Is this a Church wide problem?
Jordan Richmond shared his thoughts about it on Thom S. Rainer and the comments came pouring in!
As a former A/V team leader, it really resinated with me as I’ve had my fair share of church worship sound complaints.
How loud is your church worship service? Do people complain?
First Thoughts
My first experiences with church sound level complaints was pretty flippant. I thought, “Seriously? Have you nothing more important to think about?” However, the truth of the matter is, church volume is something that cannot be ignored. If you have people in your congregation that complain about the volume being too loud, their volume with continue to increase until something happens.
When someone complains about the volume being too high, what’s your first reaction?
- Do you think those at the battle of Jericho complained about the volume?
- Wow! Really? We’ll have to re-check our levels next weekend.
- I’m sorry, let me turn that down for you.
I recommend the second reaction. There’s no need to start a battle. We’ve got more important things to do in the church than bicker about the volume like an old married couple.
Become Proactive
The first thing you should do when faced with the too loud crowd, is purchase a decibel checker or sound level meter. It’s the best $70 or so bucks your sound team will ever spend.
Once you’ve acquired your meter, check your levels before service during worship practice from different locations throughout the auditorium. I also suggest testing them in your booth location, as you may want to keep a steady check on the levels throughout the live service. During the service, implore some help and run level checks in various locations throughout the sanctuary. After doing this for a few weeks, you won’t have to do it with as much frequency, as you’ll have a better handle on the room
How Much Is Too Much
Depending on your church’s setup, this may vary from spot to spot. I remember an older couple who would regularly complain about the levels being too high, yet they would always sit right in front of the main speakers! I wasn’t able to completely deal with the complaints until I had some raw numbers on the decibel levels, before suggesting they try different seats due to their proximity.
Although decibel education is a great way to deal with this problem (learn more about decibel levels here), it doesn’t stop their. Remember that different people of different ages are sensitive to different frequencies. It isn’t that older people dislike electric guitars, it’s because electric guitars run a frequency range that can be a problem for those that are older.
The Answer
If you were hoping for a numeric answer, you’re not going to find it (I used to run my sound at around 80-85 db with peaks in the low 90s). This number is going to vary from church building to church building, congregation to congregation and so on. The most important thing to keep in mind is that as a sound engineer, you are their to design the best experience possible for everyone. If there are those in your church who are uncomfortable, do your best to serve them.
Remember, running the sound board is an act of worship.
What have your experiences been with church worship sound levels?
[Image via McBeth via Compfight cc, Micah Taylor via Compfight cc]
Steve lewis says
Measuring the volume from all over your sanctuary is essential! We started doing this after getting complaints that “the band was too loud” After weeks of gathering data from all over our sanctuary, we had a good idea of where to direct people to sit if they perceived volume to be too high, that portions of the service were too quiet, and the loudest portion of the service was actully the organ! We focused cleaning up the sound of the band and the complaints declined.
Eric Dye says
You took a good approach in tackling the problem. Most people things an issue of volume, when many times it’s about frequency. Great job!
Jesse Haskins says
I just wanted to insert my expert opinion:
Do, absolutely Do, go by the numbers! In dB.
You did and have already damaged many of
your loved ones hearing, if you think 80-85dB is
not too loud,,, it is too loud. it is well above safe.
This is known for sure. A bio-damaged fact.
Do not go by what you or the director wants, not ever!
stick with the safe numbers, or lower, if you love your people.
That level will damage forever, young and old alike.
Use your meter always, every week, on every song.
Use the peak level to freeze peaks often.
In time many other people will want it loud, like you.
…because you, yes YOU, have damaged their hearing.
Sorry, I should have put this gentle, but I could not,
this is very serious.
Susan P says
Thank you! I am currently having this problem at church. This past Sunday, I asked the new minister to turn down the volume. He argued that he wanted everyone to be able to hear him. Most of the congregation is past retirement age. A few use hearing aids and the church has aids hooked into the church audio system. Since the new minister arrived a few weeks ago, the volume is causing me headaches and I never have headaches. I walked out yesterday after he refused to reduce the volume. I am 76 and do not need my hearing damaged.
