Contact Us - Services

It's been said that if you can find a job you love to do, you'll never work a day in your life. At All Church Sound, we love what we do. Helping you is NOT a job and you're NOT just another client. We want to work with you and build a lasting friendship.

2007 represents my eleventh year doing Church Sound & Acoustics full-time professionally. I've been working with church sound on a regular basis since 1988. After working with various church sound systems over the years, I've seen the need to educate churches in this area. I only work with churches and their related ministires.

-Blake A. Engel

 

What We Believe

The following serves as a partial “What We Believe” statement when it comes to our design philosophy for All Church Sound, Eagle Sound and Acoustics, and Church Design Team.

• We Believe the primary reason Christians build church facilities is to provide a place for people to come and hear the Word of God.
• We Believe that today, the Word of God is communicated in many ways, including through sound and sight.
• We Believe technology has a place in the church, to be used to help communicate the Word of God.
• We Believe the acoustics of every room in a church facility should be considered not as a luxury, but as a requirement just as important as the floor, walls and roof. The performance of any audio system is directly related to the acoustics of room in which it’s installed. Although acoustics cannot be seen, the laws of physics are just as real as the air we breathe. No amount of money spent on equipment can overcome an acoustic problem. The acoustical performance of your space is determined by the shape of the room and the construction materials and techniques used. Sanctuaries and similar gathering rooms should be free from echoes, strong late-arriving reflections, audible standing waves, excess reverberation and general noise which prevent the comprehension of speech and music at average levels. Foyers and hallways should be constructed and finished to absorb sound and should not be loud, noisy spaces. Classrooms should allow the teacher to be heard clearly and should not allow outside noise to distract those within.
• We Believe the audio reinforcement system, which has been used in churches since the 1940’s, should make quiet sounds louder, so that the whole congregation may hear and understand, regardless of where they sit in the room. The amplified audio should be clear and should not contain any extra sounds not part of the original sound (no hiss or hum). The amplified audio should be natural sounding and should localize the sound source back to the center of the platform and should utilize a point-source design. The controls for the audio system should be located within the same room as the original sound source and loudspeakers; they should be relatively easy to operate. The audio system should not detract from any events, but should reinforce them; the best audio system and operator are the ones not noticed.
• We Believe proper lighting should be used on the platform and in the congregational seating area of a sanctuary or similar presentation room. The platform should be lit with a 3-point lighting system to ensure a “real” appearance of people and objects. The lighting system should not create distracting shadows, and should light people to assist those with hearing loss to lip-read. The congregational seating area should be lit evenly and should be free from hot-spots, dark-spots and strong shadows. All of the lighting within the room should be controlled from a central location, and all lighting should be dimmable to provide the most flexibility. Lighting fixtures which are not able to be dimmed, those that create noise and those which are not instant-on should not be used except for walk-through or maintenance lighting.
• We Believe people learn more when given the opportunity to see visual images, including words, pictures and motion pictures. A Video projection system should be designed for all in the congregation to see. A confidence system (much like a teleprompter) may be used to allow those on the platform to see the same or different images than the congregation. The systems should incorporate screen sizes large enough to ensure those with normal eyesight can see clearly without straining. The systems should produce images bright enough and with enough contrast that the lighting in the room does not have to be dimmed or turned off.
• We Believe a video capture system can be used by every ministry to allow more intimate events to be seen and participated in by the entire congregation. This includes baptisms, weddings, and other similar events. Such a system need only to allow a camera to connect to the video projection system or may be as extensive of a system to allow for broadcast or local taping abilities.
• We Believe audio and video distribution throughout the facility can be an important part of spreading the message so that all may participate. Whether this includes only a foyer area and cry-room or extends to offices, washrooms, hallways and even classrooms or other nearby facilities, this can be an important tool for communicating the message.
• We Believe people are not fully focused when the temperature and / or humidity is not to their liking. An appropriate HVAC system must be able to control both the temperature and humidity based not on commercial standards, but on church requirements. Such a system must be able to handle the sudden influx of people which often raises the head count from 5% to 90% capacity in 15 minutes or less. This includes having the ability to deal with exterior doors being opened for much of this time during hot or cold weather. The system must operate silently in rooms dedicated for teaching and listening. The system must not allow sound from one area to enter another area via the ductwork. The system must not create an air-flow which can be felt as a draft. The system should be easy to operate and override when necessary.
• We Believe a church facility should meet all of the needs of the ministry, to allow it to operate the way it feels best. The ministry will always conform to the facility long-term; the facility will dictate what the ministry can and can’t do, therefore, the facility should be designed, built, and managed to ensure all of the current and planned goals of the ministry can be met.
• We Believe a church facility should be friendly to both church members and visitors. The facility should be marked with clear main entrances along with easy navigation to key areas within. A visitor will want to see three main areas when they first enter – the sanctuary (or key meeting room), washrooms and water fountains, and the nursery or similar childcare area. A good design, open spaces, wide hallways and clear signage all contribute to making a friendly facility.
• We Believe every ministry should be aware of those among us with disabilities. While we may all be brothers and sisters of the body of Christ, willing to assist anyone with needs, many with disabilities prefer to do things on their own. Doors which are wheelchair accessible, automatic door openers, accessible water fountains, washrooms and navigation paths clear of obstructions are all important. Many areas enforce the ADA requirements, though a church should be willing to participate in making their facility accessible regardless of local or national codes. The simple inclusion of brail signs, tactile facility maps and even a service animal “relief area” can help make a facility accessible-friendly, showing you invite all people, including those with disabilities. We recommend your ministry work with your local state Rehab office in reviewing your facility plans and assistive devices.
• We Believe the information we provide should be truthful. We provide information based on our experience and facts. We do not address issues outside our area of expertise, and only pass on information which we ourselves fully believe to be true.
• We Believe in using equipment most well suited for the particular job. We recommend specific products based on the need and / or which piece of equipment is the best choice overall. Although cost is always a concern, we will specify the piece of equipment required to do the intended job.
• We Believe your facility will be used by your staff and members; therefore it should reflect your needs and should do what you need it to. We can just about guarantee we will not attend your church on a regular basis, and therefore the end product must meet your needs and requirements. Although we can provide input on what we think you need and want, we require your direct input in these matters to ensure the designs and suggestions we provide will meet the needs of the facility and your ministry.
• We Believe you will exercise the use of your facility, whether during the design phase or once the facility is completed. The earlier it’s done, the better. This answers questions such as “where will the mop and bucket be stored to clean the entrance floors?”, “who is going to pack up the tables and chairs, and where are they going to store them?”, What will the traffic flow be before, between and after services?”, “in inclement weather, what will people do with their umbrellas, coats and hats?” Because exercising the design is so very important, we will ask questions that deal with the daily use of your facility. Another area often overlooked is the use of Christmas decorations. Where will you plug in all those lights?
• We Believe each system should be maintainable. How are you going to change the light bulbs? How are you going to clean the projector lens and filters? Spare bulbs, cables, adapters, and etcetera should be part of the initial purchase so they are available when needed.
• We Believe each system should be safe. All electrical equipment should be UL listed. Wires should not create tripping hazards. Access to equipment should not create a risk.
• We Believe in not only giving you the instructions for what to do, but ensuring you understand why it is important to follow those instructions. Understanding the “why” removes the mystery behind decisions and assists in the understanding of what compromises will be made if the instructions are not followed.