On the advice of an audio consultant we are making some much needed changes to the sound system and to the acoustics of our Church. The consultant explained why speech intelligibility inside our worship space is very low, and that changes to the sound system only would not improve the situation. The acoustics of the “room” must also be fixed. So we will soon be making some changes, and we will do them in two phases.
In phase 1 the changes won’t be very visible, with the exception of a central speaker above the altar, but positioned near the ceiling and out of our main view. The less noticeable changes will include the addition of some audio equipment, purchasing quieter lighting, and the installation of several “diffusers” that will be mounted on wall spaces that are not easily visible from the main worship area. When this work is complete we will gauge the improvement and stop if it is satisfactory.
We will continue with the rest of the consultant’s recommendations in phase 2 if the sound experience still needs to be improved. Phase 2 will involve adding diffusers to the east and west walls. These diffusers will be visible to all and will become part of the interior decor. Therefore their design must be considered in tandem with the interior restoration.