So you want to upgrade your church’s sound system or a new building project and you want to hire a consultant?
I have seen and heard about several installs where a consultant designed or specified vital parts of a system that were not suited to the space or users. How can this be avoided? Even with a consultant you need to do your home work!
First of all, find out: what is the consultant’s training and background?
Then, contact the consultant’s references to make sure their former clients are happy.
Next, make sure the consultant has seen your space in use. This will help the consultant make sure the new system will be suitable for your space and users of the system.
Require the consultant to be accountable for designs they insist on, whether it’s specific equipment or placement of the speakers.
Remember, the consultant is working for you.
Choosing a company to install your system.
If you already have a company you trust, that will make this step easier. Change for the sake of change is not always necessary. When choosing a company to install your sound system here is a list of considerations:
Equipment choices
Room for expansion
Easily used
Dependability
Equipment placement
Speakers placed to provide the best coverage – not just the current trend for placement. Ask why they chose the placement they did. Ask to see coverage pattern drawings (digital or hard copy)
Follow up service
You will want to make sure your sound system provider has a good reputation for follow up service.
Price
This should not be the primary factor in choosing a company to install your sound system. “You get what you pay for”, is also not completely true either. The cheapest or the most expensive systems are not necessarily the best choices. Consider that the sound system is the most important part of all equipment in you church’s sanctuary. Without a proper system to deliver your messages clearly, there is no point in having services.
Warranty
If equipment fails during the warranty period, ask how fast can they get you up and running? Again without the sound system the messages can’t be delivered.
References
Contact the references they provide. Getting a good deal on a poorly functioning system will not help you in the long run.
Crew
What are the backgrounds of the key people in the company?
For a new building or a remodel of your space, the way sound will propagate through the space should be considered by the designer. Without clear, intelligible sound your messages won’t be heard. I could go into a lot of detail but Julian Treasure has a few Ted Talks about sound that are better then anything I could explain.
This link is one I have encouraged designers to watch.
Why architects need to use their ears:
Wide Q 