Holy Family Parish, Rockland Massachusetts sounds twice as good with an audio system design offering new Chapel and Church Sound Systems!

The Project:

Holy Family Parish in Rockland Massachusetts needed better sound. But our part of the story really began years ago when we first did work for the parish. A decade ago Holy Family chose Power Sound of New England to renovate their church sound system. At the time we replaced some church audio equipment with new analog electronics. To save parish resources we offered to refurbish the existing speakers. A good cleaning and painting and re-installing were done by our technicians and the system was a great success!

Last spring a collapse of the lower chapel ceiling caused structural and wiring damage to both the chapel and upper church sound systems. Holy Family Parish immediately called on us to consult with them about various audio system design options. We proposed three scenarios where either some -or none- of the old equipment could be integrated into the new church sound system. Their analysis indicated that, out of three scenarios we offered, the most practical and effective solution for their long-term goals was a complete church sound renovation—including new digital electronics and state-of-the-art speakers designed for the church environment. So we finalized that version of audio system design to perfectly match their vision.

Power Sound is well known throughout New England for custom audio system design. But not everyone knows that we manage audio installations as part of renovations and new construction projects. For the Holy Family church audio design and installation, we completed pre-wiring during early phases of reconstruction. Then coordinating with the construction contractor’s schedule we installed the rest of the system as needed.

Church Sound Systems – what speakers might they want… 

Upper Church - The new Power Sound audio system designs offered a choice of 6-foot or 9-foot tall BOSE Panaray® speakers designed specifically for church sound systems. Since the parish wasn’t quite sure they wanted the larger speakers we offered our try before-you-buy-solution. As part of our commitment to the best possible church audio solution we often set up a weekend “demo” church sound systems- including speakers on portable stands. But here, due to the layout of the sanctuary, our technical team determined that the true sound quality could not be fully realized with speakers on stands so he actually installed the 9-foot speakers for the demonstration.

We wanted the parish to be absolutely sure – based on the actual sound scenario- before they decided between 6-foot and 9-foot speakers for the new church audio system.

“Power Sound served us magnificently! The quality of sound in both churches is excellent.”  ~ Rev. James F. Hickey

And…They were just thrilled with the larger speakers’ sound coverage and clarity and decided to keep them.

Notice that the speakers are white. During a convenient time (after Christmas Masses) we will color the speakers to exactly match the columns.

“They will be the best sound you’ll never see”, our lead technician told the parish leaders.

Chapel Sound - Again Holy Family Parish selected from of our audio system design options. This scenario called for 6-foot BOSE Panaray® speakers, while allowing us to recycle and incorporate the upper church electronics in the new chapel system.

Power Sound has been designing and installing church sound for more than forty years but this may be a first: 

Once the new was system installed, the chapel sound quality was so impressive the parish actually decided to hold every Mass for a week in the chapel. This way every parishioner who attended services that week, whether attending a daily Mass or Sunday Mass, was able to hear the fantastic new sound.

Now that is our kind of happy customer!

Custom church sound: as unique as the vision of your parish. Weekend church audio demonstrations; one of the many unique benefits of a Power Sound designed and installed system.

Chapel and Church Sound Systems. Audio visual systems designed by Power Sound and Video can be as unique as the needs of the spaces they’re designed for. To read more about audio visual systems visit our website: www.PowersoundNE.com

Sound for Worship - a church audio system design for a Boston area Seminary from Power Sound of New England

The Project:
Saint John Seminary in the Boston suburb of Brighton asked us to consult with them and to design a church audio system for their chapel. Designed to offer the clarity for both the spoken word and the music - which is a vital part of their liturgical celebrations – the new Power Sound church audio system answers the call. The chapel had a great system for its generation. After fifteen or so years it was time for a comprehensive church audio renovation. Working closely with the seminary project coordinator and clergy, we designed a system that met some of their specific needs and we recycled some of the good equipment for use elsewhere.
 
Church Audio:
In front of the altar at the chapel we mounted Bose Panaray loudspeakers – an integral part of many church sound systems designed by Power Sound – on the marble walls. The speakers emit clear even sound throughout the space. The Cantor sings from the back of the chapel, so we fitted a portable podium with a pencil style microphone that transmits, wirelessly, through the church audio system. The podium can be moved as required while maintaining its amplification capabilities. Small speakers that were part of the older audio system were cleaned, repainted and wall-mounted behind the altar so celebrants and lectors can hear and follow the Mass.

