Friday, December 5, 2014

Determining The Standards For Church Sound System Designs

By Claudine Hodges


The audio needs of each chapel are unique because of the structural features, range of activities and expectations in each case. However, there are important tenets that are used to define ideal church sound system designs. They form the basis of any quotation and are especially important when requesting for services from engineers and other audio services providers.

Installing the right audio equipment and systems allows maximum utilization of available space. These standards will also make it comfortable to sit at any corner and easily follow proceedings. The equipment provide a perfect interface for members to follow the preacher. Every member becomes an active participant in the 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.

The quality of audio output largely depends on the design. The most sophisticated technology will be let down by poor design. Audio specialists will design a package that suits any budgetary range. The combination of equipment and design guarantees 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.

A high threshold is set on intelligibility regardless of the advancement in technology being used. There is a comfortable distance that is established between the microphone and its user. The microphones must have the capacity to pick sound from the distance and broadcast it to all corners. The proposed distance is 18 to 24 inches on average.

Necessity dictates that churches use several microphones at a time. A poorly designed network will be disrupted by constant feedback. This increases the level of participation without moving the microphones from one location to the other. The assembly of equipment, microphones and speakers must be synchronized to simplify control.

Audio technicians will not be present in all functions where the systems are in use. This calls for systems that easy to operate with the least instructions. They should allow both a loud and soft speaker to effectively communicate without the need to adjust the settings.

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.

A simple test is carried out to establish whether a system will serve the purpose. With your eyes closed, you will face the direction where the sound is coming from. When you open your eyes, you should be facing the altar, preacher or center of action. If that happens, you have succeeded.




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