In an effort to reach greater numbers of people and provide a more relevant worship experience, sophisticated audiovisual systems are becoming ever-more present in today’s House of Worship market. The impact of these AV systems has been profound, but training is essential in order for “newcomers” to make informed decisions about the equipment they invest in and how to properly use it—and that’s where the HOW-TO Sound Workshops enters the picture. Armed with equipment from professional audio’s leading manufacturers, the uninitiated learn the skills they’ll need to find success in their own worship facilities. Microphones are a key element in the sound reinforcement equation and, for this, seminar attendees gain first hand exposure to models from Earthworks, Inc.
- Hector La Torre, Managing Partner of Fits & Starts Productions, is the organizer and founder of the HOW-TO Sound Workshops. He discussed the nature of the seminars and how Earthworks became involved. “The HOW-TO Sound Workshops are dedicated to training church sound volunteers and technicians in the art and operation of sound system equipment,” explained La Torre. “The Workshops also present technology seminars at private recording schools and universities across the USA. Being responsible for tour logistics, interfacing with tour sponsors, and helping to create curriculum, I wanted our workshop attendees to gain exposure to the best equipment, and this led me to Earthworks—whose microphones are highly regarded in our industry.”
Presently, the HOW-TO Sound Workshops are using microphones from the Earthworks PianoMic, FlexMic, and ChoirMic models. The PianoMic is an innovative solution that features two random incidence, omnidirectional, 40 kHz High Definition Microphones and utilizes a unique, easy-to-place support mechanism that straddles the piano’s harp with the lid in either open or closed position, thus facilitating a variety of piano miking options. The Earthworks FlexMic microphones are optimized for use on podiums—thus making them ideal for sermons and other public speaking applications. The Earthworks ChoirMic is a hanging microphone that incorporates a short, flexible gooseneck from the microphone’s body that provides the ability to aim the capsule at the precise point desired. Collectively, these three models address the most common church miking applications: piano, public speaking, and reinforcement for choirs.
“The Earthworks microphones are used in a hands-on fashion where workshop attendees get to touch and listen to the mics in action,” notes La Torre. “This enables our students to learn how to use the equipment properly when they get back to their respective churches. They are a great teaching tool and are an essential part of our training program.”
