Communication is the key to getting your point across loud and clear. But it can be hard if you don’t know the language of your subject. Here is a glossary of sound terms to help you and your church come through clear as a bell as you talk sound:
Acoustics engineer
An individual with a degree who has been trained to understand how acoustics work and how sound is reflected or absorbed through various materials.
This person should have acoustical experience in churches and know how to relate that to the musicality of the room.
Articulation loss
A measurement of the intelligibility of the spoken word that is presented as a percentage of consonants loss.
It can be measured electronically in existing spaces and predicted in the early planning stages of construction.
A good sound system should have no more than about 5 to 7 percent of articulation loss, 10 percent and greater is considered undesirable.
Dead space
Areas within the worship space where sound is either muted or non-existent. A church should strive to eliminate dead space within the worship area.
Mixing
The process of balancing and controlling the music and sound through the sound system.
Natural sound reproduction
Reproduction of what is being preached or sung without calling attention to the speakers or the means of amplification.
Noise
Anything extraneous to the room that detracts from the listener’s ability to clearly hear and understand what is being said.
Example: HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning system), restroom water noise, outside noises, street noises, outside air-conditioning compressors placed too close to sanctuary windows, etc.
Sound contractor
A professional contractor with a greater understanding of room acoustics and sound system components that will provide the greatest clarity of spoken word.
Sound coverage
A measurement of the loudness of the sound from seat to seat or area to area within a room.
The average acceptable sound level throughout a room should not vary greater than plus or minus 3 decibels from the softest to the loudest area of seating.
Sound reinforcement systems
Unlike public address (PA) systems that are designed for announcements only, these systems are designed to clearly reinforce the spoken word as well as audio or musical program material with a natural sound reproduction.
Sound technician
The person in the local church who “mixes” the sound for various church programs.
Speech intelligibility
How well you can hear and understand what is being said or sung. Measurements can be taken to quantify the intelligibility of a room or sound system.
Spoken word
A term commonly used to denote speech (preaching) but also singing or other presentations. Includes words whether sung or spoken.
Reverberation rate
The number of seconds that sound echoes in a facility. The ideal rate of reverberation is different for spoken word and music.
The most desirable acoustic environment and the use of a sound reinforcement systems find the happy medium between the two. (Compiled from sound professionals)
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