Let’s face it: Losing a loved one is an unfortunate reality of life, and it is not always possible for every person who wishes to honor a life to physically join in the Celebration of Life or Memorial Service. The expert design-build integrators at Sound Planning understand the delicate balance that many people have had to walk, especially in recent years, so here are some discrete ways to use technology to create a comfortable, accessible option for your church or house of worship members. 

Memorial service capture is one of the many benefits that become available to you when you invest in a professional sound system or AV system installation. “Capture” or “capturing” means that you are recording an event with the intent to keep it recorded or, as is more and more common, share the event via livestream. Memorial service capture is the thoughtful, mindful recording of a memorial service or celebration of life that helps transcend the limitations of your church or house of worship by sharing a professional, organic, live recording to one or more audio-visual platforms or direct video feeds. As a service, memorial service capture is just another tool in your tool kit to help your members stay connected with one another and with your organization! Let’s explore how livestreaming, simulcasting, and the professionals at Sound Planning can help you achieve professional livestreaming results for you and your congregation.

First, let’s talk about what options you can offer with some simple upgrades to your existing audio-visual sound system. If you don’t have a sound or audio-visual system installed, consider reaching out to Sound Planning today to explore ways to get (and stay!) connected. The greatest concern for most people who are exploring options to share a memorial for a dearly departed loved one is space. In addition to general occupancy restrictions, mourners might also be dealing with concerns about spreading illness or city or state restrictions. Livestreaming a memorial service capture is a great way to ease the worry about how many people and who will be able to attend. 

As shown in the figure below, using the professional livestream results achieved with your professionally installed audio-visual system to connect people remotely can be achieved in two ways. First, consider upgrading your concept of ‘overflow seating;’ adding elegant digital signage and overflow simulcast capabilities to a different room (or rooms) in your church or house of worship can help people feel connected without feeling left out or punished for being encouraged to view the service through memorial service capture instead of in-person. If you’re concerned about mourners or family members being forced to watch the memorial service capture on a grade school tv cart, forget it! Sound Planning understands that no one wants to be confronted with out of date or clunky hardware at such a time. Your professional livestream results deserve quality, elegant digital signage to make the most of the overflow simulcast that you will be able to provide. Elegant solutions for difficult moments is the least that Sound Planning can discuss with you!

“Overflow Simulcasting and Remote Livestream” by Alex Womack  

​In addition to on-site, elegant digital signage and overflow simulcast, livestreaming can also help connect remote  mourners, family, and friends to the memorial service. Remember that professional livestreaming results aren’t just achieved overnight; understanding why you need to livestream an event is only the start of the process. However, whatever your needs, Sound Planning is here to help! Putting your faith in the experts at Sound Planning can help you find the confidence to ask for (and receive) the professional livestreaming results that your members will appreciate during events like a memorial service. High quality equipment, such as PTZ cameras that are controlled remotely, and custom programming for your hardware and software can take your livestream to the next level– and create a comfortable, immersive experience for mourners, family, and friends in their time of greatest need.
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If you or your organization are interested in exploring upgrades to make livestreaming events possible, don’t wait– contact Sound Planning, Chicagoland’s premier church and house of worship design-build integrators today!

You might have noticed: We are in a new era of information display and transmission.  You may have heard terms like ‘Livestreaming’ or ‘Simulcasting’ before… but what do these terms really mean and how can they really benefit your organizations? Let’s explore these terms below before we discuss how to achieve professional livestreaming results for yourself!

First, let’s break down the basics: 
What the heck is a livestream? When you are “Livestreaming” or “Live Streaming” a live event, it means that you are using sound and video equipment and software to first capture and record, and then immediately transmit (or “Stream”) the recorded event. Whether you realize it or not, you have most likely seen a livestream video recording before– any event on your TV that is broadcasting “Live” can be considered a version of livestreaming. Today, livestreaming refers to a live broadcast that can be viewed on your computer, phone, tablet, or other device, but you should still think of livestreaming as something people will view like they will view a professional TV program. Livestreams are usually sent to (or “hosted” on) a specific audio-visual platform, such as Facebook Live, Twitch, Discord, YouTube, etc. What the heck is a simulcast? When you are streaming a livestream video to more than one platform, that is called a “Simulcast.” For instance, if you are hosting a service or event, such as a graduation, a memorial service, or any event where attendance unfortunately must be limited, you can provide interested members of your community the option to livestream the event or to view a live recording of the event in a different space. This is often referred to as “Overflow Simulcasting,” because the event is being recorded and broadcast to multiple platforms. 

