Technology evolves, as does the need for updated church AV system equipment. Over the past few years, there have been advancements in church AV systems that can significantly improve sound quality, increase visual engagement, and improve participation for in-person and online congregations. Upgrading your equipment not only enhances your members’ experience but also ensures that you are meeting the diverse needs of your congregation. We’ve provided this checklist to help you evaluate your current church sound system setup so that you can identify potential upgrades.
Video Integration
Many church congregations are incorporating video presentations for interactive and engaging elements. Providing a way for members to watch broadcasts of church meetings, services, and celebrations helps your audience feel more connected. Television screens, LED video walls, projectors, and monitors are all commonly used video equipment that you can integrate into your system. Consider adding visual presentation software to display lyrics, announcements, and sermon content for smooth integration with other church AV system components.
Audio System and Acoustics
Excellent sound is imperative for a church environment. Insufficient or lacking AV systems lead to miscommunication, lower attendance, decreased engagement, accessibility issues, and more. Because there have been many audio enhancements over the past few years, now is an excellent time to review your audio system and acoustics.
Consider adding digital mixing consoles to provide sound processing accessibility and easier control of multiple audio sources. High-quality wireless microphones allow speakers and performers to move around more easily, and line-array speakers offer better sound dispersion and clarity. Sound processing equipment, such as equalizers, limiters, and compressors, allows you to fine-tune audio quality and manage dynamic ranges.
Incorporate Streaming and Recording Technology
The pandemic forced many churches to turn to streaming services so their congregations could worship together. If your church has not integrated streaming and recording technology, adding these elements would benefit your congregation. Assess the needs of your audience and consider adding high-definition or 4K cameras, microphones, and mixing consoles. Streaming software and sufficient internet connection are also important elements to consider.
Add an Easy-to-Use Control System
Operating a church AV system should be easy and reduce the risk of errors during church services. We suggest reviewing and identifying any potential problems with the AV system, noting anything difficult to operate. Modern church AV systems have intuitive, user-friendly interfaces that enable easy operation for anyone with minimal technical expertise. At Marshall Industries, we aim to identify and incorporate an easy-to-use control system that is easy for any user to operate, stream, and record.
Improve Lighting System
Incorporating sufficient lighting is part of the design of many church AV systems. When assessing your system, take stock of any lighting and sound characteristics. For example, if your building has natural light, your congregation must control the sunlight when viewing video projections. Creative lighting can also be integrated, helping you set the mood and evoke certain emotions during worship services.
Add Wi-Fi Coverage
Does your church AV system offer Wi-Fi coverage? Integrating Wi-Fi into your system can offer added connectivity between cameras, microphones, and streaming devices. It also allows for mobile integration and remote management, letting you control and troubleshoot from anywhere in the church. In addition to incorporating streaming services with the use of Wi-Fi, it can also increase engagement with the congregation. Members can access their devices during services, giving you the option to enhance participation to create a more interactive worship service.
Designing New Church AV Systems with Marshall Industries
Now that you’ve assessed your church speakers and sound system, it’s time to contact Marshall Industries to make the changes you need. For over 45 years, we’ve been the industry leader in church sound systems. We work with you to determine what components to incorporate to meet your needs and those you serve. Our AV specialists and sound engineers can create a custom solution, providing a high-quality church audio system that is modern and easy to use. To upgrade your current church speaker system and video equipment, contact Marshall Industries.