Placement of Stage Amplifiers and Monitors
[ contact the author ]
[ view printable version ]
[ recommend this article to a friend ]
There are 3 important goals when it comes to placement of stage amplifiers and monitors. The first goal concerns the sound engineer and that is: to minimize stage sound from reaching the congregation. In most churches the speakers of the house system are considerably better sounding than stage amplifiers and monitors. As such you would want to hear from the house system rather than from the stage.
The second goal concerns the performers on stage: to hear themselves and one another. When musicians and singers cannot hear themselves, how can they be expected to perform their best? The third goal, which I will not discuss here, is to make the stage accessible as well as make the stage look good.
Here are things I do to help churches achieve the first 2 goals. Please note that equipment differ from church to church so some of the steps below might not be applicable in some instances. The guide below assumes a 4 piece rock ensemble with vocals all lined into the house sound system.
Amplifiers & monitors should face inwards to the stage. This will reduce clarity (some treble) and volume from the stage equipment. The house sound system will be able to compensate for this.
Undesirable to face amplifiers outwards
Better to face amplifiers inwards
As far as possible no instrument amps should face lead or backup singers. Lined instruments usually have the capacity to be much louder than singer's microphones. It is a common complain from singers that they always get drowned out.
Undesirable to face amplifiers towards singers
Good to face amplifiers away from singers
All amplifiers & monitors should be 180 degrees off-axis from singer's microphones. This means that what is amplified through the microphone of the singers in PURELY their voices.
Instrument amplifiers should face the player; the guitar amplifier to the guitar player, the keyboard amplifier to the keyboard player and so on. This ensures that every player hear his instrument clearly. If they don't they will pump up the volume.
The amplifiers should be tilted to face the player's ear. This can be done using a wedge. The distance from amplifier to the player's ear should be about 5-7 feet.
Choose a familiar song and have the whole band including singers perform. Instruct musicians with amplifiers to adjust their volume as soft as possible without affecting their playing.
If there is a musician who is still loud, simply raise his amp closer to his ears. For some musicians they need less than 2 feet from the ears. As the amp moves closer to his ears, he WILL adjust his amplifier softer. Keep experimenting until every performer can hear themselves and others clearly WHILE keeping stage volume as soft as possible.
One of the most difficult instrument to control is the acoustic drum. This is especially so when the church is in a small shoplot. The drums cannot be played well when played soft. Using an electronic drum is an option.
While this is not an all-conclusive guide it has been effective every time. Following this guide will ensure a more inspired music team and ultimately better sound for the congregation.
Click here for amplifier stands at our E-Catalog
© 2004 Timothy Lee
Email : author@gsus.biz
http://www.gsus.biz
[ return to top ]
All articles are copyright of their respective authors. Used with permission. |
