Planning a New Worship Space? Don’t Miss This AVL Checklist

Creating a place of worship involves more than just how it looks or where people sit. It involves careful integration of audio, video, and lighting (AVL) systems that fit your worship house’s culture. Traditional houses of worship have warm lighting within the building, which is accompanied by discreet microphones to maintain the sanctity of the worship. Contemporary worship spaces also use high-quality audio systems and livestreaming to support expressive worship.

Blended worship spaces need AVL systems that can balance praise bands and choirs. Some larger houses of worship may use professional-grade video and lighting tools to support both traditional and modern elements in their services. Small worship houses, or those in the starting phase, use portable AVL gear due to the need for rapid mobility in settings. Liturgical charismatic worship houses require hybrid systems to shift between spontaneous and reverent moments. With these in mind, design a complete AVL checklist before planning a new worship space.  

Ultimate AVL Checklist for Different Types of Worship Spaces

Here are the AVL requirements of different types of worship houses:

1. Traditional Worship Spaces

(Catholic, Orthodox, Mainline Protestant)  

Worship Style:  

Predictable structure composed of hymns, readings from the holy scriptures, and sacraments such as Eucharist or Communion.  

Instruments:  

• Accompaniments from an orchestral pipe organ or piano.  

• Ensembles and choirs from the classical genre that perform occasionally.  

AVL Needs:  

• Microphones are positioned strategically to avoid sight lines from the ambo, altar, and choir loft.  

• Warm white lighting angled toward the pulpit, altar, and stained-glass features to provide ambient visibility.

• Discreet foldback monitors or hidden screens can display hymns and liturgies without disrupting the worship environment.

• Acoustics configured for the natural reverb of the space enhance the choir and organ.

1. Contemporary Worship Houses  

(Evangelical, Pentecostal, Non-Denominational) 

Worship Style:

• Multimedia-rich and emotionally expressive.

• Spontaneous prayer and multimedia sermons are led by praise and worship bands.

Instruments:  

• Drums, electric and acoustic guitars, bass, keyboard, and vocals make up the full band.  

• Digital audio workstations or tracks frequently use prerecorded material.

AVL Needs:  

• Modern sanctuaries require flown line-array speakers for even sound distribution.  

• Lighting systems with programmable controls can support smooth transitions between prayer, sermons, and music.

• LED video walls display sermon slides, announcements, and lyrics as they are needed.  

• PTZ cameras and live stream systems are common for streaming services on YouTube or Facebook. Software such as ProPresenter or vMix manages visuals and live stream content effectively.

1. Blended Worship Spaces

(Mixed Traditional And Contemporary)

Worship Style:  

• Traditional structure with modern music.  

• It may begin with a hymn and conclude with a band worship performance.  

Instruments:  

Organ, piano, electric guitars, drums, choir, and vocal teams

AVL Needs: 

• Zoned speaker systems to balance traditional choir and modern instruments.

• Microphone setups include boundary microphones for the choir, wireless handhelds for soloists, and DI boxes set up for instruments.  

• Static warm lighting for liturgical moments and programmable LED lighting for modern music sets create flexible lighting.  

• Rear projection supports congregational participation, while stage teams use confidence monitors for guidance. 

1. Mega Houses of Worship  

(Globally connected high-capacity venues with high production values.) 

Worship Style:

Sermons enriched by advanced multimedia and carefully coordinated presentation elements.  

Instruments:

Full band performing with multiple vocalists, pads, synthesizers, and loop tracks accompanied by click tracks and software-controlled music transitions.  

AVL Needs:  

• Detailed audio control with digital mixing consoles like Digico or Yamaha CL series.  

• Timecode lighting cues synced to music playback.  

• Advanced streaming setups and synchronized lighting to help manage large-scale services.

1. Small Startup Worship Houses  

Often launched in temporary spaces such as movie theaters, schools, or community centers. 

Worship Styles:

Volunteers often lead informal and simple worship using an acoustic guitar accompanied by a cajon, a small drum kit, and a keyboard.  

Instruments:

• Limited vocalists add to the dynamic sound.  

• A portable sound system like QSC K-Series or Bose L1 for simple setup, and all-in-one lighting kits like Chauvet GigBAR for stage lighting.  

AVL Needs:

• Visuals for lyrics and sermons can be projected or displayed on tripod-mounted TVs.

• Tablet-controlled mixers like Behringer X Air facilitate swift adjustments.  

Conclusion

Every worship space has unique technical requirements, and syncing your AVL setup with your worship style ensures a smooth experience. Traditional worship spaces require reverent sound and lighting, while contemporary worship houses thrive on vibrant visuals and live-streamed content. Blended style worship spaces should choose AVL options that accommodate both traditional and modern praise. Mega worship spaces need professional-grade, megascale systems that manage intricate production. 

Smaller worship houses require compact and user-friendly setups. Finally, liturgical charismatic worship houses need adaptable gear that seamlessly shifts between solemn rituals and spirited worship. 

Let this AVL checklist guide you in designing a worship space that supports your message and enhances the worship experience. For effective planning and AVL integration, you can contact Epic Resource Group, as we have specialists who handle everything with precision.