By popular demand (at least on Twitter), here’s an illustrated guide I created for running our Mid-Week Bible Studies. All that’s needed is a wireless mic or two, house lights and one other area light, and a CD record. However, our system is overly complex and not volunteer friendly (FOH is a PM5D-EX). So, rather than spend a ton of time answering phone calls, I decided to take some pictures and make it really easy; just follow the guide. Really, it’s an elaborate instruction book on how to turn the system on and off. The fact that it takes 10 pages and 40 pictures to do it is a reminder that our system is way too complex. Gotta work on that…
This is not a guide on how to mix, how to light or how to do anything at all fancy with sound or lights. It’s basic, “turn the mic on, wait 45 minutes, turn the mic off.” I already built a scene in the 5D that sets up the headamp, compressor and EQ to make the wireless sound pretty close. This is a a “nothing fancy” service, so my goal was to create a guide that just about anyone could follow and be successful without much help from me or my team.
I also added to the Downloads page in case anyone wants it later.
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I made an illustrated guide like that for the last church I worked at. Where I work now, we use a Furhman power sequencer (with a lock!!!) that turns everything on and off in the proper sequence and all with the touch of one button. That sure makes life easier!
Great guide. I’ve been putting off doing the same, but we really need to do it and this was a good catalyst.
One interesting note of difference: I’ve taught our people to always write on a blank CD / DVD before inserting it into machine. If they don’t – invariably – someone will forget and a day or two later, nobody knows what it is. After a few weeks, you have the inevitable stack of burned CDs with no labels.
Is there strategy in your workflow for labeling after burning?
Cool guide, thanks for posting it. Like Travis it’s inspired me to do similar things.
One thing – in the turn off, you say to power off the mixer, then the cry room amp. My inner sound-tech tells me that’s backwards – but I know nothing about the setup. Is there a reason it’s in that order?
Craig,
You are correct; the amp should be turned off prior to the mixer being turned off. This was a down and dirty guide and I was mentally working my way around the booth as I was writing it. The amp in question is fed from a auto-leveler, so it’s not as likely to pop when the mixer is shut off, in this case anyway, so it’s not a big deal.
But as a general rule, the amps should be shut off first.
mike
Mike, what program did you use to create that? I am considering putting a bit more into my podcast procedure that I use at much church to make it easier for them.
Andrew,
I used Pages. I find it to be plenty powerful and easy to put something like that together.
mike
Awesome guide, Mike. Too bad you don’t have a sequencer…that would have saved a few pages