Oct 8, 2026 · 38 min · 14 segments
In Episode 151, the hosts discuss how to make the best out of a bad PA system. Sometimes it’s simply adjusting the EQ, other times it’s moving the loudspeakers — the hosts go through the physics and…
James AttawayHost
Gary ZandstraHost
So James, you've heard me talk about what I have defined excellence as is doing the best you can with what you got every chance you get, right? And sometimes you're stuck in a situation with what you got may not be what you want and it may not even be what you need, but somehow, you know, you got to make it work.
And, you know, 10 years ago, I saw a lot of this where 10 to 15 years ago, worship style and stuff was changing so much and so fast.
And we had sound systems that were designed to, for voice only or for voice and choir kind of things.
Now, my hope is that most of the churches that are doing more contemporary style of worship have had enough time to upgrade or to add or to augment to accomplish that.
But that A isn't always the case that, you know, there's not necessary funds available for that.
Or the second thing is there may have been an upgrade done that was done on a budget and sacrificed maybe coverage in the room or something.
boy, we really needed that extra subwoofer on the ground, but we couldn't afford it.
Or the third and most sad thing is there might be something that's just misapplied, misimplemented.
We didn't necessarily get the right advice, the right vendor, or we had, you know, the well-intentioned volunteer who's no longer at the church, probably, who, you know, went to, you know, Guitar Center or went online to Sweetwater and said, hey, I've read these are the best things and sliced bread, you know, or more than likely, hey, I bought a line array because, you know, everybody else is doing a line array.
But There are multiple things, and obviously we can't know every situation and every problem that's out there, but we do know and see a lot of the common ones that are out there.
Let me kind of tee it up here for you because you're out doing training and all kinds of stuff and probably see even a few more rooms than I do.
Where do you see the shortcomings and what can be done to kind of fake it till you make it or fake it till you got the money to make it?
So James, you've heard me talk about what I have defined excellence as is doing the best you can with what you got every chance you get, right? And sometimes you're stuck in a situation with what you got may not be what you want and it may not even be what you need, but somehow, you know, you got to make it work.
And, you know, 10 years ago, I saw a lot of this where 10 to 15 years ago, worship style and stuff was changing so much and so fast.
And we had sound systems that were designed to, for voice only or for voice and choir kind of things.
Now, my hope is that most of the churches that are doing more contemporary style of worship have had enough time to upgrade or to add or to augment to accomplish that.
But that A isn't always the case that, you know, there's not necessary funds available for that.
Or the second thing is there may have been an upgrade done that was done on a budget and sacrificed maybe coverage in the room or something.
boy, we really needed that extra subwoofer on the ground, but we couldn't afford it.
Or the third and most sad thing is there might be something that's just misapplied, misimplemented.
We didn't necessarily get the right advice, the right vendor, or we had, you know, the well-intentioned volunteer who's no longer at the church, probably, who, you know, went to, you know, Guitar Center or went online to Sweetwater and said, hey, I've read these are the best things and sliced bread, you know, or more than likely, hey, I bought a line array because, you know, everybody else is doing a line array.
But There are multiple things, and obviously we can't know every situation and every problem that's out there, but we do know and see a lot of the common ones that are out there.
Let me kind of tee it up here for you because you're out doing training and all kinds of stuff and probably see even a few more rooms than I do.
Where do you see the shortcomings and what can be done to kind of fake it till you make it or fake it till you got the money to make it?
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