The acoustics inside a church can make the difference between a properly communicated message and a garbled-up mess.
To help churches overcome acoustic challenges, let’s examine some of the prevailing myths about church sound.
Myth #1: Acoustics Can Be Addressed Later
Kenric Van Wyk is president of acoustic consulting group Acoustics by Design. He says one of the most prevalent myths among church decision-makers is that acoustics do not need to be addressed during initial facility planning and design, but can be tweaked after construction instead.
“Unfortunately, by the time a project is completed, not only is it much more expensive to ‘fix,’ but there is little to no money left over to treat the space,” Van Wyk says. “Many times the space is too reverberant and too noisy.”
Van Wyk concedes that things, like acoustical panels, can be added later, but the problem with these post-construction solutions is that they often look like they are just slapped on the walls, completely altering the room’s look and appearance. Not only that, but the panels are relatively expensive to install, as they can cost anywhere from $10 to $15 per square foot.
Related: Go Inside 17-Year-Old Programmer’s Dazzling Easter Production
There are a variety of acoustical components that can be incorporated in the facility planning phase that are cheaper and more seamless than acoustical panels and other add-ons. Many acoustical materials can be incorporated into facility designs, such as metal decks, soundblox, and carpeting. Also, sloping or canting the walls could be done with no added cost during construction, but it is quite expensive to add this element as diffusion after the facility is constructed.
“The good news is that good design can be integrated into the architecture at a fraction of the cost of fixing it later,” Van Wyk says.
Myth #2: Only the Worship Center Needs Treatment
Another common myth churches buy into is that only the worship center needs to be fitted for sound. As Van Wyk attests, ministry happens in most every room of a church, any day of the week.
Allowing for clarity of sound only in one room is a trap that church leaders should avoid if at all possible. Most churches use conference room and classroom spaces to conduct Bible study and teachings. Lobbies and common areas are fellowship areas used before and after services.
Gymnasiums, which might also double as secondary worship services, and cafés host casual, but important conversations. All of these ministry spaces are vital to the life and vibrancy of a church community.
“We often hear from churches [that] the classrooms are too loud and reverberant, or members leave immediately after church because the lobby is too loud, or the secondary worship space isn’t designed well,” Van Wyk says.
Myth #3: Acoustical Panels Are Ugly
Churches can be leery of hiring a consultant to make acoustical changes to their facilities because they are afraid the changes might negatively affect the appearance and feeling of a room. The truth, however, is there are many acoustical products on the market designed with a high aesthetic value.
Related: Bringing 4 House of Worship Campuses Together
“It is true that, in the old days, many acoustic fabrics for fiberglass panels were a burlap [material] that was open weave and sagged,” Van Wyk says. “Fabric technology has come a long way, however, and most reputable acoustic panel manufacturers can utilize your choice of fabrics.”
Along with the acoustical fabrics, there are also many perforated wood, metal, and gypsum products that can be used. Oftentimes, these materials can be retrofitted to seamlessly fit into the design of a room.
Myth #4: Electronics Can Fix Anything
An expensive sound system will take care of all of the acoustical issues present in a room — Van Wyk says this is another common myth for which churches fall.
“Bad acoustics are still bad acoustics,” Van Wyk says. “Electronics can help to compensate for some acoustic problems, but not most of them. The cost of electronic ‘Band-Aids’ is often more expensive than just doing it right with good acoustical design.”
Van Wyk says the correct acoustic setup includes a combination of a low reverberation time, a quiet background noise level (from the lobby, kids areas, mechanical noise, and exterior noise), and a well-designed sound system. The system should be selected and oriented to put acoustic energy down onto the congregation.
