Posted by Rick M on 01/31/08 22:15

Bill Fright wrote:
> Richard Crowley wrote:
>> "Rick M" wrote ...
>>> We're looking to relocate our sound board in a church
>>> from the back corner of the balcony to either the
>>> middle of a wrap-around balcony or in a 'sound booth'
>>> in the back.
>>>
>>> On argument is that the operator must be in the open
>>> to judge the sound.
>>>
>>> The other argument is that all
>>> audio and video and projection and recording folk
>>> ought to be in there own secluded, secure,
>>> non-distracting from the rest of the people location.
>>>
>>> I say that moving operators, screens, and fans are
>>> a big distraction, plus they will use the space for
>>> 18 or so people-in-pews.
>>>
>>> What's your view? What facts are needed?
>>
>> Is this the "FOH opeator"? That is the person who controls the
>> mix and levels for the sound heard by the audience. (FOH =
>> Front Of House") That person MUST be in a position to hear
>> a representative sample of what the audience is hearing. If you
>> employ professional engineers you might be able to get away
>> with putting them in an isolated location, but even most pros
>> will balk strongly at that. Putting amateur sound operators in
>> an isolated location for running FOH sound is a guaranteed
>> disaster. It is hard enough to get them to run things correctly
>> when they CAN hear properly.
>>
>> If you are creating any mixes for other uses (recording,
>> overflow, TV, etc. etc.), then you really need a separate
>> operator with their own mixer creating this mix in an isolated
>> environment so that they can also hear what they are doing.
>> But they SHOULD NOT be able to hear what is going on
>> in the main audience area because it will interfere with their
>> ability to mix properly.
>>
> The above is all true and I'd add that the audio guy will much
> appreciate having line of sight to the stage and wings.

If we can preserve line of sight, must the audio mixer (for a church)
really need to be in amongst the congregation?! I doubt it very very
much as it is a distraction to others if he or she is stuck in front of
them!

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