We have a fairly standard audio system in our church.
Mixer
We have a Soundcraft MFXi mixer at the sound desk at the back of the church. Note: the main left output goes to the speakers while the main right output goes to Zoom for our simulcast services. There is a power switch underneath the sound desk on top of the drawers that powers the mixer and wireless receivers.
Amplifier Stack
Our amplifiers are mounted in a rack in the Wardens Office. A Furman power conditioner provides power to the whole rack.
Mono audio coming from the mixer goes to the dbx 2231 Equalizer and from there goes to both the Carver amplifier and the QSC amplifier. Note: the top half of the equalizer effects the Carver and the bottom half the QSC.
The QSC MX3000a amplifier is set up in parallel mode (the same signal goes to both channels) and is connected to the main speakers. Note: the input is non-standard: Pins 2 and 3 (Tip and Ring) are switched so we switched them back at the TRS plug.
The Carver pm1400 amplifier (schematics) is connected to the two sets of speakers further back in the sanctuary. Ideally the audio to these speakers should be delayed to increase legibility at the back of the church. Note: at present this amplifier is turned off as the speakers are very quiet. This needs to investigated.
Speakers
We have three pairs of speakers. The main, front of house, speakers are EV ZX3.
The second and third pair are auxiliary speakers, EV S-40, and are placed on pillars 26′ and 37′ away from the main speakers. Note: at present they are not connected.
There is an EV ZXA1-Sub subwoofer to the left front of the church.
Monitors
We have four EV ZxA1 powered monitors at the front for the musicians.
Microphones
We have five microphones are Sennheiser e865 super-cardioid condenser microphones for vocals. We also have several Audio-Technica MB4k cardioid condenser microphones.
We have a Shure MX418/C at the lectern and a Shure MX418/S at the pulpit.
For the drums we have a pair of Rode M5 mics on top and a Shure PGA52 mic on the bass drum.
We have Sennheiser EM 100 G3 wireless microphone system with a lavalier microphone for Julie. The microphone and the body pack transmitter are in the top drawer at the mixing desk.
We have two EV RE-2 wireless microphone systems with both a handheld mike and two lavalier microphones. They are in the middle drawer.
Snake
We have a 16 input/4 return snake from the right front of the church to the mixer.
What to Do Sunday Morning
- First turn on the power switch under the sound desk to power up mixer (important that this is first)
- turn on the musicians’ monitors and subwoofer.
- go the Wardens Office and turn on the Furman power conditioner to power up the amplifiers.
- Give Julie her wireless microphone.
When it’s time to power-down the system make sure to do that in reverse order as above (this is the important part: turn off the mixer last). Remove the batteries from the wireless mikes.
Bibliography
- Professional Mixing Tips for Church Sound, Shure
- The Church Sound Survival Guide, Kilpatrick
- Sound at the Rez, Lee Fletcher, 2013
- Audio terms and definitions, AES
New Digital Mixer is Coming!
We have ordered an Allen and Heath QU-24:
- Youtube video: introducing QU series
- Youtube video: training video for QU series
- Pro Audio EXP training course for QU Series (login as rezTechTeam@gmail.com)
- Getting Started Guide
- Reference Gude