Project Gallery
Honor the Space with Custom AV & Acoustics for Houses of Worship
Explore how technical expertise and thoughtful design come together to serve sacred spaces, cultural landmarks, and community venues.
Theodore Parker Church
Summary
The historic Theodore Parker Church is located in the West Roxbury community of Boston. Built in 1902, this beautiful stone sanctuary is adorned by stained glass windows, several from Tiffany Studios. The church was looking to improve sound quality while preserving the visual aesthetics of this landmark edifice.
They hired Boston Light & Sound® (BL&S) to create an audio system that provided for clear enhancement of speech, a natural sounding choir, and solid-state recording. In addition, the system needed to be designed for both automatic mixing and operator-controlled services. To accomplish this, BL&S configured a system where all microphones fed into a manual mixer located in the rear of the church while certain dedicated inputs also fed into an automatic mixer. A simple push of a button selects the required mode. Both methods provide clear and natural sound in a visually discreet fashion that does not hinder the beauty of the space.
During the pandemic Theodore Parker Church wanted to add streaming capability to their system. Boston Light & Sound engineered and installed a system using an Epiphan Pearl Nano which can stream to multiple destinations. Recordings can be saved to an SD card, internal storage, or external USB drive. Once set up, users can start streaming with a single button, while advanced users can customize layouts, text, and picture-in-picture.
A wall-mounted PTZ camera on the balcony provides a full view of the church and can zoom in for close-ups. It can be controlled via smartphone or PC on the same network. Both the camera and Pearl Nano can be operated through a web interface or for users who prefer a simpler method, a Crestron button panel offers simple start/stop controls and camera presets, with a status bar for stream confirmation.
The client was very pleased with the result. “The sound is marvelous. Sunday I heard every word the choir sang and it sounded like a choir, not individual voices.”
A flexible, versatile system
“Boston Light & Sound worked with us to find the perfect setup for all of our needs, which included enhanced sound as well as a system for the hearing-impaired. The result is a flexible, versatile system that takes into account the unique nature of our sanctuary. What a joy for all of us to hear the sermons and choral music with ease. I am extremely pleased, and I highly recommend BL&S for their professional advice and performance.”
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Old South Church
Summary
With its rich architectural heritage and remarkable acoustics, Old South Church needed a sound system that could support local sound reinforcement as well as streaming and recording of both reverent worship and vibrant musical performances. Boston Light & Sound was brought in for a church sound system design & installation that would enhance versatility while preserving the sanctuary’s integrity.
By replacing the existing infrastructure with a Q-SYS system, flexible, intuitive audio control can be offered across the main sanctuary and adjoining chapel. To support ensemble performances and high-channel-count recordings, Boston Light & Sound introduced Dante connectivity to a new Behringer X32 mixer, allowing up to 32 channels of audio routing as well as connectivity to the adjoining chapel for both recording and streaming. Wireless microphones and updated touch panels have simplified operation for clergy and staff, while remote mixing capabilities give engineers full control from anywhere in the space.
Designed to handle both daily services and high-production events, the system strikes a balance between user-friendly operation and professional-grade performance. Every component was selected with an eye toward aesthetics, reliability, and ease of use, ensuring the church remains equipped to serve its congregation and community with clarity and consistency.
