Sunday 14 February 2016

Loud or Soft Monitor Speaker for Vocalist in the Church's Setting?

It is quite common for backup and worship leader to say "Guys, I cant hear myself can you boost the monitor volume". Does monitor volume so important and affect the worship session?

What is a monitor speaker?
Monitor speakers are designed to provide a flat frequency response so that that the audio signal is in original condition. The default monitor design does not have artificially boosting bass, treble or other frequencies to avoid resonances from the speaker and sound "nice".


Figure 1 Sample of Floor Monitor with Wedges for Vocalist

There are two types of speaker, based on where the signal is amplified. The characteristics of each type is described below.

1. Passive speakers

This types of speaker only provide basic feature of a speaker, in other words without built in amplifier.
Figure 2 Passive speaker setting

2. Powered speakers

This types of speaker does not need any external amplifier. It has built in amplifier and power cord needs to be connected to it. It is also called as active speaker. Most of the portable speaker is this types of speaker.
Figure 3 Active speaker setting direct from mixer

Figure 4 Active speaker setting direct connect to Microphone

Let me share with you the case happened in my church for vocalist floor monitor. All three monitor shared the same line/ Aux and it has caused inconvenient to everyone. Worship leader always complaint that the backup singer is louder than him/ her during the worship session. Nevertheless, backup singer also complaining not hearing themselves. In this scenario, shall we 'sacrifice' the backup singer and focus on worship leader only?
Solution 1:
Split the monitor into worship's leader monitor and backup singer's monitor. In this case, the worship leader will have his own monitor and backup singer will share one or two monitor among themselves.
Solution 2:
Always set the volume of worship leader louder than the backup singers. Take note that the backup singers volume must be satisfactory to them.
Solution 3:
In ear monitor for each singers on stage.

In the end, I chose solution 1 because that is the cheapest way (without purchasing new equipment, perhaps just one cable)


How to ensure the monitor volume is suitable?
When performing sound check, sound man needs to lower the volume of FOH. From there sound man will fix the suitable volume for the monitor based on singers feedback.

For more information, kindly contact me. Kelvin Yong






Friday 5 February 2016

Wedding Service Handling Audio & Visual

Time flies and it now near to Chinese New Year, year of Monkey, 2016. Well during this time, many are preparing to celebrate CNY.

On the 30th January 2016, I was invited to be in charge of PA/ mixer for a event of wedding. It was held at First Baptist Church, Sg. Tapang at 10:00PM. Before the actual day, a simple rehearsal was conducted.

Basically, the event start with guess entering, followed by bride enter the hall, and followed by worship, ceremony.

The part that required a lot of mixing is during the worship session. There is two group for worship: 1. Full band with electric guitar. 2. Sentimental group with piano.

1. Full band with electric guitar
Only one vocalist, however there are many instrument: keyboard, acoustic, drum and electric guitar. I emphasis on electric and acoustic guitar because it sounds better. Keyboard is playing background music which is only suitable during bridge and verse of the songs. For electric guitar, he is playing distortion at all time.

2. Sentimental group with piano
Only one vocalist, she has strong and sharp voice. She is accompanied by grand piano, bass guitar and drum. Overall comment for her is good, maybe because of her voice that is easy to be tuned.

The photos taken are as below. You are welcome to contact me if any of you are interested to hire me to mix during your wedding event.



Wednesday 3 February 2016

Operating Procedure for handling Audio & Visual in a Room

It is always not easy to handle audio & visual in a room/ hall. Imagine as a sound man, you are alone in a room with lighting system, sound system, projection system, and recording. Yes, that's right. You will go crazy with all and will be super busy.

How to handle if you are facing this scenario?

Sometimes I also faced this problem. I suggest that:
1. Lighting system - keep only one simple scene without case
2. Sound system - keep the mic volume ON & playback volume ON
3. Projection system - the personnel will be handling the PC for projection of songs during the worship session

In the church, I have come out with a simple operation manual. Hopefully, it will be able to guide those not familiar with the audio & visual to operate it.

Kindly click on the link for the sample of operating manual for a room.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/b05fbdd6qtmbpzh/Operation%20procedure%20in%20Main%20Hall.pdf?dl=0