hi Wordman,
In May you said:
<<< after 4 months I still can't seem to make that church sound good. Don't get me wrong, I love doing this and the people there are so happy with the sound >>>
First, it does seem that you've got the right attitude to be a soundman - hard to satisfy. That can be a good thing. My first question concerns the people who are 'so happy' with your sound. What do they like about it? How specific are the compliments? Do the compliments all just happen to originate with sweet little old blue-haired ladies
? Or did it sound so atrocious before you arrived that anything would have to be better? In other words, why don't you think the room sounds good?
Have you spent any time listening to the sound of the room without amplification? I was blessed to grow up in a church with a good sounding 800 seat auditorium. The sound system (RCA ribbon mic' and - I think - Western Electric triode tube amps) would be considered primitive today, but I can't recall ever being conscious of the fact that the sound system was even turned on while actually listening to it. No doubt, RCA ribbons and WE triodes helped, but it was the room and George the soundman (who had to climb more stairs than anybody else around - despite his profound cerebral palsy) that I think really made the difference.
You are showing wisdom in wanting to learn more about gear. Just expand your concept a little and think of the room itself as your biggest component. Maybe read some Harry Olson.
