Frontline FOH Audio Guide

Click here for a video guide on FOH Audio!

Role Overview

The FOH (Front of House) Audio Engineer leads worship by crafting a high-quality and engaging audio experience for the congregation during services. This role requires a balance of technical skill, musical sensitivity, and attention to detail to create a clear, dynamic, and distraction-free mix that encourages engagement in worship and other service elements.

Getting Started

1. If not already powered up, follow guide here.
2. Turn on the soundboard (Push-button on the back right)
3. If not already logged in, select the user “Admin” password is 8392
4. Unlock the audio computer (Password under keyboard )
5. Quit Reaper (CMD + Q ) (This step is not be neccesary now that we are using Dante)
6. Reopen Reaper (Icon located in dock at bottom of the screen)
   1. Select still evaluating
   2. Don’t download the updates
7. Press the Scene button on the sound board and reload the relevant scene for service/event
8. Grab all mics and packs needed for the service from the gear room and place them on stage or in the tech booth for communicator mics

Turning OFF THE SYSTEM

1. Save your scene
2. Save Reaper (CMD + S )
3. Do steps one and two again =)
4. Follow the system off procedure found here.
5. Ensure all microphones and wireless packs are plugged into their respective chargers behind the stage

Safeties, Consistencies, Freedoms

Safeties

1. Preamp Gain Setting
   • Preamp gain should be checked and set for every input during rehearsal. Peak below 0 dB to prevent clipping and distortion while maintaining adequate headroom.
2. Volume Management
   • The mix should sound loud and full while staying within the church’s volume standards.
   • Use Open Sound Meter to verify levels: Full band should reach 95 dBA and 105 dBC to maintain energy while ensuring a comfortable listening level. Keep speaking portions at an appropriate, consistent level (~75-85 dBA).
3. Master Fader at Unity
   • For consistency and simplicity, the main mix output should remain at unity (0 dB). If overall volume needs adjustment, tweak individual channel levels instead of moving the master fader.
4. Lobby and Outside Audio
   • Ensure the Walk-In Spotify playlist is running before and after service at an appropriate level (~70-75 dBA) to maintain the room atmosphere.
   • Lobby audio and outside audio should be unmuted and playing at a consistent volume through the entirety of the morning.
5. Feedback Elimination
   • Proactively eliminate feedback by applying:
     • Proper mic technique (ensure speakers and vocalists hold mics at an appropriate distance).
     • Appropriate gain structure.
     • Surgical EQ adjustments (cut problem frequencies rather than just reducing gain).
     • Light gating on open mics.
6. Vocal Effects During Speaking Portions:
   • All reverb and delay on vocals should be turned down or off during speaking moments (e.g., transitions, prayer, calls to worship).
7. Autotune Adjustment:
   • Ensure Autotune is set to the correct key for each song.
   • Double-check with the worship leader if unsure of the key changes between or during songs.

Consistencies

1. Speaking Mic Clarity
   • Speaking mics should always be clear, warm, and loud enough for an easy listening experience over extended periods.
   • Use gentle compression to maintain even levels.
   • Apply subtle EQ shaping to remove mud (low mids) and enhance articulation (upper mids).
2. Vocal Prioritization
   • Lead vocalist should be the most prominent voice in the mix.
   • Background vocals should blend to support the melody, adding energy without overpowering the lead.
3. Instrument Balance & Tonal Consistency
   • The mix should have a balanced blend of instruments, ensuring that no single element dominates unless intended (e.g., a lead guitar solo or piano feature).
   • Drums and bass should provide a solid foundation without overpowering.
   • Keys, pads, and guitars should fill out the midrange without clashing.
   • Subtle EQ adjustments should be used to carve out space for each instrument.
4. Muting and Fader Management
   • Mute any channels or DCA's that are not in use to prevent any extra noisiness.
   • Avoid sudden volume jumps. Even if you adjust a channel late, gradually bring up the fader.

Freedoms

1. Use of EQ and Compression to Achieve Desired Mix:
   • FOH engineers can shape the mix creatively, applying EQ and compression based on their ear and style while maintaining clarity and balance.
   • Example approaches:
     • Slightly boosting a vocal’s presence to enhance clarity.
     • Tightening the low end of the bass and kick for a punchier feel.
2. Effects Chain Customization:
   • Engineers can choose which plugins to use within Reaper and how to implement them.
   • Exceptions:
     • We recommend keeping the "X-FBCK" Plugin on each vocal channel.
     • Please do not remove or adjust the auto-tune plugins!
3. Creative Use of Wet Effects:
   • Whether to use 1/8 note or 1/4 note delay when setting tap-tempo.
   • Sending more or less delay based on the song's dynamics.
   • Adjusting reverb amount for faster, punchier songs compared to slower, ballad-like songs.
4. Board Layout Customization
   • Engineers may organize the "A" fader layer in a way that best suits their workflow.
   • However, the core signal routing and key channels should remain in standard locations for consistency across operators and channel labels should remain consistent.