Great Church Sound

Digital consoles have truly revolutionized the act of mixing sound in worship.

It used to be that you would have to use a lot of outboard effects equipment, racks of processors, and audio patch panels to get the sound and flexible routing you wanted.

Today, even the most modest digital console can perform some pretty remarkable feats.

Simply having access to reverb or compression on every channel is great. And being able to use a full parametric EQ anytime you need it is a life saver.

The precision available to sound techs with today's mixing console technology is amazing. And surprisingly, the cost of a decent console isn't too bad, considering the utility provided.

That being said, digital may not be for everyone. And that's OK. I'm still a fan of using a good old analog console. If it sounds good and gets the job done, use it!

But if you're thinking about upgrading from analog to digital, it's important to consider a few variables before selecting your console.

Reverb is one of those things that can really take your mix to the next level and be just the right thing that glues it all together, or helps punctuate certain instruments or vocals.

But there are so many options!

Knowing where to start with reverb often becomes a big exercise in trial and error that can take a lot of time, especially once you start fiddling with all the different settings that each reverb option might have.

If you feel like you haven’t quite mastered reverb in your mix, don’t worry. There are some simple tips and resources below that will help get you get started in the right direction.

First, let’s address the two big problems with reverb…

Adding an ambient pad to your worship team’s sound is becoming more and more common. Many worship leaders celebrate using pads because it’s an easy, turn-key way to add a depth of sound to your worship team’s instrumentation without adding a team member or learning complex new technology.

Pads create a “musical safety net” that affords worship leaders the freedom to focus less on the details and more on leading well. Pads are an amazingly effective, low-cost, easy-to-use resource!

Those who are inexperienced with pads, however, tend to have a common question:

“Won't a continual pad-drone clash with the worship team, especially when they change chords? And if it’s always playing, won’t the pad make everything sound muddy?”

Part of the answer has to do with the quality of the pad sound you’re using, but the majority of the answer has to do with where your pads sit in your worship mix.

Running the sound system and serving your congregation is an important job full of technical and personal responsibilities.

Regardless of the size of your church, sound system, or reinforcement requirements, it can be advantageous to have some help from time to time.

That’s why a dedicated tech or sound team can be such a great asset – even if it’s only you and one other person.

Here is some encouragement for new volunteers and tech team veterans alike.