A Massachusetts Church; Two Phase Audio Visual Systems Renovation

Sound System Renovation and Video Projection at a Nantucket Church

This year one of the especially noteworthy AV system design projects we completed was for a parish on Nantucket Island. The Massachusetts church sound and video projection projects were done in two phases. The Church Sound System phase of the project included new professional-grade electronics, microphones and speakers engineered for optimal sound projection in worship spaces. 

The AV system design: Church sound by the numbers 

What makes great church Audio?

1. High-Performance Equipment combined with Great Design 

As part of a custom church sound system design, speakers are installed for optimal sound clarity and intelligibility. Here the tower-style loudspeakers are installed in the front corners of the nave and in order to offer intelligible sound, were planned to directionally ‘cover’ the nave with clear even sound from front to back.

2. Pro-grade BOSE® loudspeakers  

Designed especially for the worship environment, aesthetically aligned with Church architecture. Extra steps include coloring the speaker casing to perfectly match the wall, wainscoting, columns or railings to which they are affixed.

3. Digital Sound Selector – for each church sound scenario

A digital wall-mount remote controller contains   presets which are customized for different sound settings i.e. Size of Mass attendance, different Music Ministries, Seasonal changes etc. The system performs perfectly for every Mass, every time.

4. Re-purposing older equipment in new church audio visual systems 

The old speakers from the nave were installed in the choir loft. Sometimes equipment needs a good cleaning and tuning and then may be re-installed in an area it is better designed to service. The speakers at this parish were not optimal for sound coverage throughout the nave but were a good choice for church sound projection in loft.

5. Portable Sound for Chapel, Lawn, anywhere 

BOSE quality sound in a discreet 6 ft tall x 4 inch wide speaker. At the Sconset Chapel—which has some strong historical significance related to its aesthetics— hard-wired speakers were not ideal. BOSE® offers a portable version of the church sound system speakers we employ for many AV system designs. The speaker(s) may be used for Mass or set up elsewhere indoors or outside for use as needed.

Fr. Bouchard spoke of his trust in Power Sound- having chosen our company at more than one parish where he has served as pastor. He entrusted PSNE with another Massachusetts Church Audio project when he was pastor at Corpus Christi Parish in East Sandwich. Now at St Mary, Our Lady of the Isle he again entrusted PSNE with a 2-phase AV system design and installation project. When asked what about our company he favored he was quick to reply:

“Always Responsive… You keep proving yourselves!” 

- Rev. Marcel Bouchard

The Project Phase 2: Church Video Projection in the sanctuary.  A Video projection system was designed/installed in the sanctuary several months prior to the church audio system part of the AV renovation. In our next post we’ll share a little about its genesis and how the parish is utilizing the new technology. 

How’s the sound in your church? How about the chapel, classrooms, Sunday school, or nursery? When we ask this of any clergy and staff we often hear your replies that tell us you want and need much better, much more intelligible sound. If you’re nodding along you may want to read more about audio visual systems for worship by visiting our website:  http://powersoundne.com/ worshipav.html