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.