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Renkus-Heinz Iconyx Digitally Steered Line Arrays Help Renew Sound At Reno Church

New facility is big, bright and airy, with an open feel and modern audio and video systems

The new 500-seat worship center at Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in downtown Reno, NV, incorporates a sound system designed and installed by Reno-based JC Productions, headed by a pair of Renkus-Heinz Iconyx IC Live digitally steered line arrays.

The new facility is big, bright and airy, with an open feel and modern audio and video systems. As Scott Schmidt of Reno-based JC Productions explains, they were fortunate to have the room’s acoustics working for, rather than against them.

“The architect has done a number of traditional sanctuaries, and really did a fantastic job,” says Schmidt. “Most of the walls are not parallel, and there’s a sloped ceiling that’s about 60 feet at its highest point. The wall behind the choir is angled about five degrees, which really helps with reflectivity.”

Good Shepherd has been expanding outside the traditional Lutheran model and offering a range of services to cater to a wider congregation. “They offer a traditional Lutheran service early in the morning, followed by a more contemporary service with full band, and then one more traditional service,” Schmidt notes.

Good Shepherd’s choir is among the best, and the room’s acoustics only serve to enhance the sound. That said, the same acoustics that work so well for congregational singing can become problematic when you add amplified music to the mix.

“The band is using all amplified instruments, running through the PA, and they’re all using in-ear monitors, so that does help keep the sound under control somewhat,” says Schmidt “They’re using electronic drums, and there are no amplifiers onstage. But it’s still a pretty live space, and they needed a sound system that could steer the acoustical energy away from the walls and into the seating area.”

Schmidt opted for a pair of IC Live ICL-FR columns, mounted on either side of the proscenium. Low-frequency reinforcement is covered by an IC215S-FR subwoofer under the stage lip.

“We needed a very versatile system, and the IC Live fit the bill,” he explains.“Spoken word intelligibility is always the priority, but the system had to provide the full-range musicality needed for a live band as well.”

Schmidt concludes, “I’ve done a number of projects using Renkus-Heinz speakers over the past 10 years, and have always been happy with the results. I used the Iconyx on a recent job – a corporate training room – and felt it would be a good solution for a situation like this, where we couldn’t use any acoustical treatment. And it was definitely a good choice – the sound in here is terrific.”

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