Today, many churches are recording spoken word to CD with the intent for immediate distribution or sales. Offering an audio CD just moments after a sermon is a powerful tool for fundraising. The CD allows members to enjoy the day's message a little longer or pass along the message to those not able to attend. The spoken word CD is a great idea, and it is not difficult to accomplish with the right equipment.

Traditionally, short-run CD copying is done with a CD duplicator. It's a great tool in itself, but when adding additional factors, such as recording live audio and immediate production, more than a duplicator is required.

Before looking at the live event recorder/duplicator concept, let's examine the most common method for producing a spoken word CD.

The most popular method for creating a spoken word CD is recording live audio to a PC; here, editing and mastering can take place. After the editing process is complete, a master CD is burned to be used in the CD duplicator. The last step is duplicating short-run CDs for immediate sales and fundraising.

Here lies the beauty of a live event recorder/duplicator; it is a standalone, turn-key solution. A system like this is specifically designed to accomplish the goals we have. It can record live audio, features the ability to edit, and is engineered for short-run duplication.

Let's take a closer look. Live event systems are preconfigured with audio input connections. These connections make it easy to record audio from either an analog or digital source directly to the system. This design concept eliminates the need for a technical person to set up hardware and software, and it makes for an inviting plug-n-play solution.

Next is our need for editing. Although spoken word CDs are literally a live recording on disc, there are times when basic editing is still needed. Here are some examples. Oftentimes, churches want to insert pre-recorded introductions or closing statements. During holiday seasons, it is not uncommon for copyright audio to be played during a sermon; this audio should not be included on reproduced CDs. Finally, the most common editing function is clipping out long durations of silence or clipping out audio spikes from a dropped guitar or microphone.

The last requirement is quick-turn CD production. The key for a successful fundraising campaign through spoken word CD lies with timely production. It's imperative that a live event recorder/duplicator have enough recorders to produce CDs within minutes of a sermon ending. After all, the likelihood of a member purchasing a CD several days after the event is far less likely than just minutes after.

The beauty of a live event recorder/duplicator is that everything is built in and preconfigured for the task at hand. A system like this eliminates some steps, streamlines the process, and standardizes the method on how spoken word CDs are created. For small and medium churches, the live event recorder/duplicator is an excellent concept with an economical price tag.

Greg Morris is the marketing manager for MF Digital, www.mfdigital.com, which manufactures optical disc solutions for audio, medical, data and software applications.