Church Sound Sanity Kit

A big part of running live sound at church is being prepared. Live production requires a special set of skills and tools. And sometimes it’s the simplest tools that can save the day.

• What do you do when a mic stand clamp breaks at the last minute?
• How are you going to fix that low quality signal from the electric-acoustic guitar?
• Where is that hum coming from and how are you going to get rid of it, fast!?

Don’t let a last-minute audio emergency ruin your service. Here is a list of things to keep handy for those “just in case” moments.

Church Sound Survival Sanity Kit

Gaffer’s Tape

Always keep a roll or two handy. It’s great for taping down cables on stage, holding gear together, and many other creative uses. The good stuff won’t leave a sticky residue on your cables or floor.

• Recommended product: Allstar Performance Professional Gaffers Tape

_{Note: Great Church Sound & James Wasem may earn a small commission on any purchases made through the links on this website. This is at no extra cost to you! This commission helps keep this site active with new content and great resources for church sound techs. Thank you for supporting Great Church Sound! ~James (full disclosure here)}

Board Tape

Using this special white (or even glow in the dark) tape is great for marking gear or making notes on your channel strip. It’s better than masking tape because it will come off when you want it to and doesn’t leave a yellow film behind.

• Recommended product: Console Labeling Tape

Sharpie

This is handy for making marks on that fancy board tape. A pack of fine point and ultra-fine point markers will work great for most labeling needs.

• Recommended product: Sharpie Ultra-Fine Point Permanent Marker

Batteries

Keep an assortment of spare batteries for common sound system devices like wireless mics. Buy in bulk when possible.

• Recommended product: Duracell Procell AA Batteries

Adapters

It’s a good idea to stock a variety of audio adapters. Common adapter types might include XLR – ¼” transformer, Speakon – ¼” speaker adapter, XLR m-m and f-f gender adapters, ¼” TRS barrel adapter, 3.5mm – RCA stereo cable, ¼” TRS to ¼” TS Y-cable (insert cable), and RCA – ¼” adapters. These are just a few examples.

• Recommended product: TecNec Audio Adapter Kit

Ground Lift Transformers

These are really an adapter, but specifically for eliminating buzz and hum in your sound system when you find it. Using a 1:1 isolation transformer can remove unwanted noise on a microphone cable. And using the right power isolation adapter is much safer than using the basic “cheater plug.”

• Recommended products: ART DTI and Ebtech HumX

Headphones

A good set of headphones is important for a live sound tech. Closed-back headphones help isolate outside noise and provide focused listening for dialing in specific audio settings.

• Recommended product: Sennheiser HD280 Pro

Flashlight

Live production environments can be dark, so a good flashlight can be very useful. Consider using a flashlight with a red lens or red LED for a less distracting light at front of house or backstage.

• Recommended product: Coast PX20 LED Lenser

Cable Repair Tools

A soldering iron, wire strippers, and a cable tester can be invaluable when it comes to fixing damaged cables or other equipment. Stock these tools and some spare connectors in the tech closet or drawer.

• Recommended products: Pyle-Pro PCT40 cable tester and Weller WLC100 Soldering Station

Backup Microphones

Even a robust microphone can go bad from time to time. Consider stocking a few multipurpose microphones that can be used in case a vocal or instrument mic malfunctions.

• Recommended products: AKG D5, Audix i5, Sennheiser E835, Shure SM58, or Shure PGA81.

Of course, all of these are basic suggestions. Stock the gear that makes sense for your sound system and your needs.

~James

_{Note: this originally appeared as a guest post on the ChurchTechToday blog.}