All churches are "tight" ...at least that's what they all claim.....
I went to one that spent $150,000 on a sound
upgrade...and I was blown away by what they actually got .... I could have done better for $15k ( and made a healthy profit) than what they got for 10 times that amount.... then.... believe it or not, they were talking a few months later about spending another $12k for a sub woofer...cause they didn't get it in the $150K.....!!!!!! They should have asked me for advice and guidance but the music minister was one of those know it all's who really didn't know jack..... and got took to the bank. And the new system to me did not sound as good as the old.... could not tell them that though.
Seriously, all they got was one speaker cabinet with 2 12's and a horn in one cabinet, hanging from the ceiling, a couple of new power amps, a new mixer and they redid the mic & power cabling to the stage. I remembered seeing the "sound company truck" parked in front of the church for the better part of the week, and thinking...this is going to really sound sweet..... how disappointed I was that Sunday.
The church I now attend has a similar problem.... no body wants to ask for help...it has been offered, more than once. They want to PAY some company to come in and EQ the room with some fancy gear...and pay out the butt for it, and then buy whatever high priced solution that company is peddling as the magical cure for the sound issues.
They have a nice sounding room.... carpet, padded seats, sound absorbers on the walls, and all they need is a bit of advice and training in the sound booth...move a few of the stage/choir monitors around and buy a power amp or two to separate the monitors for more flexibility..... they have a state of the art Aviom 16 channel monitoring system for the orchestra. They could stand to add another 16 network addresses to it ( for a total of 32) so everyone could have their own personal monitor mix.
I have spoken with both the music minister who never played in a club band in his life, and the "sound guy" who also never gigged in bands (FOH) and had to make the best sound possible depending on the club. I told them both, if the sanctuary was a nightclub it would be one "fine sounding club"...easy to set up and play. I've offered, and they know what I can do with sound. They smiled and said...oh well, we'll see..... In other words... no thanks... So.... it's hands off for me.
Heck... this latest music minister doesn't even tune the orchestra with a tuner..... are you kidding me....? wish I was.... says he does it better by ear..... I've thought about taking my flip video in on a Sunday and recording it...cause it sounds like a train wreck at times.... (the tuning).... fingernails on a musical chalkboard.... We ( the sound guy and the bass player and me) even bought him a chromatic electronic tuner. He refuses to use it.
I "retired" from the orchestra for these and several other reasons almost 2 years ago now. Could not take it any more.
Last edit...I promise... If they called me tomorrow and said hey we would like to hear your thoughts on the sound.... I'd be there!
It boggles the mind... you try to help...have the expertise to do so..... and ......... nada!
I'm done ranting ......
post edited by Guitarhacker - 2010/10/11 15:29:21