House of Worship setup help

[AVNoobLearning]

Hi all,

I am helping my local church with audio system upgrades.

Here’s my current set-up:

1. Main hall – has Mackie CX16 mixer, two stage monitors ran by 1X crown amp, 2 main LH/RH speakers in front, 2 main LH/RH speakers in the back ran by 1X crown amp. All located in main hall AV desk with ugly wire drops. Has 8 microphones, 1 lecturer mic, kayboard from mixer to stage with analog stage. Need ability to control from iPad/app. Has feedback destroyer pro, and a 1 to 4 audio distribution feeding kitchen/dining hall, and chapel.

2. Kitchen/dining hall – has 11 70V ceiling speakers ran by Bogen C100 located in pantry. Fed audio from main hall distro.

3. Lobby – has 14 70V ceiling speakers ran by Bogen C100 located in office in lobby. Fed audio from main hall distro and audio from chapel – there’s a push button to switch between main hall and chapel.

4. Chapel – has 9 70V ceiling speakers ran by Harbinger LP9800. Need it for 6 mics. Amp is located in a closet behind main shrines and have to run mic cables every time. Would like to get a wall plate for inputs.

Audio quality has always been an issue in kitchen/dining, lobby, all distorted. And most of the time it’s an hassle to have selected audio playing in different zone, and the two Bogens have died multiple times.

We want to upgrade the main hall mixer to SQ-5, but at the same time take this opportunity to centralize most of the things in a server room.

My goal is eliminate the two Bogens, one Harbinger and maybe have DSPs to run these ceiling speakers for different zones with the intent of distributing audio in the following way:

1. Main hall > chapel, lobby, kitchen/dining
2. Chapel > lobby, kitchen/dining

It should have the ability to run two different zones simultaneously, I.e. Main hall > kitchen/dining, and chapel > lobby at the same time and vice versa.

Also want to get rid of analog snake and use a dSnake and feed stage monitors from that as well.

Can someone help with with the equipment list or some kind of a diagram on how something like this be even possible, maybe using Dante.

Thanks, I am new, but learning.

Thanks,
AVNoob

[Mike C]

To be honest you have a lot of moving parts and issues to your current system that sounds like it was a DIY project added to over the years.

I would consider bringing a qualified professional AV installer to look over your system
before buying any equipment or going catalog shopping.

[AVNoobLearning]

Yup, kind of DIY projects added throughout out the last 15 years.

I think any kind of general suggestions or descriptions of how this maybe possible would be good as well to help me understand better – like is it even possible to do all this with single mixer, etc.?

[Rafael A&H]

Hello AVNoob!

SQ would certainly be a good upgrade for your setup, and it would also allow you to have the mixer located in a booth or control room with the racks in a different location, if needed.
For your ceiling speakers and source control I would recommend integrating a Matrix Processor, such as out AHM systems which will also allow you to integrate the IP1 wall mounted controllers.
AHM comes in 3 different models with 16×16, 32×32 or 64×64 channels.

You can connect the AHM Matrix with the SQ through SLink to share audio between them. Please not that only AHM-64 has a local SLink port with it; AHM-16 and AHM-32 don’t, so you will need to add the SLink optional card to it for this setup.

Alternatively, as you mentioned on your message, you could use a Dante network and integrate both of these (Also by adding the Dante card to each) and share audio through Dante.
I personally would recommend this option, as Dante would give you wider expansion possibilities, should you want to expand the system in the future, and also integration with third party devices that are also Dante compatible.

If you need further assistance and advise on your setup integration, please send us a message to: support@allen-heath.com, and we will be happy to assist.
You may also want to reach out to our local A&H distributors and dealers in your local area, they will also be able to assist you with options to find your perfect setup.
https://www.allen-heath.com/where-to-buy/

Cheers,
Rafa

[AdamsFlys]

I agree with Rafael, but good luck finding a dante card for either the sq or the ahm (they’re the same card) anytime soon!

[Author]

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