Sound System Purchases: Questions to Ask Yourself AND The Sound Contractor

So how do you determine if your church's sound system is delivering loud and clear? Take just a moment to run through this checklist to see if your church's sound system is doing the job - or needs a little help.

1. What is your system required to do? (Think of your church's present - and future - needs.)

Does your system need to:

a) amplify voices?

b) amplify music?

c) amplify live instruments?

d) amplify taped background tracks?

e) provide a monitor so the vocalist can better hear the tracks?

f) function with more than one monitor mix?

g) be able to handle more microphones?

h) provide facilities for the hearing impaired?

2. What additional areas need to be covered with sound?

Do you need speakers in the:

a) nursery?

b) cry room?

c) narthex?

d) choir room?

e) offices?

f) hallways?

g) kitchen?

h) fellowship hall?

i) area surrounding the church (outside)?

j) Other: __________________

3. What are your recording requirements? (Think about how good your tape mix needs to be. This will help you determine how many microphones you need.) Do you need a separate audio mix with audience sound, other instruments, etc.?

Do you need to:

a) record on cassette tape?

b) send a signal to a radio station?

c) feed a cable system, VCR, or broadcast TV?

4. What problems are you experiencing with your present sound system?

a) Do you have poor coverage resulting in dead spots?

b) Is the sound quality unnatural?

c) It is difficult to understand?

d) Is it easier to understand the person speaking when the sound system is turned off?

e) Can you get enough volume without feedback squeal?

f) Can the sound operators hear the system well enough to be able to set the volume accurately?

5. Think about your church's future needs. (This is a good time to brainstorm with your support staff and sound personnel. Anticipating future sound system requirements and providing for them now will help avoid potential disaster or disappointments - plus save you money in the long run.)

Do you need to consider providing for:

a) a children's musical?

b) a drama group?

c) visiting quartets or choirs?

d) special effects for Christmas or Easter programs?

e) a children's puppet ministry?

Now that you've determined your needs, what's next? Now you must decide who is going to help you solve your problems and meet your sound system needs. How do you select the right contractor for your church? First, call up some churches who have sound systems you have heard and liked. Ask who did the sound system design and installation for them. Check the Yellow Pages. Then call any prospective contractor and invite them to meet with the church ministry team members. Don't forget to call us! Ask questions. Be specific and as complete as possible in discussing the scope of your problems and needs. Make certain that other appropriate church members have been asked for their input. Try not to pinpoint the products you think you need. An effective contractor will translate your needs and future desires into the appropriate system components.

Any competent contractor will check the acoustical characteristics of your church. Most room characteristics can be estimated but on-site analysis is always the best approach. Without this acoustical information, the sound system designer cannot guarantee good intelligibility.

The contractor will also need precise physical dimensions in order to design a system that will provide even coverage. If possible, you can help matters by providing accurate blueprints or plan and section drawings. Also ask the contractor to describe his design method.

After you have narrowed down your choices, get some references. Talk to these references and get their reaction to the following questions:

1. Were your needs met?

2. Are you satisfied with the quality of the installation?

3. Was the contractor easy to work with?

4. Did you receive adequate training on how to use your new system?

5. Does the sound system work as well as you expected it to?

6. Would you recommend this company to other churches?

This checklist has been designed to help you decide who can best help you with your sound needs. References are important, but it's even more important that you are satisfied with your references' sound system. Test it out with your own ears - the best criteria of all.

You need to select a company whom you can trust…PERIOD. That's the bottom line! Don't select a contractor on price alone. It may cost you more than you think. Listen to the questions that the contractor asks. You must be confident in their ability to design and install a sound system that will meet your present and future needs.

by Ron Huisinga © 1996 Internet Sound Institute (www.soundinstitute.com). This articles is for personal use only. Any commercial reproduction is not permitted without permission. To obtain permission, contact ISI at hopi@soundinstitute.com

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