Sound Advice - with Leon Sievers
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"It is often stated that every church purchases at least three sound systems. The first is the one obtained from the lowest bidder when the building is erected. The second is installed by the 'expert' in the congregation. The third is the one designed, installed, and adjusted by a carefully chosen team consisting of a professional acoustical consultant, sound contractor, and a representative of the purchaser-owner gifted with an understanding of his need and capable of working creatively with the consultant and sound contractor. " Don Davis founder of Syn Aud Con
Divine Bass!
By Brent Handy - Sound Advice - Nov 19, 2009
| | While touring, I am constantly looking and listening for the best products to use in church sound systems. Many contractors offer "Install" products. But frankly, many of them are sub par in my opinion. There are a few great manufacturers who only change the handles, flyware or finishes on speakers. But others are not suitable for concert sound. Concert sound seems to be the trend in the modern church production. This is a first in a series of technology reviews and how-to's provided by manufacturer's. I think that you'll find this information helpful in understanding ...read more |
Microphones In Worship - Part 1
By Leon Sievers - Sound Advice - Nov 16, 2009
| | Nothing can disrupt a worship service like the annoying squeal of feedback from the sound system. Feedback is a ringing sound or squeal which occurs when the signal generated by the microphone is reproduced by a nearby loudspeaker which is then picked up by the microphone and the re-produced by the loudspeaker and picked up by the microphone again, etc. This looping process will continue until the microphone is relocated so that it does not pick up the sound from the loudspeaker. Feedback can be very specific to frequency and /or location. There are a variety of outbo...read more |
RIP Wireless Microphone Systems?
By Brent Handy - Sound Advice - Nov 10, 2009
| | It is so nice to know that our wonderful government is always concerned for us. They want us to enjoy better TV picture quality. By the time it's all said and done, we all will have new TVs or adapters out of necessity. (I wonder if there is a tax credit for that?) The last time I read the constitution, I must have overlooked the "Government shall mandate new technology and purchases" clause. Ironically, there isn't much programming formatted for these new TVs.
The government told the TV broadcasters that they must convert from analog to digital, offering ...read more |
Extreme Event Checklist
By Leon Sievers - Sound Advice - Nov 06, 2009
| | If you are considering hosting an Extreme Concert for next year or planning an event of your own, the following timetable and promotional guidelines can maximize the impact and attendance of your event.
Basic Marketing Overview:
12 WEEKS OUT
Contact talent, sign contracts,project expenses, review riders and make deposits.
Meet with sponsors, concert committee & promotions committee to finalize promotional strategy.
Finalize ticket prices.
Reserve any equipment (refer to artist's rider) such as sound, staging and lighting.
10...read more |
Quick Tech Tip
By Leon Sievers - Sound Advice - Nov 03, 2009
| | Together MID and SWEEP controls can be used to accomplish a variety of tasks from combating feedback to improving the way things sound through the PA or on recording. Here are some of those tasks & settings:
· Killing feedback
set MID at -6dB and slowly rotate SWEEP until feedback stops
· Bonky sounding
snare drum -6dB @ 200Hz (and roll off LOW EQ -6dB)
· Boomy bass drum
-6dB @ 300Hz (with LOW EQ at +6dB & HIGH EQ at +3dB)
· Fwashy sounding
cymbals -9dB @ 300Hz (roll off LOW EQ -15dB)
· Hiss from guitar,
bass or keyboard amp; +3dB @...read more |
Preserving Tapes
By Brent Handy - Sound Advice - Oct 28, 2009
| | Audio recording is an essential part of most ministry's outreach. It is also a means for documenting business meetings and sermons. Most churches that record sermons have used cassette tape recorders for decades. Cassette tapes were "the standard." The average full time pastor might have as many as 150 tapes per year going into the archives. Today cars come with CD players and DVD players. To reach the people today with audio, CD's are standard.
"Does it matter how we store tape?" Tape is nothing more than a strip of mylar with glue on it. On that glue are milli...read more |
Quick Tech Tip
By Leon Sievers - Sound Advice - Oct 26, 2009
| | Wireless microphone manufacturers specify alkaline batteries. A fresh alkaline battery will run a wireless transmitter (depending on the system manufacturer) from eight to sixteen hours. Most wireless microphones will stop working when the battery is below 6.5 volts. An alkaline nine volt cell will often start out at about 9.4 volts and has a great deal of storage capacity. Most of the time it does not matter if you use Duracell, Eveready Energizer, Ray-O-Vac Alkaline, Radio Shack Alkaline, Giant, CVS or any other store alkaline battery. Always have several on hand. Yo...read more |
Mic Evaluations in Church Productions
By Brent Handy - Sound Advice - Oct 19, 2009
| | Stop! Don't read any further until you have read my two previous articles. One article talks about the mic test and what it is about. The next article is a list of microphones to be tested. This will save me from having to re-post monotonous information. Once you have read the other two, please continue.
Please refer to the aricles below before you proceed with this one.
Can You Hear the Difference?
<a href="http://www.experiencingworship....read more |
What Are ClickTracks?
By EXW Staff - Sound Advice - Oct 13, 2009
| | Many churches over the years have become more technological in many ways. Our video ministries have grown from overhead projectors to HD projectors. Our sound boards have gone from analog to digital. We have made some great strides in helping our worship services become more relevant in style and quality.
The next step in music for many are click tracks. Click tracks can be used in a variety of ways to help keep a band together for live performance and recording as well as incorporating loops in worship. If used correctly it can be a huge enhancement to wors...read more |
Quick Tech Tips
By Leon Sievers - Sound Advice - Oct 07, 2009
| | Sound problems can be caused by anything from architectural defects to misguided equipment operators. Here are some of the most troublesome sound problems that churches struggle with and what can be done about them:
1. Echo, or excessive reverberation, can be the result of poor architectural design or timing variations between speakers. Timing problems occur in large rooms in which speakers face each other from different sides of a room. If a church has a long, narrow sanctuary and puts a speaker on the back wall, that speaker should have a slight soun...read more |
Used by churches all over the world to help teach worship, the Experiencing Worship study can help your worship team too.
Your team will learn why we worship and gain a better understanding of how to worship.
One user said..."Your 5 week study course has made a tremendous impact on my life in the study of worship... I would like to express my thanks for a well written study course that leads into a higher realm of praise and worship."
This is the debut album by EXW friend Paul Langford. Paul is a Chicago based singer, arranger, keyboardist, producer and conductor. Paul has a career that spans 14 years. Paul's work includes arranging for groups like GLAD, Voices of Liberty, VoiceTrek, The Chicago based "Caroling Party" and Day of Discovery Singers. His arranging has appeared on recordings side by side with greats like Gene Puerling and David Maddux, and he has sung with Don Shelton, Bonnie Herman and Bob Bowker, among others.