The essential elements of a sound system for the church.

A sound system must be efficient in the church. Whether it is for the pastor's preaching, worship and praise or special events such as conferences or evangelistic campaign.

Whatever your church configuration, there are key elements that are found in every sound system and that are universal. Here is a list of these things to know.

1. Console / Mixer

The centerpiece of your sound system is your mixer, or console. It is the element which receives all the different input signals (microphones, instruments, mp3, etc.) and which dispatches the sound to all the outputs (front speakers, return, live streaming, recording, etc.).

In choosing the acquisition of a console, the first point to define concerns the number of elements to be sounded. Is this a small worship group with 3/4 people? Or on the other hand, is it a large choir with a full rhythm group (drums, guitar, bass, piano, etc.)? The number of inputs to a console will drastically determine the price of it. In general, a church console can provide sound, 16, 24 or 32 individual inputs.

The second element to take into account concerns the number of outputs. Depending on the configuration of your church, you may want to install several speakers in the main room but also in your nursery or at the reception. You may be keen to set up individual returns for instrumentalists or also record the cult to stream online or convert to mp3. These different configurations are determined by the number of outputs from your console.

Lastly it is important to consider the usefulness of your console.

Would you like to:

• Only worship the sound
• Save the sermon
• Broadcast the cult in live streaming
• Make a studio-type multitrack recording, etc.

This is where the choice between an analog and a digital console is essential. The first is easier to use but more basic. The second is often more expensive but can offer a wide possibility of application for the church.

2. The speakers

Loudspeakers are a determining factor in the quality of sound in the church. After all, all of the sound is released by these elements, which make the difference between clear, pleasant sound and nightmarish sound. There are many factors to consider when purchasing a speaker. Is it an active or passive speaker, amplified or non-amplified, mobile or static?

Their applications also differ. Are they dedicated to your face? Either for the assembly or are they intended for praise and preaching as a return?

3. Microphones

The microphone is the last essential point of the sound system. There are several types of microphones which have different characteristics and different uses. The majority of microphones used in churches are dynamic microphones with a cardioid pattern. They can be wired or HF, (wireless using the HF frequency bands). They can also take the form of a microphone called "tie" or "headband" which gives more gestural mobility to the preacher.

The quality of a microphone will give it more or less the ability to:

• Reproduce faithfully and precisely the sound element. ex: if the sound of the voice which is sonorized is faithful to the natural voice of the person then there is a good restitution

• Absorb sound pressure. ex: if the speaker yells into the microphone and there is no distortion or signal saturation, then the microphone is absorbing the sound pressure intensity well.

• absorb a shock e.g. if a microphone falls on the ground and still works correctly (Reminder: microphones are not made to fall to the ground)

The sound system is a larger and more complex whole than these three elements mentioned.

For more information on the PA accessories do not hesitate to contact us by phone at +33 (0) 3 66 89 00 89 or +33 (0) 7 56 79 87 73 or by email at contact@toutpourleglise.com. Our technical department can advise you and offer you training, if necessary, according to the level of your church's technical teams.