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MAY 2007 |
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This edition of Church Production Magazine Online Update features an interview with Shannon Sellars, coordinator of studio operations and Jim Eller, adjunct instructor in digital culture ministries from United Theological Seminary (UTS) in Trotwood. Ohio.
They discuss how UTS has historically taken a proactive approach in training graduate seminary students regarding the integration of technology in today’s worship environment. Click here to download the interview in mp3 format (22 MB). For additional information on United Theological Seminary visit www.united.edu.
Glory House Receives Sound Reinforcement Upgrade: Turbosound Aspect Provides Sound and a Low Profile Look
Located in Plaistow, east London, Glory House is a family-based, multi-racial, and multi-cultural church where audio and visual technologies have been embraced to broadcast the church's message in the most effective way possible. Music is an integral part of Glory House: up to a 100-strong Gospel choir and musical director being complemented by an in-house technical sound team. The church's sound is done on an extremely professional basis, so when a suitable quality sound reinforcement system was installed in late 2006, Turbosound Aspect was the obvious choice.
Supplied and installed by South London-based Subfrantic Production Services, the Turbosound system comprises four TA-500 Aspect Wide mid-highs, four TSB-118 subs and six TXD-15M wedge monitors, all controlled by two LMS-D24s. Subfrantic also supplied amplifiers, mixing consoles, outboard equipment, microphones, a custom-designed multicore, and an ASL communications system. "The main factor dictating the specification was to get the best sound we could on a realistic budget for the church," says Subfrantic's Steve Davies. "The auditorium is around 30 to 40m long and 10 to 2m wide, with a ceiling height of around 5m. It is a lot of area to cover." He continues: "The other main challenge was to meet the church's ever-evolving needs, which meant putting a system design together that could be as flexible as possible from the outset. The majority of the music is gospel, but the hall is also used for other concerts, which had to be factored into the system design. "The Aspect Wide enclosures are well suited to the church as they sound great but are very cost-effective. Due to their dispersion, we can also use fewer of them which means smaller, unsightly speaker hangs." Minimizing the visual impact of the system was essential because Glory House is very progressive in its technical approach. It has wholeheartedly embraced the era of wide-access television and webcasting to broadcast its message, so a low-profile audio system was essential. This approach also extended to the stage, which led to a monitoring solution rarely seen except on the very biggest of stages-the wedges being hidden sub stage, under specially designed metal plates. With the system installed, Subfrantic has provided a program of training for the church's technical department, tailored exclusively to its needs, and has received an overwhelmingly positive response. "Everyone at the church has noticed a huge improvement in the sound, not simply in the auditorium but also on stage." says Davies. "We have had nothing but compliments and the technical team is very happy with what they now have to play with!" In addition, Subfrantic themselves are very impressed with Aspect, so much so that a major investment in the system is just around the corner. "Aspect sounds awesome," Davies smiles. "We are just about to invest in a new 12 stack system and have plans to add a second 12 stacks later in the year." "Although the Aspect Wides naturally don't throw as far as the narrows, they are a different box designed for a different application and are outstanding in their own right. Also, they're incredibly cost effective." For more information on Glory House, please visit their website at gloryhouse.org.uk. For more information on Subfrantic Production Services, please visit their website at subfrantic.com. For more information on Turbosound Aspect, please visit their website at turbosound.com or call +44 (0)1403 711447. |
 About Ear for Sound, Inc.by Mike Grimm, Ear for Sound, Inc. President
Having been in the audio business full-time for 30 years and a business owner for 20 years, I realized that the standard method of soundman training (after installing a new system in a church or theater) was to give hands-on instruction at the sound board. I am nearly ashamed to admit that it took 30 years in the field to finally realize that I had neglected the TESTING step and went immediately into the TRAINING phase without pre-qualifying the 'soundmen' - a recipe for disaster. It has been a very common industry mistake but understandable because of the lack of testing recourses specific to this field. The S.A.T. (Soundman Aptitude Test) was born from this realization. Having had extensive experience in 'live' sound, recording (both remote and in-house), and years of system installations, I began recording a variety of music and then mixed it in a variety of ways. Some musical samples in the test are fine - nothing is wrong. In others, there are problems with the mix, with intonation, with vocal balance, etc. Some samples are easy to hear; some are not. If a person can discern the difference between what sounds ACCEPTABLE and what sounds UNACCEPTABLE, then he/she is a good candidate for the second step - TRAINING. No one in their right mind would try to train a blind person to drive the school bus. Is it any wiser to train a soundperson on the mixing board before knowing if they have an Ear for Sound? For more information on Ear for Sound, please visit www.soundmantest.com. |
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 CAREER CENTER Churches! Post all your job openings FREE OF CHARGE in Church Production Magazine and Worship Facilities Magazine. Send your text-based ad (50 words or less), including job descriptions and contact information to jobs@pmipub.com. |
Ear for Sound, Inc. was created to address one specific concern - to correct a deficiency in the audio industry that has been widely overlooked - the selection and training of soundpersons (soundmen). Specifically, in selecting candidates that may not presently be involved in the field of 'sound' but have the aptitude.
