011: How To Lead (And Learn From) Your Sound Tech

Today’s Interview is with Kent Morris who is widely recognized for his church sound training abilities. He has more than 30 years of experience working with A/V, has served as a sound mixer for several noted performers, including Paul Baloche and Israel Houghton, and is a product development consultant for several leading audio manufacturers. Here are the some of questions I ask Kent (and I even give a few of his nuggets - but you’ll want to listen for all the great stuff). How should we view the sound tech role in the worship team? "The sound tech is the only member of the congregation that’s also a member of the worship team...they are a liaison between the congregation and the stage." What are some ways worship leaders don’t lead their sound techs well. "Get tech team up on stage and talk face-to-face as rehearsal begins..." What are some crucial questions that the WLs fail to ask their sound techs? "Ask the question: 'What would it take it do this.’" What does your ideal sound check look like? As a worship leader, how would you persuade a sound tech to be at rehearsal? How can sound techs help the WL deal with the “more me” problem and volume wars on stage? What’s some advice on transitioning from wedges to in-ears? Many churches have a rotating group of techs that serve. How do we get a consistent sound from week to week? How can techs get more hands-on training and development? Where are some resources for learning how to mix well? What happens if your sound tech doesn’t have an ear for music? How many singers before mix gets too hard to manager How do you mic a choir without getting the feedback? Kent gave some details instructions, so here’s a quick synopsis of that:

• Choir mixing is difficult because it’s an area mic’ing
• High Pass Filter - turn off low frequency response
• • On basic board, take Bass knob down 5 - 8 db
  • On large format board with HPF, set to 150 Hz
• 250 - 500 Hz is the fundemental vocal range - prominent.
• • Go to 315 Hz and pull down - takes overbearing muddy sound down
• The high frequencies can be taken out too:
• • Treble knob down
  • Add LPF

Sites: ChurchSoundCheck.com http://www.churchsoundcheck.com/ SoundMadeSimple.com http://www.soundmadesimple.com/ PSW - Professional Sound Web Live Sound International Magazine http://www.prosoundweb.com/search/results/ffb0b4732e716718c0413e9f9b93a68f/ Worship Leader Magazine http://worshipleader.com/ Worship Musician Magazine http://www.christianmusician.com/magazines/