Why Does Our Church Sound System Sound So Bad? Gaither Hawkins is a 22 year veteran of studying, designing, researching, installing and operating sound systems in the church market. Outlined below are some pointers to provide a smooth operating system in the church through the viewpoint of a fictional church, Mann’s Magnificent Miracles and Marvels/Hawkins Happy House of Holiness for All People Inc., better known as 4M 4H. EXPECTATIONS Just because the Bishop, Musicians and Praise Team visiting from 4M 4H said they couldn’t hear themselves in the monitors doesn’t mean you have a bad system. What it means is they do not hear what they normally hear at their mega-church. PERSONNEL Do you have qualified anointed people running your sound system? It is just as important to have an anointed qualified person at this position as it is to have anointed singers & musicians. They also need to be compensated, why? How many times do you go to work and 5 to10 people a day tell you how to do your job. You listen to them and are then told the work you did last week was horrible (the $2.00 cassette they bought) and you don’t know what you’re doing. How many times do you get there early, set up everything, and stay late to edit and run copies of the sermon using outdated inferior equipment to get something barely audible created with your name on it? I have experienced everything from a 10 year old operating sound to someone legally blind. Get the right personnel to do the job. And this also includes a contractor/installer that is right for your church’s make up and needs. EQUIPMENT There are over 450,000 churches in America, and most have a sound system. I believe that technology is the driving force behind modern day worship services where touring level productions are common. With current technology, there is no reason a church should suffer from bad sound due to the equipment,especially when you can readily buy a good digital system for $2,500 including install & setup. You get what you pay for except when a manufacturer clears out a new line of products for a better/newer model. These models never make it to the end user because the retailer gets them for pennies on the dollar and sells them to you for a 5-15% discount. They are not covered under manufacturer’s warranty because they are no longer made and you’re stuck with it if it breaks or needs repair. That’s why when you buy a product from a retailer; they will ask you at the end of the sale ”would you like to purchase an extended warranty?”. Before you do,read the terms & conditions carefully. After purchase, contact an installer who will visit your church during the actual service. Then you can make a highly informed and intelligent decision on your next move. The problem with buying from big box music stores for sound systems is they can’t consult, train, install or design and are not insured to do anything in your church. In some cases, churches will buy the equipment from the music stores and have Deacons, Trustees or jack legs, hang speakers, install the system and they’re done. The equipment you buy is vital. If most churches realized what was in their attics and walls and the impending liability, they wouldn’t turn on their sound system. If the wiring is wrong and it catches fire, the first thing the fire inspector will look at is all of the electrical components, which includes the sound system. For more information on improving your sound system, contact Gaither Hawkins, NC House Sounds @ 919-714-9553 or email nchouse@aol.com.
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