Avitech Commits to RoHS Compliance
Washington-based, Avitech International Corporation announces that their full line of multi-viewers is RoHS compliant to abide by European standards for lead-free equipment.
The RoHS European directive has been in force since July 2006 and bans the use of certain hazardous substances in new electrical and electronic equipment. The directive aims at promoting lead-free components in the complete production process for the sake of being environmentally friendly.
"We have been working vigorously with our supply chain to convert our entire product range to comply with all RoHS requirements," states Morris Gong, Avitech's president. "As a provider to various segments of the audio and video industry, we are a global company committed to supporting the ecological system. As such, we understand that certain electrical products may adversely affect our environment after disposal, thus our commitment to the RoHS directives," continues Gong. "We also try to keep in mind that RoHS compliance is far more than just 'free from lead,' but rather the way we design our products, buy products, and conduct business globally."
Avitech's current products, the MCC-8004, VCC-8000, ACC-8000, and the new Rainier series, are all RoHS compliant.
For more information about Avitech's products and services please visit www.avitechvideo.com.
US Offices of d&b audiotechnik Re-Locates to Larger Premises
As part of a planned development strategy based on a mix of feed and need, d&baudiotechnik has recently moved to a new location. Not solely an exercise in finding more space to manage increased sales, the move will "enable us to rotate a much bigger stock, which will in turn speed order processing and enhance our customer service," said company President, Colin Beveridge.
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New d&b audiotechnik US Offices |
Yet there's more to this move than pure logistics, as Beveridge's statement implied. "Since we first expanded the German manufacturing company's operation into North America in 1996, we've always made training a core function of what we do. It's a template that originated in Europe where it has gone from strength to strength and it is now proving invaluable in building the business and establishing the unique credentials that d&b audiotechnik has in the US." Beveridge also adds: "The new premises not only comprise offices, warehousing, and service areas, but feature a dedicated in-house training facility. This will enable us to ramp up our educational activities by running more frequent training sessions for our partners and their end users, as well as holding product demonstrations and electro acoustic seminars. Through these sessions, we will also have the opportunity to build stronger bonds with our partners and attendees. We chose our partners very carefully and we believe they have much in the way of skills and knowledge to share, not only with us but also, more importantly, with each other. This corner of North Carolina (NC) is some of the prettiest countryside in the whole US, so beyond the educational sessions we'll be inviting all visitors to relax and enjoy NC hospitality, and take time to network with each other."
d&b audiotechnik is now located at 30A Rosscraggon Road, Asheville, NC 28803. For more information online, please go to www.dbaudio.com.
Fits & Starts Productions Introduces Internship Program for How-to Church Sound Workshops
Fits & Starts Productions announces the introduction of its How-to Church Sound Audio Internship Program.
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Fits & Starts Productions Internship |
This on-going program offers recording and sound technology students and graduates across the country the opportunity to gain additional in-the-field experience, applying their skills in tandem with Fits & Starts' How-to Church Sound Workshops. In each of the 36 tour cities, one intern will be chosen by his/her school as a production assistant, helping in all aspects of the event-from load-in to set-up. School programs should contact Fits & Starts Productions to recommend interns.
