Improve Your

Acoustics

Right Now!

Let’s say you don’t have surplus funds to either hire an acoustician or invest in expensive acoustical solution. Here are some tried-and-true techniques that Kent and his team have used to address room acoustics:

1:Divide and conquer

There is no rule that says the drums have to be placed at center stage. Move the drums to one side and place the choir and vocal ensemble on the other side. The physical separation will improve the clarity of each section and increase gain before feedback in the choir mics.

2:Baffle the sound

Build inexpensive sound baffles out of 2x4 wood frames and fill them with mineral fiber. Cover the sides with acoustic cloth and place the baffles (also called gobos) between the instrument amps and vocal mics to prevent sonic bleedthrough.

3:Aim high

Point the instrument amps at the people using them to decrease stage volume and prevent high levels from reaching the front rows.

4:Isolate the drummer

Use a panel (www.versipanel.com) behind the drummer to reduce rear reflections while improving the direct energy reaching the drum mics.

5:Ditch the dish

In fan-shaped rooms, avoid aiming speakers directly at the rear wall. With a curved back wall, energy is reflected onto the stage, causing detrimental delays.

We thank Kent Morris for his assistance with this issue. He is the live sound engineer for Paul Baloche and Tommy Walker and has also served as a senior pastor for a decade. He is an editor and writer for several technical journals and teaches for NAMM, NSCA, LDI, NAB and NRB on worship technology. Kent has been a member of the Audio Engineering Society for twenty years and resides in Atlanta where he is a systems designer for Cornerstone Media Group.