assistance on their systems .
[ WM ] Are you using Dante ? If so – how do you like it and for what function ?
[ Hector ] 100 % YES ! I genuinely believe Dante is the best thing that has come to audio . The capabilities that are afforded with ease and scale are so worth the small costs . Dante has become a mission critical component in our system .
We use it from the stage for our keys rig ( 6-8 channels of audio ), and stems ( 1-8 channels ).
In the booth , I use it for an insert system tied into a computer via a PCI card and Ableton Live . ~ 32 channels of inserting
In my broadcast we do a similar setup , but with an additional 8 channels of inserting .
In my student auditorium , we feed our broadcast mix so that they can join the worship center in our worship from time to time .
We also have our Spotify music multicasting so that we can grab that feed anywhere in the building and have the same music being heard wherever there is something happening . This seamlessness is unknown to a member walking from room to room but would be felt if two different sources were being played .
[ WM ] Thoughts on drum cages ? Are you using sound deflectors ? Are they working well ?
[ Hector ] I am a big advocate on doing what is needed for your space . We have a mid-sized room that can seat 900 . Without our drum cage , we would be at the mercy of the drums / drummer and would have to turn the PA up substantially to get a good sound . We are able to keep our house audio level managed using our drum cage . With the large PA we have , we can make the drums sound as huge as we wish .
Another trick that a lot of folks don ’ t take advantage of is delaying the PA a few milliseconds to line up the ambient drum energy with the PA . This can help tighten the system overall .
[ WM ] Can you name a few Worship albums that inspire you ?
[ Hector ] This one is all over . It would be easier to name artists … Phil Whickham , Bethel , Passion , Kirk Franklin , Maverick City .
[ WM ] Any words of encouragement or advice for other tech teams ?
[ Hector ] A few comments on this one . First , thank you ! We are typically only noticed when something has gone wrong , and I want to take this opportunity to say thank you . The willingness to go unnoticed is a gift from the Holy Spirit that most people don ’ t realize they have been given when they serve in production .
Something I feel is lost or maybe not completely understood is our place in worship . Understanding the Davidic tabernacle and the flow of worship will help all of us go deeper into honoring the Lord . I did a study with my team from a quick read called Following the River by Bob Sorge .
We did this with the worship team and this helped my team understand they ‘ why and how ’ we approach worship , and helps define how we all end up in the same place when the time comes !
Talent and skill is important and cannot be overlooked but our heart is what is really matters … and making sure that we are entering into worship alongside the rest of the worship team .