Friday, December 12, 2014

Setting The Standards For Church Sound System Designs

By Claudine Hodges


Each church has unique audio needs based on its structural design, regular activities and particular expectations. Regardless of these differences, certain constant standards apply in all cases. They are regarded as universal standards for church sound system designs. These standards are useful to engineers and chapel committees when developing or negotiating a quotation.

When the systems installed have been expertly designed, all corners of your chapel will be utilized. The attention of every member will be captured leading to widespread active participation. High audio quality makes it comfortable to follow proceedings from any corner and actively participate in activities such as singing and sermons.

The standards are developed out of extensive study and analysis of audio settings in different churches and relatively similar auditoriums. The quality is compared across different chapels with the aim of improving the audio experience. Mastering the interplay between space and equipment makes both the preacher and the congregants comfortable within the available space.

Audio quality will be affected by the particulars of the design. A poor design will fail miserably even in the face of the most advanced technology. There are excellent options to suit every budgetary requirement. Working with dedicated audio engineers guarantees excellent value for money.

There are basic facts with all systems, whether they are in churches or in other auditoriums. It is natural for human beings to face the direction of sound. This source must therefore capture the attention of congregants and point it towards the altar, performance, stage or the preacher. Sounds distracts attention when they come from the sides or behind.

Advancement in technology does not lower the intelligibility threshold of any audio network. The user should be comfortable to place the microphone at a standard distance of 18 to 24 inches and still be audible. This means effective microphones that pick sounds and amplify them without being a nuisance to listeners. The speakers should be strategically placed on all corners depending on the shape of your chapel.

The nature of activities in churches means that several microphones are simultaneously open. With a good audio design, there should be no feedback. This limits movement of microphones as focus shifts from one corner of the chapel to another. There are no lengthy time lapses between one activity and the other. A centralized control base is established through synchronization of speakers, microphones and other audio equipment.

Day to day running of audio systems is not done by expert engineers. It is in the hands of local personnel who have little knowledge of the audio platform. A simplified control system should be established to avoid constant technical hitches. It should seamlessly accommodate a soft spoken preacher and a one who is loud without needing much adjustment.

Hearing impaired congregants must be accommodated in your plan. They include individuals using hearing aids and those in various stages of hearing loss. This provision must be made regardless of their number within the congregation.

The best system is tested by listening to the sound with your eyes closed. It should be clear and coming from the direction of the speaker. This gives the entire church a single center of action. People can participate from different corners with a single point of reference.




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