Strategic Church Tech Upgrades: A Mountain Home Case Study

When Christian Church of Mountain Home in Arkansas reached out to Churchfront, they weren’t looking for a complete system overhaul. They had specific pain points—dying projectors, noisy audio, and outdated workflows—but they’d recently invested in a Presonus console and wanted to build around what they already had.

This is the reality for many churches: you need to improve, but you can’t (or shouldn’t) start from scratch. Here’s how we helped them take strategic steps forward without breaking the bank.

The Problem: Death by a Thousand Cables

The challenges were immediately apparent when Luke Jackson walked into the space:

• Analog snake nightmare: A massive analog snake running from stage to FOH was introducing line noise throughout the entire signal chain
• Daisy-chained sub-snakes: Multiple connections under the stage meant poor audio quality even at the source
• VGA everywhere: From projectors to confidence monitors, they were stuck in a 720p world with dim, unclear images
• RF interference: Wireless systems with no proper antenna distribution were causing constant dropouts
• Scattered workstations: Tech team members were shouting between rooms to coordinate

The kicker? They had boxes of cable and old equipment but weren’t sure what was worth keeping or where to start.

The Solution: Upgrade Strategically, Not Completely

1. Digital Stage Box Transformation

The first major move was replacing that problematic analog snake with a Presonus NSB 32-16 digital stage box. This single change:

• Reduced 32 channels of analog cable to one network cable
• Eliminated line noise and interference
• Maintained compatibility with their existing Presonus console
• Provided clean audio for both FOH and live stream

Cost-saving insight: By keeping their recently-purchased console, they could invest those dollars elsewhere in the system.

2. Radial Catapult System for Stage Pockets

Here’s where things get clever. Instead of soldering new cables into floor plates or committing to a fixed stage box layout, we deployed Radial Catapult Mini units:

• Each unit velcros right into existing floor boxes
• Provides four XLR inputs per location via one network cable
• Future expandability without rewiring
• No labor-intensive cable runs or custom plates

The flexibility factor: Want to add returns later? Need more inputs? The Radial ecosystem allows for expansion without redoing your infrastructure.

3. Wireless Upgrades That Actually Work

The old GTX Audio wireless units were causing constant headaches. The upgrade to Shure SLXD systems included:

• Four-channel SLXD4Q units for band members
• Dual unit for handheld mics
• Single unit for pastor’s headset
• Proper RF coordination using RF Explorer and Wireless Workbench
• Architectural antenna distribution (Distro4) for reliable coverage

Pro tip: We scanned all RF frequencies in the area—TV channels, radio stations, existing interference—and coordinated around them. This is why some churches have dropouts and others don’t.

4. In-Ear Monitor Revolution

Six PSM 300 units replaced older systems that were mounted at FOH (a big no-no for RF). Combined with RF Venue’s Combine8 and proper antenna distribution, the band finally had reliable in-ear monitoring without dropouts.

Bonus: Shure SE215 earphones with foam tips mean team members can share units but keep their own tips in labeled containers. Hygienic and cost-effective.

5. From VGA to 4K

The projector upgrade was a congregation-pleasing win. Out went the old 720p classroom projectors running over VGA. In came Eiki EK 700 LU units:

• 7,000 lumens of brightness
• 4K capability via HDMI
• SDI connectivity for professional workflow
• Excellent contrast in the gymnasium-style space

The pastor’s reaction: “Oh, that’s what that color looks like in my slide.”

The confidence monitor got even simpler: an 85-inch TV from a basic wall mount, connected via HDMI from the Decklink Duo. HD lyrics the band can actually read.

6. Front of House Consolidation

The upstairs tech area went from two separate rooms with outdated gear to one unified workspace:

• ATEM 1 M/E Constellation replaced a confusing VGA switcher
• Mac Mini computers in a Sonnet chassis with Echo 3 expansion
• KVM systems keep workstations clean (just monitor, keyboard, mouse)
• Three workstations: Audio, Proclaim, and future broadcast
• Stream Deck for PTZ camera control and presets

The volunteer-friendly factor: Everything is labeled, consolidated, and easy to understand. No more dongles getting bumped or mysterious cables nobody understands.

The “Keep What Works” Philosophy

Notice what we didn’t replace:

• Their Presonus StudioLive Series III 32SX console (only 1-2 years old)
• Their existing drive rack and amplifiers (working fine, just redeployed)
• Their screen surfaces (good condition, just needed better projectors)
• Their rack drawers and PDUs (why spend money unnecessarily?)

This approach freed up budget for areas that truly needed improvement.

Real Talk: The Presonus Experience

Luke shared an honest warning about the Presonus ecosystem that’s worth noting:

Firmware updates: Getting the NSB 32-16 to accept new firmware was challenging, taking nearly an hour of manual IP configuration and multiple attempts. If you’re not comfortable with IT tasks, this could be frustrating.

Support structure: Presonus no longer offers phone support. Everything goes through a ticketing system on their website, which means you’re not getting real-time help during installation.

Bottom line: Great gear when it works, but plan for some technical troubleshooting if you’re going this route.

Workflow Wins

Beyond the gear itself, the system enables better workflows:

Proclaim in the cloud: Staff members build slides at their desks. Everything syncs to the FOH computer. The pastor runs slides from his iPad on stage. No bottlenecks.

Capture software: Free with Presonus consoles, it records all inputs from the desk with one click. Plug the USB cable into the computer, open Capture, hit record. Virtual soundcheck becomes incredibly simple.

PTZ web GUI: Saved to the dock on the Mac, operators can control the camera from FOH without running downstairs with a physical remote.

Shure charging stations: No more “which batteries are charged?” anxiety. Each mic has its labeled spot. Set it in the dock Saturday night, grab it Sunday morning.

What’s Next for Mountain Home?

The church isn’t done. Future phases include:

• Acoustic treatment to reduce reverberation in the gymnasium space
• LED lighting to replace old Fresnels
• Moving to DMX software control (like LightKey)
• Potential additional cameras for the broadcast station

But here’s what’s crucial: they can tackle these one at a time, as budget allows, because the foundation is now solid.

The Takeaway for Your Church

You don’t need to rip everything out and start over. Christian Church of Mountain Home proves that strategic upgrades—addressing specific pain points while preserving what works—can transform your production quality without the six-figure price tag.

Start by asking:

1. What’s actually broken or causing problems?
2. What did we recently invest in that’s worth keeping?
3. Where can we make changes that multiply benefits? (Like one network cable replacing 32 analog channels)
4. What upgrades will volunteers notice and appreciate?

If you’re staring at boxes of cable and antiquated gear in your tech booth, wondering where to start, you’re not alone. That’s exactly where Mountain Home was. The difference? They reached out for help assessing what they had and building a smart plan forward.

Ready to Take Your Next Tech Step?

Whether you’re dealing with noisy audio, dying projectors, or just don’t know what’s worth keeping, Churchfront can help you build a strategic upgrade plan that fits your ministry context and budget.

Schedule a strategy session with our team to discuss your goals and pain points. We’ll help you figure out whether you need to start from scratch or if you can build on what you already have.