Recently it has invested in a major audio upgrade through the full-service production and integration company Morris Light and Sound, installing two Solid State Logic L300 digital live consoles at front of house and monitors.
A typical on-stage input count consists of the main band - drums, bass, two electric guitars, acoustic guitar B3, piano, and several singers - plus the pastor and other worship leaders. The production averages around 48 channels from stage, including wireless channels. There are a total of 96 physical inputs available on stage via three ML 3232 stage boxes and those are shared between FOH and monitors via redundant SSL Backlight II multiplexed MADI connections. The monitor L300 console runs an average of 12 in-ear mixes on a Sunday service.
Before the L300s went in, the church was already running older digital consoles, but these were becoming a burden - requiring expensive refurbishment to maintain them and keep them running. "It didn't make sense to keep dumping money into those" says Matt Glover, director of technology for The Church at Brook Hills. "So we started looking around for new consoles.
"It took us about a year to assess everything that was available because we wanted to give everything a fair shake. We went to exhibitions, talked to a bunch of people, and started whittling away the options. We got it down to two... After the demos, we just fell in love with the way the SSL works, the software, and the sound of it."
Landon Robertson is production manager and Front of House engineer for The Church at Brook Hills. He makes the important point that while he is out front, the church uses volunteers to run monitors, and that in turn makes ease-of-use crucial. "We spent less than an hour training them on the SSL. It made sense to them straight away. That was huge."
For Robertson though, the primary asset of the SSL L300 console is the sound. "Using our old console, I could get a mix that wasn't offensive - it was fine... However, I couldn't make it rock; I couldn't make it sound great. With the SSL, I can make it rock, no problem - and on Sunday mornings I can get a classy mix that everyone will love. The board is flexible enough that I can make it sound clean and beautiful, or I can slam it and really put on a show! That's probably my favourite thing about it."
(Jim Evans)
