Scheduling
Add your block-out dates to Planning Centre, so that scheduling is easier.
Set up
The sound system needs to be fully set up by the time the band practice starts, which is normally at 10am. It usually takes about 1 hour to set up when there are 2 people, and 1 and a quarter to one and a half hours for one person.
The following needs to be done:
- Move chairs/tables if needed
- Bring light/fragile and heavy (max 20 kg) equipment
- Set up all the stands for the correct number of people in the band. Put in the correct places
- Connect microphones and instruments to the mixer inputs
- Connect mixer outputs to the speakers (FOH), monitor and the speaker for the translators
- Distribute power for all of the equipment and instruments
- Set up wireless microphone (optional but useful)
- Set up feedback destroyer for the wireless microphone (optional)
- Connect the mixer with a laptop and ensure that there is a stable connection
- Tidy up cables and remove unused equipment and instrument cases
- Check the sound mix and monitors
Pre-meeting sound mixing
The following needs to be done (the majority is done in the program which controls the mixer):
- Match mixer analog inputs with that in the program
- Ensure correct gains for the instruments and vocals
- Set up correct sound levels for each channel in the monitor
- Work with EQ, compressor, effects, and gate for each channel (it’s not possible to do it within an hour. Gate optional, effects and compressor are desirable. Usually the settings are being loaded from the file)
- Set up feedback destroyer (if wireless microphone is present, optional)
- Ensure the correct volume for the wireless microphone and mitigate potential feedback issues (if the wireless microphone is present)
- Make sure that the volume from the main speakers is balanced and the overall sound is balanced
Sound mixing during the meeting
The following needs to be done during the meeting:
- Make eye contact occasionally with the band in case they need something adjusted
- During worship turn off/on the speaker for translators and turn off effects when there is a contribution from the band or another person
- Ensure correct volume levels in the middle and back parts of the venue
- Play with effects and volumes of each instrument/vocal to make the sound more interesting (optional)
- Each person holds a microphone differently so ensure correct volume levels (even by changing gain)
Packing up
Basically, the reverse of what is done for Set up:
- Pack up all the stands, microphones and instruments
- Pack up all the cables and make sure that they are correctly put into the bags (easier to work with them next week)
- During this phase, music may be playing in the background (optional)
- Make sure that everything is packed
Background music
Play some background worship music quietly before and after the meeting
