How to Train Your Church Sound Techs

If you have to train church sound techs, when your best skill is something else, it can be tricky. In this video, I’ll walk you through how to bring on someone new, even if the concepts are new to you.

[johnsey]

This channel is so underrated. You deserve more subs!

[antonioaudet]

😂 LOL “Nobody leaves church humming the bass drum!”

[brianlebrun]

Good stuff. I'm the media tech for a large church and teaching volunteers to do what you ask and also have a sense of urgency is really tough and that's assuming you can find one. I do 2 services on Sundays with 2 livestreams, 5 cameras, liturgy and song lyric slides, 2 individual mixes and lighting and I do all the prep and work myself. Then there's the 7 or 8 concerts a year and any special events in the church. I've had a few volunteers but there was never any indication that any one of them took what we did seriously so in the last almost 4 years I've had 2 Sundays off....once for covid and once for a hurricane. All I look for is an ability to understand and follow directions and my current lets just say he's lacking. Your dialog of making corrections during services is right on. Too many people (I've run into this lately) think that a sound check means you can just walk away and everything is done. They don't understand that this just gets you in the ballpark and when 700+ people come in all the dynamics change. I'm enjoying your videos. Again, good stuff.

[JarecFR]

6:02 I wanna know more about this highpass filer you're talking about ;)

[PanRider]

Nice to have a sound tutorial that starts out with characteristics and creativity. So many just start with the gear and how to operate it.
When I train I like to emphasise personal qualities like humility, servant hood, team orientated, timekeeping, etc. Then we talk sound then gear.

We have a drummer who’s light, I ask him to use sticks another who’s a rock drummer I got him lightning rods. Both happy 😊

[BAdams]

Thank you James Attaway for your channel. I love you colorful and descriptive terms AND showing us the technique on your board. I have watched a few of your videos, and will explore and view others. I am a sound tech at my church, where we have two mixers - one for FOH and the other for the stream. I have been doing the latter for about three months (not every week), but have yet to solo on the FOH. So much to learn! Thank you again.

[AbqMichaelMcDonald]

I'm just a volunteer. I thought this would be just something only our leaders might care about. But it’s really amazing. He hits on so many core issues in getting the sound right. And he structures the problem, how the sound balance impacts the message, amazingly. The video gets so into where all our minds need to be. I finished totally engaged.

[michaelanderson]

Great video!! I’ve been training media team members at churches for awhile now.

[MorganWallaceMusic]

FanTASTIC video. Thanks, James!
Also: Watching it at a faster speed, the cut @5:36 is hilarious. That WOULD be a very wise drummer 😅

[normpeterson]

love it James. I have tried to give your videos to the sound tech chosen. He does to 'rotisserie' style of live worship. Set it and forget it and sit down in front. I need instruction on how to approach and arrogant sound tech!

[raycarroll]

Great video!! What is the ideal number of volunteers to help with lights sound and computer each Sunday? Besides myself light guy and the computer we have dame three every Sunday but we have 12 other people who want to help. Any suggestions?

[OffGridandOutdoors]

Probably the best 12 minutes any lead tech could possibly spend