Tech Topics: Expensive Explained
Ten Reasons Why Church Sound Systems Cost More
By
Pat Brown
The following text is from a 1998 Syn-Aud-Con Newsletter. Feel free to pass this information along to clients and customers as you explain why professional audio equipment and services “cost so much”.
A letter to a church building committee might read: Thank you again for
the opportunity to provide you with a proposal for the sound system for
your house of worship. While we appreciate your interest in “good stewardship”
in the funding of this project, and understand your request for “church
pricing” for the work, the following points should be kept in mind when
determining the best value for the dollars spent.
The average house of worship purchases four sound systems before they
get one that meets their needs. In an era of mail order mania and cost
consciousness, it is a good idea remind your church clients and customers
of some basic audio truths.
1.) Dynamic Range
Church sanctuaries are usually quieter than other “places of gathering,”
and as such the sound system must be quieter than usual to prevent audible
noise in the audience area. Our proposal provides for 96dB of dynamic
range, a figure typical for recording studios and other critical listening
environments. This extended dynamic range assures that the sound system
will not be the “weakest link” when it comes to system performance.
Professional audio equipment is not “plug and play.” There are no strict
standards that all manufacturers follow when establishing equipment operating
parameters. All electrical devices produce noise, that annoying “hiss”
that can be heard in the background on some systems during quiet portions
of the service. Audible hiss can be eliminated from a sound system if
its gain structure is adjusted properly.
This process is carried out after the system in installed, and when done
properly, will result in the maximum potential of all equipment to be
realized. Our proposal includes an accurate and meticulous adjustment
of the gain structure of the sound system.
2.) Energy Ratios
Many listening environments have a “sweet spot” for which the sound system
performance is optimized. In a house of worship, every seat must be optimized
for ad-equate signal-to-noise ratio and suitable early-to-late energy
ratios. Our proposal provides a minimum of 25dB signal-to-noise ratio
and an appropriate early-to-late energy ratio for your type of worship
for every seat in the audience area.
3.) Uniform Coverage
Many auditoriums are plagued with “hot” and “cold” spots in the sound
coverage. This can usually be attributed to interaction between multiple
loudspeakers, and is unavoidable when more than one loudspeaker is required
to provide sound coverage for the audience.
A good design assures that there is even coverage in the audience area,
and that no seats are rendered unusable by loudspeaker interaction. Our
design addresses this critical is-sue, assuring you that there will be
excellent sound quality at every listener seat.
4.) Versatility
While it is possible to design sound systems that are optimized for speech
OR music, your system must perform well for speech AND music. Since the
attributes of these two types of systems are often at odds, this is a
very difficult task. The proposed system has the accuracy and clarity
required for speech reproduction, while maintaining the extended frequency
response and power handling required for music.
5.) Hum and Buzz
Audible hum is a major detriment to a church sound system. It usually
results from improper grounding practices, either in the installation
of the wiring or the actual equipment. Off-the-shelf equipment must often
be modified to work without hum.
The proposed system shall be grounded properly, and all system wiring
shall be routed and shielded properly. The proposed equipment will be
tested for proper grounding, and suitable modifications made when necessary,
ensuring “hum-free” operation.
6.) Gain-Before-Feedback
Whenever a microphone is placed in the same room as a loudspeaker, the
potential for feedback exists. Things that aggravate this further are
multiple microphones and long miking distances that are necessities for
most churches. Two things are required for a system to work properly.
a.) The sound system must be extremely stable, meaning that loudspeaker array design and mic placement are critical to the end result.
b.) Your sound personnel must understand the limitations of the sound system and be trained to manage the open microphones and working distances for people using the system.
Our proposal addresses these issues, providing a stable system along
with operator training to assure that feedback does not hinder the performance
of the system.
7.) Wireless Microphones and RFI
Sound systems can be adversely affected by frequencies above the audible
band. They must be properly shielded against such, and appropriate filtering
devices must be in-stalled when required. Wireless microphones provide
some excellent benefits for houses of worship.
These are actually small radio stations that broadcast on a specific frequency.
The selection of frequency is critical to the mic’s proper operation.
The operating frequencies for your wireless mics must be carefully selected
to work properly in the presence of other RF broadcasts in your area.
8.) “Clean” Installation Practices
An important yet often overlooked aspect of a sound system design is the
installation of the system. It is imperative that proper interconnect
practices are carried out, and that all applicable electrical codes are
observed. A “clean” installation means that wiring has been concealed
as much as possible, and that the finished system blends well with the
decor of the building.
Wall plates and connectors must be wired properly for the system to work
correctly. Our proposal includes a meticulous check of all cables for
proper termination and identification. A system wiring diagram will be
presented to you upon the completion of the system so that future modifications
to the system can be made correctly and at the lowest possible cost.
9.) Professional Equipment
There are many brands of equipment available in the audio marketplace.
Fortunately, there are many reputable pro audio companies that make equipment
suited for your needs. Our proposal only includes equipment from such
companies.
Our years of experience in the audio field have enabled us to eliminate
marginal equipment from our inventories. We deal only with companies that
provide reliable, repairable products.
All proposed loudspeakers have been “stress tested” for safety, and can
be suspended above a congregation with confidence. In addition, all equipment
meets applicable codes for fire safety and radio frequency emissions.
10.) Calibration, Training and Documentation
A properly calibrated sound system will be much easier for your personnel
to operate. A significant amount of expertise is required to make a system
“user friendly.” The proposed system must be calibrated using advanced
audio and acoustic instrumentation. Upon completion of this process, all
controls that do not require user adjustment must be rendered inaccessible.
After calibration, your personnel will be trained to operate the system,
and a user’s manual shall be compiled which will include equipment manuals,
system wiring diagrams, and operating instructions.
In Conclusion
Your sanctuary is a critical listening environment for speech and music.
As such, the sound system must provide adequate acoustic gain, intelligible
speech, even coverage and extended bandwidth to all listener seats. The
best value in a sound system is one that meets all of these criteria.
Such a system will provide years of trouble-free service and serve to
complement your worship services.
There is much more to a sound system than acquiring some equipment. An
audio professional can work with you from the planning stages and save
you considerable time and money on your system. Most importantly, you
will have a system that has been tailored to your specific performance
needs and aesthetic requirements, and money spent in the future can be
used to compliment the existing system rather than replace it.
Everything you want to know about Pat Brown and Syn-Aud-Con can be accessed at their website www.synaudcon.com
September/October 2001 Live Sound International