CODA Audio has upgraded the audio systems at California’s Rolling Hills Covenant Church (RHCC), which was founded in 1957. Following the sustained growth of its congregation, the Church constructed a larger worship centre which is now the main focus of its Rolling Hills Estates campus.
The recent audio improvement has continued a gradual evolution for RHCC, which began expanding its emphasis on the arts in the 1980s as part of Christian worship, with a strong focus on the role of musical excellence in services. During the recent remodelling of its main gathering space, which saw new seating and stage layouts, the Church undertook an overhaul of its technical systems, including provision for a new sound system.
The main gathering space at RHCC is a fan-shaped auditorium which seats around 950 people, with a 40ft wide stage approximately 70ft from the rear seats. The modified layout demanded that a system not only deliver premium sound and full coverage, but that it was lightweight enough to not overburden the room’s ceiling support structures.
Integrator Broadcast Support installed main hangs comprising 7 x N-RAY units and 2 x SCN-F 15in sensor controlled bass extensions per side. A further 8 x SCV-F sensor controlled 18in subwoofers were located beneath the stage, with 6 x HOPS5 (double 5in high output point source) deployed as front-fills.
Brian Johnson, director of technical arts ministries, RHCC, commented: “I’ve enjoyed working with Broadcast Support for more than 10 years, and they’ve become our local go-to provider for rentals and major installations. After taking into account our requirement for a premium sounding, lightweight solution, Scott Ramsey from Broadcast Support recommended a CODA Audio system, specifically their new compact N-RAY line array.”
He continued: “Scott connected me with Steve McNeil of MacWest, CODA’s rep firm in the region, who was able to line up a demo of the N-RAY for us at a nearby house of worship. I must be honest and say that I was skeptical that a compact line array could deliver, but after the demo I was thoroughly impressed. The system sounded full and the coverage was perfect – I wouldn’t have known it was a compact array if it had been hidden from sight.”
To design the system, the team used CODA Audio’s proprietary prediction software, System Optimiser, to ensure complete and even coverage across the auditorium. With the system installed and running, Johnson says the N-RAY system is exactly what RHCC was looking for.
He added: “Unlike our previous system, the coverage is incredibly smooth across the seating areas, and everyone at the Church is super happy with the N-RAY. It met our requirement for light weight without any drawbacks to the sound quality. The N-RAYs with the SCN-F bass units add a surprising amount of low frequency extension, and the mid/highs are super smooth. They transition well to the larger subs underneath the stage. The front fills also sound great while keeping a low profile.”