Now that you have a better understanding of livestreaming and simulcasting, you most likely already have several good ideas for how to use these powerful tools to stay connected to the members of your church or other house of worship. But before you jump in head first, remember that “Good enough for now” won’t be good for you or for members of your organization in the long run. Professional livestreaming results aren’t just something you can find overnight; like any good TV program, good results often rely on custom programming options in the recording capture software and hardware and often more dynamic video capture options, such as livestreaming with PTZ (Pan-Tilt-Zoom) cameras controlled remotely. Before you take your next steps, you should also take the time to understand your audience. Who will you be transmitting to? How comfortable are they with technology? What events would be good candidates for tools like overflow simulcasting? This may seem daunting, but don’t worry: whatever your needs, Sound Planning is here to help. 

Sound Planning knows churches and houses of worship! In addition to 15+ years of experience in church sound system design and implementation, all of Sound Planning’s integrators are committed to customer care. This can include custom programming for the cost-efficient and expertly installed sound and video equipment and software– including the use of touchscreen technology for one-touch perfection when recording– and especially when livestreaming! To keep your audience connected and fully engaged consider key equipment upgrades; livestreaming with PTZ cameras controlled remotely is a great way to keep your livestream efforts more organic– a great way to keep your members returning week after week. This commitment also includes keeping your specific needs, skill level, and volunteer or staff capacity in mind to make sure that the end product is not only good for your wallet– Sound Planning wants to make sure that you can use what you get, no exception.

In order to achieve the professional livestreaming results you’re looking for, you will need to know your audience; consider your equipment; and trust in the professionals to give you custom programming and equipment options best suited to your organization. As discussed in a previous blog post, the Design-Build model is a powerful tool that centers you, the customer, in every aspect of your new or upgraded system. Sound Planning’s expert design-build planning and implementation gives you the support you need for this build and beyond. The expert sound system and AV integrators at Sound Planning are here to support your church or house of worship before, during, and after install. 
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Don’t wait– contact Sound Planning, Chicagoland’s premier audio-visual design-build integrators today!

The best way to stay connected is to stay live; and the best way to stay live is to build your AV or sound system on strong foundations! While you read this list, here are some things to keep in mind: The amount of money that you pay a company or a person shows a certain amount of trust. Expert installation that you can trust should focus on your organization; experienced integrators aren’t afraid of answering questions about their suggestions or their recommendations, and they welcome requests for customization. The expert design-build integrators at Sound Planning have you covered from start to finish–and beyond! But the same basic information always applies. Consider the following, no matter the size or scope of your project.  

Understand your equipment
Making sure that your system lasts is about more than how it’s designed and installed. Expert installations and the best equipment for your budget won’t mean anything if you, the end-user, don’t take the time to fully understand exactly how to use the system that has been installed. Regardless of the type of installation that you invest in, ask questions! If your integrator recommends a piece of equipment that you should think about adding remember to ask these basics: What does this equipment add to the system? Does this make the system easier to use? How easy will this be for us to fix/replace/adjust? Understanding your equipment is a right, not a privilege when you hire professional integrators. 

Commit to expert installation
Speaking of integrators… The key to understanding your equipment is asking questions throughout the process of installation. The best way to understand your equipment, then, is to commit to expert installation so you can have experts available to answer your questions! Expert installation by a design-build integrator like Sound Planning provides more than a design you can trust and a plan customized to your needs. Remember, an “expert” who can’t handle your questions isn’t much of an expert at all. Committing to experts that you can trust through every step of the project process is a great way to get exactly what you need. 

Don’t be afraid to ask for customization!
When you commit to expert installation, understanding your equipment can instantly become easier. It’s also important, however, to understand your relationship with your integrators. Expert installation isn’t a favor that someone is doing for you; it’s a service that your organization is paying for. So, don’t be afraid to ask for customization! Customization can take many forms; if you’re worried that part of the plan isn’t going to work for you or your staff, be sure to discuss the potential issue with your expert integrator. Don’t dismiss these things as frivolous! Customization is about how you will use the system that you are paying for!
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Ready to get started on building your new system from the ground up? Commit to expert installation; trust Sound Planning, the premier sound, and AV design integrators in the greater Chicago area!

The certified experts at Sound Planning know that the decision to upgrade your existing sound system or AV system can be a daunting one– especially if, like so many of us, you spent the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent world-wide shut downs investing heavily in sound and AV systems that would help keep you connected to your staff, volunteers, and your customers or patrons. Further investments to upgrade, install, or completely fix the systems that you’ve been using for the past few years– or longer– might even seem excessive. 

However, there’s a difference between buying what you need to get by and investing in long-term solutions to make all your (digital) dreams come true. Here are some guidelines for what to do and not to do no matter your AV or sound system needs!

