The Ultimate Church Sound Operator's Handbook - Book/DVD (Book)

 Review

I tend to be suspicious of any project that claims to be the ultimate of its kind. Let's face it, there are plenty of "Best Worship Songs Ever" and "The Last Worship Songbook You Will Ever Need" projects out there that are OK but simply don't live up to their enthusiastic titles. So when I got a hold of the "The Ultimate Church Sound Operator's Handbook" by Bill Gibson I couldn't help wincing a little at the fact the "ultimate" claim was right in the title. As I approached this assignment with a certain amount of skepticism I wondered what made this book a "Church Sound" book. Would this book live up to its self ascribed moniker? In the end I would find that the answer is an unequivocal yes.

"The Ultimate Church Sound Operator's Handbook" is 438 page book with a Bonus DVD. The most important aspect of this book is that it is truly a sound operator's handbook. More specifically it is written for the CHURCH sound operator. The first 78 pages of the book are spent solely addressing qualifications and responsibilities of being a sound operator in church. It also explains the importance of worship and music and how that involves sound operation. It goes on to talk about relational considerations, including communicating with pastors and worship leaders. The author rounds out the spiritual and practical information by looking at sound volume issues and multi-generational considerations. Honestly, the publisher could have stopped the presses, slapped on a back cover and called this book done and still sell it at this price. I believe that an extremely high percentage of the problems and issues regarding church sound could be solved or avoided by the sound operator being equipped with the knowledge and skills contained in the first part of this book. (It wouldn't hurt for pastors and worship leaders to read the section on relationship and communication either).

The book then launches out into the more traditional information regarding sound starting with Sound Theory. Mercifully, the author only gives theory that is pertinent to the church sound operator's situation and then moves on to other topics. It's difficult to adequately state the scope of the mammoth amount of information contained in this book. "The Ultimate Church Sound Operator's Handbook" includes everything you wanted to know about sound plus everything you didn't want to know. Because it is so beautifully laid out and illustrated, you never feel like you are drowning in a sea of information. This book can be read through and studied like a text book just as easily as it can be used as a standard reference book.

The included DVD contains video and audio examples from throughout the book. This is particularly nice since hearing the effects of turning the right or wrong knob is much easier than just reading about it.

"The Ultimate Church Sound Operator's Handbook" is an impressive collection of practical sound and spiritual information. It remains a true handbook throughout, covering everything from relationships, mics, video sound, individual instruments, and outboard equipment. Many, many more topics are covered; far too many to list here. I can think of so many situations in which a church, sound department head or sound operator would benefit form reading this book and keeping it on hand. Get ready for your sound ministry to mature with "The Ultimate Church Sound Operator's Handbook"

Review By Jeremy Dunn