Five common church sound system mistakes and how to fix them
There are plenty of ways for your intentions to go wrong when it comes to having a decent-sounding mix during services. Here, we will talk about five general errors that your church sound system may be making and how to fix them quickly.
- Microphone Placement Problems
The Error: Microphones placed too far from (or not equidistant to) speakers.
Solution: Keep handheld mics 6 to 8 inches away from the mouth and lapel mics should be placed at about chest level, or around 8 inches below the chin.
- Dealing With Feedback Before It Starts
The Mistake: Not considering feedback until that deafening squeal disrupts the service.
What to Do: Test all microphones before service begins. If you hear feedback, back the mic off from your speakers slightly or turn down a little…it’s much better than that horrible sound.
- Inconsistent Volume Levels
The Flaw: Worship music being cranked up but the pastor sounds like a whisper!
The Fix: Dial in volume levels at rehearsals and set your gain structure on the mixer. Assign a person to keep an eye on the levels during service. For Church Sound Systems, visit apicommunications.co.uk/audio-visual-services/church/sound-systems/
- Forgetting About Room Acoustics
The Mistake: Thinking louder is clearer for noisier rooms (echoey hard-surfaced high-ceiling spaces).
The Solution: Install some fabrics (curtains) or acoustic cotton panels. Yes, turning down the volume can increase clarity.
- No Backup Plan
Mistake: One person knows how to operate the system.
Solution: Make sure at least 2 people know how to hook up and run the basics of your gear with a tech sheet on or near your board.
Quality church audio greatly depends on good preparation, sound guys who know what they are doing behind the board and getting that magic microphone placement.
