Real Life Christian Church Expands Its Multi-Site Ministry with Sennheiser

	Real Life Christian Church provides services to over 5,000 people across five locations, each utilizing Sennheiser microphones and wireless systems.

Real Life Christian Church is an Orlando-based ministry providing services to over 5,000 people across five locations, each utilizing Sennheiser microphones and wireless systems. At each of its campuses, the church features live and video teaching as well as upbeat music from a modern worship band, with a volunteer production staff handling most of the AVL duties. The church recently expanded its facilities by adding a new portable campus at the University of Central Florida (UCF) -- the second largest university in the United States.

Since the newest campus is "portable," it requires production staff to quickly set up and strike all the equipment needed to produce a high quality service each week. The company says the system is outfitted with several channels of Sennheiser evolution wireless G3 systems and microphones not only because they are extremely easy to set up, but because they deliver high quality audio and reliability in one of the most congested RF environments in the country.

In addition to using Sennheiser evolution wireless at all of its campuses, Real Life also uses Sennheiser equipment to facilitate Real Life TV on Good Life Broadcasting, a regional broadcast network that reaches millions of people in central Florida. Real Life is also able to extend its reach by hosting church online and a podcast that worshipers can tune into from anywhere in the world.

"We need to make sure that the audio is consistent across each of our environments, whether our services are happening in person or via broadcast," says Phil Ramsey, media pastor for Real Life. "We use Sennheiser, because any lack in clarity or intelligibility can negatively impact the overall worship experience for our congregation."

Real Life saw the potential of portable ministry campuses for its growing congregation early on. Before opening its newest UCF location in August, the church already had two other portable facilities that required set up and strike each week. When it came to expand again, Ramsey said he didn't hesitate specifying Sennheiser equipment again since it had already proven its worthiness among the churches four other locations in and around Orlando.

"We really needed microphone system that we can come in, plug in, and go," says Ramsey. "The frequency coordination on the G3 wireless system is so simple, and it is the standard at all of our locations so any of our volunteers can have everything set up and running in a matter of minutes. We've never had wireless microphone issues at these portable facilities, and this is huge for us. Everything is rock solid."

At all of its combined campuses, Real Life utilizes approximately 40 channels of G3 wireless systems, as well as accompanying in ear monitor (IEM) systems. Ramsey says Real Life will soon be integrating several Sennheiser SKM 2000 handheld wireless transmitters into its arsenal, coupled with Neumann KK 204, KK 205, and Sennheiser e965 microphone capsules. "As far as wireless mics are concerned, these capsules deliver the ultimate clarity we are looking for in our style of music, and enable the vocals to sit on top of the mix without a lot of work," says Ramsey.

Sennheiser's Wireless Systems Manager (WSM) software enables Real Life to access and monitor its wireless equipment via remote control. The production team is able to view mute status, battery life, and other important parameters by utilizing WSM's advanced software features. "We use WSM because most of our equipment is locked up in a rack and we don't have immediate access to the hardware," says Ramsey. "With the WSM software, we have so much control in the palm of our hands and without having to access the physical devices. When you are in a 100,000-sq.-ft. facility it makes all the difference."

With its eyes on the future and on the further development of its new UCF campus, Real Life has never looked back in its quest for outstanding audio: "For our church, the message is so important," he says. "We want to glorify Christ in everything that we do, and we believe that audio is one of the primary methods for relaying that message. It doesn't matter whether someone is tuning in on their cell phone, their iPad, or attending in person. We want the audio to hit the mark."