Sound checks can be time consuming, but there are ways to make them more efficient and less arduous. Most sound checks have three stages. 1st each instrument is line checked to make sure a signal comes through the desk, 2nd you decide what you want in your monitors and 3rd everyone plays together, stops and then readjusts their levels.
And here lies the problem…. you have no overall volume level reference of where each instrument needs to sit in your mix until the whole band starts playing together. Once they start and you add in acoustic stage volume, everything changes. It’s then very difficult to communicate back to the desk what’s too loud or soft when you are trying to play. When you have stopped you try and remember your list of what was too loud or soft. Adjustments are made and the band plays again but because everyone else’s levels have changed, the mix you hear onstage is different and you need to tweak your monitor again, but you can’t because it’s very difficult to attract the soundman’s attention so instead you try to self mix and everyone’s volume keeps rising…
Here’s an alternative:
Try it this way.
If it takes a while first go don’t worry, as you do it more you’ll speed up and leave much more time for rehearsing
Other posts you may also find helpful:
What you need to run church sound – free survival guide handbook
Worship leaders, you’re killing us
Top 10 mistakes that most churches make when recording their first worship album
From the 50 Tips series so far:
Stage placement
Playing together as a team