out there for picking a single methodology per system and handling the device outliers through conversion where needed .
Check out this series of articles for more on this topic .
‘ SOUND , TEAMWORK AND STAGECRAFT FOR HOUSE OF WORSHIP ’ SESSION In another TEC Track session , we weighed in on everything from getting great sound , building healthy teams and tips on world-class stagecraft for Sunday and rehearsals . I was joined by Golden Preciado ( Training Specialist , QSC ), Wayne Yuan ( Marketing Wizard , MultiTracks . com ), and Doug Doppler . Just as with the Live Sound Trends session , a number of recurring themes started to emerge .
WE ’ RE ALL ONE BIG HAPPY TEAM ! Where does the worship team end and the tech team start ? Trick question ! According to the panelists , the tech team is very much part of the worship team . Specific responsibilities may vary ( singing the alto part vs . running the lighting board ), but the common goal is to lead and enhance the worship experience across the congregation — and the worship team ! Thinking of the tech team as its own team fully distinct from the worship team may create issues down the road or limit the overall effectiveness of the production . Without the tech team , nobody can hear and see the performers on stage . Without performers on stage , the tech team doesn ’ t have anyone to mix or aim their follow spots at . Everyone has a part to play and it is all the WORSHIP team .
Some of the clear takeaways that came out of this team discussion also pointed to the importance of using virtual soundcheck for training . While the benefits of using virtual soundcheck for the tech team ( especially novice audio engineers ) are obvious , we also brought up the benefit of virtual soundcheck for the worship band . Play back the exact mix for the band while they leave their drums and guitars on stage and sit out where the congregants do . “ Hey , how come I don ’ t really hear my Marshall stack in the PA mix playback ?!” “ Wait … where are all of my new mega-sized cymbals in the mix ?” This may be a way to really hammer home the importance of minimizing stage volume . If the guitar amps are so loud on stage that they don ’ t need to be placed in the house mix at all , there is probably an issue . Let the band hear the ‘ inverted ’ mix that is devoid of the sources that are overly loud on stage . Have a quality discussion with them about how this situation can be improved .
Also on this point , the idea of ‘ just pushing buttons ’ vs . understanding the actual operations of the console came up . While we have tools like console presets and scenes , etc . alongside virtual soundcheck and other helpful tech assistants , nothing beats truly understanding how and why each of the key audio tools works . This idea was compared to a guitarist simply knowing TAB and playing a song by rote in one key vs . understanding the theory behind their part and being able to quickly transpose up a third or down a fourth on the fly or play in a different inversion or neck position . [ Oh , and by the way , MultiTracks . com can be a great way to get more comfortable with transposition and understanding the musical theory behind a song !] Applying this concept to audio engineers , console operators should be able to understand when EQ will be a more effective tool for any given audio task vs . compression or gating — not just push the buttons that are part of a preset or scene and hope for the best . Again , the musical success of the worship band is also closely tied to the skills of the tech team — and vice-versa . Read more on this topic here .
Thanks to everyone who came out to support these sessions in person and asked wonderful questions and joined us in the discussions ! We all look forward to seeing you again at the next tradeshow or worship event .
Jeff Hawley A 20-year music industry veteran — equally at ease behind the console , playing bass guitar , leading marketing teams or designing award-winning audio products . He currently heads up the marketing for Allen & Heath in the US .
106 February 2024 Subscribe for Free ...