Before we get into this month’s topic, I should say that audio techs are a relatively new breed. Not long ago, your average church, synagogue or temple did not have a sound system. As a child I went to a Catholic church. The priest would enter the pulpit (a small tower on the left side of the church three or four feet above the platform/altar), climb half a dozen steps and deliver his sermon from this location.
Why, you may ask? Because the priest’s voice could project out into the congregation from such a vantage point. A big voice in that place could be heard easily by everyone in the church. That is simply the way it was back then and, for that matter, is still done in many churches around the world. Jesus and his disciples didn’t even have a pulpit. They relied on their voices to get the word out. I am sure they would have loved delivering a fiery speech through a wireless headset and 10,000-watt array, but it wasn’t invented yet. Anyway, let’s fast-forward to today.
I recently installed a small array and sub sound system in a local church. The system consists of two array boxes and one sub per side. We flew the whole system and aimed it at a congregation of about 800. After installing the system, I began tuning it from the FOH mix position. Once it was configured and equalized, I decided to see what the speakers would do. In a flash, I was playing a song through my iPod at 110 dB at the board. As you may know, 110 is really loud. At any rate, I ease the level back to about 105 dB (still very loud) when the pastor walks into the sanctuary. I pull down the level more when he tells me to turn it back up. He says “they like it loud.” I am thinking it’s probably illegal to subject Grandma and Grandpa (not to mention the rest of the congregation) to 105 dB for a couple hours on a Sunday.
What is Too Loud?
Before I get on my soapbox about what decibel level is too loud, I’ll mention another sound system that I installed in a smaller church. Six months ago, I flew a system in a 300-seat church in La Canada, CA. It was a very powerful system for the space. However, the rules at this church are no more than 95 dB at the board. Mixing at 95 dB is not really that loud, especially with a rockin’ worship band and a five-person choir on the platform. These two examples illustrate that sound levels vary greatly from house to house. But how loud is the mix at your church, and is it appropriate for your congregation? You’ll have to answer these for yourself, but here are some guidelines. First, let’s look at what OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) says about decibel level exposure. The chart below compares decibels to duration (hours you can safely be exposed).
These OSHA guidelines are intended for the workplace, but offer a starting point on re-thinking the sound pressure levels (SPLs) at your next church service. But to know what level you’re mixing at, you’ll need a dB meter. I bought an expensive one a decade ago, but now I have a dB meter app on my iPad. There are a variety of free/inexpensive apps for your smartphone or tablet, and they are fairly accurate. This invaluable tool can help you approximate how loud your mix is.
Start by playing programmed music through your system and check out the space. Walk up to the front row and check your meter. Retreat to the back row and check again. Are the people in the front row getting their heads blown off while those in the back row are struggling to hear? How many dBs are in the balcony — if you have one? How about the seats to the far left and right? Of course, you want everyone in your worship space to clearly hear every word and note without offending anyone’s ears.
Although this is difficult to achieve, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try. Begin by avoiding damaging the hearing of those in the front pews. I attempt to aim my main speakers above the heads of the front row believers, who tend to be congregation regulars and the last people I want to offend. Besides, in my church (and possibly yours) Grandma and Grandpa sit up front. And nobody wants to hurt Grandma or Grandpa. Do they? I can do an entire article on how to control and direct the sound in your house of worship. And I probably should, in the not-too-distant future.
You should become familiar with the sound pressure level of your particular house. If you have a pastor or group of people who dictate how loud services will be at your church, you need to satisfy them and the congregation at the same time. Should you be allowed to mix at a level that you deem suitable (unlikely), you will have to be able to draw the line between an uplifting volume and what is just too loud. Good luck in your efforts.
