The Ark of Salvation is a Slavic Pentecostal church located in Inman, South Carolina. When they needed an audio makeover for their 1,500-member facility, they called in Paul Korchak of Digital Pro Sound, based in Portland, Oregon. Church officials gave Korchak simple instructions: provide the best possible sound with the least number of microphones.
The choir at the Ark of Salvation church has a core group of 120 singers, but that number can swell to 200 as young congregants fill the stage to join in the performance. To provide adequate coverage, Paul hung 12 Audix Micros Series M1280Bs cardioid mics overhead, configured in two rows of six.
“I used the M1280s for their sound quality and their ability to capture just about every detail in the choir without picking up peripheral noise,” says Korchak. “The church records every service and makes them available on the internet, so audio quality is critical. They were very impressed with M1280s, both the sound and the look.”
A crucial accompaniment to the choir, the baby grand piano also needed sound reinforcement, so Korchak chose the SCX25APS piano miking kit. Although often installers will use the provided DFLEX harp rail mounts, Korchak mounted the pair of SCX25A microphones by using a Mirizio piano microphone mount.
“Everyone loves the SCX25As,” says Korchak. “They capture the full tonal range of the piano with no drop outs. People from other churches have come to hear them.”
Although the hanging M1280s do an excellent job of capturing the choir, the audio system also needed a versatile microphone solution to accommodate the occasional children’s choir, walkup acoustic instrument, small orchestra, drama performance, or other special musical performances. Korchak chose the Audix MicroBoom MB5050 choir miking system, which combines a lightweight 50-inch carbon fiber boom with an M1250 mini cardioid condenser mic.
“They liked the flexibility and portability of theMicroBoom system,” says Korchak. “In fact, they plan on ordering more.”
Choosing the best microphone solution for their podium was a unique challenge because at the Ark of Salvation church they can often have two people speaking side by side. Korchak used two Audix Micropod 18HC gooseneck miniaturized condenser microphones with the hypercardioid pattern for tighter pickup. “When both mics are active, one mic can be flipped out of phase with the other,” explains Korchak. “Together with the hypercardioid pattern, and a Rupert Neve 5045 enhancer, which allows an increase in gain before feedback, feedback and other distortions are eliminated.”
The sound captured by the choir mics, MicroBooms, and podium mics is delivered to the congregation through 18 Nexo speakers. Performers can check their sound through six Nexo monitors. To fine tune the sound throughout the sanctuary, Korchak first measured the space with the Audix TM1 test and measurement microphone, then used the data to fabricate and install 180 custom acoustic panels.
He says the church is very happy with the result. “I already have four more jobs lined up, thanks to leads from the Ark of Salvation,” says Korchak. “The next in Atlanta, then Tennessee, Charlotte, and Everett, Washington. And, because they were so well received by the Ark of Salvation, I certainly plan to continue to use Audix microphones.”
