Keith: Are you an advocate of spending some rehearsal time on the platform, listening and communicating?

Curt: The sound mixer should ALWAYS get his ears up on the stage, for several reasons. One, he/she has to know what it sounds like there. Two, it's incredibly difficult to build a trusting relationship when you're 100ft. out in the sanctuary most of the time. You've got to spend time as friends on stage.

Curt (continued): The sound mixer is an equal member of the worship team. In a large church, especially, the worship team wouldn't be able to communicate without the tech support team. But then again, the sound mixer would look pretty funny pushing faders around without any sound coming through the console.

Maureen: Any mixing consoles that are easier to learn and use than others? I'm thinking of multiple users of differing skill and experience levels, and it would be nice to kind of bridge that gap.

Curt: Teach signal flow first. Once a person understands signal flow logic of a console, they can walk up to any console - no matter how many knobs or switches on it - and learn to operate it in a short time. The only exception would be some of the new mixing consoles.

Curt (continued): I'd be at a loss standing in front of a Yamaha PM1D, and yet that's the first console I've seen in years that I thought to myself, now that's a console I'd enjoy mixing on. The first time I ever saw a console in a recording studio, I was overwhelmed.
But over time, and learning its signal flow, it became easy. Now it would seem quite small.
When all else fails, read the directions.

Moderator: I also hear very good things about the Innova-Son digital consoles in worship applications. Had a chance to check one out?

Curt: Not yet.

Keith: Do you think the manufacturers have done a better job over the last 10 or so years of providing better info, both in print and through their websites?

Curt: Absolutely!!! Where we used to send out cut sheets and photocopies of info to our clients, we now provide PDF files and/or web addresses of the equipment we spec for a project. Yamaha in particular has been very aggressive with this, with two major book projects. Shure and others also have done a great job.

Curt (continued): The web sites are becoming wonderful sources of info. I learn something new everyday, usually by accident. That's an important point, Keith. The Internet is a great resource for learning - go scour the manufacturer's web sites. There are great articles there.
I learned as much about electronics stuff just looking at parts catalogs in college. That is, compared to what I learned in my classes.

Curt (continued): Today, I learn stuff just reading catalogs from mail order companies. And obviously, from magazines - Technologies for Worship, Church Production, Live Sound, and uhh - ProSoundWeb!