SOUND REINFORCEMENT SYSTEM OR "PA"?

     Imagine that you're sitting out in your house of worship, visiting with a friend. The distance between you is about eight feet. That would be a warm, intimate sound. Wouldn't it be nice if the minister could sound that intimate at every seat in the house when he addresses the congregation? Actually, that is entirely possible (room acoustics permitting). Surprised? The reality is that the information to design and install such a system has existed for a number of years. An intelligent, well-equipped sound system designer can use that information to aid him in the task of designing and installing a sound system.

     So why are there so many poor-sounding public address (PA) systems in worship facilities all across the country? Personal observation leads to the conclusion that most of the sound systems in houses of worship were installed ten, fifteen, even twenty years ago. From the standpoint of technology alone, the quality of everything from microphones to mixing consoles to amplifiers to loudspeakers has seen a quantum leap in that period of time.

     Another more subtle point is that our ears have been "educated". Today we are exposed to high-quality sound on albums, tapes, and compact discs, on television and radio, and in concerts by well-known artists. You might come home from a concert, or from visiting another house of worship, and then compare what you heard there with what your own system sounds like and you might not be impressed.

     So is it perhaps time to replace or upgrade your tired, old sound system? With the myriad of equipment choices and opinions in the audio industry, who is going to make those choices for you? Do you trust them? If they blow it, can you get your money back? What if you depend on the advice of someone in your congregation? Does he really know what he's talking about?

     Many sound systems for worship facilities have been purchased at musical instrument (MI) retail stores. This is the store where you walk in and do your level best to keep from tripping over keyboard stands and from hitting your shins on guitar amps and monitor speakers. The MI retailer may not be familiar with the requirements for speech intelligibility, ease of operation, and even coverage that exist in the house of worship.

     A Sound Contractor typically has a staff capable of designing, selling and professionally installing the equipment he recommends. He will service and repair systems he has designed and installed as part of the deal. The savings in peace of mind and potential repair costs should be part of your consideration when selecting a sound system supplier.

     Worship should be the noblest, most exalted activity in which man can engage. It should be engaged in with excellence. In pursuit of that excellence, is it appropriate to skimp on the sound system? If you just spent $20,000 on nice, comfortable pews, you should probably expect to spend another $20,000 on the design, purchase, and installation of a high-quality sound system for that facility. Not first-class, just reasonable high quality. If your music production needs are complex, and you want your worship service to sound like a professional recording, expect to invest more.

     The purchase of a high-quality, high-intelligibility sound system is an investment. The message being proclaimed is important. It deserves to be clearly heard and understood.

     In your initial discussions with any potential candidates to be involved with your new sound system, there are a number of questions you can ask to determine their ability to perform the task and how seriously they take their job. Ask these questions after the company has a rough idea of what your needs are and the overall scope of the project. Good ones to start with include:

1. What experience does your company have in designing or installing sound systems in houses of worship similar to ours?

2. Will you arrange a tour of a representative sample of those facilities for our committee?

3. What brands of equipment does your company carry, and are you an authorized dealer for all of those brands?

4. Is your company adequately equipped to service what you sell, and are you authorized to provide warranty repair on items that require it?

5. How quickly will your company respond. during the warranty period to system failures that require the presence of your repair personnel at our facility?

6. if service takes longer than a couple of days, is your company prepared to lend or rent us temporary replacement gear?

7. What promises and guarantees does your company offer related to your sound system and its installation beyond the manufacturer's warranties?

8. If the cost of installation is quoted as a flat fee, will there be any additional costs if the installation goes beyond your original estimates?

9. Does your company have a standard contract for this type of work and what will the payment schedule be?