 
Sound clarity meets aesthetic quality in our audio visual systems:
We care about the visual impact of our A/V systems. You care about the visual integrity of the sanctuary. We colorize speakers to blend with their environment. The photos to the right show how easily the speakers almost disappear into their surroundings.  Since some of the wall surfaces are marble, we ran matching raceways form the speakers to cover external wiring on the wall. We also repaired surfaces when old equipment was removed in order to maintain aesthetic integrity. Church sounds systems should be heard far more than seen.

Highlight: Customized sound for each Celebrant’s style.
At St. John’s Seminary there are many Celebrants.
We designed a church audio system with a ‘sound scenario selector’. It allows our technical team to preprogram settings for a host of sound scenarios and individual sound settings for the unique liturgical style of each primary Celebrant including the Rector and Cardinal O’Malley.  Settings may also be programmed for daily Mass, full Mass or any sound scenario church sound systems need to accommodate. A single dial offers easy switching from one setting to another. 
 
Recycle, Re-Use, Save:
The bottom line matters. Re-utilizing parts results in financial savings. We reconfigured many of the former audio system parts into a portable church audio system. With a rolling case and speaker stands, the portable sound system can be used anywhere. At Saint John’s Seminary they plan to use it for outdoor services!
 
Chapel and Church Sound Systems:
Audio visual systems designed by Power Sound and Video can be as unique as the needs of the spaces they’re designed for.To read more about audio visual systems visit our website: www.PowersoundNE.com

Flexible Church Video Projection Systems offer Churches Custom Ways to Integrate Video Presentations

Church Video Projection: We keep writing about it because we are being asked about more than ever. We understand that houses of worship want a way for audio visual systems to enhance worship and education. Video projection as part of an integrated A/V system is a valuable tool for offering more visual worship. A recent audiovisual design and installation project at a New Hampshire church highlights some of the ways a combined church audio and video projection system can deepen the connection to the worship experience.

The Project:
Littleton Bible Baptist Church in New Hampshire asked us to consult with them and to design an audio visual system tailored to offer specific video projection capabilities in the sanctuary and new church audio in other areas of the building.


We designed an audio visual system that offers very flexible operation. We installed a discreet, ceiling mounted high-lumen (high-performance)video projector for presentations on the screen. (seen above.)

Video Projection. Flexible Operation: A Powerpoint – or other church software - presentation may be controlled by a laptop computer from the area adjacent to the podium. When the pastor wants to begin (or pause) a video presentation he may easily do so from the podium area. Or, the computer in the loft can control the church video presentation while the pastor is away from the pulpit. Video projection can be used during services or for other displays including films and educational presentations. (Monitor: pictured at right)


Church Audio:
As part of the new church audio system professional speakers, designed for worship spaces, are ceiling mounted and are arranged to emit even sound coverage throughout the space. We also installed speakers in the daycare, meeting room and a classroom. The church audio can be turned on at the podium; or computer-controlled audio can be turned on and off in any or all spaces as needed. Other electronics including a sound mixer in the loft control sound for the choir and podium.


For both the spoken word and music the audio visual system provides the all the flexibility the church wanted. Control of the church video projection from multiple locations and audio projected whenever and wherever needed. One great system with multiple configurations; at Power Sound we design comprehensive audio visual systems to meet the varied needs of worship spaces.

Power Sound of New England – Church Audio at a Boston Parish

A sound system test drive lets churches “try before they buy”

Let’s face it; church sound systems are not an insignificant purchase. They are a long-term investment and good audio visual systems will thus last for a long time. The right church audio means a design that is unique to your parish, the sanctuary size, reverberant nature, speaking style of the Celebrant, and other factors. Good church sound systems are the difference between a congregation hearing clearly and being engaged in services or…well…not.

We think excellent church sound systems are best heard to be believed. A weekend demonstration allows a church to try before they buy! 

The Project:
St. Mary-St. Catherine of Siena Parish in the Boston neighborhood of Charlestown came to us when they needed better sound. Our G.M. Troy Jennings analyzed the acoustics and collaborated with the pastor, Rev. James J. Ronan, and the parish business manager, James Santosuosso, to discuss the challenges the parish endured with the existing church audio system and to distinguish the priorities for the new system. 

