Investing in the Sound System and Sound Team

I have found over the years many churches undervalue the importance of every part of a dependable sound system. With lots of focus on stage lighting, hazers or other atmospheric effects and video systems, the sound system and team often get overlooked. Why is that?

Well there are several reasons but the biggest is there is nothing really to see. For the most part everything is static; the speakers just sit there or hang there. But of all the stuff we put into our churches, the sound system is the one piece that needs to be functional all the time. If the video system fails, the messages still can be presented. If the stage lighting fails, the house lights are typically there and the message can still be presented. But if the sound system fails or there is poor quality gear causing a lack of intelligibility in what is being spoken or lack of training for the sound team, then the message will get lost.

Some of these problems can be eliminated fairly inexpensively.

The closer a mic is to the speaker’s mouth, the more gain before feed back. Therefore, demonstrating how to hold the mic correctly is important . Personally I do everything possible to discourage the use of lapel or Lavalier microphones. These mics are typically omnidirectional, particularly the cheaper ones. Head worn mics are my preferred mic for hands free usage. They can be placed very close to the speakers mouth allowing for less gain on the mic for the same output volume. If using handheld mics, teaching people how to hold them will help avoid the feedback issue.

The training of your sound team is another place to help prevent issues with the delivery of your messages.  I recommend contacting the company that provided your churches equipment to see if they would be willing to provide training for your sound team. This is because they will know your entire sound system the best. If this is not possible, then make sure you check the references of whoever you bring in to train your sound team.

Making sure your equipment is well cared for is by far the least expensive thing you can do to protect your equipment:

Proper storage for your mics and cables will prevent excessive wear and tear.

1. Mics should never be left out where they can get dropped or knocked over. 
2. Cables should always be coiled up properly to avoid twisting of the wires inside. At my employer’s shop we have cables that are over 30 years old that sound like they are new because they are always coiled up properly.
3. Make sure all your cables have cable ties to prevent tangling.   Storing them on a pegboard when not in use will help prevent tangles, provided you have the space for a pegboard.
4. The cables on your lav or head worn mics should also be coiled up and stored properly, these wires are finer then a mic line and can be damaged easily. Wrapping them around the belt pack is not a good idea because it places extra stress on the wire at the connector to the belt pack.  The mic should always be disconnected from the belt pack and coiled up and stored in some container to prevent twisting and damage.
5. Regular cleaning of your equipment is another easy way to maintain it. Dusting off your amps and other equipment prevents excessive heat buildup, prolonging the life of your equipment. Just remember to do this with the equipment powered off. A dust cover for your mixer when not in use is also recommended.

Following these simple suggestions will minimize the lack of intelligibility in your church’s sound system and ensure the messages are delivered clearly.