DO call experts like the design-build integrators at Sound Planning
It’s impossible to over-value the experience that integrators like the experts at Sound Planning can bring to your project. It’s always tempting to cut costs wherever you can; when project managers and organizations have to make critical decisions about what to and what not to include in their project budget, quality assistance after a design is approved is often the first victim. But you shouldn’t discount a quality AV company– like Sound Planning!-- that can provide you with more than just a design. Sound Planning’s focus on the design-build model commits experts to your organization or project from design to implementation to completion and beyond.    

DO insist on top quality… but make sure you keep your budget in mind
It’s tempting when you do make the decision to design and implement an upgrade or a new install, it will be tempting to think that the newest tools and equipment will be the best. But the newest fads in audio-visual design might not be what you need to help you reach your digital dreams; it’s important to design for the best possible equipment for the needs of your organization and within the limits of your budget. Remember, upgrading the first system that you design isn’t just a possibility; you should design your system with upgrading in mind!
          
DON’T fall into the “quick fix” trap
We’ve talked about the “quick fix” trap before in these blogs. Many organizations and companies, committed early to audio-visual systems that they could cobble together as short-term solutions to what turned out to be long-term problems. Despite the fact that those systems were designed and put together quickly, with little to no regard for longevity or maintenance, companies and organizations are still relying on quick fixes for problems and shortcomings. Avoid the temptation to keep replacing the $20 speakers that don’t last because they’re cheap and easy to find. Instead of pouring more money than you need into equipment and systems that don’t work for you or your staff, consider investing in a fully integrated sound system or AV system that suits your needs right now and in the future!

If you’re reading this blog, it means that you care about how you spend your money. Commit to higher quality goods and design. Remember that a design-build model and experienced experts are your road to a system that works for you now and in the future. Another benefit of calling on experts like the integrators at Sound Planning is the ability to plan for the future. Don’t be afraid to plan for upgrades! Think about how much better it would be for your long-term budget to anticipate regularly scheduled improvements, instead of emergency repairs. 
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Contact Sound Planning today and let them help you reach your digital dream!

Is your church or house of worship thinking about upgrading a currently installed sound system? You’re certainly not alone! Consider your entire system when you think about upgrades, not just pieces of the system that might be causing issues for you. Remember that upgrading should put you in a growth mindset! Let’s get brainstorming! 

Here are some basic things to consider when you and your organization start thinking about upgrades. 


Fear Not; Plan Ahead!
First and foremost: don’t be afraid of the upgrade! If the experts at Sound Planning were lucky enough to help you build and install your existing sound or audio-visual system, you already know that Sound Planning doesn’t just build systems that last; Sound Planning builds systems that are designed to grow when your organization does!  If things aren’t working for you now, there’s no shame in considering what would work better. The temptation to rush an upgrade once you decide one might be needed will be strong, but consider what needs to be taken care of before you jump right in. Make a plan for your upgrade like you made a plan for your system installation to understand your finances, time, and capacity.

Lists are your friend, but now might also be a good time to consider your stakeholders! These are the people who currently use or benefit from your audio-visual system or other services provided by your church or house of worship. If you’re not sure if there’s something you should consider for upgrading, ask your community!

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Do you need to upgrade, or do you just need repairs?
As you think about your upgrade, think about the entire system. The entire system includes all equipment, any connections or control panels, and the staff or volunteers that run or maintain the system. If you find that certain pieces of equipment keep making it to the top of your list of potential upgrades, make sure you’re considering why you’re thinking about upgrading that equipment. Does a certain camera really need to be upgraded, or is it just not working properly? Are all the components of your control panel working like these should, or are you experiencing consistent issues that you or your staff have had to work with or around? Remember that upgrades should: 
Improve function,  Increase capacity,  Introduce new capabilities.  

If you take a look at your list of ‘upgrades’ and find that it’s actually just a list of repairs, equipment replacement might be what you need. Some upgrades are repairs, but not all repairs should be upgrades! Keep it simple; if it works for your organization, spend your money where it counts.
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During this great time for your growth mindset, remember that Sound Planning is your one-stop shop for all your audio-visual needs. Whether it’s first-time systems, your new upgrade, or just regular maintenance and replacement, Sound Planning is your premier option for church and house of worship audio-visual support. Not sure where to start? Contact Sound Planning today!

