Church Volunteer Audio Engineer Training
In 2016, I conducted Masters' Research on training church volunteer audio engineers (Link to the MA Report Summary). While skills can be gained from mentors, in-house training and online training videos, the five most important skills volunteer audio engineers need to develop are:
- Creating a seamless audio event where the audio is 'invisible' to the participants, where the level, transitions, and tone are appropriate and support the aims of the event.
- Listening and referencing one sound to another, knowing what to aim for.
- Sculpting a sound source appropriately using volume, eq and dynamics. Many online and print resources can help operators use many of the audio tools (e.g. mics, cables, gain structure) but the face-to-face sound operator trainer should guide volunteers on how to reference sounds.
- Hearing management and hearing longevity: responsibly looking after the sound engineer's and musician's most important tool, their ear; finding ways to manage sound exposure in a noisy environment, while still providing an immersive, live-sound experience.
- Developing a character that is teachable, is humble, and pleasant to work alongside.
Expanding the Church Audio Engineer's Toolkit
Information and training resources are easier to access than they have ever been before. Still, volunteers in crucial technical roles are often ill-equipped to manage the resources they are responsible for.
Technical sound operators within houses of worship provide a crucial collaborative role that requires an understanding of their purpose, an embracing of the technology at hand, and relationships with other stakeholders. These abilities should creatively facilitate the needs of a church programme without distraction.
Although challenging, the volunteer sound operator role is potentially rewarding as an expression of ‘faith’, while providing a service that employs an individual’s unique character and skill-set. The skills required are often underestimated and the role is rarely acknowledged unless there is an audio problem.
The demands of the position, the individual’s sense of purpose, and the level of connection with the people and organisation involved, affect the well-being and longevity of the volunteer, presenting many churches with a shortage of proficient staff. Conversely, investment, ownership, the sense of ‘calling’, or mission, often drives the operator to develop skills without prompting, diligence without oversight, as well as attentiveness and creativity that is in line with a professional ethic, and empowers the individual.
On-going development in any role of responsibility is vitally important. Equipping leaders, music directors, musicians and other stakeholders, with insight into the importance of connection and relationships, together with an understanding of the collaborative nature of audio, can in turn, provide a better experience for fellow stakeholders, while also establishing value and purpose for the individuals involved.
Technical sound operators within houses of worship provide a crucial collaborative role that requires an understanding of their purpose, an embracing of the technology at hand, and relationships with other stakeholders. These abilities should creatively facilitate the needs of a church programme without distraction.
Although challenging, the volunteer sound operator role is potentially rewarding as an expression of ‘faith’, while providing a service that employs an individual’s unique character and skill-set. The skills required are often underestimated and the role is rarely acknowledged unless there is an audio problem.
The demands of the position, the individual’s sense of purpose, and the level of connection with the people and organisation involved, affect the well-being and longevity of the volunteer, presenting many churches with a shortage of proficient staff. Conversely, investment, ownership, the sense of ‘calling’, or mission, often drives the operator to develop skills without prompting, diligence without oversight, as well as attentiveness and creativity that is in line with a professional ethic, and empowers the individual.
On-going development in any role of responsibility is vitally important. Equipping leaders, music directors, musicians and other stakeholders, with insight into the importance of connection and relationships, together with an understanding of the collaborative nature of audio, can in turn, provide a better experience for fellow stakeholders, while also establishing value and purpose for the individuals involved.
Sample pages below
