TAYLORS, SC – Taylors First Baptist Church had Palmetto Sound Works complete a partial upgrade from four years ago, which then included a Yamaha M7CL-48 digital audio console. The finished upgrade includes a second M7CL-48, plus Yamaha Installation Series IF Speakers, PC amps and a DME 64n processor. The Yamaha gear was added to the existing audio system originally installed in 1995.
The church, chartered and established in 1864, has a U-shaped sanctuary that seats approximately 2,100, and with two services on Sunday mornings, the church serves a congregation of 3,000.
"The major challenge to installing a new system was being able to evenly distribute audio to a U-shaped room, said Ben Babb, Palmetto Sound Works. "The stage and podium area are in the center with the seating area wrapping around three sides," he noted. "Over 60 percent of the main floor is covered with balcony. Therefore, getting sound under the balconies was one concern, and installing a processor that would handle this variety of delay zones and equalizations was a major consideration in the project."
Taylors First Baptist was also having problems with some of the older components in their existing speaker system. Babb noted that after Palmetto demonstrated the Yamaha IF 2115s, a combination of IF2115, IF2112, IF2205 and IF2108 speakers were chosen to cover seven delay zones. Danley TH115s are used as subwoofers because of their compact size and available space at the church. Yamaha PC2001n and PC9501n amplifiers power the system.
The Yamaha DME64n digital mix engine is controlling the majority of the audio system. The M7CL at the front of house position is equipped with ES100 and EX cards to allow digital EtherSound communication between the DME64n and two ES168 stage boxes. The DME64n is handling the system processing for the array of speakers, the delay for the seven zones, presets for when the stage is extended to pageant-style and the center down fills have to be attenuated.
"Our congregation noticed an immediate difference in terms of clarity and volume," said Jesse Lee, media director. "With the old PA, mixing a contemporary style worship service was problematic to the point of being completely underwhelming to everyone in the room, including our musicians and vocalists. Since the installation, the Yamaha system has been able to handle everything we've thrown at it beautifully, including a full band and orchestra, vocal team and choir all performing simultaneously."
For more information please visit www.palmettosoundworks.com and www.yamahaca.com.
