Q amp A with Robert Soo

Recently he completed a three-day workshop on sound reinforcement fundamentals specifically intended for church technical people. In spite of a very busy schedule Mr Soo took the time to speak with us regarding audio in houses of worship.

Please provide us with a little background on yourself. What is your audio and A/V experience?

It’s a long story. I guess it started since the 70s when I experimented on my hi-fi!  I moved on to more serious stuff during the early 80s when I started working freelance for a number of recording studios.  From there I began learning from audio engineers the tools and techniques behind recording. One thing led to another, and it was in the 90s when I started working in the land of live sound reinforcement. There I discovered a whole new world and have stayed there since.

How long have you been working with churches?

I guess it’s been 16 years since I started working actively with churches within and outside of Singapore, though before that I had many opportunities to serve in a number of churches of various denominations, but those were either in the capacity as a musician, singer or worship leader.

What types of things do you do for churches?

I specialise in conducting training workshops and seminars, though I regularly receive requests for consultancy services on church A/V projects as well. For training, I focus mainly on audio, training sound technicians on topics ranging from audio fundamentals, system operational skills to system design. Because the whole sound experience is very much linked to music, I often conduct training for musicians and singers as well.  This, along with acoustics, are critical components of the ‘audio system’ that often get lesser attention.

Do you work with churches on an individual basis?

For the past 10 years I’ve been working with churches mainly on a personal capacity, if that’s your question.

What are some of the challenges you see that are faced by houses of worship in regards to sound?

There are lots, but here are just two:

Churches often put in a new sound system when they have a new venue or when they transit from the traditional to more contemporary styles of worship. However, many fail to consider room acoustics, where excessive reverberation can affect the overall sound quality. Many venues are left as they are, either due to lack of understanding, or that it is just too costly to fix it.

There are also churches blessed with the spending power to hire good consultants and system integrators to put in a top notch system, but they fall short on focusing their attention on training and preparing the crew to operate the system.

Are there typical mistakes or missteps churches make when purchasing audio equipment?

Sure.  Many result from a lack of research or not seeking genuine expert advice prior to purchase (and by ‘expert’, I’m not referring to experts in home entertainment systems!). Without the right information and guidance, churches end up buying equipment that are poor quality, equipment that doesn’t meet their needs, or worse, having to pay more for equipment that way exceeds their needs or they don’t need them at all.

Why is sound in a house of worship so important?

This is yet another huge topic.  It’s all about communication.  Speech intelligibility is a must during a sermon, otherwise the message will not get across clearly to everyone in the congregation. Music and songs are used during worship. We know that music is a powerful medium of communication, which can be greatly enhanced and enriched by good quality sound.  All in all, a good sound experience is vital for communication in a church.

Given the importance, what do you think are some of the reasons that churches often are ill-equipped both in gear and in training?

Not every church leader sees the need or understands the importance of having good sound.  They did not see it in the past, they will not see it in the present as well. And when they finally do, things will fall in place eventually.

Are there any trends that you see in-so-far as sound in a house of worship is concerned? And do you see a trend in the types of facilities that are being newly constructed? (for example theatre type buildings, or multi-purpose facilities, etc.)

Churches are going for better quality sound to support the services as well as concerts and performances. New facilities are very much fashioned after performance theaters or concert venues.

What advice would you have for a church looking to get new equipment or upgrade some of its systems?

Seek advice from trusted consultants and systems integrators who have done many successful church projects.

Research on other successfully installed churches. Understand their planning process, experiences and issues encountered, and the budget required for a similar sized church.

Always think long term and plan for potential expansion that will allow the system to grow in stages.

Is there any other information that you think would be helpful or informative for houses of worship?

Invest in training and upgrading the sound crew, musicians and singers. They are the ones behind the overall sound experience.

Pray and seek God’s wisdom and guidance. Pray for the leaders too.

Robert Soo can be contacted at rkcsoo@singnet.com.sg