SOUND TECH
[ 6 QUICK FOH MIXING TIPS FOR WORSHIP | Kent Margraves ]
We’re all at different experience levels and or too quiet usually won’t care what the SPL down… this may be unknowingly missed.
styles in our church sound applications. Here meter says. They just know how the music Make it sound like it looks. This also speaks
are a few tips that apply to good FOH mixing feels to them. Use your ears and walk the to learning the musical arrangements…
practice in nearly any church music application. entire room (not just mix position). That If they’re new to you, they’ll be helpful. For said, measuring and logging SPL reference 5. Learn the music in advance. Listen to it enough
many of us, they serve as good reminders. measurements is still a useful practice. to be able to approach sound check while
Also, keep in mind that some people already having an expectation of how the
actually are hypersensitive. It’s a real thing. song set should sound, and flow. You
1. What’s the most important component of your
mix? It’s simply the lead vocal. The worship
don’t have to be a music theory nerd and
leader. Of course, the other musical elements The overall mix balance and tone greatly memorize every chord being played to learn
(band, orchestra, whatever) are important affects perceived loudness. Harsh vocals the “sound” and format of each song. But
and must sound right, but the vocal matters are often judged as too loud. Rather than this helps the operator shape the music
most, bottom line. It’s what the whole room turning them down, the solution may be as intended, hit cues correctly (such as a
follows. So, get the tone and placement of to smooth them (through processing, a guitar solo), and avoid blowing things like
that right first. While many worship mixers different microphone, or correct microphone false endings.
begin sound check with the kick drum, some technique). Sometimes pushing sub-bass begin with the lead vocal and keep it up while elements (kick drum, bass guitar, synths, 6. Mix-minus (sound check only). This is a great
checking the rest of the band. There’s a lot of or tracks) harder without actually turning technique, but don’t do it with an audience.
wisdom in that. up the overall mix will make the live mix feel As the mix is coming together, simply mute a
(and measure) louder without harshness. source or group of sources in the PA (careful
When we’re mixing music, we’re always not to mute any monitor sends). Do you hear
conveying emotion. it go away? When you punch it back on,
2. Gain structure is everything! When I was
learning as a kid on a modest 6-channel
does it sit right and blend well?
analog mixer, this was true. And it was still
true a few days ago while mixing a concert 4. Watch the stage. It’s easy to bury our heads on a state-of-the-art digital console with in the gear at FOH. Look up. Master the These are just brief reminders of a few tried-
all the modern toys. Always optimize input gear to the point you can mix without and true tricks I’ve been re-hashing for
gains first, and the rest of the mix gets easier. staring down at it. When we keep our eyes decades now in various worship service and
Period. on the artists, we mix better. Our eyes concert applications. Next topic up is properly
and ears need to agree, and what we see measuring,
affects how we perceive (and mix) sound. loudness in worship. Advance questions and
3. Loudness. Many of us measure sound
pressure
level
while
mixing
and
understanding
suggestions welcome at kent.margraves@
(correctly
measuring and expressing SPL in a relevant Say the drummer is whacking 8th notes on the
way is a different and complex discussion). floor tom during a bridge. It should probably
But the tip is this: Loudness is a perception be big in the mix. If it happens to be very
thing. Someone who feels the mix is too loud light in the mix, and the operator is looking
30
logging,
January 2018
music-group.com
Kent Margraves
Heads up training and education at MUSIC Tribe, and
continues to mix FOH for various worship artists.
WorshipMusician.com