Front of House Mixing System for Historic St. Matthew’s Church
Monitor Mixing | Digital Snakes
Overview
Sonic Art, LLC designed a new professional audio system for Wisconsin's historic St. Matthew's Church, running all audio feeds throughout the church on a single Cat-5e cable. Details
Key Features
- Simplified interface for non-technical users.
- Reduced cabling costs in historic installation.
- Easily reconfigured.
Products Used
- Pro16 Series
- 1 AN-16/i Input Module
- 1 AN-16/o Output Module
- 1 AV-M8 Mic Input Module
- 1 A-16R Personal Mixer
- 1 A-16CS Control Surface
A One-Cable Solution
When the historic St. Matthew’s Church in Campbellsport, WI, hired Sonic Art, LLC, to design a new audio system for its sanctuary, the initial challenge was determining how to wire a system through the church’s thick concrete walls and floors. Running bulky analog cables was not a viable option, so Sonic Art used Aviom’s A-Net and Cat-5e cables to reduce installation costs by eliminating the need to drill through walls or trench the floor.
In addition, the customer requested a simple, straightforward system that could be operated easily by non-technical users. However, the system needed to allow church staff to support the audio requirements of a range of events and services. Set-and-forget mic pre gain control and an intuitive user interface for setting levels were critical requirements.
General Manager
Sonic Art, LLC
The system consists of an AV-M8 Mic Input Module installed in the balcony to provide inputs for balcony choir mics. A Cat-5 cable runs from the AV-M8 to an AN-16/o Output Module mounted in a rack kept behind the altar. The analog outputs, along with local inputs from the platform, are connected to a small analog mixer. This mixer is used for EQ and processing on each channel.
Processed channels are connected to an AN-16/i in the same rack. Its A-Net Out is then connected to an A-16R Personal Mixer. Floor pockets and wall plates around the sanctuary provide multiple control points for an A-16CS Control Surface to be connected.
The A-16CS is used to set levels, providing the simplicity of an auto mixer combined with the flexibility and control of a basic mixing board.
According to Sonic Art general manager Brian Christ, “It is a little different than traditional sound consoles, so there was a small learning curve. Now, with everyone acclimated, everything is running smoothly. We’ve had nothing but positive feedback since we installed the system.”
Christ added, “If we had gone with a multi-pinned, snake-based system, we would have been required to drill holes, and the expense of the cabling would have taken a huge chunk out of our operating budget. This solution was a big bonus for us and for the church.”
