Transforming Worship at Macedonia Baptist Church: A Complete AVL Renovation
Hey everyone, Adam here! We just wrapped up a fantastic project at Macedonia Baptist Church in Raleigh, North Carolina. This project has been a great experience, and it’s been incredible to work alongside Jake Taylor, the worship pastor here, who has been an integral part of the Churchfront Accelerator Program. Jake reached out to us when Macedonia was planning their renovation, and it was clear that they wanted to steward their resources wisely while ensuring their audio, video, and lighting (AVL) systems were optimized for their space and ministry.
Let’s dive into the details of this transformation, covering everything from acoustic treatment to the new PA system, broadcast setup, and more.
Acoustic Treatment: The Foundation of a Great Sound
The first thing we always recommend for any space is acoustic treatment. It’s the foundation for great sound in any room. Once you install it, there are no firmware updates or additional software to maintain—it’s just a permanent improvement. Acoustic treatment helps the congregation hear the sermon better and makes the overall audio experience more clear and enjoyable.
At Macedonia, we used Primacoustic panels, but this installation was unique because they opted for the paintable versions. The panels were painted to match the walls, and they added a custom wood trim around each panel, giving them a refined, finished look that seamlessly blends into the church’s aesthetic. It’s rare that we see panels with such attention to detail, and I think Primacoustic would be impressed by how well the trim complements their product!
One key challenge was preserving the beauty of Macedonia’s wooden ceiling. The church wanted to retain the original architecture, so we focused on treating the walls and wrapping the balcony in acoustic panels. This approach kept the historical charm intact while significantly improving the room’s acoustics. Although the space is still a bit lively, the control we gained over the sound made a huge difference.
PA System: Fulcrum Acoustics for Crystal Clear Audio
Macedonia’s PA system received a massive upgrade with the installation of Fulcrum Acoustics DX 1570 speakers, paired with CX 896 downfills to cover the front rows. This setup gave us excellent coverage without the need for a full line array, which would have been overkill for a room of this size. The downfills help deliver crystal-clear audio to the front rows while the larger speakers ensure even coverage throughout the rest of the space.
What makes this setup even more efficient is the custom rigging designed by Polar Focus. The rigging hardware is precision-engineered to ensure phase alignment between the speakers and downfills, meaning the audio is perfectly synchronized without a ton of additional DSP (digital signal processing) work. The design allowed us to hang the speakers in a way that maximized coverage while maintaining a sleek, clean look that complements the church’s interior.
We also installed a dual 18” Fulcrum subwoofer, which was a challenge to rig, but totally worth it. We had to use a combination of a lift, chain hoist, and multiple team members to safely hang the sub. The subwoofer’s cardioid design directs the low-end energy towards the congregation while minimizing the sound behind it. This placement and design help prevent bass frequencies from overwhelming the stage area, which is critical for maintaining a clean, balanced mix.
Custom Front of House Booth: A Handcrafted Masterpiece
One of the standout features of this project is the custom-built front of house booth. Jake Taylor, the worship pastor, built this booth himself, and it’s one of the best I’ve seen. Not only does it look incredible, but it’s also highly functional. The slanted edge on the table prevents people from leaving drinks or objects that could cause clutter or damage, and the fabric front helps deliver a more accurate mix by allowing low-end frequencies to pass through instead of bouncing back.
The booth is elevated about 10 inches off the ground, with insulation underneath to avoid the “hollow box” effect that can distort sound perception. Jake sourced a beautiful one-piece tabletop and made sure the entire setup had a clean, professional feel.
On the tech side, the booth houses our favorite Waves LV1 mixing console with two touchscreens and physical faders, making it perfect for both volunteers and experienced audio engineers. The use of touchscreens is particularly intuitive for volunteers who are more familiar with smartphones and tablets than traditional audio consoles. The Waves plugins also allow for precise audio control, making it easier to achieve a polished, professional sound even if a dedicated sound engineer isn’t always available.
Broadcast and Video System: Seamless Control
Macedonia wanted to significantly improve their live stream experience, so we helped them implement a Canon PTZ camera system controlled by the Canon RCIP 100 controller. With two PTZ cameras installed—one in the center of the room and another on the side wall—we were able to provide comprehensive video coverage of the stage.
The video switching is handled by an ATEM Constellation 2 M/E, controlled via Stream Decks for cutting between cameras and pulling up presets. This setup makes it easy for volunteers to manage live streams and service recordings with minimal effort. We also integrated BoxCast Spark for broadcast encoding, providing a simple and effective way to stream their services live.
Lighting and Visuals: Integrated and Easy to Use
For lighting, we implemented a ProPresenter and LightKey system. These are staples in many of our installations because they work so well together. ProPresenter handles the graphics, while LightKey controls the lighting scenes, making it easy to automate transitions during services.
Macedonia opted for a Wall Panel Pro for simplified lighting control. This allows anyone to walk in, push a button, and adjust the lighting without needing to navigate software. It’s ideal for smaller events where the full tech team isn’t available, and it ensures that volunteers aren’t overwhelmed by complicated lighting setups.
Stage Design and Equipment: A Volunteer-Friendly Setup
The stage at Macedonia received a full overhaul, including a custom drum cage designed by Jake. He found a great deal on plexiglass and built a curved wooden frame that houses the drum set. The cage also features a PTZ camera for close-up drum shots during live streams.
For the drum kit, Macedonia went with a Scratch Catalina set and Heartbeat Epic Series cymbals, which are perfect for a worship setting. We also used SC Electronics drum mics to capture every detail of the kit, ensuring great sound both in the room and online.
On the tech side, we simplified stage cabling using SoundTools CatBox drops, which allow multiple inputs to be sent through a single Ethernet cable. This setup not only reduces clutter but also makes it easy to reconfigure the stage for different events or services.
Final Thoughts
This project was a labor of love for everyone involved, especially Jake Taylor, who worked tirelessly to see it through. His dedication to making Macedonia’s worship space a place where technology enhances the worship experience, while preserving the church’s history, has been inspiring. We’re excited to see how this new setup will serve the congregation for years to come.
If you’re looking to transform your church’s AVL systems, I encourage you to reach out to us at Churchfront. We’d love to partner with you and create a custom solution that fits your church’s needs. Visit churchfront.com/apply to get started!
Thanks for following along on this journey with us. Until next time!
