velalv said:
Can you tell me what an RTA response is, and how I can measure such a thing? Thanks!
Here's the info you need to hear on this topic from a bass player/guitarist/vocalist who designs, installs, and tunes very high end audio video systems in churches just like yours and more often than not much larger than yours. As a playa, I work with the playas all the time and fully understand the dynamics of your situation.
With the mains your church is using, you will be best served running a separate rig but please be mindful of your level so that you don't get too far out front volume wise. Your PA will not deliver the bottom end in the manner you are accustomed to. If you did have sub(s), you could go direct, but you will not get adequate monitoring back through your mini monitors.
The Acoustic amp sounds like a good choice, and there is always CL, which is where you should find a decent deal on another used peavey TNT 150. I doesn't sound as if there is any budget for anything more. EQ'ing the spaces using RTA ( I use SMAART , an IVIE IE-45 plus Ease's SysTune to dial a room in,) is important,, but I would assume that was done by your contractor that had installed the system. But I'm using much more advanced DSP than you likely have available in your current main house system, but regardless, the primary function of the house sound system is to clearly and cleanly reproduce the spoken word. Uhhhh...have you heard the word? After all it is the real reason to go to church. So past the spoken word being intelligible, we look to good quality music reproduction.
If contemporary music is the prime function of music worship in your church, then the church should place some financial support in that direction and make sure they save up and spend money on a sound system that reflects their focus on pop/rock music to entertain and promote their cause. If pop/rock music is very small portion of all of your church services, then the odds of them improving the sound system to heighten the listening enjoyment of the audience is minimal. This is what I take from your thought that your church would not spend money on subs. And from this, I conclude you are best served by having your own combo.....or keep your fingers crossed a rich person kicks the budget and earmarks that his gift to the Church is spent on a rocking PA, and not new silk boxers or a new BMW for the preacher or new carpet for the offices. I am always stunned at what the rest of the world spends on quality sound versus the importance placed on aesthetics here in the states. But it reflects the vanity of our nation as a whole. Far more important to have nice looking things and to let the clarity of the message suffer.
That said, while tuning the space truly is important, if your church did their own sound install, again, then either the church is that poor or don't believe making the word of the Lord first and foremost is that important. Nothing wrong with poor, and we all know you can't fix stupid for the latter. Many of my clients will spend 10-1 on video projects to sound. I'll never understand that thinking, but I will put their check in the bank and gladly sell them another robotic HD camera rig.
So, get a new combo. In your current situation as a bassist at this church, you should drop a couple bucks on a replacement amp. When the church gets subs that can handle the rumble, start bringing a DI. When they start also to provide nice IEM's for the playas, take your rig home and leave it home. This is the skinny you are looking for from a guy that does this for a living. Good luck hunting that amp down!
