The town of Aldergrove, British Columbia, located an hour southeast of Vancouver and mere minutes from Canada’s southern border, is home to Living Word Fellowship. The church purchased a “fixer-upper” and began major upgrades to prepare the building for services.
The 550-seat sanctuary recently underwent a long-needed expansion and renovation that included new acoustical treatment, audio, and video systems designed and installed by Pro Sound and Stage Lighting Ltd., based in Langley, British Columbia. As Pro Sound’s John Drake explains, “The sanctuary was built in 1982, but the equipment that was in there dated back to the 1970s, so the update was long overdue.”
The room’s physical dimensions presented some challenges, says Drake. “It’s a relatively wide room, and not very deep. For the congregation, it’s great, because no matter where you sit, you feel close to the platform. But it definitely presented some issues in terms of coverage.”
Adding to the challenge was the sanctuary’s low ceiling, which limited the possibilities. “The system design would have been a whole lot easier if the ceiling had been about 15 feet higher,” says Drake. “As it is, the sound tends to get a bit dense in the center, so we needed speakers that gave us an exceptional degree of pattern control.”
The main L/R/C cluster of three Renkus-Heinz PN121/6 12-inch two-way loudspeakers
Using EASE Acoustical Simulation software, Pro Sound modeled the sanctuary, from the acoustical treatment on the walls and balcony to a new audio system based around a main L/R/C cluster of three Renkus-Heinz PN121/6 12-inch two-way loudspeakers. A pair of PN61R 6-inch boxes provides additional over-balcony fill.
Mounted in the steps of the stage platform, five CFX42 dual 4-inch two-way stair-step loudspeakers provide additional front fill coverage for the lower seating nearest the stage.
“Rather than use side fills, we opted to aim the center cluster a bit higher to cover the balcony, which it does very well, and we added the speakers in the stairs for front fill,” says Drake. “Each of the stair step speaker is separately delayed. The imaging is exceptionally good no matter where you’re sitting.”
A pair of PN212SR subwoofers mounted above the platform add deep low frequency support. A Midas Pro2 digital console covers Front of House duties, while a Biamp Audia handles system drive and processing. On the platform, four PN121M floor monitors provide sound for the ministers and musicians.
“The Renkus-Heinz speakers were really the best choice in terms of coverage and performance,” says Drake. “They were a great fit for the room, and for the church’s program needs.”
For more information, visit www.renkus-heinz.com and www.prosoundcanada.com.