Glenn says
Agreed. I think there is also a “gold nugget” alluded to in the last paragraph – “cleaning up the sound”. Sometimes it’s not that things are too loud, it’s just that something it out-of-balance…maybe the electric guitar is too loud, maybe things are EQ’d with the highs that are making one’s ears bleed.
Years ago when I toured around the country with a ministry group, we had many experiences like the author, where the organ was 95+ db and we’d run our sound in those church about 80 db (youth concert were a different story) and the little old ladies who loved the organ would complain about how loud we were, seriously?
Personal preference also enters in of style, medium, taste and volume tolerance. When I get complaints from people who I don’t know about their background and audio level, I ask probing questions to see what was driving their complaint. Then I can try and discover if there is a problem that needs to be addressed or what kind of filter needs to used to process the complaint/info.
Eric Dye says
Exactly, Glenn, you’re the type of sound engineer every church needs. Someone who knows how to interpret the feedback your getting from those in the worship service. Great job!
Karen says
This is an important subject. I have heard people, young and old alike, complain about the volume of music in their church (I’ve never heard anyone complain about the volume of the spoken word), weather it be an organ or worship team. They usually don’t complain because they don’t want to be perceived as being negative. They suffer silently or just leave.
I whole-heartedly agree that quality is important. I am hyper-sensitive to voices and instruments being distorted due to poor electronic amplification.
Maybe it’s just me, but, I don’t think that louder is better. If someone is performing it is fine to have the volume cranked, but if the intent is to lead worship, I would prefer to hear the congregation’s voices lifted in song. That is so powerful. I personally would rather be asked to turn the volume up than down.
And, no matter how experienced, knowledgeable, or talented we may be, there is always room for improvement and growth. We need to remember that the old man in the 25th row who just put his ear plugs in, might be a classically trained musician who has dappled in electronics, and has loved worship music since the 1960’s, and has lived his life dedicated to God’s will, might hold the key to unlocking our true potential.
Finally, our goal should be to please God. We should never let our egos or preferences get in the way of that.
Eric Dye says
I love all of this. 😀
Scott says
The article is a great one about how to respond to criticisms about the sound. However, I find it interesting that the article really does nothing to answer the question posed in the title, “How Loud Should Your Church Service Be?” I didn’t really expect an answer, especially a number, but the article doesn’t address any theology, philosophy, or psychology behind the question. Karen finally gets us to consider the real issue of how loud our services should be. If worship is a corporate event, shouldn’t we consider the congregation’s voice when determining how loud our services should be? If worship is a performance, does their voice even matter? Do we want people to participate? If yes, shouldn’t we also consider the affect that volume has on participation? At what point does the sound become so loud that it discourages singing? When is it so soft that people are intimidated and refuse to sing? Looking at appeasing the most people or trying to find the right number on the dB meter aren’t exactly the best places to start when trying to answer the question of “How Loud…?”
The answer to “how loud” will almost definitely be different depending on a variety of circumstances within in each local body. However, getting to the answer of that question ought to involve some serious thought as to the purpose of the worship service.
Eric Dye says
Perhaps you should re-read the post, as the answer is in the there.
It isn’t a simple answer when considering “the congregation’s voice when determining how loud our services should be.” A congregation is comprised of many different people with many different tastes and opinions.
As for your other questions, I suggest you re-read the final paragraph.
🙂
Scott says
I’ve read it again, and agree that the issue is not a simple one to address. I thought my last post made it obvious that it’s actually quite complex and not easily solved. I also agree with your admonition to serve the congregation, provide the best experience for everyone, and that running the sound board is an act of worship. Yes…you did technically answer the question–“This number is going to vary from church building to church building, congregation to congregation and so on.” However, I still contend that the issue needs to go deeper than the acoustics of building, the frequencies of the instrument, the sensitivities of the listeners, and the quality of the sound system. We need to talk about the purpose of worship, the purpose of sound in the worship service, and the importance of the voice of the congregation. It’s those issues that don’t seem to get addressed.
