What would your choice be re a sound system in a small church concerning the issues stated in the choices below:
No sound system as only the harder of hearing are having trouble. Encourage them to use hearing aids.
Get a sound system and crank it up, encouraging those not hard of hearing to use protection against the noise level.
Get a sound system with ear phones for the hearing impaired, and keep it cranked down for everyone else.
Obviously with a small church cost is going to be a consideration.
advice re sound system for small church needed
Discussion in 'Music Ministry' started by nodak, Mar 17, 2008.
-
preachinjesus Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
The trick behind any sound reinforcement is that it isn't obvious there is sound reinforcement.
If you get a decent system most include a wireless transmitter for devices to be given to the hearing impared.
Sound systems are important for any venue (particularly churches) and should be given adequate resources. Poorly funded systems often turn out poor production and do more to hurt the church than help. -
Check sweetwater.com. They are great.
If you don't plan to spend at least 5 or 6 hundred you might be throwing away money.
As the last poster said, the point is so that you don't ever really notice the sound reinforcement. -
Hey, are you just wanting a single mic for the pulpit?
If so then you can probably do a good job for little money. Plan on $100 or so for the mic. Use a powered PA speaker and you might be fine with a single, though they are usually sold in pairs.
then you just need an inexpensive mic preamp. no need for a mixer. -
He was right! He didn't need it; the audience didn't need for him to wear it for any amplification; but he still needed to (and did) wear it, considering that was the only way for the 'sound man', at that time, to record the messages on tape, for our 'shut-ins', who were members and wanted to hear the tapes.
In other words, a really "loud-mouthed preacher" would be the least costly way of all. :laugh: :laugh:
BTW, even those "harder of hearing" had no problem, when he preached. Ever! Without any mike! :thumbs:
Ed -
I would check this out. We use a similar system at out church except ours in modular and cost a little over $1000.
This has a built in mixer so it should work out great for you.
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/XPL300/ -
What is your purpose in having a sound system? How large is your room? Who will be running it? Do you have anything in place right now?
I figured these are some good questions - and then I'll have my hubby answer tomorrow. :) He's been in the audio industry and is in charge of the sound system at our church. -
No sound system being used in building that holds about 100 snuggly. A few seniors are complaining they can't hear the preaching.
We sit at the back so we aren't blown out of the building by the pastor's very capable projection. -
Check out the Bose L1 system at the Bose website. I'm pretty sure it's www.bose.com This is what we use and I'm very happy with it. The great thing about the Bose system is how it fills the room up with sound. It is very non-directional. Our previous system would cut the ears off of the ones sitting at the front while the ones in the back still struggled to hear. No so with the Bose system. Volume is the same throughout the room. Also, because of the design, you can set the system behind the stage, eliminating the need for monitors. The cost would be around $2,500, but well worth it. Most cheap sound systems are going to sound a lot like cheap sound systems. And a sound system can't make your church service any better, but a bad one sure can make it worse.
-
-
You can get a system that's specifically for the hearing impaired. We have it and it works great. The person gets a headset and they say they can hear just fine. Maybe look into that.
-
if you're SBC, check with your state convention. They usually have someone who can be quite helpful when it comes to helping you know what you need. That's half the battle anyhow.
-
exscentric Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
Two items:
1. Handout earphones/headsets -- would you want someone elses earwax in your ear. :laugh: Many do not care for the idea even if you promise to clean them in some manner.
2. In one church that seated maybe 250 we had a very nice sound system and the old folks could not hear - so this may not be your answer.
What we found that worked very nicely was to take an amplifier and run a line to a row of pews and we installed a cheap car radio speaker/grill about evert five foot (less if needed) on the row, then adjusted it so the old folks could hear.
It was slightly noticeable in the next row back, but not to distraction of others.
The level was fairly low - just a little boost for those that needed it. -
Thanks all!
The headset systems we've seen are much like the over the ear models on the computers at the public library....not sure about the hygiene issue but shouldn't be ear wax!
I'm surprised limited systems are relatively affordable, and will be pleased to pass that on.
Our goal is to make sure everyone can hear without actually harming the ears of those with good hearing with too many decibels. -
Our church is small and we bought a powered mixer(Behringer)new with 12 channels and 2 yamaha club series speakers(used) with a 12inch speaker and horns. We spent about $900 and it sounds way better than the old peaveys the church had before. We set them on speaker poles and they are high enough and out wide so the the front inner row doesn't get blasted. We did buy a good condenser and that made a huge difference.
Clarity is real important. There are many powered mixers that are inexpensive like Peavey, Yamaha, etc.. and you can later use them for outside events etc. since they are easily moveable and would still be usable if you ever upgrade to a bigger system. -