Training Materials and Resources

Sound Advice by Leon Sievers Sound Professional April 23, 2003

Continuing Education

Synergetic Audio Concepts (Syn-aud-con) is the premier training organization teaching sound reinforcement systems design and operation. Synergetic Audio Concepts has been a leader in audio education since 1973. Audio Practitioners from all over the world are drawn to the Sound Training Seminars because they get accurate, concise, and proven answers to their questions about sound reinforcement. In addition to the seminars, Syn-Aud-Con Memberships allows you to continue your education through newsletters, Syn-Aud-Con listserv, and their website archives.

Walthall & Associates, Inc. is a Florida based corporation specializing in training, consulting and system management of technical systems, providing audio, video & theatrical lighting solutions to religious facilities, performing arts venues, sporting venues and businesses alike that rely on technical systems. Distance learning uses the Internet to bring a group of learners together. Rather then gathering in a classroom on campus, learners access this web site, and virtual course room, to receive reading and study assignments and unit discussion questions. Learners are responsible for reading and studying on their own time and posting answers to discussion questions within a given time frame. Each course consists of 12 weeks, (1 quarter). Each week includes 1 unit of study. Each unit of study consists of a reading assignment and often an exercise. The course instructor will post a question or series of questions at the beginning of the week to be replied to by each learner. Learners are encouraged to respond to each other as well. This is the "virtual" classroom. Most courses include 8 units of study. The remaining weeks are used for completion of course papers or projects. Each course begins with a week of introduction and time to secure the course materials. Each learner that completes the course receives a certificate indicating his or her accomplishment. Additional course completions render a certificate seal.

Church Soundcheck is one of the best web sites and email discussion groups on church sound. Besides being an outstanding technical web resource, CSC offers regional workshops and technical “bootcamps” for hands on training.

Church Sound Workshop in a Box
Do you have a heart to teach workshops for the members of your church sound team? Then why reinvent the wheel? We've spent the last twenty years compiling this information, refining it through feedback from our 3,000+ "grads", and it's now ready for YOU to use. We've packaged all the materials you need to take your audio ministry from beginner level to delivering technical excellence in every worship service you do. This version of the Church Sound Boot Camp is intended only for churches to train their own sound teams in-house. (This version is NOT licensed for public presentation of the materials.)

Full Sail Recording & Engineering
Been living, breathing, sleeping, and eating music since day one? Do dials, faders, buttons, and knobs make you bug-eyed with joy? Then we have the antidote for your audio-based obsession - Full Sail’s Recording Arts Associate of Science Degree Program. This award-winning degree is here to open your mind to both the analog and digital realms. While our pro instructors take the mystery out of tracking, automation, and advanced signal flow, you’ll get your hands dirty mixing on the most advanced consoles and outboard systems the industry has to offer. In just 13 months of intense hands-on training, you’ll be ready for a career in any city, in any studio, with anybody.

Books

Guide to Sound Systems for Worship/ by Jon F. Eiche (Editor)
I have read the "Guide" from cover to cover several times and every time I have another question I go back and there's the answer. I feel it is written on a level that would satisfy beginner and intermediate sound personnel. It defines everything from "what is sound, and how does it work" to "how it moves through the system, what the different components do, where to insert them and what it should sound like" including main mix console and monitor systems. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who has questions about how to better operate and understand their sound systems.

Is This Thing On?
by Gordon McComb An easy to read and use guide to sound systems! "Is This Thing On?" is a useful guide for anyone who needs to design, purchase, install, maintain, or operate a public sound system. This book takes you through each step of selecting components, and installing, adjusting and maintaining a system for small meeting rooms, churches, large lecture halls, public-address systems for schools or offices, or any other large room that requires sound system equipment.

Audio Made Easy
(or How to Be a Sound Engineer Without Really Trying) by Ira White
If you are either a beginner or intermediate sound tech, this is an excellent book. It starts off basic and then moves on into more advanced concepts such as complex gain-staging and equalizing. It is an excellent book for the casual sound engineer who has never had any formal training and is equally applicable to both live sound reinforcement and recording. It is simply the most informative yet concise introduction to Pro Audio I have ever seen.

These are just a few of the vast resources available to us in the world of professional audio. Don’t be overwhelmed by any of it. Remember to pray for wisdom and knowledge and ask the Lord to bless your efforts. Practice what you learn, remain patient and you will indeed be blessed by the results.

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