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Michigan Sound System Installation

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AMX Touch Panels - Touch Screens installation serviceProfessional audio system’s are used today in a variety of applications. Some of these applications include Houses of Worship, Schools, Restaurants, Bars, Clubs, and Corporate Environments. Whichever your application, it is important to choose the right audio solution and products to fit your environment. A professional sound company assists in customizing an audio system to meet these needs. Mercury Sound & Lighting provides its clients with a professional design unique to their situation as we have worked within Michigan sound system installation service. It is not as simple as throwing a couple of speakers on the wall and calling it a day. It is important for an audio company to take the time to measure the space and design a system that will create even coverage and an SPL that is sufficient for the type of application the system is being designed for.

Often times, we find that our clients have had previous experiences where the end result and needs of the system were not researched well enough by the “installer” (specifically Houses of Worship). We have a saying here that most House’s of Worship will experience 4 audio systems for their auditorium, gospel choir, and band. The first system always goes to the lowest bidder. Of course, this is understandable. While we breath and live audio, it is not always the most important factor when a new House of Worship is going up and we understand that.

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Worship Audio – 5 Ways to Evaluate Your Mix

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An audio engineer should constantly be critiquing his mix. A mix may be perfect, but worship is constantly flowing and a simple changing of songs could require your mix to change. It is important that you take these factors into account when you are on your instrument, the sound board!

1. Can you hear all of the instruments and singers?

I often find worship services tobe a bit frustrating when I’m visiting, helping the audio team, and I cannot hear all ofthe different elements that I see on the stage. As a worship leader myself, Iunderstand how hard our team works to get everything right and the last thing I’dwant is for one of our team members to not be heard. The best way for you tocritique your mix is to close your eyes and see if you can point out each instrumentand singer in the mix. If you can’t hear a certain piece, is it because the level is toolow or is it competing with another instrument or singer?

2. Can you hear the Worship Leader or is he buried in the mix?

The Worship Leader is the most important piece to your puzzle. It is absolutely essential that hestands out in your mix and that his voice is clear and intelligible. The congregation is listening for the lead and this is what they follow. A good trick that I like to use is tweaking the treble a bit on this channel. You won’t have to turn him/her up too loud toget it to punch through. Brightening up the lead vocal will help it cut through andstand out in the mix.

3. Do I hear more sound coming from the House or from the Stage?

Stage volumeis a constant problem in many churches. Personal Monitor Mixing and In-Ears havehelped this quite a bit, but not every house of worship is using in-ears as their monitoring solution. If your stage volume is louder than your house volume then youmight as well kiss that great mix good-bye! Often, churches do not want the soundpassing a certain decibel rating. If this is the case, then you and your worship bandhave to find that middle ground that will create balance in your mix. There are severalways to help keep your stage volume down, but we’ll save that for another blog.

4. Does the mix sound like it has layers?

Many churches suffer from a mediocre mix caused by all of the inputs being run at a similar level. If it sounds like your inputs are running at the same level then you need to create layers to your mix. This will create depth and energy to your mix. The best way for you to create a mix with energy and layers is to start out piece by piece and work your way to it. Start with your drum mix.Set the levels to a point that are comfortable for the room you are in. Then you can add in each instrument one at a time, allowing the lead instruments to be last and a bit louder than the others. Mix the vocals the same way. Mix each vocal and then add one at a time to make them sound like one large voice singing together. Finally, add in the lead vocal last. This vocal should be a bit louder and cut through the rest of the mix. Do not let your mix lack energy!

5. Are you playing your instrument!?

So many volunteer technicians find a mix that sounds “ok” and then leave it. I cannot express this last point enough. The audio engineer is as much a part of the band as the lead guitar player or even the worship leader. The sound board is your instrument! Imagine what worship would sound like if the guitar player played one chord through an entire song or set?! It is important that you learn the songs as a member of the worship team. Learn what the lead instruments, who the lead vocal is, if there is a guitar solo or an instrument that comes in with a key part during the song. There is nothing worse than a guitar solo buried in the mix.Turn that guitar up! I always joke with my musician and worship leader friends telling them that they really aren’t that important and the audio engineer really hands out the solo’s. This is very true. The band will learn to follow your mix and you will learn to follow them. Make sure you serve them well.

Overall, I hope you’ve learn how important your role is to the worship experience and what an effect you have. The worship leader depends on you to make sure the mix is providing energy and emotion. Keep following our Blogs. I’m optimistic they will help you. You can always email or call us here at Mercury if you have any questions or need some advice with your mix. We do offer on-site training as well.

Lear Headquarter’s Client Showroom Audio Visual Installation

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Corporate Audio Visual InstallationMercury Sound & Lighting was asked to design a lighting system for Lear Corporation that would create a trade show like atmosphere at their headquarters in Southfield, MI. A truss system was requested to imitate that of a an auto show display that would allow for lighting fixtures to be suspended for overhead lighting on display’s. The team at Mercury worked closely alongside Sr. Creative Lead, Assi Grossman, to insure a quality outcome in this new space.

A total of 800’ of Thomas Engineering 12” x 12” Black Power Coated Truss was installed  as the framework of the lighting design.  Mercury riggers did an outstanding job using existing rigging points as well as creating a few of their own to suspend the truss.  36 connector strips were then installed and mounted to the truss allowing for dimmer access anywhere along this 800’ suspension.

