2008 Woodie Awards
Acoustics altered after 15 years
Todd Piersall, Staff Photographer
Issue date: 9/7/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
The University updated Moody Coliseum's acoustics after 15 years. The old sound system was replaced by a digital
sound system at the end of last spring.
The previous sound system was installed in the early 1990s,
and Kevin Weems, manager of ACU's sound systems, said it had been used more than 10,000 times during its time in Moody Coliseum.
"This was not a terrible system that we had; we just used it a lot," Weems said. "The system was used probably 750 to 1,000 times a year."
Weems said the wires in the old system were getting weak,
producing a "very thin sound." However, Weems said the previous sound system lasted twice as long as its predecessor, and speaker systems should be replaced every 14 to 15 years.
Moody Coliseum's fourth sound system is a Yamaha M7CL digital mixing consol. Weems said the sound system is sophisticated but capable of handling various settings that
will be useful because of the many events that take place
in the coliseum. Chapel, Sing Song and Lectureship can have
a specific setting that can be accessed easily, reducing the
number of hours spent on setting up for each event.
Also, the new sound system should drastically reduce echoing
and unwanted noise.
"Moody is basically a concrete and metal grain silo," Weems said. "It is a difficult building. It was not made to have the acoustics like other buildings have."
Weems called the sound mistakes that can be heard by the audience "all-human error."
Because of the complexity of the new sound system, Weems
said those operating the system need more training. However,
he remains optimistic about the potential the new system has.
Weems said he will be retired far before this new sound system needs to be replaced.
"By Sing Song time, I think everyone will be very happy when they see the new capabilities of this sound board," he said.
Coy Greathouse, junior youth and family ministry major from Houston, helped lead worship during Chapel last year and this year, and said he can hear a notable difference between the clarity of the two sound systems.
"It's nice. I can hear myself sing," Greathouse said.
There are more upgrades still to come, Weems said. The next stop for Moody Coliseum is a better stagelighting system.
E-mail Piersall at: tdp04a@acu.edu
sound system at the end of last spring.
The previous sound system was installed in the early 1990s,
and Kevin Weems, manager of ACU's sound systems, said it had been used more than 10,000 times during its time in Moody Coliseum.
"This was not a terrible system that we had; we just used it a lot," Weems said. "The system was used probably 750 to 1,000 times a year."
Weems said the wires in the old system were getting weak,
producing a "very thin sound." However, Weems said the previous sound system lasted twice as long as its predecessor, and speaker systems should be replaced every 14 to 15 years.
Moody Coliseum's fourth sound system is a Yamaha M7CL digital mixing consol. Weems said the sound system is sophisticated but capable of handling various settings that
will be useful because of the many events that take place
in the coliseum. Chapel, Sing Song and Lectureship can have
a specific setting that can be accessed easily, reducing the
number of hours spent on setting up for each event.
Also, the new sound system should drastically reduce echoing
and unwanted noise.
"Moody is basically a concrete and metal grain silo," Weems said. "It is a difficult building. It was not made to have the acoustics like other buildings have."
Weems called the sound mistakes that can be heard by the audience "all-human error."
Because of the complexity of the new sound system, Weems
said those operating the system need more training. However,
he remains optimistic about the potential the new system has.
Weems said he will be retired far before this new sound system needs to be replaced.
"By Sing Song time, I think everyone will be very happy when they see the new capabilities of this sound board," he said.
Coy Greathouse, junior youth and family ministry major from Houston, helped lead worship during Chapel last year and this year, and said he can hear a notable difference between the clarity of the two sound systems.
"It's nice. I can hear myself sing," Greathouse said.
There are more upgrades still to come, Weems said. The next stop for Moody Coliseum is a better stagelighting system.
E-mail Piersall at: tdp04a@acu.edu
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