While the congregation can sit back and enjoy the benefits of a well designed audio-visual system as it makes the music ministry performances and worship messages come alive, there is one group that doesn’t get the chance to relax…and it’s not the pastoral staff. It’s the people sitting in the back of the sanctuary in a little cubicle packed full of dials, knobs, meters, cords, computer screens, and the pressure of making the music and sermon sound “just right.” The quality of the sound depends solely on the staff manning the sound booth. It makes no difference if a church has a multi-million dollar system, or just some guitars plugged into a $120 amp. An inexperienced sound guy can make Third Day sound like a high school garage band.

While people in the congregation look at and hear the musicians, the musicians look to and depend on the sound technicians. The “sound guy” is definitely the unsung hero of any well put together church service. Nobody sees the person the back tweaking and twisting little knobs but everyone, without question, is directly affected by that person’s performance. Any musician will tell you the importance of having both an expert sound technician, and a top notch sound system.

So, how does a church come to have a well-run sound system? More often than not the sound is run by someone who has offered his or her time to learn and run the system. Looking at a sound board and the sea of complex instrumentation will make anyone understand that to run a sound system well would take a lot more than learning through on the job training. Professional training is paramount if a church desires a confident and expert sound technician. Training a volunteer is also something to be considered. Sound systems are sophisticated, and explaining it in everyday terms is a difficult task. Seriously consider the aid of outside professionals who can not only provide you with the best equipment, but that can install it properly, and that can also train your sound technicians.

While the expert sound guy makes a difference, so does the quality of the churches sound system, the quality of the installation, and the training of the technicians! Do it right and your service will be memorable and moving…do it wrong and your service will be, inaudible, brash and distracting.

Ron Simonson is the President and CEO of CCI Solutions, one of the nations leading providers of professional audio, visual, lighting, and recording equipment. CCI Solutions assists corporate, educational, and worship facilities in achieving performance/presentation excellence. More information about Ron Simonson or CCI Solutions can be found at http://www.ccisolutions.com or by viewing http://www.ccisolutions.com/blog

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The topic of church construction comes-up at some point in the life cycle of every ministry. Whether you’re acquiring or remodeling an existing church or building a new worship facility from the ground up, the process of church construction can be daunting to say the least.

Over the years we have found that ministry staff and their advisors are so focused on the “hard” aspects of construction (financing, land acquisition, permits and entitlements, architectural design, etc.) that they tend to under estimate the value of the softer aspects like the design of their audio and video systems. If you desire to have excellent worship and fellowship, then it’s critical that attention be paid to acoustics, audio, lighting, and video systems from the beginning of the church construction process.

One of the major problems plaguing church construction projects is the lack of vendor coordination, communication, and collaboration. There is often a gap in coordination between the design of the sound, lighting and video systems and the installation. Very often one company is selected to perform design work (early in the project) for the architect, and another is selected a year later to install the system. Changes to the electrical, structural and other building systems have often been made by the local building contractors during this time without thought to the impact on the technical systems, because “there was no one to call.”

The key to a successful outcome for any church construction process is to have a design-build firm that has sole responsibility for every aspect of the AV system. A good AV design-build firm serves as a single point of contact on all issues ranging from concept, to design, to final installation and training. The design-build firm’s designers, engineers, and technicians are involved in your project from day one, exchanging information all along the way, while never losing sight of your ministry’s goals and priorities.

Good design-build firms have disciplined project management teams that anticipate and solve problems before they become critical issues. They become an asset to the project by bringing needed expertise at every step along the way insuring that a project is delivered under budget and ahead of schedule.

Church lighting is an important, yet often overlooked, aspect of creating an inviting environment within the worship facility. People are directly affected by the ambiance, or lack thereof, of the environment they are in. Temperature, noise, visual presentation, and comfort all play a part in how people will feel and react. It is important for churches to provide an environment absent distraction in which people can feel comfortable in order to be receptive to the message. Suffice it to say, the topic of church lighting is infinitely more complex that just pointing lights on the stage.

It is not uncommon to overlook church lighting when attempting to connect the congregation to those on stage. The correct design of church lighting will provide depth and warmth to those who are on stage. In fact, good lighting will increase eye contact, as well as allow people to see the facial expressions of those on stage. All of these things are important in enhancing the experience of those watching and listening. Each and every lighting element must be strategically placed in order to avoid harsh shadows, conflicting colors, or inadvertently splashing a projector screen.

The installation of the best church lighting systems require a blend of art and science that results in a versatile and effective array of lighting solutions capable of meeting the diverse needs of the church. The lighted environment must be appropriately bright and aesthetically pleasing in order to enhance the presentation and not distract from it. People will feel much more at home with warm, soft and colorful lights as opposed to harsh, oppressive overhead lights. In addition to installing quality lights, designing a versatile catwalk system also plays a part, as easy access for maintenance and operation is a big plus on larger projects. Lights should be mobile and adjustable in order to fit churches changing needs.

We advise caution against cobbling together a quick, cheap church lighting solution. This quick and dirty type of an approach can obviate any meaningful investments that have been made into other audio visual components. A great lighting system will connect people, helping them to be receptive and involved in the service. Don’t ignore this important aspect of your stage and sanctuary. Lighting will make your church welcoming and inviting to all who walk through the doors.

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