Vance: An LCR (left-center-right) system is almost exclusively what we are designing these days, even in the smaller rooms with low budgets. I've found that if done properly, it gives you the best of everything, including speech intelligibility and imaging for music. The key is to not only have a system that is carefully designed and installed, but is mixed on properly.

Vance (continued): The whole discussion on this topic is a lengthy one, but you can find some information on our website. I've published a couple papers and articles on how we do our systems, and this fall at AES, I'll be publishing a paper on mixing techniques on such a system. If you follow some general rules, the results are pretty stunning. Better than playing a CD in an empty room.

Moderator: By the way, Vance's web site is www.sound-technology.com.

Earl: What's your "dividing line" between needing a contractor and a highly respected, experienced consultant like yourself?

Vance: I don't know that there really is one. We have some small projects where we're just doing a few hours of work to get things going the right direction or are working in conjunction with (and sometimes working for) a sound contractor. It just depends on the project and what the client wants to achieve, and what makes sense.

Vance (continued): It's almost more important for everyone - the contractor, the church, and the consultant - to have the same goal and similar philosophies. Sometimes, though, it doesn't make sense to hire a consultant because of the budget. It all depends on the situation.

Arthur Skudra: With your multi-channel systems, what are your preferences for room shape and speaker positioning? When matrixing L/R information into the center cluster, how do you minimize the time smearing that occurs with percussive music sources?

Vance: In a nutshell, when mixing on this system, you either buss to the center channel - drums, bass, vocals, percussive stuff - or you buss to L/R with discrete mics going to one or the other. As a rule, never send a signal to multiple sources or it will wreak havoc. But with the L/R stuff, you’ve got to mic instruments in stereo. Things that work includes piano, keys, choir, guitar, and stuff like that that can be smeared in time.

JC: What do you think can be done to improve the EASE program?

Vance: Erase it from your hard drive. No I’m just kidding! They are putting a lot of work into the program for a relatively small user base. I think you'll find the next release - 4.0 will have some real improvements. There are still a lot of features with the program that I don't use and probably never will.

Vance (continued): The rendering, for example, because there are other better rendering engines out there. But it's the ticket for me for getting the data I need in my designs. I use it on every project as a tool, but not as the end-all crystal ball. It's just a design tool, but you'll see it get better here in the future.

Moderator: Final question: Favorite speaker, DSP, console, other gear? Favorite person?

Vance: Speaker – probably the R-H CT-5M flanked by pairs of CT-9LF/SVB (or some product number like that). DSP -either BSS Soundweb or Peavey MediaMatrix, big ones or X-frames. Right now the Innova-Son is the cool console, though I think it has a life expectancy. Gear - something in a retractable with a turbocharger and with a panel-mounted moving-map GPS.

Moderator: Person?

Vance: My mom, who else???

Moderator: Thanks Vance!

Vance: By the way, my e-mail address is VBreshears@Compuserve.com for any other questions or comments. Thanks everyone!

Moderator: Don't forget - Church Talk will be taking a hiatus the next two weeks, returning with Joe Wisler of Ashly on Tuesday, May 29 at 9:30 pm Eastern. Also legendary touring engineer Buford Jones on PSW Live Chat May 30, and the equally legendary Old Soundman on May 21. And visit the PSW forums and boards to continue the chat!