PA Project for Church
- Thread starter reubensm
- Start date
reubensm
Well-Known Member
Last night's work, cabling for the amplifiers, mixer, equalizer and XLR cabling for the mics. Lots of soldering 
Simon Wires
Well-Known Member
Dear Reuben,
I am also joining with you in thanking FM Ask07, for not only donating the Mixer but also shipping it to your door step, all the way through 1500 miles.
reubensm
Well-Known Member
Spent last night positioning and calibrating the fall back speaker and the mics. We have a set of different mics so each mixer channel has to be calibrated separately for each mic. Sound calibration with all the mics on, will happen tonight.
Played a cd through the speakers at full blast and it sounded amazing.
Played a cd through the speakers at full blast and it sounded amazing.
greenhorn
Well-Known Member
Will those calibration settings stay? I've noticed that people start fiddling at the mixer input levels for all the mics if feedback shows up, and all the careful mixer settings you did at the start goes out of the window
reubensm
Well-Known Member
Will those calibration settings stay? I've noticed that people start fiddling at the mixer input levels for all the mics if feedback shows up, and all the careful mixer settings you did at the start goes out of the window
I will be training them how to calibrate. Also I have taken xerox copies of the mixer and equalizer faces and have made templates. We will map the calibration settings on these templates for different situations. For example, on week days, the attendance at the church is less and different settings are required. On Sundays, with maximum attendance and a full-fledged choir, a separate set of settings are required. By using the marked templates, the mixer operator can set up (or restore) the mixer and equalizer settings in less than 10 minutes.
On another note, I have incorporated 2 switches (one for each side) for switching off the back speakers during week days. This is as attendance in the hall is significantly less.
Simon Wires
Well-Known Member
Yet, its common that the powerful man in the choir raises the bar of the mixer, for him to be heard loud ..
In my younger days, one of the common complaints among the choir members is 'Who's lips are closer to mic'
In my younger days, one of the common complaints among the choir members is 'Who's lips are closer to mic'
aks07
Well-Known Member
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Both you fine gents make it sound like a million $ deed. That gadget was lying unused for several years. At least now it will have a blessed life in the service of the God.
What really praiseworthy is the dedication reubensm ji have shown in this endeavor. It requires extraordinary efforts to spare time and resources away from the daily grind. I am sure the parish will acknowledge your kind deeds.
All the best and a Happy Ganesh Chaturthi to all
reubensm
Well-Known Member
The church PA project has been successfully completed and inaugurated on Sunday 31 August. The installation and calibration was quite a success and I received rave reviews from almost everyone. Personally I would say that there is scope for improvement further but compared to what it was before, the improvement is tremendous. I have taken some pics on Sunday early morning, before service (the church underwent a complete clean-up as well, before the launch).
sarith
Active Member
Prabheesh industries aka vadekadu mesthiri (to trivandrumites) seems to have done a good job for you. Though his work is expensive, the outcome of his work is normally quite satisfactory. I have used his service for more than a decade.
Gave him a pair of Philips speaker boxes to cover it with felt recently. He charged me almost 3 times than what other people on electronics street would and took almost a month to finish it. Had to call and visit him a dozen time to make him do the job.
Final outcome? The felt is not properly sticked. Without my consent, he painted the front baffle with what looks like charcoal black. The paint is coming off staining hands and clothes. Applied glue and spray painted it. I gave him a grill cloth. He used some other type and I don't know what happened to the cloth I gave him..
One guy who knows him well told me that he is addicted to alcohol. I noticed that he is using particle wood and also, he is working alone. Seems like busting all the profit on drinks..too bad
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reubensm
Well-Known Member
Yes, he did a decent job. He's never messed with me. I guess its the image one portrays to these guys. They seldom mess around when they know that the customer is extremely knowledeable. His delivery timelines with me have also been spot on. Infact these speakers were delivered within a few day's time, well ahead of the deadline. The quality of his work is better than other local carpenters as he specializes in speaker and amplifier cabinets unlike other generic carpenters. He is also very knowledgable about design aspects and dimensions. On the flip side, he is mightly expensive indeed.
The quality of work on these speakers was outstanding and many thought the speakers were brand new.
sarith
Active Member
He knows me well. He has never messed around with me till this one. If he wasn't this old, I would have dealt with him appropriately. I saw him working on your speakers one day.
Also, saw few other work as I visited him quite often. He has a stock of few sheets of particle wood most of the time which I am sure he used on all the work I saw him do.
I remember, in old days, I never had to specify the size of speaker boxes or diameter of speaker/port holes. He had all the measurements needed. IMO, he ain't that good now.
Fortunately, found better carpenters who can deliver within 24hrs to 3 days depending on the size of order. I also tried my hands on how to stick felt and mica on to speaker boxes and be good at it
. I won't be going to him anymore.
reubensm
Well-Known Member
He knows me well. He has never messed around with me till this one. If he wasn't this old, I would have dealt with him appropriately. I saw him working on your speakers one day.
Also, saw few other work as I visited him quite often. He has a stock of few sheets of particle wood most of the time which I am sure he used on all the work I saw him do.
I remember, in old days, I never had to specify the size of speaker boxes or diameter of speaker/port holes. He had all the measurements needed. IMO, he ain't that good now.
Fortunately, found better carpenters who can deliver within 24hrs to 3 days depending on the size of order. I also tried my hands on how to stick felt and mica on to speaker boxes and be good at it
Yes, its always better to do these things ourself. I have in-house capability for building turntable plinths. I am waiting for my plinths to arrive from Mr. Kuruvilla's. Have to try my hand at speaker boxes also. Unfortunately work committments are getting in the way and eating up all the time.
reubensm
Well-Known Member
During the inaugural mass on Sunday, a special prayer was said for the following contributors to this project:
1) FM Simon Wires (and his family) for all his help and support, he has been extremely generous as always and had gone through some amazing trouble to get stuff to me for this project.
