When it comes to installing a church sound system it is of the utmost importance that you plan the installation process, i.e., the final location of microphones, speakers and audio equipments, in order to have a smooth-functioning system with no obstructions. Take the locations of lighting, outlets, ceiling fans, power wirings and any other thing that is within the ambit of installation, into consideration. Room size, lengths of cables and ceiling heights should be measured accurately.

In a church that is square (with equal length and width, say 100 feet by 100 feet), the speakers cannot be permanently fixed to the ceiling or walls, but have to be kept on stands. This requires less labour, and the speakers are movable, thus giving flexibility. However, the loudspeakers should be placed in right manner, that is, in the corners of the rear wall, on the side walls and in the left and right front corners. Keeping the loudspeakers at the safest high point on the stands is important.

If it is a permanent project, use steel brackets to affix the speakers to the wall or nearest crossbeam. Kits for permanent fixing are available with most of the speakers. Steel mounting brackets can also be tailor-made at machine shops, if required. For a ceiling with height over 30 feet, the speakers should be fixed at 15 feet height. For the ceilings below 30 feet, speakers should be placed at the joining point of the wall and the ceiling. The loudspeakers should be angled downward at 20 degree, so that they can cover all worship areas. The brackets can be designed to allow for angular placement.

The main speakers should have an amplifier built into them, i.e., they should be powered, and each of them needs an AC source. It is always better to get the installations of the outlets done by a licensed electrician. The outlets have to be positioned near the speaker, between three to five feet distance. The outlets of the monitor speakers should be positioned as near as possible. This phase of the project should be completed only by a licensed electrician.

When you have speakers with their own built in amplifier, the speakers can be chained together, with a signal cable connecting from the console to the right and left speakers, and from them to the next and the next, continuously. Dual input jacks in the powered speakers serve this purpose. The cables can be hidden along the beams or fixed on the ceiling, for a clean, professional look.

Additional Tips

Do not lift any heavy sound equipment without professional help. Ensure that the power sources are switched off, before wiring or shifting any sound device. Do not try to install anything yourself. Instead, go for a licensed electrician. Before planning the layout, measure the dimensions of the church hall, and observe the structure, to decide an effective placement of speakers. Even the floor carpets, lights and fans in the hall have to be accounted for. Any speaker or equipments weighing more than 15 pound have to be secured using chains along with steel brackets, as a safety measure. Always try to get the best performance out of the speakers. With suspended speakers, treat the ceiling as a floor, and keep the woofer fixed to it. It is best to place the horns under the woofer.

Edward Kendricks writes for CTS (www.cts-networks.co.uk), a leading installer of church sound systems.

Edward Kendricks writes for CTS (http://www.cts-networks.co.uk), a leading installer of church sound systems.

Author Bio: Edward Kendricks writes for CTS (www.cts-networks.co.uk), a leading installer of church sound systems.

Category: Advice
Keywords: sound, PA system, speakers, technology, church, electrical, audio visual, sound engineer, acoustic