Choosing the appropriate sound system for a house of worship requires some thought. A lot can be added to a church service if the proper system is set up correctly. However, the wrong system or even the right one, if installed incorrectly, can potentially ruin the service. This does not have to be the case with a little advice and some thoughtful planning the right sound system is practically a done deal. Here is some advice that should help your church work through this process.

The first thing to consider in the choice of a sound system is simply the purpose of a pa system. Think of a sound system as a car, its purpose is to carry what is being spoke or sang from the platform to the crowd. Sound systems should enhance that sound and prevent the degrading that would occur without it.

Another important factor when choosing a sound system is size. A system that is designed to project to a small room will simply not suffice for a huge auditorium. Likewise huge speakers and subs would not only take up valuable space in a small worship center, if the sound guy forgets to plug in his headphones during the music (this has actually happened) it could result in music so loud the congregation may run holding their ears all the way to the exit. When purchasing a sound system, especially in smaller congregations it is wise to buy equipment that is easy to add to and will work in conjunction with different brands of equipment, as this will make adding on a lot simpler later if the congregation grows.

When choosing a sound system it is also important to keep in mind the structure of the service, services that have musical instruments or bands will need a more complex system that a congregation that does use instruments. The soundboard should have plenty of channels to accommodate all the microphones and instruments that are regularly used and a few extra open slots. The extra slots will insure operation as normal if a normal one fails, and can accommodate the needs of guest speakers or musicians without having to disconnect and reconnect the congregation’s normal set up.

No public address system is complete without microphones, small items but vital. There are many varieties of microphones. Congregations that have no instruments, band, or choir may perhaps need only one or two unidirectional microphones, but for those that have instruments and more than one singer should consider an adequate number of omni-directional microphones, and if the congregation has a choir, special microphones for that purpose are available.

Finally, when it comes to amplifiers and speakers be sure to arrange to have a demonstration before purchase and choose good quality equipment keeping in mind the factors of size, expected use, and of course budget. Choosing the proper sound system is a significant investment, so do not be afraid to seek the advice of professionals or those in your congregation familiar with public address systems.

Author Bio: Edward Kendricks writes on behalf of CTS (www.cts-networks.co.uk), a UK supplier of church PA systems.

Category: Advice
Keywords: PA system, audio, visual, public address, PA installation, AV installation,church sound, audio