2) The late Mr.Ragunathan Iyengar and his family for their kindness in donating a fantastic pair of custom built speakers, modelled on the legendary Technics Linear Phase speaker system, SB7000A. With customization, these speakers fit the requirement perfectly and were an instant hit when they were turned on.
3) FM AKS07 (and his family) for his fantastic gesture in donating a band new Ahuja mixer for this project. This mixer was put to good use in the Parish hall of the church.
4) My lovely wife, who was a major contributor to this project. She drove all the way to Marthandam (about 50 odd kilometers from Trivandrum), carried the heavy speakers, put them in the car and got them passed the TN/Kerala check post. She also helped with hall measurement, speaker placement assessment and actually lifting the heavy speakers on to the wall stands. She also singlehandedly took care of the kids while I was away most part of night, though last week
5) For the forum members of Hifivision.com for their valuable inputs and guidance, through this project.
Additionally, a speech was given about my contributions in getting this organized and I was presented with a bouquet of flowers by the Parish Council.
1) FM Simon Wires (and his family) for all his help and support, he has been extremely generous as always and had gone through some amazing trouble to get stuff to me for this project.
2) The late Mr.Ragunathan Iyengar and his family for their kindness in donating a fantastic pair of custom built speakers, modelled on the legendary Technics Linear Phase speaker system, SB7000A. With customization, these speakers fit the requirement perfectly and were an instant hit when they were turned on.
3) FM AKS07 (and his family) for his fantastic gesture in donating a band new Ahuja mixer for this project. This mixer was put to good use in the Parish hall of the church.
4) My lovely wife, who was a major contributor to this project. She drove all the way to Marthandam (about 50 odd kilometers from Trivandrum), carried the heavy speakers, put them in the car and got them passed the TN/Kerala check post. She also helped with hall measurement, speaker placement assessment and actually lifting the heavy speakers on to the wall stands. She also singlehandedly took care of the kids while I was away most part of night, though last week
5) For the forum members of Hifivision.com for their valuable inputs and guidance, through this project.
Additionally, a speech was given about my contributions in getting this organized and I was presented with a bouquet of flowers by the Parish Council.
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saheb11123
Active Member
I wont comment , will just smile
reubensm
Well-Known Member
Some pictures, here goes:
The Church:
To start with, can you locate the speaker wiring?
Give up? Here's how its done, wiring hidden from view, behind the pillar:
New altar microphone:
New set of microphones and stands:
The main speakers, the one on the front left of the hall:
And the other on the front right of the hall:
The central console, shifted to a new spot within the audience (note the new graphic equalizer):
The wiring done, need to organize this a bit better (I have redone all the cabling with new or re-wired cables):
Monitor on the altar for the priest to monitor what's been sung or spoken:
View of the Church hall showing the 2 big speakers on the walls, at the front and 2 of the smaller speakers in the middle, the ones at the back are not visible:
A shot of the rear of one of the big speakers, sorry for the patches on the photo:
Shot showing one side (right) of the speakers and their arrangement (all three of them). This is the right side and the left side has the same arrangement. The photo is taken from the back of the hall:
I have used the surround sound technique while positioning these speakers. The 2 main speakers upfront provide sound for the hall while the 2 pairs in the middle and at the back of the church are placed as surround sound speakers and bolster the sound at the back. The speakers in the center and at the back do not face the audience but are flat against the wall. The effect is that the sound fills the church hall without the audience being able to tell where the speakers are placed The parish council was unsure of this arrangement until they heard it play. It sounds very impressive.
Sorry for the patches on some of the photos. My camera lens seems to have some fungus on it and I've got to get it rectified.
The Church:
To start with, can you locate the speaker wiring?
Give up? Here's how its done, wiring hidden from view, behind the pillar:
New altar microphone:
New set of microphones and stands:
The main speakers, the one on the front left of the hall:
And the other on the front right of the hall:
The central console, shifted to a new spot within the audience (note the new graphic equalizer):
The wiring done, need to organize this a bit better (I have redone all the cabling with new or re-wired cables):
Monitor on the altar for the priest to monitor what's been sung or spoken:
View of the Church hall showing the 2 big speakers on the walls, at the front and 2 of the smaller speakers in the middle, the ones at the back are not visible:
A shot of the rear of one of the big speakers, sorry for the patches on the photo:
Shot showing one side (right) of the speakers and their arrangement (all three of them). This is the right side and the left side has the same arrangement. The photo is taken from the back of the hall:
I have used the surround sound technique while positioning these speakers. The 2 main speakers upfront provide sound for the hall while the 2 pairs in the middle and at the back of the church are placed as surround sound speakers and bolster the sound at the back. The speakers in the center and at the back do not face the audience but are flat against the wall. The effect is that the sound fills the church hall without the audience being able to tell where the speakers are placed
The parish council was unsure of this arrangement until they heard it play. It sounds very impressive.Sorry for the patches on some of the photos. My camera lens seems to have some fungus on it and I've got to get it rectified.
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reubensm
Well-Known Member
btw, the spend for the church was "zero" on this one. Everything was donated by FM Simon Wires (and the late Mr.Ragunathan Iyengar), FM AKS07 and FM Reubensm, courtesy Hifivision.
Great Job Buddy.
Record Player
Well-Known Member
Honestly, Hallelujah. Great going Reuben and all the others who were a part of this. You had a plan and it was executed perfectly .
. A beautiful, well-constructed speaker with class-leading soundstage, imaging and bass that is fast, deep, and precise.