iLive overcomes digital upgrade
Published: WORSHIP
US: World Overcomers Outreach Ministries Church in Memphis has installed an iLive-T mixing system by UK manufacturer Allen & Heath, comprised of two T112 control surfaces and an iDR-48 MixRack.
Andre Monie, director of sound and audio for the church, saw the need for a move from analogue to digital mixing. ‘I knew from all my years in the music industry that moving to a digital system would give us more consistent sound quality and make everything more efficient,’ he said. ‘In addition to Sunday services, we provide sound for a lot of classes, rehearsals and events and our volunteer staff really needed the right tools to take our presentation to the next level.’
World Overcomers Church is said to embody ‘a synthesis of today’s contemporary Christian megachuch combined with traditional Gospel influences’. Mr Monie shared his vision with the church elders and was given the mission to explore a digital upgrade. Carl Woodard II, a member of the church’s sound team and owner of local supplier MC2 Solutions, was also engaged to help find the most efficient solution. ‘I went to all the large churches in the Memphis area to see how they were doing things,’ said Mr Monie. ‘But Carl showed us how much more we could do with the Allen & Heath.’
Being familiar with both the needs of the church and state of the art digital consoles, MC2 Solutions recommended the Allen & Heath iLive-T Series. ‘The iLive is the most efficient solution out there,’ said Mr Woodard. ‘It has total flexibility and all the functionality you could ask for, and it’s less expensive than the alternatives. Plus it’s very easy to learn and operate, which is very important with a volunteer staff. I don’t know why anyone would pick anything else.’
World Overcomers utilises two iLive-T 112 surfaces. The system in the main sanctuary is paired with an iDR-48 MixRack, and handles both FOH and monitor mixing. All audio lines run from the stage to the iDR-48 at FOH in the balcony, where additional inputs on the T-112 control surface are used for line inputs from CD, DVD and computer audio, plus additional wireless mics. Master gain is set at this console, with trim available at the record desk. An ACE card in the FOH setup sends all the individual inputs to the second T-112 surface in the recording studio via Cat-5 cable.
Sunday services at World Overcomers are all about the music. The sanctuary is a large, fan-shaped auditorium with seating around a 270-degree arc, plus a balcony. Total seating accommodates 3,600 worshippers. In addition to the preacher, the stage accommodates a full worship band, a praise team of up to nine vocalists and an 80-voice choir, all under the leadership of musical director Dimitri Turner. The gospel-based contemporary band includes drummer, bass, percussionist and three keyboards.
‘Just about every part of our service has some musical aspect to it,’ noted Mr Woodard. ‘Even during announcements and the sermon, there’s praise being sung softly in the background. Music is an integral part of the worship experience here.’