A predominantly male crowd of 177 participants from 66 churches attended CSM’s first training event for 2020—Skills Building Workshop on Sound Engineering. First conducted as a breakout session at the True Worship Summit in Baguio last April 2019, the workshop was repeated at the CSM building in Paranaque last January 18 due to insistent public demand. The same tandem team of Ptr. Erwin Gigante and Ptr. Doms Lobredo Jr. from Baguio led the whole-day workshop.

Gigante gave practical tips on basic sound mixing, vocal mixing using EQ and effects, instrument acoustic approach mixing, band and vocal mixing centralized, and performance mixing that eliminates or “kills” so-called feedback. In a mixing session, participants practiced using a phone application called “Church Sound Guide” which can be downloaded from Google Play Store for free.

To ensure good sound engineering, Gigante stressed the importance of having a group of church sound technicians that would handle the mixing, lights, and monitor control in the church. “Mahirap yung ikaw na nagmi-mix, tapos ikaw din ang tumutugtog at the same time (It’s difficult for you to be mixing and playing an instrument at the same time).” He added, “Kung musician ka, mamili ka. Tutugtog ka ba or magmi-mix ka? Hindi pwedeng walang magtao sa mixer (If you’re a musician, you have to choose whether to play music or to do the sound mixing.  Do not leave the mixer unmanned).”

In the afternoon, Gigante and Lobredo taught proper storage and maintenance as well as practical repair of equipments from cords to mixer. They gave participants hands-on opportunity to use the analog mixer and entertained questions towards the end of the workshop.

Another Skills Building Workshop on January 25, 2020 awaits Sunday school teachers who want to know how to use music in teaching. For more information on how to register for Music in Teaching for Sunday School Teachers, call the CSM Training Department at 8852-7301 local 110.

Hands on experience of the participants with analog mixer

Ptr. Erwin Gigante during the morning session

Mixing session using the cellphone application called “Church Sound Guide”

Question and answer portion with Ptr. Erwin and Ptr. Doms

Praise and worship time led by Ptr. Erwin

Predominantly male participants

How to properly keep cables

Ptr. Erwin Gigantes & Ptr. Doms Lobredo Jr. with CSM training assistant Cat Santos