You do a great job instructing how to practically address the issue when complaints are received and there’s nothing in your article that I disagree with. The article just doesn’t answer the question posed in the title. And, it doesn’t really point people to ask the right questions to get to the answer for their church.
A conversation among pastoral staff and sound technicians about the purpose of sound, the importance of the congregational voice in corporate worship,and appropriate volumes would go along way in really trying to understand the dynamics of sound in worship. After the leadership has come to a consensus on how loud the service should be and WHY…then you can move on to educate the congregation as to the reasons for why your service is at a particular volume. Helping the congregation understand that it’s about more than all the technical aspects and the personal preferences will go a long way in helping them understand why things are the way they are.
As for my other questions, I did re-read the last paragraph and I don’t see an answer to any of those questions. The point to my comment was not that I wanted an answer to those questions…but that those questions need to be asked and you didn’t ask them.
Eric Dye says
I see where you’re coming from. I did not address the issue holistically, as I was speaking to those who are in charge of operating sound. I agree that the roots of this issue goes much deeper and can only be fully dealt with on a deep spiritual level. That being said, you must also realize that our congregations have a vast array of maturity levels. You can’t expect all those in attendance to fully realize the depth of corporate worship. Alas, it needs to be taught, but in the meantime, those in charge of running sound should carry-on as I’ve outlined.
Thank you for your feedback, Scoot! 🙂
Laurie says
I love to worship. i was on the worship team for a number of years, but it got louder and louder until now, I can’t even be in the sanctuary for worship. I’ve talked to numerous worship leaders about this and they always get defensive. The thing is, most of us who complain about the volume, we are not nit-picking. We don’t care what songs you play or what color the carpet is, or any of a number of other things that don’t matter. When it is too loud, we are in pain and have to leave. We feel that corporate worship has been stolen from us. I don’t want to hurt anyone or complain just to complain. This is not a heart/attitude issue on my part. I’m being physically hurt by our worship service.
Eric Dye says
A good point and something that should be considered. I for one know of two people that have to be careful with their hearing, as they have a condition that makes high volumes painful and causes damage to their hearing. Perhaps a better solution would be for you to use a type of ear plugs during worship? This is what these others have done (they also do it at concerts and sporting events), as they understand the entire world cannot lower their volumes because of their unique sensitivity of sound. 🙂
Laurie says
Thank you for your thoughtful reply. I do have some wonderful attenuated earplugs that take out the loud sounds but make me able to hear spoken sounds. I use them often in public places and they are especially nice in the movie theater. For worship though, well have you ever worn earplugs and tried to sing? You are inside of your own head and all you can hear is yourself. It is really unpleasant. I can handle worship that is a little uncomfortably loud, but she it is rock concert loud to the point that the music is distorted, it’s just too loud.
Eric Dye says
That’s too bad. :-/
Susan P says
Amen! I, too, am being hurt by too loud a volume and the person who controls the volume refuses to listen; worse, he is the new minister.
Kevin says
As a pastor in my “middle” ages the bass is the sound that usually gets to me the most. I have for sure noticed that when the volume gets “low enough” to satisfy all the complaints the participation dips and it seems “flat”. Naturally the N.T church didn’t have these issues but we do. There is a fine line between taking the hard work of a worship team and basically deadening their efforts by making the music almost non existent and hurting peoples ears. Me personally when I attend a youth event with extra loud music I put in my earplugs and enjoy every minute of it. We provide ear plugs for those who are sensitive to our volume or frequencies but unfortunately very few will use them because complaining is much easier. I see churches with thousand of people with all generations having unity and their decibels run in the low 90’s. My research does not show any hearing damage from those decibels when we are talking 25-30 minutes max exposure. Unity should be the goal so if I can’t put in earplugs for the sake of some peace it makes me wonder how devoted I am to the unity of my church.