Without the proper acoustics in your church, songs and sermons can sound muffled or too loud to the congregation. If they can’t understand what’s being said, it’s hard for them to perform their worship. However, blaring noises damage eardrums, too. By knowing what acoustical issues churches experience, you can work with professional audio technicians to improve sound quality. 

3 Problems With Acoustics Churches Frequently Encounter

1. Slapback Situations

Slapback is an echo, with a significant delay between the two sounds. Imagine the minister says “amen,” and the same word is heard again a few moments later, or the sound of applause continues after everyone stops clapping. When someone performs on stage, slapback echoes commonly occur when sound bounces off non-absorbent materials in the back of the room. Improving sound absorption on the back wall by hanging up PROPER absorbent material should reduce acoustic issues. 

2. Too Much Reverberation 

The sprawling nave and high ceilings can cause reverberation issues in your church. With a longer reverb time, choral and instrumental music will sound sharp and fill the open space. However, when people give speeches, short reverberation time is necessary to prevent echoes. To get the right balance, install cloth covered panels on the walls. The material will absorb acoustic energy and diffuse sound, adjusting the reverb depending on the activity.  Remember anything installed must be FIRE-RATED and Certified.

3. Resonance Issues

When a band plays on stage, drums, amplifiers, and additional equipment cause the hollow area under the stage to vibrate. This can amplify and project the sound waves towards the audience, making the music too loud for the congregation to enjoy. When combatting this resonance problem, put insulation in the area below the stage to absorb the vibrations.

If you have any of the above issues or other problems with church acoustics, the professionals at Claiborne Sharp Professional Audio will help. The company has been meeting the audio-visual needs of small and large churches and businesses within a 100-mile radius of Shreveport, LA, since 1989. To see how their team will improve your church sound system and congregants’ experience, call (318) 861-5953 or visit them online for details. Find out what components your system needs on Facebook.