STREAMING
THE LIVE MIX VERSUS THE STREAMING MIX | Bill Gibson
Let’s look at two very different types of mixes: should be to provide the listener with an audio springboard for the creation of a mix for
the live music and sermon mix for the sanctuary experience that mirrors, matches, or at least streaming: the FOH mix is ALL about creating
and the streaming mix for broadcast. But, simulates the experience the that a congregant a listening experience for the congregation that
they’re just mixes right? Shouldn’t the mix in gets in the best seat in the house. There are supports their spiritual experience. As sound
the church sound good enough for broadcast? a few different ways to create that experience. engineers, we have the privilege of helping
Nope. Not a chance. We can use the matrix section of the board, a communicate worship music and a sermon
post-fader aux, an in-ear monitor station, an that regularly changes people’s eternity—a
ACOUSTIC VERSUS DIRECT INSTRUMENTS app that provides control over a separate mix message that is completely life-trajectory
In the sanctuary, anything that is already from the digital console in the sanctuary (Plan altering. For a sound operator to be concerned
acoustically loud, such as drums, guitar A for many churches), or even a separate mix with anything other than that goal during the
amplifiers, and grand piano, will be quiet in the engineer running a separate mixer located in church service is unacceptable. All that matters
front-of-house (FOH) audio feed, and anything a media control center where all of the video during the church service is the church service
that runs direct into the console and really switching gear is located (Plan I for most and what it sounds like then and there.
needs the sound system to be heard clearly churches: Impossible, Impractical, and Ill- will be very loud on the FOH audio feed. That conceived. The ways we can overcome these THE STREAMING MIX
imbalance is the primary concern when simply obstacles isn’t really the focus of this article; The streaming mix is ALL about what the
routing the FOH mix to a live stream—or any however, understanding this dilemma is an person at the other end of the stream is hearing
other recording for that matter. It doesn’t sound important consideration. because that might be their time to have an
good and it’s discouraging to the music team.
The goal of a recording or live stream mix
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eternity-changing experience. That seems
THE CHURCH SERVICE MIX simple enough, right? Nope, because we have
It seems obvious, but this is an important no standard of comparison for the listener. We
May 2020
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