Setting up a complete PA system for a church or house of worship can be complicated and time-consuming, especially if you are working with a budget made up of donations and contributions from your congregation. You know those funds need to be allocated in the most efficient and sensible way.
With so many choices of sound equipment today, shopping online or going to a music store can be a daunting task. It’s hard to know where to start.
Always start with good sound quality and proper sound system settings. By doing this, you eliminate the problems of unclear microphones, feedback loops, and low volume that can interfere with the congregation’s experience.
To choose the right sound system, consider the size of your room, how many congregation members you typically have, and what type of microphone you need for your service. This will help you make the best decision for your house of worship.
Size and Acoustics
All rooms are different and it’s not enough to just install the speakers and call it a day. It’s all about coverage and making sure your audience hears you clearly with the right amount of volume and articulation.
Sound clarity often depends on the acoustic quality of a room or space. Many houses of worship are built with good acoustics in mind, with the right conditions for natural reverb and amplification. Some sound systems come with built-in effects such as digital reverb. Adding digital reverb to your choir or singers via sound processing equipment can give the audience the illusion that the room is actually larger than it is.
How many people need to hear you?
Consider how many congregation members typically attend. PA systems are rated by Watts (power) and a general rule of thumb is to have one Watt per person for indoor spaces and three Watts per person for outdoor spaces.
It’s better to have more watts than not enough. This allows for additional turnout accommodations or if you need to move your system outdoors.
No matter how good the sound system is, it is can’t repair a room with poor acoustics. It may be worth hiring an outside consultant to evaluate your room’s acoustic space if you’re having trouble getting good sound.
Complete System
Many complete PA system solutions are affordable and great for quick and easy setup. These systems generally come with two speakers, a mixer, a microphone, and all the necessary cables. Power can range from 150 to 1000 Watts with everything you need to get your house of worship sound up and running quickly and easily.
All-in-one systems are also great for portability. They are designed to be quick to set up and break down, as well as to move between different locations.
Sometimes all you need is something to amplify the voices of several people or plug in a cell phone or iPod to play music. Luckily this system offers a variety of connection types to accommodate multiple microphones, wired instruments such as keyboards and guitars, and inputs for MP3 players. Newer systems also come with Bluetooth connectivity.
Microphone
The microphone determines how accurate and rich the sound of your prayer leader or musical instrument will be.
Different types of microphones work for different applications. Think about who will be on stage: will people play musical instruments? Does the singer or prayer leader need to share the microphone?
Make sure you have the right number of inputs on your sound system mixer so you can plan for different scenarios appropriately. You may want some handheld microphones for congregation members, or a lapel microphone for the pastor, or even a more sensitive microphone condenser microphone for choir.
Things like pickup patterns, frequency response, sensitivity, and physical design all change how a microphone reproduces acoustic sound.
A good wired microphone costs between $40 and $100, sometimes including the cable, microphone clip, stand, and carrying case.
Wireless
What about wireless? Wireless microphones provide more freedom of movement as well as providing a cleaner aesthetic for your speaker or performer.
A good wireless system starts around $200. There are also several options for microphone types including lavalier, handheld, headband, and ear set.
Keep in mind that wireless microphones operate on radio frequencies, meaning they are susceptible to interference from cell phones, tablets, and other electronic devices. UHF (very high frequency) wireless systems operate in a higher frequency band compared to VHF (very high frequency) systems: both have their uses. UHF can be better for rooms with lots of other electronic devices, while VHF is better for rooms on a budget.
Accessories
Accessories such as cables, clips, and microphone stands should be chosen carefully, just like your microphone and speakers. With cables, it’s not just the length that matters — it’s also the quality of the connectors at each end.
You should have microphone stands of various sizes, as well as several long cables so that you can best adapt to different needs and situations.
Listen to What People Say
It all comes down to knowing what you need and making the right decision. When shopping for a sound system, trust your ears and trust what other people say. Reading other people’s experiences is a great way to learn about a piece of equipment and whether or not it is reliable and does what you need it to do.
Call us at 1 (800) 263-0112 to get more information about PA systems for houses of worship.
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