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DMU - DIGITAL MIXER UNIVERSITY
A NEW AGE
A major advance in sound mixing capabilities took root with the first Yamaha digital mixer over a decade ago, and progressed through several evolutions of compact recording and post-production designs. The new millennium saw the introduction of the Yamaha PM1D, the first large-format, live sound digital console which quickly became the industry standard for major events worldwide. Though its smaller descendant PM5D cut the $100,000+ price tag in half, most ministries and venues were obviously still budget-constrained to existing analog mixer designs. As of 2006, that has changed.
Yamaha has without question endured as the leading manufacturer of digital mixers offering world-class quality, proven dependability, and unprecedented economy. So it was a reasonable assumption that their pioneering research would eventually break the bank of analog mixing technology. The surprise was two introductions in one year - the M7CL and the LS9 live sound consoles. (See more at www.yamahaproaudio.com.)
At this point, a hard look at the state of sound technology makes it difficult to justify an analog mixer in almost any serious mixing application, especially ministries. As we discovered with digital recording and processing, the digital domain provides sonic excellence, control, and flexibility unthinkable with analog circuitry. Now it provides the economy of a complete integrated mixing and system processing package at a fraction of the cost of many analog mixers alone. Along with the reliability and versatility of memorized settings, anything less now favors an exercise in obsolescence and inconsistency.
DIGITAL MIXER UNIVERSITY
At the forefront of this mixer evolution, my company Sanctuary Sound has been one of the major US providers of digital mixing systems for ministries. With such products now poised to replace analog components, Digital Mixer University provides a new and valuable consulting, programming, and training service to take ministries into the 21st-century of sound technology and equip sound teams with unique insight into digital mixing techniques and concepts developed through years of installations and engineering for worship, concert, theatre, and recording applications. And best of all, DMU comes to you!
While Yamaha digital mixers offer the best in affordable sound performance, they still require a thorough and intuitive understanding of their many inherent features for effective setup and programming. This sets the stage for memorized settings to handle the majority of mix elements automatically, leaving operators free to concentrate on the more basic aspects of mixing. It also allows for easy recall of preset mixer scenes by virtually anyone for simple rehearsals, weddings, dayschool programs, meetings, etc.
To this end, DMU is designed primarily to help those upgrading to digital mixing for the first time, or those who have a Yamaha digital that has never achieved full potential, service consistency, and ease of use. In addition to assessing your overall sound system for digital mixing, my DMU 5-Point Program will:
- match your specific needs and budget to a mixer model, accessory options, and wiring needs (pre-evaluation & consulting)
- install the mixer and tune outputs for your sound system (using pre-installed system wiring & connections)
- guide you through the substantial variety of distinctive mixer functions and features
- program your mixer for services, optimum flexibility, and ease of use, and
- train your sound team for basic and advanced operation of the system.
Where few sound providers today offer - or are experienced in - comprehensive programming of digital mixers, I work with your pastor(s) and worship team to provide total programming for channels, mains, monitors, IEM systems, multi-media recording, and remote areas as well as mix-manager software installation and data backup to a designated computer. After fine-tuning of a weekend service, you will be off and running with vital system parameters stored and protected, and your team ready to edit new mix scenes as needed. I also provide ongoing support for your team's questions or creative challenges in the future, and can even email updates from my own saved software files of your system.
In other words, you're left with great sound, amazing capabilities, and peace of mind.
PROGRAMS
5-POINT PROGRAM: covers pre-evaluations and up to three days onsite including worship team rehearsal/tuning and a weekend service. Minor cables or cable connection alterations are included. (Major wiring infrastructure needs to be in place, and is assessed ahead of time within the pre-evaluation.)
3-POINT PROGRAM: covers Points 3-5 if your digital mixer is already purchased and properly integrated for your sound system. Includes tuning of outputs for your system and all other elements of the 5-Point Program.
Make your transition to digital mixer technology a smooth and rewarding one. For pricing, information,
or to schedule a DMU program, contact Ira White via email at iwhite@sanctuarysound.com.
ABOUT PRICING
A lot of consideration goes into affordable pricing since we put an emphasis on stewardship for our customers. First, for those ministries who thought digital mixers were too expensive, you will find that state-of-the-art Yamaha models are now the bargain well before you consider their superior sound quality (yes, superior) and the consistency of memorized settings for your volunteers. For our DMU services, pricing is below typical fees. Audio consulting can run $1500+ travel expenses for one day, and that provides a written evaluation of everything that is wrong with your system and all the money you need to spend to fix it.
For around $2000 (depending on the program and needs), our services offer 2-3 days of working with you to provide immediate results and, along with digital mixing technology itself, will equip your sound ministry for the long term. (Remember the "give a man a fish - teach a man to fish" analogy?) Our advantage: as ministry specialists, we were in pleased anticipation of this developing technology and jumped in early, so most sound providers are years behind and have had little or no experience with digital mixers.
As far as your sound system goes, it is also worthy to note that sound is the one technology that affects the whole service, not just part of it. If you have spent more on an organ, grand piano, or video projection than you have on sound, maybe it's time to re-evaluate audio needs rather than struggle through problems or mediocre performance that you came to regard as the norm. Ministries no longer need to surrender to the status quo of the last 25 years. It is indeed a new era, and time to have sound quality and consistency that you can depend on from week to week. Let us help you achieve that as we have for so many ministries. Contact us.
Ira White, president
Sanctuary Sound, Inc.
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