Calvary Chapel Install Powered by Lab Gruppen
August 2009
The need to connect with an audience is a vital concern in any application, but all the more so in a house of worship. “It’s a recurring theme,” says Craig Beyrooti, designer of Calvary Chapel’s new system, and head of Atlantic Pro Audio, the design/build contractor for the audio install. “I’ve been told this so many times by worship leaders – They need to connect with the audience and it’s absolutely vital for the engineer and the sound system to enable them to do that.”
“They have to have clarity and dynamics,” he continues. “Loud sound that doesn’t rip your head off. That you can sing along with, full voice, to be able to join in the worship.”
Over the course of the past year, Beyrooti has been exploring the possibilities for creating a system for Calvary that does just that. The impetus for the build was the construction of another worship facility, into which Calvary’s pre-existing system would be placed. At the initial Melbourne campus, with its balcony seating area and 3000-seat capacity, the idea was to provide a slightly more powerful system.
In the end, Beyrooti specified 6 Lab.gruppen PLM 10000Qs to power the mains – a Turbosound Flex Array made up of 24 TFA-600Hs, 12 TFA-600L bass cabinets and TCS-61/106s and – 2 NuQ-10s. As well as 2 additional Lab.gruppen FP+ 10000Qs for the pre-existing monitor system. Chosen for their flexibility, power, superior sonic purity, and the inclusion of Lake Processing, put simply, the Lab PLM components were a no brainer, he says. “The high channel count, and, of course, the quality of the Labs is second to none. Once we got the system installed and fired up, it was fantastic.”
Many large modern houses of worship increasingly depend heavily on technologically advanced systems and experienced techs to run them, but what sets Calvary Chapel apart, says Beyrooti, is the real world experience of Senior Audio Engineer, Greg Branch. “He’s been out on the road for years and has experience with real world use of the PA. He really understands the importance of good sound.” In fact, Branch took the gig at Calvary five years ago to be able to spend more time at home, after stints as Bebo Norman’s FOH engineer, and as a tech on tour with American Metal Core giants, Sevendust.
The biggest draw for Branch, says Beyrooti, was the functionality of the Lake Controller. “There are many good amplifiers out there, but Greg really liked the idea of having that capability,” says Beyrooti. “If he wants to time align the PA he can do it collectively as one system, using the Lake Controller versus getting into each component.”
House of Worship and Theatre installs are a major part of Atlantic Pro Audio’s business and Beyrooti and APA pride themselves on not being simply a one size fits all solution for their clients. Offering instead, decidedly personal, customized service that speaks directly to individual client’s needs. Part of his preference for Lab.gruppen, in fact, is based on the similar approach taken by the regional Lab.gruppen rep. “The rep’s service combined with the manufacturer, coming out and doing on site training at InfoComm, and their backup support – I’d have no hesitation in using Lab wherever possible.”
That preference is also based on a depth of experience that covers pretty much the entire gamut as far as working in pro audio goes – From running a mobile discothèque in his native South Africa at the age of 15, to record production and sound design for major theatre productions at Johannesburg’s State Theatre and Civic Theatres, including The Buddy Holly Story and Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
That background has served him well, particularly in the design and install of systems for mega churches like Calvary Chapel. Multipurpose systems that fluently serve the evolving needs of modern worship – from basic speech reinforcement, to occasional dramatic performances, to pulling off musical performances subject to all the demands that would be placed on the production of your average, full on rock show in any mid size venue of 2500-3000 seats.
What appeals to Greg Branch about Calvary Chapel, is exactly that – The fact that both the size and scope of the chapel’s system, and the sheer number of bodies in the seats is comparable to what he’s become used to on the road. Familiarity was also a major factor when it came to the suite of Lab.gruppen suite of PLM and FP amplifiers specified by APA, he explains. “I’ve always been a fan of Labs, but what really led me to them was Lake onboard,” says Branch. “I’ve always used Lake processors, pretty much everywhere I’ve gone. With the on board DSP, the flexibility of the PLMs, you can virtually do anything with them you need to. It just makes sense.”
The Lab’s also made for a perfect fit in other ways, Beyrooti explains, quite beyond sonic quality and depth of control. “The amp room they have at Calvary would not accommodate another rack. We had to make sure all our amplifiers would fit in the existing space. That was a major factor in the choice of the Lab.gruppen PLM’s.
Power, efficiency and size was also a consideration in the case of the Lab.gruppen FP’s – specifically getting more power out of fewer units, all while inhabiting dramatically less space “With the previous solution,” says Beyrooti, “for every 2 U of rack space they were able to power 1 monitor. Now, for every 2 U of rack space we’re able to power 4 monitors with double the power.”
Here, again, emphasizes Beyrooti, it was a matter of the correct tool for the job. “The clarity, definition, the transient response, the damping factor – it’s a great sounding rig,” he says, referencing another Turbosound system that exists as part of APA’s rental inventory. ““Turbosound Flex Array is an awesome system and powered by Lab PLM’s is about as good as it gets”
- Kevin Young