MSL brought on Leprecon, a Michigan based lighting company, to build a custom dimmer rack for the Southfield Lear Corporation.  Leprecon designed a 60 channel install rack with five MX-2400 Dimmers and a TMB 500 power distribution.  A LPC-96V DMX controller with a 15” touch screen and built-in-W-DMX transmitter was also included.  This dimming system designed by Leprecon and Mercury would create a fully controllable lighting system.

80 ETC Source Four Pars and Source Four Zoom Jr.’s were the lighting fixtures of choice.  With 750W Osram lamps, the Source Fours would create the color temperature desired by Lear.  Each fixture was installed along the truss to meet the angles needed to light the product displays.

Lear also requested an 80’ Video Wall to be installed towards the rear of the new showroom.  Mercury S & L was teamed up with Howard Luby of Mediascape to create this 80’ seamless projection.  Mercury installed a total of 7 Eiki LC-WUL100 projectors.  Four of these projectors were used for the projection wall.  Mediascape designed a software program that would allow all of the content to be viewed as one seamless image across the 80’ wall.

No audio visual system would be complete without audio! A four zone audio system was also installed by Mercury to allow for optimal sound throughout the showroom.  Mercury chose 8 JBL Control Speakers to be the loudspeaker choice for the sound system installation.  Crown CDi amps and DBX processing were also used for the audio system.

The overall project included a total renovation of the Lear Corporation Headquarters.  These renovations included everything from a raised floor, electrical, product displays, and signage to the audio visual elements discussed.  The overall outcome was a huge hit for Lear and is expected to increase the visual experience of its clients.

Why should I hire a Professional Lighting Company?

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profesisonal-lighting-company-mercury-slWe often get this question.  “My DJ offers uplighting. Why should we choose Mercury?”  We are glad you asked.

Over the years, there have been many DJ’s, florists, decorators and party rental companies here in Michigan that have added uplighting to their service’s list.  To make this plain and clear, they are not production companies and can not offer you the same service or equipment that we can.  We’ve all heard the expression “A Jack of All Trades” and have heard or experienced horror stories of what choosing the wrong company or vendor can cause.  This is why it is important to hire a company that specializes in the service or product you are looking for.  You wouldn’t hire an electrician to do your plumbing work, would you!? Why not? They are both in the construction business?

Make sure that you ask the proper questions while choosing the right company for your wedding lighting needs.  We often hear a client tell us that their DJ or florist is offerring them uplighting for the fraction of the cost, but what type of lighting are they giving you?  There are hundreds of different lighting fixtures on the market (the same as there are automobiles).  Your DJ may be offering you a much cheaper lighting fixture than what Mercury can offer you.  You might say, “An Uplight is an Uplight!”, but this simply isn’t true.  Photo’s are always a great reference to use when looking at different lighting options.  You will realize how much of a broad wash our lighting fixtures give after looking through our wedding lighting photos. An LED uplight that costs $100 does not even come close the intensity, color or beam spread of a $1500 fixture.  This is why there is a cost difference.  It’s ok if you are on a tight budget and can only spend a small amount on lighting. This is why MSL offers a wide selection of wall wash fixtures and packages starting at only $250.

Aside from uplighting and wall washes, there are several other important lighting component’s to making your wedding day shine! Mercury has the tools and expert’s to make your wedding beautiful.  Please contact us today to discuss how we can provide you with the look you want.  Be sure to check out our wedding lighting photo’s from venues across Michigan and the Midwest!

Case Study – Pace Academy

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pace_academyMercury was asked to install and integrate 40 projectors in classrooms throughout Pace Academy.  Our experts found a way to meet a tight budget and timeline to accomplish for the school. MSL finished the task in a matter of a week and a half for the school.  Our job included everything from mounting the projector, to running all electrical, to VGA wall plates for the teachers to plug into.

Request a Quote   Call 734.507.1177

Jacob’s Fight Presents “Rockin’ the D on the Runway!”

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Runway Lighting DetroitMercury Sound & Lighting was very happy to provide audio, lighting, staging, drape and video for the Jacob’s Fight Foundation’s Charity Event and Fashion Show at the Edgewood Country Club in Commerce, MI on Friday!  This was the first annual fundraiser of Jacob’s Fight with their goal of raising money to “Knock Out Pediatric Brain Tumors”!

MSL was asked to team up with Indigo Salon of West Bloomfield, MI and A June Event to help transform this space from a Ballroom to a New York Fashion Show Runway.  The outcome was electrifying!  A 32′ runway was built by our team to be the center of the show.  The runway combined with draping, pin spots, 30 Micro W LEDs, and intelligent lighting set an inimitable feeling for the show.

The event began with entertainment and then speaking from the foundation’s founder, Shelly Pesta.  Mercury provided video screens and switching equipment to seamlessly switch between video’s and logos along with a complete audio system.  Later in the evening the fashion show began with unparalleled designs from designers such as Artalia Designs.  Our lighting designer did an incredible job setting the mood for the fashion show.  Strobes and LED changes created a similar effect to camera flashes from a New York Runway!  This look mixed with a coverage of ETC Source Four Pars created the presentation that our client was looking for.

We are very honored that we were able to be a part of this event and to team up with such artistic designers and coordinators.  Thank you Jacob’s Fight, Indigo Salon and A June Event for making us a part.  We look forward to many more successful and creative events!

Contact Mercury Sound and Lighting for all of your production needs! We offer top quality equipment for all events from Concerts and Corporate Event to Theater’s and Fashion Shows.

Why should I hire a Professional Lighting Company?
Worship Audio – 5 Ways to Evaluate Your Mix
Michigan Sound System Installation
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