The Significance of A/V Quality
Praise and worship services have been the bedrock of many evangelical churches since the 1970s. As church services have evolved, so have the audio and visual technologies churches use to reach their congregations. Immersive lighting, videos synchronized with song lyrics, live streaming services and pristine sound quality that could mimic the sublime acoustics of vaulted church ceilings combine to create a profound experience of musical prayer and praise.
Even today, when people reflect on a service, “the overall audio and visuals (A/V ) experience” is one of the main things that comes to mind, says Mission Hills Tech Director Aaron Miller. Why? Physiologically speaking, the more senses evoked, the more pieces of the puzzle are available to the brain, and the easier the message is to understand. Music and visuals offer a unique way to engage with and understand the message of God. “Whether we think it’s the most important part of a church or not, we experience weekend worship with our senses as much as our thoughts and feelings. We are inadvertently impacted by what we see, hear and experience on Sunday mornings,” says Miller. “Of course, a church can have a wonderful ministry without a robust A/V system, but it’s also important for your church to be the best steward of your resources possible, even when those resources are limited.”
So, how do you prioritize your A/V spending when it all feels important?
Choosing what to spend money on can be difficult when there are so many crucial aspects of producing high-quality, immersive audio and video. Figuring out how to allocate your A/V budget can be quite the dilemma for churches on a budget.
We think it’s important to start with the basics:
- Have a clear budget and take stock of what equipment you already have.
- Begin with audio, then visuals.
- Your tech ministry needs consistent training to stay up to date.
- Worship should cater to your congregation’s needs, not your ego.
The Budget: Don’t Go Overboard
More sound isn’t always better. “You know, if you’re in a medium- to large-sized room, you’ll still need to cage your drummer,” says Miller. Sound systems should be customized to the size of the room. This is good news for smaller churches because you won’t need to go all out on sound equipment. A few key pieces can have a positive impression on the congregation.
Miller recommends doing incremental upgrades every nine months. It’s okay to look for ways to improve audiovisual equipment, but always consider what truly benefits your congregation. That means not blowing your entire church budget on tech gear. “Keeping it simple is always better,” says Miller. For example, if your ministry needs a strong youth leader, that should take precedence over high-tech gear.
Basic Equipment You Can’t Go Wrong With
Audio Equipment
- Speakers: You should have at least two powered speakers (a 15-inch subwoofer and 3-way speakers are recommended for a richer, crisper sound).
- Mixer: A 16-channel analog (usually cheaper) or digital mixer with at least four auxiliary sends.
- Subwoofer: We recommend at least one slightly larger powered subwoofer (18-inch). But, you might not need one if your worship sessions are more acoustic, as this helps create low-frequency sounds that give the atmosphere a more vibrational and “hyped up” feel.
- Stage Monitors: At least four powered stage monitor wedges or in-ear monitor systems. This will help your praise team hear themselves and harmonize.
- Microphones: 4-6 vocal mics (depending on the size of your praise team).
- Other accessories: Mic stands, cables, studio-grade power strips and surge protectors to protect equipment.
- One kick drum mic: If your church is more on the larger side and can handle the sound.
- Instrument mics
- Wireless headset mic for the pastor.
- Audio Snake: These audio multicore cables connect the stage to the sound booth and will reduce clutter and keep people from tripping. Budget audio snakes can be found on Amazon with some shopping around.
Video Equipment
- Video Display: Choose your display based on the room size and budget. Painting a section of the wall white can be a practical and budget-friendly do-it-yourself option.
- Video Cameras: If your church congregation could benefit from live streaming or recording services, then at least one video camera could help expand your church’s reach.
Lighting Equipment
- Basic Stage Lighting: Front and Backlighting for the Stage Area. (Focus on basic lighting techniques.)
Small churches can usually do without advanced equipment, such as:
- Large digital mixers
- Line array speaker systems
- Elaborate lighting rigs
- Numerous audio processing boards
- Advanced video editing systems
The goal is to have basic, high-quality equipment that clearly amplifies both the pastor and the praise team but isn’t overpowering.
Create and Leverage Tech Mentorship Opportunities
While A/V ministry is a growing field, it’s a tech-heavy skill set few folks have. Finding volunteers and training for running the church sound booth can be challenging. Miller’s surefire way to learn and develop the skills you need? Build relationships with the A/V professionals around you. By reaching out to other sound and tech ministers in your area, you can build a network you can learn from and bounce ideas off of. Many larger churches even provide hands-on training to other churches in the local community.
While there are a ton of YouTube videos out there, Miller says you should proceed with caution. “YouTube can be your best friend and your worst enemy.” As far as online resources go, his favorite is MXU.
Worship Should Cater to Your Church’s Needs, Not Ego
Are you here to advance your agenda or serve your church? We know that’s a hard line to balance because many pastors, including Miller, want to build their church up. “You have to be intentional, disciplined and confident” in your decisions and proposed changes. You have to also cater to your congregation, which means their age and culture. Always keep in mind, more sound isn’t always better.”
A common mistake that many tech ministers make is trying to keep up with the church down the street. A/V is meant to facilitate worship for your congregation, so what works for another church might not work for you.”
Do You Have the Manpower?
Church size affects your talent pool. You’ll need to work with what you have and train who you can to work with that equipment. “You have to whittle it down and say vision and culture outweigh your ego.” This bit of advice is for churches of any size. If you don’t have someone on board who can handle complex tech, you don’t need it yet. Don’t buy an extensive system based on “maybe you’ll find someone to volunteer.” Complex systems, by nature, require a technically savvy individual to run them, which are unicorns in most congregations. Troubleshooting tech issues week after week will only frustrate your congregation and burn out your tech volunteers.
Also, if you have a decent worship set-up that works, don’t be too concerned about upgrading quality or sound right away. “Some churches have an amazing acoustic sound going on, and that truly works for them,” says Miller. God will tell you when it’s time to scale; don’t let comparisons to other churches rush the progress of your church beyond capacity.
This article was written in collaboration with Aaron Miller, the Tech Director at Mission Hills. If you want to continue the conversation, you can contact him directly at amiller@missionhills.org.
