Ever watched your church’s livestream and thought, “Why does it feel like a band rehearsal instead of worship?” The answer is simple: no crowd mics. When you’re in the room, you hear the congregation singing, clapping, and reacting. That energy fills the space. But online? Without crowd mics, all of that disappears. It’s just raw instruments and vocals with zero atmosphere. What Crowd Mics Do: - They capture the room—the sound of the congregation, the ambience, the “life” of worship. - They make online viewers feel like they’re actually there. - They glue the mix together so it doesn’t sound sterile or awkward. How to Set Them Up 1️⃣ Placement is everything. Put them far enough to capture the congregation, but not so close they pick up the band more than the people. 2️⃣ Stereo pairs work best. Small diaphragm condensers or even shotgun mics can give a natural spread. 3️⃣ EQ with care. Roll off the lows so subs don’t rumble the stream, and tame highs if it gets harsh. 4️⃣ Blend, don’t blast. You want just enough to hear the room without drowning out the worship team. ⚡ Pro tip: Don’t forget to check phase—if crowd mics are out of phase with the PA, your livestream can sound thin and weird. 💬 Do you run crowd mics for your church’s livestream? If so, how many—and where do you place them? — Nate

One of the biggest reasons church vocals sound bad has nothing to do with the soundboard—it’s how the mic is being held. Here’s what happens when singers or pastors get it wrong: ❌ Hand over the capsule → muffled, muddy, zero clarity. (EQ can’t fix this.) ❌ Mic down by the chest → weak, thin, no presence. You crank gain = feedback city. ❌ Mic swinging side to side → inconsistent volume, every word sounds different. Now here’s the right way: ✅ One to two inches from the mouth (close = strong, clear signal). ✅ Pointed directly at the mouth, not the chin or nose. ✅ Firm but relaxed grip on the handle—never the capsule. ✅ Consistent position (don’t pull away when you sing louder). ⚡ Pro tip: If you’re leading worship and like to move, keep the mic locked in the same spot relative to your mouth. Your sound tech will thank you. 💬 Question for you: In your church, what’s the most common “bad mic habit” you see—cupping the capsule, holding too far, or wandering mic position? — Nate

Let’s be honest—nothing kills a moment faster than a pastor or worship leader’s mic cutting in and out mid-sentence. You hear the first word, then silence, then it pops back in like nothing happened. And the first thing everyone does? Look at you in the booth 😅. Here are the real reasons it happens in churches (and how to fight it): 1. Antennas hidden or blockedIf your receiver antennas are stuffed behind a rack or pointed at the floor, you’re asking for trouble. Always get them above head height and line-of-sight with the stage. 2. Too far from the receiverMost budget systems start struggling past 100 ft, especially if there are walls or bodies in the way. Distance = dropout. 3. Frequency chaosIf your wireless is running in the same band as Wi-Fi routers, lighting controllers, or other wireless mics, expect interference. Always scan and set clear frequencies. 4. Cheap batteriesHalf the “mystery cutouts” I’ve seen came down to weak AA batteries. Spend a few extra bucks on quality rechargeables—it’s worth it. ⚡ Pro tip: In churches where the stage is far from the booth, use remote antennas on stands closer to the platform. That single change can take you from constant dropouts to rock-solid audio. 💬 Question: What’s the biggest cause of wireless mic dropouts in YOUR church—distance, interference, or just bad batteries? — Nate

Every church sound tech has fought this: the worship leader is singing their heart out, but the moment the drummer hits the crash, the vocal disappears. This isn’t a “volume” issue—it’s frequency masking. Vocals and cymbals both live heavily in the 3–6kHz range, so when they overlap, the vocal loses every time. Here’s how to fix it: 1. Control the cymbals at the source. - If your drummer plays too hard, no amount of EQ will save you. Hot rods or quieter cymbals are worth the investment. 2. EQ overheads with intention. - Roll off lows (they don’t belong there anyway). - Dip gently around 3–5kHz so vocals can shine in that space. - Let cymbals own the shimmer above 10kHz instead. 3. Protect the vocal channel. - Keep vocals strong in the presence zone (2–5kHz). - Use light compression to hold them steady against sudden crashes. 4. Balance in the mix. - Don’t just push vocals louder. That only creates a volume war. Carve space instead so both can exist without fighting. 5. Consider a drum enclosure. - If your stage is small or reflective, cymbals will always spill everywhere. A drum enclosure doesn’t just reduce stage volume—it gives you way more control in the mix, so vocals and instruments aren’t battling bleed all service long. ⚡ Bottom line: Cymbals aren’t the enemy—but if you don’t manage them (or contain them), they’ll eat your vocals alive. 💬 Question: Do cymbals cause more problems for you in the room or on the livestream?

Hello everyone, So I need help figuring something out, My church is hosting a leadership meeting for our denomination and we’re hosting on Teams. I’ve been tasked to figure out how we’re gonna do this without having audio feedback when questions are being asked in the meeting and the meeting will be streamed from our system live as well. Please any help or direction to help will be appreciated.