We created  an audio visual system design to meet the demands of a variety of scenarios that affect sound transmission including attendance, the spoken word versus the music ministry, ceremony type, and environmental fluctuations that will impact church audio. 

The Demo:
Prior to installation of a new system we set up a temporary BOSE loudspeaker system for a weekend “test drive” by the parish. They were thrilled. They enjoyed the clear church audio they wanted and had the assurance that they’d be delighted with the results before the new sound system was purchased and installed.

The results: 

"Fabulous..."

“We are very impressed with the clarity…(of the new church audio system)…we knew it would be excellent quality, but assumed that came with a big price tag. We were wrong. Working with Troy, we came up with a competitive price that fit our budget. Power Sound’s demonstration of the system in our Parish was fabulous—what a great way to hear the actual sound improvement we’d realize before purchasing it. When we contract with a company we expect the very best products and service...Power Sound has delivered both.”   
   ~ James Santosuosso; Business Manager, St. Mary-St. Catherine of Siena Parish, Charlestown, MA

A highlight of the church audio system: The new loudspeakers, crafted especially for worship spaces, provide super-professional sound quality. We’ll go into the techy “hows and whys” of this further in our next post.

To read more about church sound systems and this project visit our website: www.PowersoundNE.com/featuredprojects.html

Power Sound of New England - Custom Church Sound Systems. Audio in both the Church and Parish Hall. Greatly Improved Sound – Twice!

We have just completed a church sound project that brings up an increasingly popular scenario; the desire by parishes to have separate church sound systems for both the sanctuary and the parish/fellowship hall.

St. Roch Parish in Oxford Massachusetts needed better church sound for the sanctuary and an audio system for the Parish Hall. Msgr. Louis “Lou” Piermarini wanted a versatile system that would address sound quality and offer easy operation. A custom audio visual system designed by Power Sound answered the call.

We offer our thanks to Msgr. Louis Piermarini and St. Roch Parish in Oxford Massachusetts for your trust in our work and for your kind words about it. We are honored to have earned both.          ~Troy D. Jennings, PSNE

Interestingly the new audio visual system at St. Roch Parish is features an audio design that allows the system to operate as two church sound systems or integrate into a single system that projects Mass to more than one location.

Msgr. Lou called the new system, “Wonderful!”

Features: Main Church Audio with a unique digital audio selector. We can program sound settings for any number of attendance scenarios such as full Church, holiday Mass or weekday attendance.  One button changes the setting as needed.  The Parish Hall Audio functions separately for meetings, plays or dinners. But; with the flip of a switch its speakers connect to the Main Church sound system to project audio to overflow attendance. Both are versatile, effective and easy to operate.

Let’s face it: Overflow attendance has long been a challenge for churches. Overflow for particular Masses often means a bunch of attendees standing in the foyer straining to hear the main church audio system through open doors. (If you’re a clergy or staff member of a parish you are probably nodding recalling times like this). We know. You want your collective church sound systems to reach beyond the sanctuary. They can. We design church audio tailored to whatever a parish needs.

“This is the technical charm of the system”, said our G.M. Troy Jennings. “It is not common church audio wisdom that smaller spaces like halls, lobbies or other overflow areas could have their own audio system with the capability to tie into the main system with the simple touch of a button AND get the same rich, clear sound from the sanctuary in ancillary locations. Our proprietary designs have this in mind.”

Church sound systems from Power Sound are a tools helping parishes meet their audiovisual goals. More information about audio visual solutions and church sound systems is available at our website: www.PowersoundNE.com/worshipav

Power Sound of New England - Cutting Edge Church audio visual systems answer the call with video systems for church security

Church Security Camera

As we wrote about in the last post; Power Sound of New England has recently installed a multi-purpose and many-feature video projection system at St. Benedict Parish in Somerville, MA. In this, part II, we’ll explain a bit about the benefits of utilizing a church video projection system as a versatile security system.

One of the critical goals of the parish is for camera system to provide church security. The Boston Archdiocese and other parish communities are recommending that - through audio visual systems technology - worship spaces and offices to be more open to their congregations.

Examples of church security feature and benefits include:

Cameras at entrances: Alert staff and clergy know who is entering parish buildings. This is a wonderful way to allow worshippers access to their parish during times when only office staff is present. Cameras can record when motion is detected and send silent images to a monitor for instant review, or, record images to a digital video recorder for later playback.

