach the task. Josh Isenhart is Director of Technical Ministries at Lakeview Church in Indianapolis – the cornerstone facility of an exploding ministry that’s also in the midst of a massive expansion project. We also spoke to Joseph De Buglio, author, audio consultant and sound designer, who shares a sonic vision that has set basic performance levels for churches – The HIS System.

Let’s get started.

Vision in Sound Design
Lakeview Church’s legacy traces its roots back to turn of the (last) century evangelist Maria Woodworth Etter. A Tabernacle was opened in 1918 and by 1969; the church building was in its third reincarnation with a new name, Lakeview Christian Center, and three satellite churches in Central Indiana. Today, the 2000-congregation church is prepared to embark on its biggest challenge ever with a broad scale expansion of the church campus, including development of Third Place – a state-of-the-art cultural and community center.
Josh Isenhart is Lakeview’s Director of Technical Ministries. Having sat through many a budget discussion, we knew he’d have some sound opinions to share with our readers about building a solid system. Here’s what he had to say.
Before you start drafting that shopping list, take the time to assess the equipment you have on hand. Just because it’s old, it doesn’t mean it isn’t serviceable. (Think of all the consumers who trashed their tube amplifiers for solid-state stereos thirty years ago, only to find audiophiles preferring that warm sound later.) Examine your gear. Is it worth repairing? Can it be repurposed? Is there another ministry that can use it?

Scrutinize the system that’s in place and deconstruct it link by link:

Speaker selection and placement
  • Do you have the correct kind and number of speakers?
  • Are they installed properly?
  • Do they adequately cover the space?

    Power
  • Is there sufficient power for the number of speakers in place?
  • Are the amplifiers properly installed, with good ventilation and appropriate A.C. power?

    Mix Position
  • Is the sound board in a location that allows the operator to properly hear what is going on in the room?
  • Is there enough physical space for all of the equipment and the personnel required?

    Wiring
  • Has the system been wired in a neat, logical manner?
  • Were block diagrams and wiring layouts created during installation?
  • Can any competent technician walk in and repair the system – or – is it only understood by the person who has been running it for the last 30 years?

    • The best investment you can make is an investment of your time in developing a strategic plan that is based on the present and future needs of your church. The best sound systems are built on a foundation of communication – with your church’s leaders, administrators (for instance, the budget committee) and the worship staff.
    • Determine short-term goals. What do you want to be doing differently by the end of the year?
    • Examine your long-term goals and begin developing the necessary system over time.
    • Establish a budget for maintenance, upgrades and training. Systems and individual components don’t represent one-time purchases. (When your church budgets for new computer systems, for example, it’s always with the understanding that the network and the workstations will need to be upgraded on a consistent basis.)
    You get what you pay for. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. You’ve heard it all before, but it’s still true. Good equipment costs money. Don’t buy anything – cords, cables, mics, speakers, mixing boards, really anything in your system – on the basis of low price. Buy it because you believe it will perform the task most effectively and reliably. There’s a lot of product experience out there. Talk to colleagues at other churches, read any number of publications designed exclusively for church and production technology, attend seminars and workshops. Once you understand exactly what you need and which product is most likely to fulfill it, you’ll be ready to start shopping.

    Church AV is no longer a luxury. As you think about retrofitting a tired system or installing a new one, think about how you will be integrating screens, projectors and the whole pantheon of multimedia. The size of the congregation is no longer the tipping point here – it’s the impact of the message on a community raised on fast-moving images.



    We thank Josh Isenhart for sharing his insights on how to tackle a seemingly overwhelming task. To learn more about Lakeview Church in Indianapolis, visit their website at www.lakeviewchurch.org.
    Also in this issue:
    Vision in Sound Design: The Basics   Standard Setting: The HIS System
    The Shure Calendar     Product Spotlight: PGX Wireless Mics
    Shure Notes® Archive   Letter from The Editor
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