I am pretty sure that every worship team member has been fed up with sound check at some point,
if not every week.
Although there are probably several ways to perform an efficient sound check, I’ll walk
you through the process I have settled into after ten years mixing sound.
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Most churches have the luxury of the same team members week after week.
Others have rotating musicians or will occasionally have a new member on the team.
When this happens, the first step is to set the gain for everyone who was not on the team
the previous week.
You should also develop the habit of checking gain on every channel at the beginning of
every rehearsal, even if they were on the team last week.
There is always a good chance that guitar amp or keyboard settings are not in the same
place they were last week.
And there is a lot of confusion around the purpose of gain which is why I created a video
all about how to set gain the right way.
I’ll include a link in the description.
The next step is to set monitors.
If you do not have the technology that allows band members to adjust their own monitors,
you will need a pair of headphones on hand.
Before taking orders from each band member on what they want, have the band play through
an entire song.
While they are playing, put on the headphones and listen to each monitor mix, making adjustments
to give them a nice, even mix.
Of course, if it is a vocal monitor, have the vocals a bit louder than the instruments
and vice versa.
Once this is done, ask if anyone needs changes and adjust accordingly.
But, don’t let band members abuse this privilege or way too much time will be spent on monitor
mixes.
Not sure how to listen to monitor mixes in the headphones?
Look for a PFL, AFL or Solo button next to your Aux or Bus send fader.
When engaged, you will be hearing the monitor mix instead of the main mix in your headphones.
Alright, the final step is to set your main mix.
The best way to do this is to simply have the band continue practicing.
The more they play, the better.
You may need to communicate this to the worship leader if too much talking is taking place.
At first, I like to start with the faders all the way down.
Then, as they are playing, use the following sequence to get a solid mix.
First, bring up the kick drum and bass guitar until you have a nice solid foundation with
plenty of energy in the room.
Then, bring up the other instruments to the appropriate place for the song.
At this point, the sound should fill the room.
Next, bring up the snare drum until you feel its energy and punch.
Then, mix in the toms and overhead microphones to complete the drum mix.
Now, mix in the background vocals so that they blend in with the instruments.
Finally, bring up the lead vocal until it sits right at the top of the mix.
Keep in mind, you will need to use EQ to get everything married together instead of clashing
with one another.
I have a video dedicated to the most important EQ techniques.
I’ll include a link in the description.
So, you achieved a great mix – awesome!
You can just set it and leave it, right?
Wrong.
Every song should have a different sound.
One song may have a prominent electric guitar while the next may have a prominent keyboard
part instead.
A good sound tech listens to the original track for each song several times through
so they understand how it should be mixed.
Here are some things to listen for:
What is the lead instrument?
Electric guitar, acoustic guitar, keyboard, synth?
Where do the other instruments fit in the mix?
Are they audible or so blended you can’t even pick them out?
Where are the background vocals?
Are they right under the lead vocal or mixed in with the instruments?
With this strategy and these questions at your fingertips, you’ll find it much easier
to create a great mix every week.
If you have questions, drop them in the comments.
I’d be glad to answer.
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See ya next time.