Exterior entrance cameras: Camera on guests and monitors in offices can “announce” night time visitors arriving for meetings offering a more secure building after dark.

Worship space cameras: 

While their primary function may be to record worship services and ceremonies, also important cameras can keep watch over sensitive areas including collection boxes and any place valuables are kept. Church security is combined with the welcoming “open door” environment parishes strive to create.

Office and conference area cameras: Silent recording of meeting spaces provide transparency parishes seek while keeping private discussions just that way; private.

St. Benedict Parish pastor, Fr. Bob Carr views audio visual systems’ technology as vital to his parish. He continues to add technology, including church video projection with cameras to enhance the worship experience and to offer the safest environment in which to worship and to work. He said about our Audio Visual Systems

"…Power Sound knew exactly what we needed. Their guidance and product knowledge has been invaluable…"

Our thanks to Fr. Carr and to St Benedict Parish for entrusting us with their church audio, video projection and security systems. We look forward to being their trust A/V solutions source long into the future.

More information about church audio visual systems is available at our website www.PowersoundNE.com/worshipav.html

Power Sound of New England - Church Video Projection. A New Era in Audio Visual Systems

(part I)

The worship experience is being changed by church video projection. 

Even Catholic Churches, which have long been the anchor of our audio visual systems customer base—and are typically hesitant to utilize anything that feels to “techy” —are embracing it as a way to illuminate worship. As a priest recently shared with our G.M. Troy Jennings, “Technology is a tool. We in the ministry need to use all the tools available to reach our flock. If video projection can help us reach them than it’s a powerful tool.”

We are excited! We’ve just completed a cutting-edge custom audio visual systems project for St. Benedict Church in the Boston neighborhood of Somerville MA. This parish is made up of a multi-cultural congregation. Church video projection has given them more ways to connect to worship and to each other.

Church video projection system’s most special, intimate feature: Live stream video of prayer meetings is now seen by worshipers from Atlanta, GA to Argentina, and to as far away as Romania. Many parishioners have loved ones in other countries who now can watch and listen to streaming video on the parish website for important Masses including funerals and weddings. These are religious events they would otherwise miss.

In the sanctuary behind the altar are two large, retractable projection screens. Multiple cameras record different angles and project images “live” during church services. In addition to being a great way to display hymn lyrics so the congregation can lift their voice to the altar in song —and forget small-print hymnals, the Church video projection system offers multiple views of the church, altar and choir area. One of their favorite applications: Now during Baptisms the congregation can see a close-up of the baby, family and Celebrant.

About the church video projection project Power Sound of New England managed for St. Benedict’s Parish; the pastor Fr. Bob Carr wrote, 

“Hey Troy, We also installed an internet connection-so anything you can put on a computer, you can put on our screens at St. Benedict, including showing a DVD or showing a live feed from anywhere in the world. I just showed a video from my visit to the Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida in Brazil.”

We think this is a perfect example of what audio visual systems are all about.

In another phase of the project, Part II, (which we’ll blog about next time), other cameras were added to sensitive parish areas offering church security as part of this multi-purpose system.  Church Video Projection—with interior and/or exterior cameras—has evolved exponentially. It now is an instrumental "tool” to allow parishes to keep their doors more open, more often. Church security cameras are also a way to announce evening visitors to the parish. This is a valuable safety feature.

What are parish leaders saying about Church Video Projection? 

In a word, “Beautiful.”

More information about worship space audio visual systems is available at our website www.PowersoundNE.com/WorshipAV.
For more on video camera systems for church security visit www.powersoundne.com/ worshipav/VideoChurchSecurity

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Power-Sound-of-New-England/79569389977?ref=ts

Audio Visual Systems – Gorgeous new church audio for glorious old churches

We have just completed a very unique church audio project; the new audio visual system at St. Anthony Franciscan Monastery in Kennebunk Maine.

Designs for Church sound systems share some common traits; virtually every church space has reverberant acoustics. The architecture of religious spaces is singular, oft designed much like the shape of a boat hull upside down, or older buildings where acoustics where never considered pose some interesting challenges. That said, we have since 1969 been concentrating most of our business to treating these environments. Church sound systems that are effective in producing rich, intelligible audio for both the spoken word and the music ministry are not common in our industry. Most A/V providers say that they can focus on one or the other.

