A diverse and multi-generational church based in San Marcos, Texas, First Baptist Church of San Marcos had called in sound designer Curt Taipale of Taipale Media Systems to evaluate and re-tune its sound system in 2012. Having considered completely replacing the system in the intervening years, the situation recently became urgent when a digital signal processor started to fail.
Subsequently Taipale was recalled to assist in a possible new design of the sound system with the aim of upgrading and improved coverage and intelligibility.
‘At the time, they considered a handful of companies to design the new system and completed due diligence by listening to some of my projects in Texas,’ Taipale says. ‘They were very pleased with one system in particular that used Danley Sound Labs equipment. I asked Kim Comeaux to hold a demonstration in their sanctuary so that others on the team could hear them in person.’
Following the demonstration, worship pastor Scott Davis agreed with Taipale’s recommendation.
Now in place, Taipale’s design uses four Danley SH-50 loudspeakers in an exploded arc as mains, with an SH-95 suspended below each as down filln and two SH-95HOs as delays. In addition, two TH118 subwoofers afre flown as an end-fire subwoofer array. The new installation also includes choir monitors, Powersoft amplifiers, a Symetrix Prism DSP and Allen & Heath mixing consoles. The system was installed by Electro Acoustics.
‘In my opinion, this is a textbook case where more conventional technologies like line arrays would have been the absolute wrong solution for the space,’ says Robert Bernecker of SEFI Consulting who commissioned and tuned the system. ‘The wide horizontal patterns would have caused a lot of reverberation in the room.’
‘Danley products demonstrate a commitment to elevating point-source technology, and that was exactly what was needed for this space,’ he adds. ‘I particularly love that Danley offers honest Ease data and specs for their products. Also, Danley’s subs are remarkable in their efficiency and sensitivity allowing for a lower box count and their legendary punch.’
After commissioning, the staff and congregation were complimentary of the first services. ‘They were excited that they could actually understand the pastor and other spoken word – some said for the first time,’ Bernecker reports. ‘Almost everyone enjoyed the solid low-end from the subwoofers – only a few comments that there was too much bass. Overall, they were very impressed, and there are no bad seats in the sanctuary.’
