Customized Audio Install by IPS Solves Sound Clarity Issues for Vienna Presbyterian

	Vienna Presbyterian Church (VPC), located in Vienna, Virginia. Photo: Stephen Levy, IPS

Vienna Presbyterian Church (VPC), located in Vienna, VA, partnered with Integrated Production Solutions (IPS) to complete an audio and video upgrade to address the audio challenges of their traditional space. Working with IPS, church leadership identified sound quality, life span, and aesthetics as the leading upgrades they wanted to be addressed in their audio installation. IPS provided a design that both complemented the traditional church architecture while addressing the need for pristine sound and acoustic quality.

For almost 12 years, Vienna Presbyterian Church has experienced significant audio challenges in their uniquely designed house of worship. The space is horseshoe-shaped and outfitted with high ceilings and a second-floor balcony. Previous install attempts with other vendors did not take the impact of the contours of the space into consideration resulting in inadequate sound distribution to their congregation. VPC needed an upgrade to address issues of quality, dated equipment, and lack of even sound distribution and intelligibility.

Matt Torres, project manager and consultant for VPC says, "Prior to the new install, VPC's speakers were hung above and behind the stage -- so instead of being out front, they were out of sight, near the ceiling and enclosed behind screens. This caused major mixing issues because you could never get it above a certain quality. There was a sweet spot in the center of our sanctuary where it sounded pretty good, but it was a muddy mess on the sides and under the balcony."

IPS designed and installed the audio and video system starting with extensive testing of all equipment at their TN facility. To project the sound to all the nooks and crannies of the space, IPS knew they needed a relatively low-profile system with a lot of horsepower and clarity. So they chose equipment from their top-tiered vendor, d&b audiotechnik.

Andy Bosquet, integration general manager at IPS says, "We knew this high-quality d&b system would solve VPC's immediate sound needs while giving them an amazing sound system with full coverage of all seats in the sanctuary. d&b has a long lifespan so we're confident that this new PA will outlive any major changes or renovations at the church and allow for more flexibility for larger events the church might want to host."

To address the concern of aesthetics, IPS designed the main PA system to utilize white speakers and custom rigging brackets, fabricated by d&b's custom solution division, to fly the Vi-GSUB above the ALi series speakers in sleek arrays that almost disappear in the room. IPS also chose the newer 44S as under-balcony fills for their low profile and incredible sound for such a small speaker, the company says.

Jeremy Seawell, d&b SouthEast regional manager says, "Our Custom Solutions team here at d&b audiotechnik is uniquely positioned to help with projects that have particular requirements. IPS brought us a project that required custom rigging beyond our standard product offerings including a special color paint finish to meet the clean aesthetic for their client, Vienna Presbyterian Church. We are thankful that IPS trusted us to work closely with their team to design and fabricate a wholistic solution that met both the acoustic design and aesthetic look for their client."

To ensure safe and structurally sound positioning of the PA, a drywaller cut access holes through the ceiling to locate I-beams for IPS to attach the rigging. Once the hardware was fastened, aircraft cable was fed through and they were able to close up the ceiling. Conduit followed the ceiling design and was also painted to stay hidden. Dante was then rerouted and linked to the new amplifiers for signal distribution. Another access hole was made underneath the balcony to access steel beams for rigging the new 12,000 lumen Panasonic projectors that were installed. New acoustically transparent 16:9 screens were also installed in the space to allow sound from the church organ to pass through.

"There was an overwhelming amount of positive feedback on the sound quality, especially from those that sit underneath the balconies because now really for the first time they can hear everything tuned and timed properly. They are listening in a different world now. One member even walked up and said, 'Oh that's what it's supposed to sound like!'," Torres says. "I cannot remember the last time I did not have anything to complain about with a vendor, so it's been a great experience working with IPS."