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[Bill Beach]

  we have a 300 seat auditorium which includes two 'overflow' areas on either side of main room.  the main room is generally set up for 140 but can be expanded.  recently we have had a 'pop' develop in the sound.  highly intermittent, and plenty loud to hear but not distracting unless during sermon.  by 'highly intermittent' I mean during a regular Sunday service, it may pop once or twice.  we normally do 2 Sunday services and be tween the 2, we may get 2-3 pops.  just a very clear 'snap' sound.  almost as if someone had switched something on that was on the same circuit (nothing is except sound equipment).
also it will happen when I am there alone, no one else any where in any of the buildings.
feel free to ask any questions.
any help/advice is very much appreciated!

[Jean-Pierre Coetzee]

we have a 300 seat auditorium which includes two 'overflow' areas on either side of main room.  the main room is generally set up for 140 but can be expanded.  recently we have had a 'pop' develop in the sound.  highly intermittent, and plenty loud to hear but not distracting unless during sermon.  by 'highly intermittent' I mean during a regular Sunday service, it may pop once or twice.  we normally do 2 Sunday services and be tween the 2, we may get 2-3 pops.  just a very clear 'snap' sound.  almost as if someone had switched something on that was on the same circuit (nothing is except sound equipment).
also it will happen when I am there alone, no one else any where in any of the buildings.
feel free to ask any questions.
any help/advice is very much appreciated!

We need a lot more information from you, brands and models of speakers and desk and mics.

Are there wireless mics(I doubt it's the problem but if we don't know)?

How old is this system, could be a faulty ground and a failing cap in anything along the signal chain.

I would start with checking the electrical system, is everything still grounded correctly?

[g'bye, Dick Rees]

we have a 300 seat auditorium which includes two 'overflow' areas on either side of main room.  the main room is generally set up for 140 but can be expanded. recently we have had a 'pop' develop in the sound.  highly intermittent, and plenty loud to hear but not distracting unless during sermon.  by 'highly intermittent' I mean during a regular Sunday service, it may pop once or twice.  we normally do 2 Sunday services and be tween the 2, we may get 2-3 pops.  just a very clear 'snap' sound.  almost as if someone had switched something on that was on the same circuit (nothing is except sound equipment).
also it will happen when I am there alone, no one else any where in any of the buildings.
feel free to ask any questions.
any help/advice is very much appreciated!

Recently?

What changed?  New equipment?  Any system changes?  Any non-sound alterations/additions?  Weather/humidity/carpeting? 

Possibilities:

Static discharge. Failing wire.  Bad switch.  Oxidizing connections.

Look also for coincidences:

HVAC cycling, kitchen activity, etc.

[Stelios Mac]

If nothing else has changed, I'm guessing either a bad cable or wireless mic interference. Does it show up on any channel or DSP VUs?

also it will happen when I am there alone, no one else any where in any of the buildings.

Is anything muted and/or off when you're there alone? Channels on the board? DSP?

[Stephen Swaffer]

Intermittents like this can have going in circles-start making notes on what you have tried or eliminated.  If it is consistent-happening once or twice an hour, my first step would be to shut everything-and I do mean everything-off except the circuits the sound system is on.  That would localize it to the sound system-or something else inthe building.

One culprit I have found is a failing CFL (compact flourescent lamp)-also could be a failing ballast.  LEDs or flourescents could be the issue. 

Of course, as others have said, these would be my first suspects-unless there is something changed anywhere in building.

[Sammy Barr]

I traced a pop for weeks and found it to be a faulty condenser microphone on the piano. I just happened to be watching meters when it appeared and then I knew the source. I replaced the cable, changed to a different channel and finally replaced the microphone to clear up the problem. If it was winter I might think your problem could be static electricity build up. Good luck.

[David Pedd]

I traced a pop for weeks and found it to be a faulty condenser microphone on the piano. I just happened to be watching meters when it appeared and then I knew the source. I replaced the cable, changed to a different channel and finally replaced the microphone to clear up the problem. If it was winter I might think your problem could be static electricity build up. Good luck.

Put a camera to record your sound board.  Play back to see if pop shows on any meters, especially output.  If pop doesn't show, then downstream.

[Stu McDoniel]

we have a 300 seat auditorium which includes two 'overflow' areas on either side of main room.  the main room is generally set up for 140 but can be expanded.  recently we have had a 'pop' develop in the sound.  highly intermittent, and plenty loud to hear but not distracting unless during sermon.  by 'highly intermittent' I mean during a regular Sunday service, it may pop once or twice.  we normally do 2 Sunday services and be tween the 2, we may get 2-3 pops.  just a very clear 'snap' sound.  almost as if someone had switched something on that was on the same circuit (nothing is except sound equipment).
also it will happen when I am there alone, no one else any where in any of the buildings.
feel free to ask any questions.
any help/advice is very much appreciated!

Keep an eye on LED's on your channels.  You should see the pop light up the LED if it is related to a specific channel input. 

[Jonathan Johnson]

In addition to the possibilities others mention, I've seen this happen with a loose screw on the connector body of a gooseneck microphone. Tightening the screws resolved the issue.

[ProSoundWeb Community]