Based in Des Moines, Iowa, Conference Technologies Inc (CTI) recently completed a sound system integration at the nearby Grace Church, in which the previous PA was replaced with the constant curvature technology of Martin Audio’s TORUS array.
The installation is the latest in an ongoing series of AVL upgrades at the church undertaken by CTI over the past 10 years and is designed to meet the high demands of a Southern Baptist church, whose worship ministry is based around bands, choirs and orchestras.
Led and overseen by worship pastor, Michael Hoskinson, the old PA, which had been in place since the church opened, was said to be providing inconsistent coverage across the 1,200-seat fan-shaped auditorium and was ready to be retired. It was also ‘visually obtrusiv’e.
“What we were looking for instead was a line array that would provide even coverage everywhere,” said the pastor. “And so we were looking for a system that would enable the subs to be flown, and at the same time provide better coverage.”
CTI’s VP systems integration, Tim Wright, spearheaded the integration.
“The frequency response from front to back and side to side was not good, and it had never been tuned to the room. As technology has advanced, and our needs have become more critical with regard to frequency response, so our expectations have changed.”
Wright devised a wish list and discussed his requirements with Martin Audio North America.
“We had a couple of runs with their design engineers and felt the coverage maps could still be improved. Then expectations leaned towards TORUS, and I knew that solution was spot on. I had heard the system at a trade show and knew exactly what it was capable of,” he explained.
“Sonically I have always been impressed with the vocal quality of Martin Audio and TORUS is a level beyond that. I tested it with a CD and the clarity was fantastic; for the price point Martin Audio hits, this is second to none.”