Christian Geekery

I just bought the $20 AudioTools app for my iPhone and used the Real Time Analyzer “RTA” to help “flatten” the sanctuary in our church.  I have been wanting to get an RTA and other tools for some time, but my church is a small country church and available funds are better used to help others.  After all we already had some pretty decent sound with minimal problems, or so I thought.

After using the RTA, I was simply amazed at how much crisper the sound was.  I was even able to put the lapel mic inches away from the mains without feedback.  The best I was able to do previously was about a foot.   I have no serious training other then what I can glean from others and reading a lot, so this may be no surprise to professionals out there. 

Personally I am very happy that a $20 investment in an iPhone App was able to help me to do a better job without spending hundreds more for professional quality audio tools.

When I was in Kansas City, I took the opportunity to check out IHOP’s 24 hour prayer room in person. They have an interesting setup with tables along both sides of the Prayer room for people to study at. There was also free WiFi for those that work out of their computers. Nice touch there.

As one of the sound people in my church, I was of course interested in their setup. Ours is a small country church with limited space, and because of this we have not been able enclose and mic the drums. This forces us to bring everything else up to the drums, and prevents the kind of softer worship sound that I heard at IHOP. Don’t get me wrong, we have some of the best musicians I have ever had the privilege to worship with. I would however really like to be able to bring the overall levels down a bit to allow us to do the occasional softer worship styles. In any case if it is Gods will, and not just my own, it will be possible someday.

The worship was simply wonderful at IHOP when I was there. I have been listening to their unique style of prophetic worship for some time now, and I was not disappointed being there in person. They also do a rapid fire prayer line based on the subject that is started by the pastor at the time. This appears to be open to anybody that feels drawn to pray along the current theme. A very powerful way for people to pray in agreement.