Check One. Check Two. How to Master Your Next HOW Sound Check
A church service needs to sound right to provide a soul-stirring experience. Therefore, carrying out an effective sound check needs to precede any service in your HOW. Let us take a look at three ways to deliver the perfect service.
Line Check – Checking of all Connections
Church sound systems range from very basic ones to extremely complicated ones, with multiple channels for producing sound, speaker consoles, and stereo mixer boards. The first thing to check is whether all required connections are in place. Plug in every mic and check the sound for each, one at a time. Do this over the loudspeakers or sound boxes. As more places of worship are going mobile — holding open air services, it is crucial that individual channels produce perfect sound. Moreover, checking individual channels eliminates the hassle of disconnecting all connections and re-checking if there is an errant mic or DI unit producing improper sound.
Voice Check
After establishing all connections, complete a thorough voice check. The best way to start is to get the singers, pastor, and musicians performing as they would at the service. As church precincts are large areas, a halfhearted voice check will never reach the full capability of the sound system. Therefore, sound needs to be full throttle. In other words, performers should perform as they would at the actual event. Immediately address any issues or poor sound performance. A full-throated sound rehearsal ensures clarity of sound, enriching the real performance.
Managing Monitors
Houses of worship embrace technology advancements in many ways. Introducing the monitor system is one such step. The purpose of the monitor system helps vocalists and musicians on stage perform better. It synchronizes their performance with that of the others performing, producing a harmonious effect. Monitors are also a great way for performers to get their voices to reach audiences, especially in larger congregations. Sound check procedures require audio engineers to synchronize the gain levels and EQs in the monitors with that of the house system. Individual monitors can configure gain levels. The musicians themselves can control these levels from on stage. This helps to ensure that overall levels never extend beyond a certain point, compromising the performance quality.
The effectiveness of a sound system only happens through a proper installation and implementation, allowing both the performers and the audience to partake in an enriching experience. Therefore, it is crucial that proper sound checks happen to deliver the best results.
photo credit: Sound check via photopin (license)