Acoustic Modeling is one of the many premier tools that the expert integrators at Sound Planning use to help plan and build your custom audio-visual system. But what the heck is it? Simply put, Acoustic Modeling creates a computer model of all the annoying little things that you may have noticed yourself when you last stood in a room and had to listen to something. Places where the sound was bad or unclear; places where the audio speakers were too soft or, more likely, far too loud. Acoustic Modeling helps the Sound Planning integrators determine where and why all these annoyances happen by testing the real acoustics of whatever space you might be using. Now, put down that air-dry clay; these models are purely digital. But these 3D digital models represent the real spaces you work in every day and help the Sound Planning team design the best possible custom solutions. 

Acoustic Modeling helps take the guesswork out of the real-world issues your church or house of worship faces daily. The expert integrators at Sound Planning understand better than most that sometimes the real problem isn’t that the equipment isn’t expensive enough. If the design doesn’t suit the space, it doesn’t matter if you’re spending $5 or $5000. At best, good equipment can mask the symptoms that are causing bad sound quality, but tools like Acoustic Modeling don’t just identify solutions that you might be able to hear yourself; these tools can successfully identify the root of persistent or chronic issues in specific spaces that are currently causing bad sound quality or issues that might cause problems in the future.

Don’t underestimate the solutions that you can see! It’s easy to get lost in the jargon of the audio-visual world, and some tools (including Acoustic Modeling!) that require trained users to collect and model data. If you’ve already worked with Sound Planning, that’s a great first step in finding quality support and implementation for any audio-visual project! Additional tools like Acoustic Modeling are just another way that Sound Planning customizes your experience and not just the product you receive. Sound Planning is committed to showing you where you can make improvements instead of just telling you what improvements to implement.  

Taking time to build your church’s sound system on strong foundations isn’t just good sense– it’s money well spent. It’s tempting to rush the process and commit too quickly to a company or a system that would get you connected fast. But a quick solution might not be the best one for your church or house of worship for many reasons: lack of ample time for proper planning and consideration is only one issue of many. Remember, ‘good enough for now’ isn’t the only answer you should be considering. Sound Planning isn’t just here to help you plan for right now; we’re here to help you plan for the long-term solutions that don’t just last longer than our competitors– they grow with you.
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Tools like acoustic modeling aren’t just available to churches or houses of worship looking to set up first-time audio-visual solutions. It’s never too late to start looking for real, lasting solutions to whatever issues are plaguing your current audio-visual systems. The trained integrators at Sound Planning are committed to designing an audio-visual system for your organization that is perfect for your organization right now. Sound Planning would never tell your organization to stop growing, so why would you ask your existing audio-visual system to stay the same as it was when you first installed it? Growth within your organization can take many forms– have you recently made changes to your physical space? Have you introduced new walls or changed seating? Have you recently seen an increase in members? All of these exciting changes don’t just impact how your organization runs; it can change how your organization uses your system! Acoustic modeling is just one of many specialized tools that the experts at Sound Planning can use to help you find your best sound ever!
Don’t wait! Let the experienced experts at Sound Planning use Acoustic Modeling and other specialized tools to take your church’s audio-visual system to the next level! Contact us now.

Has your church or house of worship recently been hearing a lot of “I wish–!” statements? “I wish we could do this, but I don’t know how!” “We’ve been seeing a lot of new folks at our online services, I wish we could accommodate them better.” “I wish we had another microphone/camera here!” You’re not alone; many companies and organizations had to make quick decisions when the country went into lockdown about how much was enough as they struggled to stay connected to their patrons, parishioners, or other members of their house of worship. Those quick decisions were appropriate for the conditions that were just developing at the time, but for many organizations, it has been years since they first made the jump to a professional sound or audio-visual installation for their remote communication. Those “I wish” statements are probably starting to sound pretty repetitive! 
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Sound Planning recommends that you embrace these growing pains. When members of your church or house of worship start saying “I wish…” consider that your sign: it’s probably time for an upgrade! One of the greatest benefits of a Design-Build Integrator like Sound Planning is the mission to promote growth for your organization even once the first system has been installed. Even if we weren’t your choice for your first professional audio-visual system installation, Sound Planning is here to help you evaluate, plan, and implement whatever you need to always keep improving. Consider Sound Planning’s recent sound system renovation for the Bahá’í House of Worship in North America, a collaborative project with Threshold Acoustics that provided crystal clear sound to the temple throughout the main floor seating section. Your Design-Build Integrator isn’t just interested in providing a plan or a design to you; Sound Planning is committed to building long-term working relationships to keep you up to date and connected!

Here are some quick recommendations to help get you started on your upgrade journey: 
1. Understand your current needs (Who are you serving?)
2. Stop and explore what’s working… and what isn’t ( What does your current system allow you to do? What does it not allow you to do?)
3. Putting good work in to make sure you get good work out (What would  you like to do? How is that different from what you are accomplishing now?)

