Cathedral Church of the Advent is an historic church near downtown Birmingham that is home to the Episcopal Diocese of Alabama. The church’s Nave (sanctuary) dates to 1893, and its extensive campus spans numerous buildings and spaces. The Advent hired dB Integrations to design an improved audio system for the Nave and install a distributed audio system that would share the Nave’s upgraded sound all over the campus.
The Advent’s old PA system in the Nave produced lots of high-pitched, whining feedback while also being low on intelligibility. Additionally, the choir was lacking an adequate monitor. Of primary concern was hiring a designer who would provide the technology they needed while also respecting the aesthetics of the historic sanctuary. Acoustic panels, while functional, would detract from the Nave’s beauty and were therefore not an option.
PA System
The Advent needed a new PA system that could handle a large number of inputs while still being easy for volunteers to operate. dB selected the Allen & Heath dLive system, which can accommodate up to 64 inputs ranging from wireless microphones to instrument microphones. “Snapshot” settings empower volunteers to call up specific settings for the various services without extensive audio tech expertise. Because the church did not wish to have a permanent control booth in the Nave, the control surface is installed on a rolling rack to be brought out only when necessary, but wirelessly accessible at any time.
Control Center
The backbone of this audio system is a Q-SYS platform from QSC. The entire system, including all rooms and zones, is controlled with a 7-inch touch screen on the master equipment rack. A small equipment rack in the Refectory houses a remote interface that allows additional input/output options and connects to the Q-SYS platform with a single CAT6 cable.
An Allen & Heath Qu-Pac mixer (a rack-mounted digital mixing console) provides horsepower and flexibility in a compact package and creates a secure control only accessible to approved administrators, protecting the system from misuse.
With optional Dante connectivity on the amplifiers, the entire system can be controlled from the press box, using an iPad tablet as the control surface. All components of this integrated system are controlled from one rack, programmed to work together with the push of a single button. The operator can simply plug in a laptop (or other source) to provide the chosen music. This makes the system very simple for staff or authorized volunteers to operate.
The end result is a beautiful, historic sanctuary that is fully equipped for the technology needs of a 21st-century church. And the messages emanating from that sanctuary are now fully integrated into the entire church campus, reaching every person who enters its doors.
When you work with dB Integrations we listen, measure, survey – and then design the ultimate solution to your audio, LED, lighting, and control needs. And our versatile, experienced engineers deliver on service, reliability, and the utmost quality. We appreciate the trust you place in our team, so we are always willing to work to meet your needs.