Product Spotlight
Wired Microphones
Rugged and dependable,
perfect for everyday use.
Find one for every application,
from vocals to instruments.
Wireless Microphone Systems
The highest level of reliability
and sound quality, completely
interference-free.
Installed Sound Microphones
Deliver the highest level of
flexibility for any worship
service.
Assisted Listening
Make your message accessible
for everyone. Easy to integrate
into your existing audio setup
K-array Loudspeakers
Big sound, small size.
Sennheiser is proud to distribute
this innovative brand of
high-quality loudspeakers.
Tips & Tricks
Learn how worship facilities are using and installing products
First Redeemer Church
Cummings, GA
Eulises Canada has become a widely known and deeply respected producer and vocalist in the Christian music
industry. His extensive work in the studio and on the road has also shaped him into a discerning sound engineer.
So when Canada joined First Redeemer Church in Cumming, GA as creative arts director, he initiated several
technical upgrades to the audio system that would dramatically increase the impact and beauty of the church's
services. Chief among them was a complete replacement of the existing wireless microphone systems with Sennheiser
ew 165 G2 handheld microphone and ew 112 G2 lavalier transmitter/receiver systems.
Two main buildings reside on First Redeemer's campus. The first contains a 2,000-seat sanctuary, in which a full
orchestra and a 200-voice choir deliver a blended service every weekend with Pastor Dr. Richard Lee. The service
is broadcast throughout the country via the "There's Hope America" network. The second building contains
classrooms, student facilities, a family center, and smaller auditoriums where, for example, the youth band
performs.
"RF has always been an issue in the church market," Canada said. "In my professional career, I transitioned away
from a competing manufacturer to Sennheiser for all of my wireless applications… and many of my wired applications,
too. I found that with other brands, it was only possible to manipulate frequency structure on the high-end
products, and even then it was difficult. I felt like I had to learn all the bands and all the frequencies that go
with each band. With Sennheiser, it's easy on both their entry-level and high-end lines. I just look at the
frequency band within the selector and pick a different frequency!"
Following Canada's direction, the church now has 25 Sennheiser wireless channels split almost evenly between the
ew 112 G2 lavaliers and the ew 165 G2 handhelds. Most of the systems serve the main sanctuary, but others reside
with the youth band and the class rooms. Canada coordinated their frequencies by first finding an open channel for
one system and then using the "auto search" feature for the remaining systems. They've remained rock solid ever
since, even amid the RF chaos of nearby Atlanta.
Like every church, First Redeemer faces budgetary constraints and carries the responsibility of allocating money
in as efficient a manner as possible. In light of that, Canada was happy to find that the transmitters and
receivers on the ew 112 G2 and ew 165 G2 systems are completely complementary. Thus, he's free to mix and match
components to suit the needs of a particular program or service without any additional investment.
Apart from their flexibility, the new creative arts director likes the sound of the Sennheiser systems. "The 865
super-cardioid condenser capsule does a great job at bending to the faults of a weak singer so they come off
sounding better, perhaps, than they really are," he said. "At the same time, strong singers sound exceptional even
with very little processing." When he needs to, Canada switches out the stock 865 capsule for Sennheiser capsules
with different polar patterns or frequency responses.
Canada's other large purchase was a Digidesign Venue console to wrestle 96 inputs from stage and elegantly
interface them with a Pro Tools system capable of recording or playing 120 channels. By recording every channel,
the Venue gives him the chance to do "virtual sound check" between services. As the budget allows, Canada will
replace almost all of the wired microphones on stage that currently capture the orchestra. "I currently have
Neumann KM 183 and KM 184s for the choir, strings, and brass," he said, "and they're going to stay! But I'd like
to replace the rest with high-end orchestral mics from Sennheiser and Neumann to get the sort of classic sound
that we don't quite have right now."
With the new systems in place, Canada and his team of volunteers enjoy smooth, glitch-free services week after
week. Thus, it's with a mixture of anticipation and (light-hearted) dread that they are beginning preparations
for First Redeemer's spectacular Christmas Program. "It's not your average Christmas production," Canada laughs.
The program will repeat three nights and will call to the stage every piece of gear owned by the church, including
all 25 Sennheiser wireless channels.
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What worship ministries are saying about Sennheiser...
"I also would like to thank you and Sennheiser for not only your assistance with the whole TVBD fiasco, but your support of the H.O.W. market in general. It is truly remarkable these days to have a manufacturer of the size of Sennheiser that allows its personnel to interact with the end-user not only through outlets such as CSC, but the rapid personal response to crazy tech guys like me! It is why I can recommend using your products so readily."
"I also would like to thank you and Sennheiser for not only your assistance with the whole TVBD fiasco, but your support of the H.O.W. market in general. It is truly remarkable these days to have a manufacturer of the size of Sennheiser that allows its personnel to interact with the end-user not only through outlets such as CSC, but the rapid personal response to crazy tech guys like me! It is why I can recommend using your products so readily."
Jay Ballard, Director of Technical Ministries, First Baptist Church of Plant City, Florida