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In the first installment of this article (May/June 2001), Your Church spoke with integrated media experts to learn how audio, lighting, and video can work together as a single entity. This follow-up article explores the set up and application of integrated media components.

The key to a successful integrated media ministry is to understand the relationship between each area and how each supports the others. The effectiveness of a church service will be dramatically enhanced when all aspects of integrated media are implemented together in a well-designed system.

One recurring theme in the previous article was the need to use a control system to tie all the equipment together. A control system is basically a fancy programmable remote control unit that can be customized to include most of a church's media components. In order to use a control system, the equipment must have some type of control interface, such as RS-232, infrared, or even midi.

The control system may be programmed to perform multiple functions, such as turning on the projector, lowering the screen, dimming the lights, and starting the VCR, with the press of one button. Programs can be as advanced or as simple as needed. The two main manufacturers of these products are Panja and Crestron Electronics.

With regard to control systems, Ken Holsinger of Fowler Productions says the most important quality of an integrated media system is its user-friendliness.

"Churches mainly work with volunteers," he says. "It is crucial that their system is easy to learn and operate."

Audio is top priority in any media system. And one critical audio component is the mixer. When selecting one, your church should choose a mixer with more channels, or inputs, than are currently needed, to allow for future expansion. If a mixer is purchased to handle a band of only six people and two more are added a year later, either the mixer will need to be replaced or a second will need to be added to accommodate the extra inputs necessary for the new instruments and/or microphones. Buying a bigger unit at first will save money in the long run.

Each piece of equipment in the audio chain—from microphone to speaker—should feature a low noise floor. The noise floor is a measurement of the amount of "hiss" produced by electronic audio equipment. As equipment is chained together, this noise builds up. The lower the noise floor on each piece, the better the final sound quality.

Great sound equipment can only do so much, however. The natural acoustics of your worship space will primarily determine the sound quality in your church. When building a new auditorium, an audio/video consultant should be hired before or at the same time as the architect. A consultant will help save money and headaches by ensuring that the building design is suitable for audio and video applications. Existing auditoriums that have acoustic problems should be treated with sound-absorbing material.

There are two types of lighting to consider in an integrated media system: house lighting and stage lighting. The primary concern with house lighting is that it not interfere with the video system. Stage lighting, using either par cans or intelligent lighting devices, is more important because it can add interest to your presentations. An intelligent light may produce a variety of colors and beam widths and may be remotely controlled. Proper and effective use of stage lighting can produce an ambiance that no other medium can create.

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