Audio / Visual Technical Support Team

MISSION:   The Technical Support Team is to provide all technical support (audio, video, computer, lighting) to the Worship Ministry and, as needed, other OBC ministries and to serve God by serving the Church.   1 Cor 12:12-26

MOTTO:  Serving to enable others. Acts 6:2-4, Gal 5:13

PURPOSE:   To recruit, train and provide opportunities for individuals to minister through the use of their technical skills or to learn new skills in A/V, computer systems and Lighting technologies.  To develop, plan, schedule, implement, maintain and manage all areas of A/V technology within the Worship Ministry.  To include hardware, software and the integration of these systems as needed. 

GUIDELINES:   Provide trained operator(s) for each church service/function requiring sound reinforcement, video, graphical presentation in and outside of the facility.  To include services, practices and special events.

Monthly schedules will be routinely provided.  When you receive the schedule, please check your dates, and notify Dave Tindell (majort@verizon.net) of any conflicts.

 

Please remember that this, as with all ministries, belong to God. When we seek (with God’s help) to remain humble, approachable, and teachable it creates a setting for great teamwork, great training and great worship!

Preface:  This is to help clarify on what we do, how we serve and the importance of our support to the Worship Ministry and overall to OBC.  

Running the Board 

As discussed before there are five primary rules that we must keep in mind when working with and running the sound systems:

• Volume or Level – Can you hear the instrument, voice or recording?
• Blend –   How well does the total number or voices and instruments blend together?  What is missing or what is there too much of?
• Quality – Do the voices or instruments sound natural (Clean, Clear and Understandable).  Is there enough low end coming from the subwoofers?  Can you distinguish one instrument from another?
• Attentiveness – Since there are constant changes within each song, styles of playing, instruments sounds, voices (singing, speaking and melody vs. harmony), and worship sets, are you prepared for the change?    It’s almost like hitting a moving target sometimes if you’re not ready. Do take notes. 
• A Servants Heart – Willing to serve, begin open to receive input from WT leaders dealing with running the sound board. 

No matter the style or format used these are the keys to running the board (weather you are recording a CD, Live recording, or Live performance) and for meeting our goal of people being able to hear, understand and interact with the worship and teaching at OBC.  

OBC Style and Format

The musical direction and vision of the OBC Worship Ministry is clearly one of modern contemporary worship – i.e. Sovereign Grace, Chris Thomlin, Kutlass, Passion, Third Day, Keith Getty…..  It’s understandable that each of us has our own preferences, but it is important for us as a team to maintain the direction and vision of style and format stated above.  It is the Praise Team’s goal, as instrumentalists, to come as close to the original as they can while still allowing room for various transitions and congregational leading/response.  It is our responsibility to provide the support to accomplish this.

Note: In the future this will help us in our goals of producing quality recordings and CDs that could be passed out or sampled for our WM Web page.

Definition of modern contemporary worship would break down in the following criteria;

·        Vocals should be understandable but not any louder than the loudest instrument – I.e., vocals should not drown out the snare drum or guitar. Attention to Blending will take care of this issue.

·        Much of the contemporary music is guitar driven so guitars, drums and bass need to be clearly heard. 

·        If musical structure/flow is not provided in advance, please take notes for each song and set as to who the lead singer(s) are, primary instruments, and are there instrumental solos for a song so that they can be mixed for best live services and potential CD recording.  If there is any doubt, please ask the vocal directors (Cheryl Ellsmore or Joe Cox), the instrument director (Jim Ellsmore) or Dave Tindell. 

 

Schedule: The When And What…

Monday nights

For practices we need to be in place and have the system ready to go by 6:25PM so we can participate in the prayer and devotional time  

Our focus during this time is to mix for a CD recording for practice purposes and to get a good feel for what is needed for the upcoming Sunday Service. It is very important that the WT have a good CD to listen to and practice to through out the week.

What is needed: 

• There needs to be an even blend of voices and instruments so that each can be heard and identifiable.  (This format is not like what you get from a CD recording that you have purchased since they do not blend everything at the same level).  This will be done mainly using the headphones connected to the Omega Digital Mixer.  This may require turning down the mains to help get rid of any room noise.  See Dave Tindell for more information on how to do this.
• Sound techs need to take home a copy of the CD’s of that weeks music, (original form and rehearsals), to listen, review, learn from, and take notes for mixing at the event for which the CD has been made.  
• Make sure the necessary microphones are out and ready to go bases on who will be singing.  Please remember to store them away after the service or practice is over to help protect them.

Sunday mornings and special events

For services we need to be in place and have the system ready to go by 8:00AM.  Please mix for a live environment in the room. (I.e., without Headphones).  It is very important that we strive to provide an atmosphere conducive for contemporary worship.

What is needed:  

• Please pay special attention to microphones;
  • Check Batteries for all wireless microphones before use.
  • Please dress Pastors or special speakers with wireless microphones to insure that it is on and is working correctly prior to service.
  • When not in use, on stage open microphones must be muted.
  • When not in use, wireless microphones must be muted, especially when the pastors or WT members are off stage or not speaking.
• Music presence in the room: 
  • Please keep in mind that music seems louder when you are NOT singing.  Music that sounds or feels a little loud to you will sound completely different to those that are singing in the congregation. This may require an extra boost in the rhythm instruments for individual to follow, clap to and sing. If they cannot hear it or feel it, they cannot do that.
  • Room Sound levels should always be measured with the Audio ToolBox.  DB Levels will generally be between +85DB to +90DB for our room so keep a watch on it. 
  • Body language will help you if the sound is too loud of too quiet so scan the room to see if anyone is looking at you, straining to hear or just covering their ears.  

Always Remember, Help is available

• Please listen to those on the WT who have suggestions and hear potential problems.  Many times the WT will have someone available to help walk the room, stand at the board, and help set the levels so that the music can be heard, felt, clapped to, and sung with.
• Please be open and courteous to suggestions. Sound techs have some of the toughest volunteer jobs in the church. It takes a great servants hearts and tough skin to listen, follow, and many times work with the environment that is live sound. We in the WT and AV/Sound are all in this together – but we do need to listen to each other and follow direction, advice, and the vision of this ministry.
• As servants and helpers to each other, we need to remember that we are all gifted in different ways. Some will be gifted with good ears, some with technical ability, some with vocals, some with instrument ability. The key here is to work together as a team, listen to our leaders and serve the body as a whole. Following on this idea you may be moved into and out of different positions depending on current/futureneeds and abilities that strengthen the entire team and ministry.

Future Goals:

• As we progress in our abilities and teamwork, we would at some point like to start producing some recorded originals and live worship. This will require us to be at the top of  our game to produce as high a quality as possible.
• One goal in training and learning is to reproduce in others. We want a strong team so that we can train others, especially the youth among us.
• In house training days for all of the team – front of the house and back of the house.

Thank you for your willingness to serve in this area. While a constant challenge, it is incredibly rewarding to mix something well, mix it to a needed level, and to do it for the King of Kings.