WorxAudio Technologies Loudspeakers Deployed at First Baptist Church of LenoirRecognizing that audio and video capabilities are well-entrenched in contemporary worship services, First Baptist Church of Lenoir, North Carolina, decided the time had come to upgrade their sanctuary's A/V facilities. While services are presently traditional in nature, church management wanted the new A/V system to have the versatility to handle a wide range of services and, for that matter, the occasional music program. Their previous sound reinforcement system suffered from poor speech intelligibility, phasing issues, and inconsistent dispersion. Determined to correct the situation, the church ultimately deployed a new sound system drawn from the catalog of Greensboro, North Carolina-based WorxAudio Technologies. Selah Media Productions, Inc. of Boone, North Carolina, a design / build firm that also offers consulting / training services in addition to operating a live production division, was contracted to design and install the church's new A/V system, which now includes sound, video, and projection capabilities. Company president Buck Roberts ultimately penned a sound system that included a six element, WorxAudio X1i-Passive line array system that was augmented by a V5M-P line array element, two WaveSeries 8M stage monitors, and a pair of I/O-4 surface mount loudspeakers. He discussed the nature of the project. "Church management wanted their new sound system to be able to handle as wide range of events as possible so as to be well positioned for the future," Roberts explained. "The previous sound system consisted of several portable PA loudspeakers that church volunteers had mounted on the side walls of the sanctuary. The system exhibited a number of issues that really hampered its effectiveness, so it was important for the new system to correct this situation. Room aesthetics were an equally important consideration and, as a result, the system was to have a low profile. This led us to a centrally positioned loudspeaker cluster -- painted white so as to blend in with the rest of the sanctuary." First Baptist Church's new system consists of a six element, WorxAudio X1i-PAS line array system that is suspended from the ceiling using WorxAudio's innovative TrueAim Grid. The X1i-PAS is a two-way, high efficiency, line array loudspeaker that is designed as an ultra-compact high performance system for the reproduction of speech and music program material. The system offers an unusually broad 160-degree horizontal dispersion pattern, which works well in the sanctuary's roughly 60' by 60' space. The TrueAim Grid mounting system uses a single schedule 40 pipe for the loudspeaker array's suspension and employs a unique coupler that connects to the grid's adjustable crossbeam to facilitate both left and right adjustment. Further, the pipe coupler has an exit point through which the array's wiring can pass. By running the wire through the pipe and exiting via the coupler, the line array's audio and power lines are hidden from view and visible only at the back of the system -- creating a clean, uncluttered appearance free from the distractions of visible cable. "The church has a plaster ceiling." notes Roberts. "As a mounting system, the TrueAim Grid is as minimally invasive as possible, and this enabled us to preserve the character of the ceiling." Mounted onto the rear of the TrueAim Grid is a single WorxAudio V5M-P. This powered, two-way, high efficiency, line array loudspeaker is angled down toward the stage area and serves as the monitor for the choir. It is entirely hidden from the congregation's view. Two WorxAudio PXD-8080 (800W by 800W) power amplifiers are used to drive the X1i-PAS line array system. These amplifiers are also mounted to the rear of the TrueAim Grid. As the sanctuary includes a balcony at the rear of the space, Roberts elected to place two WorxAudio I/O-4 surface mount loudspeakers as under-balcony fills. These injection molded, high-impact polycarbonate enclosures are on a slight delay so as to seamlessly blend with the sound emanating from the front stage / altar area. "The X1i-PAS has great throw," said Roberts, "but I wanted the final two to three rows under the balcony to have the same coverage as the rest of the room, and these loudspeakers were just the ticket." Two WorxAudio WaveSeries 8M two-way, high efficiency, passive stage monitors complete the sound system. These monitor are deployed as necessary -- depending upon the nature of the service. First Baptist Church's new sound reinforcement system was installed during July and August and was immediately placed into service thereafter. With roughly a month of service, Roberts reports everyone is very pleased. "The new system is working out really well," says Roberts. "Both the congregation and church management have been very complimentary of the new system. The entire WorxAudio team was extremely supportive of this effort. They not only made product recommendations, the provided EASE data as well. When I have an installation project, WorxAudio is the first company I think of." Paul McCurry, director of multimedia at First Baptist Church, echoed Robert's enthusiasm, "Our church recently underwent an upgrade to the A/V system in the sanctuary. This process was not done without careful study on what would be going into a 1925 built room full of beauty and history, but not built for amplified sound. The end result was a system that has garnered nothing but positive comments from both the technical crew and, far more importantly, the congregation. We feel this was made possible by the careful design and implementation of the speaker system. Clearly a tribute to the speakers used, and the company that installed them." 
|