Strategic Upgrade Planning by Alex Womack

Now is the time to start turning those “I wish…” statements into real questions with real answers. Are you experiencing a shift in your target audience? Is the way that people are interacting with your system changing? Have you found that you are experiencing technical difficulties that may be related to using? Sound Planning is always happy to hear about opportunities for growth in your organization. Have you made the decision to hire staff to handle your videography or sound management instead of relying on in-house volunteers? Have you noticed other churches or houses of worship in your area experimenting or taking advantage of new or upgraded networks in your area? Let Sound Planning know! Sound Planning’s experts have over 40 years of experience in designing, building, and operating audio-visual systems, and these integrators love to get into the details! 
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Thinking about upgrading can be an intimidating prospect, especially if it hasn’t been a long time since you committed to a professional audio-visual installation. But if you’re already thinking about transforming those “I wish…” statements, there’s no reason not to get your Design-Build Integrators in on the ground floor; deciding to make a change is usually the hardest part! If Sound Planning was honored to be selected as your choice for your initial installation, the process of upgrading really is as simple as contacting us today

Let’s get down to basics. Sound Planning is a Design-Build Integrator committed to planting strong foundations for your upcoming sound system or audio-visual system installation. But what is a ‘Design-Build’? What are the benefits of hiring an ‘Integrator’? The Design-Build method is widely considered to be a great way to disrupt the more traditional Design-Bid-Build method of project planning and completion. Traditionally, when your business, church, or house of worship started planning for a new sound system installation or made arrangements for a video system, your organization would have hired a company to plan, or ‘Design’ the system based on their expertise in sound analysis, acoustics, and current technology. Once the design was finalized, the relationship with the design company would end and a new relationship with a construction contractor would begin. Your organization would then have to go through the process of deciding on a construction contracting company, usually through a bidding process (the ‘Bid’ part of the ‘Design-Bid-Build’ process.) Your chosen construction contracting company would then begin to implement the design or start the ‘Build,’ with different areas of expertise that might challenge or even outright change the initial design that you and your organization had already finalized. For many organizations, the ‘Design-Bid-Build’ approach is not just the standard; it can feel like the only method for project completion. Undertaking this process not only affects your project vision; it can seriously impair your expected timeline.

The Design-Bid-Build Process

Design-Bid-Build Process by Alex Womack

What a nightmare! The often complicated process of hiring two separate companies for the design and the build always causes some differences between the vision and the finished product. It’s all a matter of relative expertise. This is by no means a criticism of companies or firms that specialize in designs or builds! A dedicated design company wants to give you a strong foundation that focuses on solving the technical and practical problems that all systems need to take into consideration. But a company only focused on designing the best possible system for you might not also consider recent changes in the cost of construction supplies; between the design and the implementation, a designer has no way of anticipating sudden shortages of materials, labor, or the day-to-day practicalities of the actual build. If the design is not flexible, a construction contracting company will have to make changes to the design that will account for cost-effectiveness and material availability, but that might not be in line with any analysis or calculations that your design already accounted for. Having to work with two companies can cause additional stress and anxiety in addition to unexpected costs and wasted time. Money is important, but for many churches and houses of worship, their time and effort are even more valuable. So, why not consider the best of both worlds?

The Design-Build Process

Design-Bid-Build Process by Alex Womack

Unlike the ‘Design-Bid-Build’ process, the ‘Design-Build’ process allows for a higher level of flexibility both before and during the ‘Build’ and a streamlined, customizable experience for your church or house of worship. And it is an experience: the Design-Build process relies on Design-Build Integrators like Sound Planning to handle both the ‘Design’ and the ‘Build’ with the expertise of both a traditional design company and a traditional construction contracting company. In terms of project planning and implementation, this means more time focusing on what your organization really needs and less time spent trying to make last-minute and possibly disruptive changes to a pre-established design plan. Relying on one Integrator means that there is seamless communication between the design and the build that makes it easy to pivot when the plan needs to change. The Design-Build process cuts out the necessity to search for a new company to collaborate with when your design is finalized. This is already a great time-saver, but choosing one Design-Build Integrator also means that unexpected delays and issues can be handled quickly, with direct input from you and your organization only when you would like to provide it. 
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As the premier Chicagoland Design-Build Integrator for churches and houses of worship, Sound Planning is your one-stop-shop for high-quality, fully customized plans meant for your church or house of worship. You know the difference between a traditional Design-Bid-Build and a Design-Build project; now see the difference for yourself! Contact us today!

Author

Alexandria Womack