Crossgates Baptist Church, located in Brandon, MS., was founded in 1974 and had not experienced an update in more than 20 years, until leadership recently set a goal to fully renovate the space to accompany worship leaders’ and performers’ needs, especially as touring artists are frequently visiting and performing.
Ultimately, the team at Crossgates turned to Paragon 360 from Springfield, MO., as their design-build contractor for the project. The audio/acoustics design and commissioning manager at Paragon360, Mark Coble, elected to install 32 channels of Shure ULXD4Q wireless systems, Axient wireless microphones, and 16 stereo channels of the PSM 1000 to meet the needs of Crossgates’ newly-renovated facility.
The full renovation consisted of all new audio and video systems, a new broadcast control room, lighting systems, custom acoustical work, an expanded stage, new seating, and other installations. As a result, one of Coble’s primary missions was to find a cost-effective, reliable wireless system that would support the 1,800 seat sanctuary. Coble chose Shure for the project, as the company was able to provide the church with brand new audio systems, including Shure Axient wireless microphones, 32 channels of ULXD4Q digital wireless systems, handheld Beta 87 microphones, and bodypack transmitters along with PSM 1000.
“An important part of this installation was finding a wireless microphone system that had a talk-switch feature,” says Coble. “Crossgates’ worship leader wanted a system that didn’t require two microphones to talk to the congregation and the bands’ IEM system, and the Shure AXT200 along with the ATX651 allows for this seamless, uninterrupted audio.”
In addition to the need for a talk-switch feature for the worship leaders’ microphone, Crossgates was searching for a wireless solution that was capable of supporting 32 channels (14 handheld, 18 bodypack receivers) of wireless microphones simultaneously. The Shure ULX-D digital wireless system was an ideal fit. The Axient system for the pastor and music pastors’ microphones allows for dual-diversity, which can quickly update transmitters if it detects that one is not up to par. Additionally, the talk-switch feature on the ATX200 Axient wireless system enables transmission on two different frequencies and continuous audio. This feature is something that is only available on Axient systems.
“Shure has always been a reliable choice when it comes to audio,” states Mark Coble. “The dependable, fault-proof, high-quality audio solutions, paired with the exceptional support that Shure engineers offered throughout the course of the design made Shure an obvious choice for this project.”