"Loud is easy.
Transparent is hard."

As a church, you are in the business of communication.  Of course we recognize that you are not a business and the content of the message your church is communicating is not just another product available for people to buy or not to buy. We understand the importance of the message you are communicating with your congregation and want to help you to get the message out.

Because the message the church is communicating (or shall we say attempting to communicate, we'll get to that later.)  is so important, extra special attention needs to be given to how that message reaches the ears of your congregation.

Anyone who has taken a public speaking class will know there are some obvious barriers to communication.  The delivery of a message can be as important as the content to ensure, effective communication.

Barriers to effective communication

Skipping the obvious barriers, which fall on the person speaking to overcome, I'll skip to the less obvious. Here are a few barriers to communication that are often overlooked by churches due to budget restrictions or other reasons.

Stage area lighting - Not as frequently overlooked as other areas but usually done incorrectly or inadequately.  If up to 70% of communication is visual, this could be the one most important upgrade your church needs.

House (seating area) lights - The number, style, brightness and color of  house lights create an atmosphere.  The way people feel when they walk into a room affects how they will respond to what they are hearing in that room. Fluorescent lights, although more efficient than other types, create an atmosphere that reminds people of an office, school or hospital.

Decor - be sure the decor of your room contributes to the atmosphere you are attempting to create.

Video - use a projector.  Hymnals don't promote good singing.  People sing much better when they are looking straight ahead not down.  Visual reinforcement of a speakers message aids retention so use powerpoint slides or other forms of visual aids. Video can also be used to create a mood and draw attention to the stage.

Acoustics - Poor acoustics can make your room feel dead or cavernous. Communication is enhanced, especially speech, when proper acoustic treatments are used.

Sound system - often underpowered and outdated.  Typically there are dead zones where no one can hear a thing and a few seats where people are covering their ears.  Often you'll find cheap microphones of the wrong style and in the wrong place for what they are being used.

The unique needs of the church sound system

"We had a very tight budget that he worked with.
Not only did he stay within our budget,
but we got quality equipment and great service."

Larry Hiles - Minister
Johnstown Christian Church
Johnstown, OH

The biggest limitation to churches is budget.  There are exceptions of course but most churches must settle for whatever their budget allows.  Often they will purchase inexpensive components which end up causing frustration because of being inadequate for the job they are being asked to do.

Central Ohio Sound is familiar with and stays up to date with quality products in all price ranges and will be able to work within your budget, saving money where possible. The best or most expensive component is not always the best choice and will not be recommended unless that is what is needed.

I believe that the church sound system's main goal is to disappear. What that means is it needs to be able to avoid drawing attention to itself while at the same time highlighting the speaker, musicians, recorded media or whatever else you can imagine. You will communicate most effectively to all who come to your church if your sound system is loud enough to be heard by all, but not too loud for anyone, and transparent enough to neither offend nor impress in any way that could distract people from hearing the message.

Church sound is not just about being loud enough for all to hear the pastor's sermon.   The church sound system in the 21st century needs to meet the demands of amplifying rock style praise bands, movie soundtracks, live concerts while at the same time providing clear natural sounding amplification for acoustic instruments and voices for the more intimate and mellow times.

Portability is also a necessity for many churches.  Most new churches start meeting in a school or other borrowed space and must set up and tear down a sound system, among countless other things, each Sunday. Although it may sound like a contradiction, your church may need it's next installed sound system to be portable.

Loud is easy.  Transparent is hard.  Central Ohio Sound will provide you with a system that can disappear when necessary, stay within your budget, be as portable as necessary and for those times when it is needed, impress concert attendees with the sound they are expecting.

For all of your church's sound system needs contact Central Ohio Sound