6. Hot or dead spots.
Hot spots are places in a room where sound energy is densely concentrated, and dead spots are where there is no sound. Both are usually caused by misplaced speakers. The laws of physics are the same in the house of the Lord as they are in Carnegie Hall. It doesn’t matter how expensive speakers are; if they’re situated incorrectly, they won’t work properly. Speakers should almost always be placed by a professional or someone who understands room acoustics.
7. Noise.
One of the secrets to maintaining high sound quality is isolating sound. Air ducts sometimes transport unwanted mechanical noise throughout a building. Exterior noise of cars, trains or sirens can be intrusive if a church isn’t well insulated. Noise problems can be averted most effectively when a church is being built, but there are ways to filter it out in existing buildings.
8. Poor installation.
Churches should consult with professional sound technicians on the purchase, installation and operation of sound equipment. A good sound company should have a list of recently completed projects and be willing to show them to you.
9. Misconceptions.
It is critical for a church to define its need for a microphone before purchasing it. Microphones are like lenses on a camera. You choose them based on the effect you want. Frequency response, sensitivity and impedance are key factors. High-impedance microphones produce noise (crackling, thuds) when moved or bumped. Mikes with lower-impedance—somewhere between 300 and 600 ohms—are better for churches.
Soprano vocalists often have high-frequency response in their voices and do not want a microphone with built-in boosts in the upper register. Male vocalists can get by with most microphones, but they’ll do better with a boost in high-frequency response. For a good all-purpose microphone, consider a dynamic cardioid, which should cost from $100 to $150. Microphones designed to amplify a grand piano or an orchestra will cost more.
10. Budget miscues.
A budget is not an accurate measure of what sound system a church should buy. Churches have been going to vendors for years, saying, “We have a $3,500 sound budget,” and vendors have been giving them $3,500 sound systems. What church leaders don’t understand is that a sound system can be purchased in increments over several years. Also, function is more important than price. Sound systems should be designed around usage factors, such as what kind of music a church performs, how loud the music is played and how large the church is.