Huh? We know our custom audio visual systems answer the call for BOTH. That is one of the benefits of a custom Power Sound church audio system. Another is that we guarantee our work and will be there long after an audio visual system is installed for any updates or maintenance.

St. Anthony Franciscan Monastery needed new audio for their chapel but also needed special attention heeded to the monastery’s historical aesthetics. The new audio visual system design features BOSE Pro© speakers crafted especially for worship space environment. The photos to the right demonstrate how subtly the loudspeakers blend handsomely with their surroundings. These sleek speakers are actually six feet tall and yet 4 slim inches wide. Church audio in the chapel was augmented by smaller speakers added to ancillary spaces used for overflow.

Our project in this holy place was a particularly special to us and we are grateful for the trust Fr. Aurillius and the Monastery staff placed in us. We are honored to have earned it. Our kind thanks to St. Anthony Franciscan Monastery.

The Monastery is located on lush acreage in Kennebunk and is home to the Friary, Chapel, Shrines, a Guest House, lovely gardens and a gift shop. Religious services (with great new church audio), classes, and retreats are available. The beautiful property beckons thousands visitors and worshipers each year. Visit them at www.framon,net.

More information about worship space audio visual systems is available at our website www.PowersoundNE.com/WorshipAV

One Audio Visual System - Three Solutions for a New Hampshire Parish Worship Space Audio, Video Projection and Security

Power Sound of New England (PSNE) has recently completed the final phase of an audio visual system design and installation project at Our Lady of the Mountains in N. Conway New Hampshire.

In the initial phase PSNE addressed the parish’s Audio System. The sanctuary required a church audio system to tame the challenging acoustics all too familiar to houses worship.

The new audio visual system design features professional speakers crafted especially for church environment that provide the professional sound quality they wanted for the congregation. As part of the audio visual design we installed small yet powerful speakers to project sound clearly to the transepts; and area often in need of clearer sound.

The next phase: A Custom Church Video Projection System that has a dual purpose as a Church Security System.

Analysis results indicated that church security could be implemented, specific to the unique features of the facility, by monitoring all entrances. A highlight of this video projection system is the multi-image monitor. It displays images of all seven camera locations. When an entrance is accessed the corresponding monitor image flashes red accompanied by an audible tone. The system offers the parish the ability to be as “open door” as they want combined with the security they need.

For church security and safety, most parishes require locked doors at all times. Many houses for worship report that planning for more church security is critical and timely. PSNE Church Video Security offers ways to record sensitive areas. At this New Hampshire parish, the main office has ability to record on demand, at pre-programmed times or 24/7. Optionally, sound may be recorded as needed.

Parishes can realize multiple benefits of Video Recording for church security or archiving. Video recording can be also used to record Masses...Ideal for posting to parish websites or displaying in overflow areas.

More information about worship space audio visual systems is available at www.PowersoundNE.com

Church Sound Systems and the impact of new FCC guidelines for wireless microphone use

As you all probably know; new FCC guidelines are in effect regarding the operation for ALL wireless microphones. If your parish uses wireless microphones as part of any of your church sound systems, you need to know about the new rules prohibiting use of models operating on specific 700 mhz ranges of frequency. As stated many, especially older wireless microphones, operate on a frequency that will no longer be allowed.
The deadline for cessation of use was June 12, 2010.

While many church sound systems depend on the use of wireless microphone for weekly services, religious education presentations and special events, many have not yet budgeted for the purchase of new equipment. We know you don’t want to replace working wireless systems simply due to an FCC “operating frequency” change. But most Church Sound Systems depend on wireless.
We know this is inconvenient for you and we wish you didn’t have to replace wireless mics that work.

PSNE is here to help your parish manage the cost. To help keep your church sound systems featuring ever-important wireless microphones operating per the new guidelines we have chosen to sell replacements at as close to our cost as possible.

To help with this transition we are offering:
Special pricing for a limited time* in conjunction with manufacturer’s rebates. The wireless you need to comply to the FCC now. Ongoing service that doesn’t come with online discount store purchases. Installation, warranty, and integration with your church sound systems.

Do you need assistance to understand what this means to you and your church sound systems. Power Sound of New England is here to help you with compliance. Let us help keep your church sound systems in shape with wireless microphones that operate in the new accepted frequencies.

Visit our website for more information about church sound systems and the FCC guidelines.

*Special pricing may be discontinued after July 2010.