ADDRESS
Norfolk, Ontario, Canada
N4B 2H1
Helping Churches
around the world
CONTACTS
For consulting
Toronto: +1-416-248-9007
jdb@jdbsound.com
The great multi-media lie.
Have you ever started to watch a church ministry on TV, or YouTube, got hooked on watching the sermon, and when you went to the church, the sound quality was disappointing? As you look around, almost no-one is singing during hymns or choruses. During the sermon, few people have Bibles, and those people with digital devices, they are not open to scripture verses, or taking notes. Speech clarity was good, but the quality of the sound was uncomfortable. It wasn’t the relaxed sound I was used to hearing on my headset, computer, or TV. Is it any wonder that churches find it hard to grow their church from a YouTube, or TV ministry platform. What would happen if a person were introduced to your church on multi-media and when they arrive, the sound was as good or better? What are the chances that they will return for a second visit?
There is no doubt that when the Gospel is properly taught, there is nothing more powerful, or makes for a stronger draw to God’s word. When the acoustics of a worship space gets in the way, getting that first time visitor to return is low. To get people to come to church and be engaged in the worship, the quality of the acoustics must support the person preaching, the person listening, and a person’s contribution to the congregational singing. Who wants to go to a place that is full of people, but when you are singing, you feel all alone. What’s the point! Yet that is exactly what many people experience the first time they visit a church. This is one of the biggest reasons few people return for a second visit to a church, people first learn about online. It doesn’t have to be that way.
The Biblical plan for church acoustics can be applied to any existing church to create the relaxed worship space that become all inclusive to all parts of worship. If you need help in upgrading the acoustics of your church, please contact JdB Sound Acoustics.
If you need help in applying good sound to your worship space, send us an email or call us with the links below.
We will not tell you what you like or want to hear, we will tell you the truth of what you need to hear.
Acoustics is very predictable, and do not let anyone tell you differently. You don’t need to know anything about acoustics, but you should know what goals you want and what level of performance you expect from your worship space and sound system. Make your list and never compromise. Whoever you hire to help your church should be able to tell you after testing your room how well the acoustics and sound system will perform. Put those goals and performance targets into your contract.
Here at JdB Sound Acoustics, we have 29 goals that we reach in every acoustical and sound system design we submit to a church.
1. Eliminate standing waves
2. Eliminate or less floor monitor spill
3. Eliminate deadspots
4. Eliminate hotspots
5. Less sound system distortion
6. Less bass distortion for subwoofers
7. Eliminate echoes
8. Passive parametric room equalization of bass and mid frequencies
9. Eliminate flutter echoes
10. Maximum gain before feedback of a person talking or singing with a single mic to be 4 feet or further. (The greater the distance, the more microphones can be used simultaneously.)
11. Eliminate bass build-up
12. To have an even distribution of sound coverage from front to back and side to side.
13. Highest level speech intelligibility (91-97%Alcons or Sti level of .62-1.0)
14. Elimination of the need for delayed speakers in most churches
15. Improves the performance and sonic quality of the sound system – often over 100%
16. Better stereo sound (for churches with expanded music programs that have a budget to support such a program)
17. People have longer attention spans
18. It makes the room more effortless for the musicians to perform
19. Improved sound for people with hearing aids and those using a loop system or church supplied hearing assist system
20. Easier for the sound-person to get an excellent mix
21. Better and louder congregational singing (bring back the ability to sing in 4 part harmonies)
22. It can reduce or eliminate the need for drum shields or both
23. It makes the room less fatiguing for the minister to preach
24. Increases the signal to noise ratio between 18 - 25 dB of acoustic sounds and amplified sound throughout the room
25. Can add up to an octave of clear bass to the speaker system
26. Better bass from musical instruments, both acoustic and amplified
27. It helps to make the space more relaxing to hear speech and music.
28. lowers the sound levels from HVAC systems
29. It makes the sound of children in the sanctuary less intrusive during worship and sermons
If there any physical conditions in the design of a worship space that will limit achieving any of these goals, we will let you know before submitting a final design of the acoustics and sound system.
For the past 30 years, we have been using a 3500 year old technique successfully in hundreds of churches to reach all of these goals in one step. Experimenting is not required.
Please use this list when talking about your sound system and acoustics to other professionals or experts who you trust, or for a second opinion. If you can, read the following articles before hiring the next company to help you with your church sound needs.
Do Churches Really Buy 10 Sound Systems?
ADDRESS
Norfolk, Ontario, Canada
N4B 2H1
Helping Churches
around the world
CONTACTS
For consulting
Toronto: +1-416-248-9007
jdb@jdbsound.com
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