Upgrading a church’s audio‑visual system is a major step that affects both in‑person worship and online outreach. At Pro‑Logic Technologies, we use this structured checklist to guide Nairobi and Kenya‑wide churches through planning, installation, and handover so that every ministry—preaching, worship, youth, and media—benefits from the upgrade.
1. Planning & requirements
-
Define the upgrade scope: audio only, audio+video, or full AVL (audio, video, lighting).
-
Identify primary use cases: weekly services, weddings, youth events, live streaming, and recordings.
-
Confirm seating capacity, sanctuary layout, and ceiling height for proper speaker and camera placement.
-
Set a realistic budget and timeline, including provisions for future expansion (extra zones, cameras, or streaming gear).
2. Current system assessment
-
Audit existing audio: speakers, mixers, amplifiers, wireless mics, and cabling for faults and obsolescence.
-
Check video equipment: projectors, screens, cameras, video switchers, and display cables.
-
Evaluate network infrastructure: router, switch, Wi‑Fi coverage, and upload speed for live streaming.
-
Document pain points reported by pastors, worship leaders, and tech volunteers (feedback, coverage gaps, intermittent dropouts).
3. Design & equipment specification
-
Design a new PA layout: main speakers, front‑fill, side‑fill, and subwoofers placed for even coverage and speech intelligibility.
-
Specify pro‑grade components: church‑rated speakers, mixers, power amps, and DSP or graphic EQ units sized for the sanctuary.
-
Plan wireless audio: number of handheld and belt‑pack mics, RF coordinators, and backup channels.
-
Design video system: projectors or LED walls, camera positions (front, overhead, wide), video switcher, and display layout.
-
Include lighting upgrades if needed: stage lighting, house‑lighting dimmers, and basic mood‑lighting for worship.
4. Infrastructure readiness
-
Prepare racks and patching: audio rack, video rack, and networking rack with adequate power, ventilation, and cable management.
-
Run new conduits and cable runs for mics, speakers, and network drops to avoid future retrofitting.
-
Ensure reliable power: dedicated circuits for the rack, surge protection, and backup power planning for critical components.
-
Verify Wi‑Fi and network switches support camera feeds, streaming encoders, and remote control apps.
5. Installation & integration
-
Mount speakers and subwoofers safely, with proper rigging and cable support.
-
Install mixer, amplifiers, DSP, and any streaming hardware in a central rack location.
-
Terminate and label all cables (audio, video, and network) with clear channel and destination labels.
-
Set up and test wireless microphones, including RF coordination and battery management.
-
Install cameras, monitors, and any LED screens, ensuring clear sightlines for every seat.
6. Calibration & tuning
-
Perform acoustic tuning: pink‑noise sweeps, EQ adjustments, and delay settings for even coverage and minimal feedback.
-
Configure gain structure and compressor/limiter settings on mixers and amps to protect speakers and vocals.
-
Set up video routing: input sources to camera switcher, output to projectors/LED walls and live‑stream encoder.
-
Adjust lighting cues and presets to match service segments (worship, teaching, announcements).
7. Training & handover
-
Train key volunteers on:
-
Mixer operation (channel routing, mute groups, monitor sends).
-
Wireless mic setup and basic troubleshooting.
-
Camera switching, basic video formatting, and simple graphic overlays.
-
-
Provide printed or digital operating guides tailored to the church’s new workflow.
-
Explain how to perform basic checks before service (microphones, stage, power, and network).
8. Maintenance & support plan
-
Schedule routine maintenance visits (e.g., quarterly) for cleaning, cabling checks, and software updates.
-
Define a support contact path at Pro‑Logic Technologies for urgent faults on Sundays or special events.
-
Plan for gradual future upgrades: additional cameras, more zones, or advanced streaming features as the ministry grows.
By following this checklist, Pro‑Logic Technologies ensures that a church AV upgrade is systematic, safe, and sustainable, delivering clearer sound, better visuals, and smoother operations for years to come.