While servicing church organs and digital pianos, I am frequently being asked about church sound systems.

Since I have been around sound systems for years and have played in professional bands and in church, I have picked up a fair amount of knowledge pertaining to sound systems and stage setups.

The microphone is the first device to capture the source material into the sound system. Using quality microphones makes a very positive difference to the overall system. Many different types of microphones are available for many different applications.

First, let's talk about the various types of microphones for use within your church sanctuary.

1. Vocal microphones should have built-in wind screens. Wind screens are not needed for instrument microphones.

2. Pulpit microphones are great for a permanently mounted microphone. They have a very small profile and a huge sound.

3. Choir microphones are similar to pulpit microphones, but they hang from the ceiling over the choir.

4. Wireless microphones come in handheld and lavalier types. Ministers may want to use a lavalier wireless so they can be free to move around. These also work well with drama members. A handheld wireless microphone works well for soloists, guest singers, or events where the microphone needs to be passed around.

Impedence
Professional microphones are wired as low impedance. Low impedance wiring allows for longer cables and lower noise. The sound board can typically be 100 feet from the stage. This means the cables from the microphone to the board equal 100 feet or more. Only low impedance wiring should be used for any length of cable over 20 feet.

Microphones for Instruments
Obviously, microphones are used for speakers and singers, but they are also used for certain instruments. Instruments that may require a microphone include:

* Acoustic guitars
* Guitar amps
* Piano
* Drums

When you mic an instrument, the position of the microphone will make a big difference. It is usually trial and error to find the best microphone position.

In general, positioning the microphone as close as possible to the source is best. The closer the microphone is to the source, the better capture of the source and the better noise rejection of nearby sound sources. Placing the microphone too close to a really loud source could cause distortion. If the source is loud enough to do this, it may not need a microphone, or the microphone can be placed farther away.

When to Mic an Instrument
More and more, churches are investing in larger sound systems that are very sophisticated. To gain more control over the entire sound, instruments are being sent through the sound system, giving the sound person complete control over the mix.

In a smaller church, it usually isn't necessary to add instruments into the sound system. If, however, an instrument is weak in volume compared to the mix in the system, it may need a microphone to help it balance to the other instruments.

Another technique being used is to add an instrument into the sound system to make it quieter. For example, if the electric guitar player tends to play too loud, you can have the player face their amp to the back of the stage with a microphone on it. This way, the amplifier acts as their monitor, and the sound system can put the proper amount of guitar into the mix out front.

The drums can be isolated acoustically with clear plastic dividers, and adding microphones behind the plastic allows the sound person to bring just the right amount of drum volume into the mix. This also accounts for the growing popularity of electronic drums, which make no sound outside its electronic outputs connected to speakers.

In large churches, some instrument speakers may even be located off stage with a microphone. An example might be locating the Organ Leslie speaker off stage and placing two microphones on it, one for the top rotor and one for the bottom rotor. Now in this case, remember the organist still needs to hear the organ in order to play it, so a very strong monitor will be necessary.

George Benton is the owner of Benton Electronics, www.bentonelectronics.com.