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The new year is fast approaching, and with it comes a new budget. There is nothing as dated as yesterday's vision of tomorrow, but short-term glances ahead are both possible and practical. In the technology arena, there have been several recent updates to existing product categories, and some new products. All provide immediate applications to churches.

Since a church budget should be assembled and managed wisely, it helps to understand these trends and how they might affect resource allocation. Money directed to a remote campus, for instance, must include enough funds to present the video sermon in a believable manner, but does the advent of high-definition (HD) imagery demand its use on a satellite campus? The answer is probably not, for unless the entire stream is HD, the image quality will be determined by its weakest standard-definition (SD) link. However, wise stewardship does call for putting infrastructure in place for an eventual migration to HD content, since cabling is inexpensive to install ahead of time—but costly to replace.

Technology trends, then, give at least a general direction on how to allocate funds and provide a glimpse forward to impending requirements.

From new personal monitors to the latest worship apps, nearly invisible mics to visually pleasing electronic drums, here are five recent technological developments that churches may find helpful for budgeting to buy in 2011:

• Second-generation personal monitor systems. The ability to transfer control of the musicians' mix from the booth to the stage has been a boon for both reposes of the praise team. Instead of calling out requests to the sound tech and waiting for a response, the worship leader can now adjust the mix without intervention.
  
  Aviom's 16 channel A-Net system and Hear Technologies' Hear Back six plus stereo digital audio models have defined the category of on-stage monitor controllers, but now there is a new group of products coming out with a wider palette to offer.
  
  The Roland M-48 takes the mixer-on-a-stand design to new heights with the addition of a local input, built-in effects, and three times the number of available mix channels. Tied to the Roland V-Mix digital mixer environment via the company's proprietary REAC (Roland Ethernet Audio Communication) protocol, the M-48 is easy to learn, quick to respond, and able to deliver stellar sound quality.
  
  While the M-48 adheres to the norm of a central computer, with a hub and distributor system to deliver its audio to the mix stations, increasingly localized computer connectivity portends a change in operation for personal mixing systems. The recently unveiled myMix solution uses off-the-shelf, unmanaged network architecture to allocate each station as part of the entire "brain" of the system, making expansion a painless process. Instead of a hub-and-spoke design, myMix is a peer-to-peer grouping. A large, backlit display allows each user to name inputs and keep track of levels, solo position, and mute status. There is a separate, four-band equalizer for the master section.
  
  Also, myMix automatically updates the profile as each change is made to preserve the latest mix in case of a power failure. Power can be provided locally or through the switch if a POE (Power Over Ethernet) capable switch is used, again, with standard computer store equipment. Placing a card into the Secure Digital (SD) slot turns the unit into an 18-track recording studio with .wav file capability and a stereo reference track to boot. Files can then be transferred to the church's ProTools system for enhancement and mastering of a particularly moving service. With its easier connections, simple means of expansion, and clear display technology, the myMix signals the future of stage monitoring.

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