If you’ve read much of my content, you know I’m a big believer in getting the sound right at the source. I’ve written extensively on the subject—from singers to drummers, choirs, and even the pastor’s headset. Our job as audio engineers is to do the very best we can...
By the time you read this—just days before Easter—if you don’t already have your gear lined up, your rehearsals scheduled, and your tech ducks in a row...well, there’s not much I can offer at this point that’ll prevent a logistical scramble. But that’s not the point...
This question comes up often in church AVL forums, and it's one I hear frequently. Here's the part some find irritating about my usual response: the definitive answer is... It depends! But don't worry—I do have some concrete guidelines (yes, actual numbers!) I'll...
Today’s vocal mic market can be overwhelming—especially with wireless systems letting you change heads like you’re swapping pieces on a Lego X-Wing Fighter. A $100 SM58 capsule? Done. A Neumann KK 105 at ten times the cost? Yours if you’ve got the cash. For young...
Not long ago, I posted a short article on LinkedIn, poking fun at a church audio engineer for wearing a wide-brimmed fedora while mixing FOH. While I do think it was a little over-the-top in the fashion-over-function category, the main point was that a large hat like...
There’s a good reason football teams review game film—it’s not just about chasing perfection. It’s about learning, making adjustments, and constantly improving. The same principle applies to church services. Without a structured review process, you risk repeating...
A while back, a friend approached me after I finished mixing FOH at a large church. He said, “I loved your mix today. When you mix, I can hear everything on stage!” I thanked him for the compliment, but in my mind, I was thinking, Well, today you could hear everything...
Having worked with dozens of churches and worship teams, I’ve come to realize that a choir is essentially a microcosm of the church itself. Every personality—good, bad, and everything in between—is represented. Some members are joyful, eager to serve, and ready to...
As we closed the books on 2024 and stepped into 2025, like most people, I’ve been reflecting on the work I’ve done and the lessons learned during this season. I never set out to track my “at-bats,” but as part of my weekly audio work for a large church, I keep a...
Audio engineering is a fascinating blend of technical precision and artistic intuition. It’s where science meets soul, requiring us to not only master the mechanics of sound but also nurture a deep love for the music we’re amplifying. Yet, in the midst of real-time...
A quick YouTube search will reveal lots of “worship fail” moments. Lord knows I’ve witnessed and participated in many over the years. We all have a good chuckle and are thankful that whatever disaster generated 50,000 views didn’t occur on our watch. Stuff happens....
Have you ever felt the power of a kick drum through a massive PA system? It’s incredible—and dangerous. The rush of moving thousands of people, whether as a musician, worship leader, or audio engineer, can quickly shift from confidence to ego if we’re not careful. It...
I have a good friend, a seasoned and well-respected worship pastor, who recently joined the staff at a fast-growing church. One of his primary goals has been to help an already talented worship team of volunteers develop into a cohesive and disciplined group, raising...
An accordion player, a banjo player, and a trombone player finally got a paying gig at a small bar on New Year’s Eve. To everyone’s surprise, the trio was a hit! The crowd loved the show, and at the end of the night, the pub owner said, “We’d love to book you again...
I have a good friend who works in the film industry as a colorist. He spends his days refining every single frame of a movie or show, making sure that each shot has just the right tones, shadows, and highlights to match the director’s vision. Nearly everything you...
It’s that time of year again—the season that comes around with clockwork precision, yet somehow always feels like it sneaks up on us. For those of us in church production, the question looms: are we ready? Does the thought of another Christmas season conjure up the...
If you ask a church audio team what would help them the most, the answer is usually more time. I covered this in a previous article on the ever-shrinking soundcheck time churches are willing to allot. To be fair, some engineers pushed back, arguing that their churches...
At this year's CFX 2024 Conference, I’ll be speaking about "How to Choose an AVL Integrator and Manage the Process." As a companion piece, I thought it would be good to share some thoughts on this forum. Having spent many years working within church AVL integration...
Over the last several years, there’s been a noticeable shift in the role of acoustic guitars in modern worship music. In many churches, the acoustic guitar has been sidelined or even muted entirely in the mix. This trend has even become the subject of jokes among some...
Church audio engineering is both an art and a science, requiring a blend of technical skill, musical intuition, and a deep understanding of the worship experience. However, the approach to managing this critical aspect of worship varies widely among churches. Some...
Whether you're a church audio engineer—Broadcast, Front of House, professional, or volunteer—this article is for you. I know my content occasionally stirs up controversy; after all, I’m just one voice sharing my experience. Disagreement is fine, but here’s one thing...
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