Let’s be real—compression is the most misunderstood tool in live sound.I’ve seen two extremes:👉 Techs who slap a compressor on everything and squash the life out of the mix.👉 Techs who are scared to touch it and end up chasing faders the whole service. The truth? Compression is a seatbelt for your mix. It keeps things under control... while still letting the music breathe. Here’s the breakdown: 🎛️ What Compression Does - Turns down the loud parts. - Brings up the quiet parts. - Keeps dynamics balanced so instruments/vocals sit steady in the mix. 🎤 On Vocals - Smooths out whispers vs. belting. - Keeps the vocal “up front” without riding the fader every line. 🥁 On Drums - Tightens kick and snare so they punch but don’t overwhelm. 🎹 On Instruments - Helps guitars and keys stay present without poking out randomly. Basic starting point for live vocals: - Threshold: aim for 3–6 dB of gain reduction - Ratio: 3:1 or 4:1 - Attack: medium (20–40ms) so natural punch comes through - Release: medium-fast (100–200ms) to reset quickly ⚡ Pro tip: Compression isn’t about squashing—it’s about control. If you hear the compressor working, you probably went too far. 💬 Question for you: What’s the hardest thing for you to compress in your church mix—vocals, drums, or something else? — Nate

Let’s talk soundcheck. Most churches think soundcheck is just “set the levels and go.” But that’s where mixes start falling apart. A proper soundcheck isn’t just volume—it’s where you build the foundation for the entire service. Here’s the 3-step framework I use every time: 1️⃣ Gain Before Fader: Set your input gain correctly. If the gain is wrong, nothing else matters. Get a solid signal without clipping. 2️⃣ Clear the Mud: Before you worry about EQ “sweet spots,” use high-pass filters. Roll off lows on vocals, guitars, and keys—leave the low end for kick and bass only. This clears instant space in your mix. 3️⃣ Build the Band, Don’t Just BalanceStart with rhythm (drums + bass), then layer in instruments, then vocals. Listen to how each part fits with the others. The goal isn’t “everyone loud enough,” it’s a band that sounds like one unit. ⚡ Pro tip: Write this process down and train your volunteers on it. Consistency > perfection. 💬 What about you—how long does your team’s soundcheck usually take? 15 minutes? 45? Drop your number below 👇 — Nate

Let’s talk EQ for a minute. One of the fastest ways to improve your church mix isn’t buying new gear—it’s understanding frequency ranges. If you know where problems live, you can fix them faster and make your mix cleaner without endless guessing. Here are 3 key ranges that make or break a Sunday mix: 1️⃣ Low End (20Hz–120Hz) - Kick drum, bass guitar, and stage rumble live here. - Too much = muddy, boomy mix. - Too little = thin and lifeless.👉 Pro Tip: High-pass filter everything that doesn’t belong here (vocals, guitars, keys). It’s like clearing out the junk drawer—suddenly there’s space for the important stuff. 2️⃣ Low-Mids (200Hz–500Hz) - This is the “mud zone.” Guitars, keys, and vocals can all pile up here. - Too much = boxy, muffled sound where nothing stands out. - Cutting gently in this range can instantly add clarity to your vocals and instruments. 3️⃣ Presence & Air (3kHz–10kHz) - This is where vocals shine and cymbals shimmer. - Too much = harsh, piercing mix. - Too little = vocals get buried and everything sounds dull. 👉 Pro Tip: Instead of boosting highs on vocals, try cutting competing instruments in this range first. Often the problem isn’t the vocal—it’s the clutter around it. 🎯 Bottom line: EQ is less about boosting what you like and more about carving space so every instrument and voice has its place. Which frequency range do you struggle with the most in your mixes—low end, low-mids, or presence? Drop it below and let’s work through it together. — Nate

Let’s test this out: You walk into church on Sunday and the mix is a mess. You only have time to fix one thing before service starts. Which do you pick?

This one always gets people fired up…Some churches run fully live. Others rely heavy on tracks, stems, and clicks. Here’s the thing: Backing tracks can save the day when you’re missing musicians. They can also create tension if the band feels locked to a track and loses freedom. I’ve seen both sides. In some churches, tracks make the worship fuller and keep everyone tight. In others, they make things feel rigid and less authentic. At the end of the day, the question isn’t “Are tracks good or bad?”It’s: Are tracks serving your church’s worship—or replacing it? 💬 I want to hear from you: Does your church use backing tracks? Do you think they help or hurt the worship experience? Drop your take 👇 — Nate