PIPERTON, TN — Living Hope Church, which recently opened its new 700-seat worship center here, contracted with Memphis-based Elite Multimedia to provide the sound system, acoustic treatments and AV system. The setup includes a Midas PRO2C at FOH, d&b T10 loudspeakers for the main sanctuary array (six per side), d&b 4S loudspeakers for frontfills and a single E12 loudspeaker as center downfill, all powered by d&b D6 and D12 amplifiers.
More details from Midas (www.midasconsoles.com):
“Having started as a portable church, we wanted our first permanent facility to make a big statement about how far we’ve come,” says Tim Johnson, technical director for the suburban Memphis church. “That meant the best in sound and video, but within a definite budget. The only question was whether we could afford a Midas digital console. For awhile, it looked like we would have to wait, but then the PRO2C came out.”
Elite Multimedia of Memphis was engaged to create the AV design, including sound, video and acoustical treatments. Elite vice president and lead designer, B.J. Shaver, designed the system with the integration handled by lead systems integrator Wade Russell. “It was new construction, so we worked directly with the architect,” notes Russell. “Living Hope wanted great sonic clarity and strong stereo imaging even at high SPL. We felt the best way to do that was to design a system to the AES 96k standard, and the Midas PRO2C let us do that without compromising on the rest of the system.”
Before the PRO2 and PRO2C were announced in late 2011, Living Hope was actually planning to defer its console purchase for a year or two. “We were looking at several consoles,” notes Tim Johnson. “I had heard a Midas PRO6 demo and got really excited about it, but it was outside our budget. None of the affordable digital desks sounded much different from the one we were already using in our portable system, so we didn’t see any reason to change. In fact, that was the plan right up until the PRO2C started shipping in the U.S.”
At that point, Tim Johnson had the opportunity to hear an apples-to-apples comparison between the PRO2C and his existing console. “We basically just swapped the PRO2C into our portable system one Sunday and ran it with all the same gear, in the same room. The difference was amazing,” he reports. “Immediately, the speakers had focus and stereo imaging we had never heard before. The whole system sounded great, and the only thing that had changed was the console. Once I heard the price point, it was an easy decision.”
Johnson then spent a day at Elite Multimedia to learn the PRO2C, working directly with Wade Russell to configure the console to run both front of house and monitor duties in the new 700-seat sanctuary. “Wade and I kind of learned the console together,” he recalls. “It really didn’t take a whole lot to get up and running. In fact, my only problem was a tendency to overcomplicate things, because I was so used to working in layers and submenus. With the Midas, I just select channel groups and everything is right there in front of me, quick and easy. POP Groups are great. ”
“Tim took to the PRO2 right away,” agrees Wade Russell. “We played with it a bit in the shop, and basically put together his show, which taught him how to use the POP Groups, VCAs, and routing. When we took it out to their portable site to mix a service, he really didn’t need much help. And even though most channels were running with little or no EQ, their old sound system still sounded better than it ever had before.”
The praise band at Living Hope includes electric and acoustic guitars, keyboards, bass, drums and percussion, usually with three vocalists. On a typical Sunday, that takes up about 40 channels of the 56 available on the PRO2C. Most of the 24 outputs are in use, feeding both the house sound system and the monitor system, which includes both an Aviom system and four stereo in-ears.
The musicians noticed the change of consoles immediately. “When we used the Midas with our old system, one thing that surprised me was the band members’ reaction,” says Tim Johnson. “They asked what I did to their mixes, because suddenly they could hear everything more clearly. It’s like no matter what you have hooked up to the Midas, it makes that product sound better.”
Both Tim Johnson of Living Hope Church and Wade Russell of Elite Multimedia see the Midas PRO2C as the key to their success in this installation. “Being able to run a full 96k signal from the inputs to the amps means there is no loss of quality,” says Russell. “Having those Midas preamps at the head end and keeping the signal at 96k digital was the difference between a good system and a great one.”
More details from d&b Audiotechnik (www.dbaudio.com):
“A sound system at a church is really only a tool to help us do what we do. Sing. Pray. Teach. It’s just that this new d&b audiotechnik sound system allows us to do all of that so much better than anything else we’ve used.” For worship pastor David Lewis and the rest of Living Hope Church in Piperton, Tennessee, it was essential to create a worship space that would enhance their services and create an atmosphere for passionate praise, “This sound system uncompromisingly allows us to serve our community and focus on the ministry.”
The congregation at Living Hope Church has been together since 2006. Without a building of their own, most of the events were held in school cafeterias and gymnasiums. This year, Living Hope was finally able to create their own space. After years in acoustically challenging venues, the church understood that sound had to be one of the focus features of their new building. They hired Elite Multimedia of Memphis, Tennessee, to consult on the project and acoustically design the main sanctuary.
A fan style room with stadium seating, Elite Multimedia’s BJ Shaver designed Living Hope’s worship space with d&b loudspeakers in mind. Wade Russell, lead systems integrator on the project, explained that the church “Wanted high quality. Consistency was very important. Consistency with a sound system ensures that everyone will have a full experience every time, no matter where they sit. d&b was the only company for the job.”
Though working on a budget, the church decided on d&b T10 loudspeakers for the main sanctuary array, six per side. d&b 4S loudspeakers were used as frontfills, while one E12 loudspeaker was installed as center downfill. Elite was also able to suggest the E15 subwoofers to maintain low frequency in the space. A combination of d&b D6 and D12 amplifiers, including built-in processing, completed the sanctuary’s system.
Russell explains that from the rigging of the system to the final sound check, the project came together seamlessly.”We understood early on that sound was a key element to this project;” Lewis, as well as many members of the young, tech-savvy congregation, wanted the best. “After hearing a few different loudspeakers, d&b audiotechnik stood light years ahead of the rest. We are thrilled with how it has turned out. The room design allows the sound system to shine. Worship in this space is certainly an intense experience. The clarity in the sound allows us to focus on the music and the praise. It allows us to focus on why we come to church.”
For more details on the church’s Lake Processing gear, go to:
