URCSA

The Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa (URCSA) has a campus in Atteridgeville, Pretoria. Its new building is a purpose-built space for worship, community events and outreach programmes. Member donations paid for the whole project.

URCSA wanted one room that could serve worship, community gatherings and outreach. It needed sound that reached the whole congregation, video and lighting that suited the space, and a way to reach members who could not be in the building.

The team that would run it every week is made up of volunteers. Whatever we fitted had to be simple to operate, and it had to give the congregation good value for what it had given.

We worked with URCSA to design the audio, video, lighting and live-streaming system around the church's vision. The sound comes from a Plus Audio distributed sound system (speakers placed around the room rather than in one cluster), controlled from a Yamaha TF3 digital mixer. We placed the speakers to give balanced sound across the seating.

Speakers and performers use Sennheiser EW-D wireless microphones, so they can move freely on stage. HD projectors carry the visuals. Cameo and Stage Plus stage lights light the platform. Remote-controlled cameras keep streaming simple.

We also trained the volunteer team, so they can run the system with confidence.

The room now supports worship, community events and outreach, and the live stream reaches members who are away from the building. URCSA has a system its volunteers can operate without technical worry.