Start Here

A random list of 101-level articles doesn't seem helpful if this is your first time here. Therefore, I've put together a SPECIAL page just for you. Consider it your road map. The page includes links to articles I think would be the best place to start, especially if you are new to audio production.

Check out your road map.

Add Power To Songs With These Volume Tips

Add Power To Songs With These Volume Tips

The two biggest mistakes I see sound techs make are when they tweak the mix during the ENTIRE worship set and when they NEVER touch the mixing board during the worship set.  There is a time for active mixing and there is a way you can use it to bring power to a song. Volume Balancing Volume balancing is one of the early steps in forming your mix during the sound check.  You are layering the different sounds using volume differences for placing the sounds in the mix.  For example, you push [keep reading]

How to Plan for the Worship Band

How to Plan for the Worship Band

On one side of the chessboard was World Chess Champion Garry Kasparov. On the other side of the board was the IBM supercomputer Deep Blue. It was 1996.  Six games of chess were to be played. Which one would prevail? Chess players know success comes from the ability to think several moves ahead. A rookie might say, "If I move my rook to that spot then the bishop can take me so I won't move there." The good chess players can look at the same situation and think "if I move my rook to that spot [keep reading]

The Best Church Audio Advice Received

The Best Church Audio Advice

What is the best church audio advice you ever received?  I asked that question to my newsletter subscribers as part of a recent giveaway.  The responses were all over; some were technical in nature, others were about working with other people, and others were about dealing with their own mental state. I've pulled together 25 of the responses. What is the best advice you ever received as it relates to church audio or live audio production? My response: Leave the room for five [keep reading]

Mixing Tricks: Easier Band Volume Balancing

Mixing Tricks: Easier Band Volume Balancing

"One [button] to rule them all, One [button] to find them, One [button] to bring them all and in the darkness bind them." Ok, so the mute button doesn't have the same power as The Ring from the Lord of the Rings trilogy but it can be your greatest tool when it comes to volume balancing. Volume balancing is the process of setting sound levels in proper relationship to each other to create the desired overall sound.  In the church environment, volume balancing is performed for the vocals [keep reading]

The Four Reasons Every New Sound Tech Should Start On The Stage

The Four Reasons Every New Sound Tech Should Start On The Stage

If I gave you a choice between mixing and setting up the stage, I know which you'd pick.  However, it's the work on the stage that gives you everything you need for mixing. Recently, a discussion came up surrounding the best process for training volunteer sound techs.  Many people said they have techs start with stage set-up and eventually progress to mixing.  The idea seemed to be, "if you can handle setting up the stage then I'll you can progress to mixing." Might I give a different [keep reading]