Matt Larson, V.P. of Pro Audio, Digico
Farmingdale, NY-based Group One Limited is the US distributor for a number of industry-leading production technology brands, including DiGiCo, KLANG:technologies, XTA and MC2. When Matt Larson, the company’s vice president of pro audio, was recently asked for several ways in which churches both large and small could improve the sound quality of their services, he offered this advice:
First off, the single most important element is the engineer who will be running the sound system. The world’s most technologically sophisticated race car can’t perform at its peak without a qualified operator in the driver’s seat, and a PA is no different.
Most churches don't have the luxury of being able to hire professionals to do their engineering, but there are many resources that you as a layman operator can take advantage of to greatly improve your skill set and the quality of your church’s services. By simply investing your time to check out freely available online resources like YouTube videos and www.MxU.rocks, reading magazines like Church Production, and visiting training events like the DiGiCo Masters Series (www.facebook.com/digicomastersseries), you will learn from experts who can equip you with a better understanding of how to find your mix and resolve issues faster. Seemingly complex solutions can actually be surprisingly simple, and a little consistent time investment can deliver huge improvements from week to week.
Another way to quickly hone your abilities is to train with the system outside of your normal service times. When looking at audio consoles like DiGiCo’s new SD12 or S21/31, the addition of a DiGi-Grid MGB 128-track recording interface can be one of your best friends in teaching you or other novice engineers the basics of mixing with the virtual recorder/playback system. This allows you to run through a previously recorded service and dive in to achieving a better mix by experimenting in a ‘no pressure’ setting with just you in the room.
And remember, whether you’re a seasoned veteran or the newest first-time volunteer on your church’s audio team, your mission is the same: to make sure that the message is delivered with intelligibility and impact—both of which will come with a commitment to learn and practice.
Learn more: www.digico.biz
