SAW provides AVL for URCSA
SAW provides AVL for URCSA
The Uniting Reform Church in Southern Africa (URCSA) recently extended the main building at its Atteridgeville campus, engaging Stage Audio Works (SAW) to provide AVL systems. The goal of the project was to boost community engagement and provide a purpose-built auditorium space for events, services and gatherings.
“For the AV side of the project, our primary goal was to modernise our audio, visual and lighting systems,” explained Sekgwari Matsena, technical team co-ordinator at URCSA Atteridgeville. “We needed technology that would be easy for volunteers to use whilst ensuring professional-level sound, visual quality and lighting control for services, events and livestreaming. We wanted to create an immersive, distraction-free environment that would help people engage more fully in worship.”
Alongside the design and integration of AVL and livestreaming technology for the auditorium, SAW provided training for the church’s volunteer technical team, equipping them to manage and maintain the new technology. The project was wholly funded by donations from church members.
SAW opted for a distributed audio system throughout the space. “It wasn’t clear whether acoustic treatment of the new building would form part of phase one building works – so in case it was planned for phase two, we chose a distributed system to ensure focused coverage of the two-tier auditorium,” explained Kieran Hempel, project lead at SAW. “This approach minimises reflections on untreated walls and improves gain before feedback onstage. The pastors wanted to use lapel mics, so gain before feedback was an important consideration.”
Mounted on a catwalk trussing system directly above the stage, the main PA system includes five Plus Audio CPH212 loudspeakers, secured at specific angles to provide audio across both the front of the auditorium seating and part of the upper-level balcony. Four onstage monitors and two subwoofers, underneath the stage, complete the system.
Thirteen CPU105 loudspeakers serve as under-balcony fill to cover the back of the room, while six further units, mounted directly around the front of the stage, provide front fill. Upstairs in the balcony seating, a ring of seven CPU9 coaxial loudspeakers provide coverage to areas not reached by the main PA system. The system is powered by the manufacturer’s A204D and A044D Dante amplifiers. A Yamaha TF3 digital mixer and Tio stageboxes provide system control.
“We designed this distributed PA system to minimise excessive echo,” added Hempel. “It includes the flexibility to deactivate the balcony loudspeakers when the area is unoccupied, reducing unwanted reflections and helping the venue to be as efficient as possible.”
For onstage visuals, two Appotronics HD laser projectors provide video content displayed on two screens on either side of the stage. The lighting is PC-controlled, consisting of Cameo Auro Spot 200 moving lighting, which delivers customisable coloured lights, with Stage Plus LED Fresnel lights mounted on the overhead truss.
Aida PTZ cameras, a Blackmagic Design video switching system and a Kiloview streaming encoder facilitate livestreaming of services with control via a Stream Deck unit. “The PTZ cameras offer a significant advantage as there is no need for someone to manually operate them,” noted Hempel. “They can be controlled remotely from the production booth, reducing the pressure on church volunteers.”
Sennheiser EW-D wireless microphones have been implemented for communication. SAW also supplied the IT infrastructure required for the new system, including Wi-Fi and wireless access points around the venue.
“The sound is crystal clear,” remarked Matsena. “The lighting enhances the atmosphere without being overwhelming and the visual elements add a new dimension to our services. It has significantly improved the worship experience for both the congregation and those watching online.”