The How-to Church Sound Workshops, offered in 36 different cities across the country each year, employ both analog and digital equipment into a fully integrated sound system capable of producing sound for up to 3,000 people. Interns may take the eight-hour, live sound workshop free of charge.
Upcoming workshops will be held in Derwood MD, Battle Creek MI, Douglasville GA, Charleston IL, Tuscaloosa AL, Shreveport LA, League City TX, Fort Worth TX, and Washington DC.
"The How-to Church Sound Audio Internship Program is our way to help technology students gain real-world experience," says Fits & Starts Productions, LLC founder and Managing Partner, Hector La Torre. "At the same time, our team of audio veterans can share their extensive knowledge and expertise, and give back to the audio community at large."
For more information, please visit www.fitsandstarts.com.
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FIBERPLEX DMX4 LIGHTING CONTROL COMPONENTS FOR LIGHTVIPER
FiberPlex introduces its new LightViper DMX4 System lighting control components which are designed to work with the LightViper state-of-the-art fiber optic audio "snake" systems. The DMX4 System consists of two 1U 19" rack units: the DMX4-i input unit, and a DMX4-o output device. Both components will accept four independent lines of DMX control (512 channels x 4, or a total of 2,048 channels). The DMX4-i has four independent 3-pin and 5-pin XLR-type DMX inputs while the DMX4-o has independent 3-pin and 5-pin XLR-type DMX outputs. Each unit features an RJ45 connector on both the front and rear to connect with the RJ45 control circuit connector on the LightViper system. The DMX data being transported through the "control" connection on the LightViper systems travels along the same fiber as the audio returns so no additional fiber is required. The data transport is one way only, FOH-to-stage. The DMX4 system will work with the LightViper 1832, 4832 and 1808 systems. Main power to the DMX4 components is supplied from the LightViper systems via the same RJ45 connection. A 32 x 8 LightViper system with a DMX4 system can be transported using a single fiber optic pair. URL: www.kramerelectronics.com (click on "DMX4 Control") |
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PROVIDER SERIES PSM1 SERIES OF HEAD-WORN MICROPHONES
The PSM1 headset microphone offers freedom of movement which works well for vocal and speech applications. The small size and light weight are helpful for applications requiring minimum visibility and comfort like dance and sports instructors, video, television, pastors, worship leaders, stage productions, presenters and speakers. The Provider Series, mini-microphone is almost invisible, while still producing Broadway-quality sound. The innovative headset offers a design where the microphone boom can be adjusted to any angle and worn on the left or right side. Additionally, it is comfortable enough to be worn with glasses and offers a detachable cable, adjustable headband, and microphone boom. The PSM1 is available preconfigured for various beltpacks including: Shure, Audio-Technica, Sennheiser, AKG, Mipro, and others. It includes two cables, windscreen, adjustment wrench, and storage case. For more information contact Provider Series at (877) 379-4885. |
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WILLIAMS SOUND PERSONAL PA "VALUE PACK" SYSTEM WITH T27 TRANSMITTER
The Personal PA Value Pack system broadcasts a speaker's voice, music program, or audio service wirelessly up to 500 feet to a listening audience. Participants wear FM receivers to pick up the broadcast to listen at the volume of their comfort level. The system is ideal for providing hearing assistance or language services to any mid-size venue. Offered by Williams Sound, the Value Pack with the addition of the new T27 transmitter, customers will have more technology and features at their disposal to meet the growing demands of listening in the church, classroom, conference rooms, and other facilities. The cornerstone of the new Personal PA Value Pack listening system is the T27 transmitter. It features an LED display panel and push-button channel selection for trouble-free operation. The speaker simply connects a microphone with 3.5mm plug into the unit to broadcast their voice. Alternatively, the unit can connect to a sound system through a line-level (RCA) jack to broadcast music or other audio service. The Personal PA Value Pack listening system has seventeen available channels and operates on 72-76 MHz. Each system is packaged with (4) R35 single channel receivers, batteries and earphones. It includes a five-year system warranty, and meets the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements for hearing assistance. For availability and purchase information on the new Personal PA Value Pack System, contact Williams Sound at 800-843-3544. |
Copyright (c) 2007
Production Media, Inc.
info@churchproduction.com
