Harvest Time Church

“You reap what you sow” goes the old saying, and Harvest Time Church, located in the Greenspoint area of Houston, Texas has learned the lesson well.  Having recently invested in a top quality Mach audio and Martin lighting system, the growing community is now reaping the benefits, and will for some time to come.

MD Adventures of Richmond, Texas was contracted by Harvest Time Church to provide a new audio and lighting system for its multipurpose 3000 capacity assembly building used for worship and recreation purposes.  Headed by Bishop Shelton Bady, the assembly building is the centerpiece of the Harvest Community Center, which includes over 55,000 square feet of space comprising of classrooms, a school, aerobics room, bookstore, computer lab, the YMCA and much more.

Multi purpose sound brief
The sound brief called for a powerful enough system to fill the sizable assembly area – as large as two full gymnasiums – yet versatile enough to fulfill its multiple needs, among them voice, full choir and small band applications.  The future holds the addition of a new school in which the audio and lighting systems will be used for theatrical staging purposes, as well as a concert and rental venue.

Speakers hidden away
Not satisfied with simply having the speakers blend in with the décor, church personnel were adamant about hiding the speakers completely.  Don Rapp of MD Adventures explains, “The installation was quite unique, we had to hide the Mach M12T’s (6) and the M30T’s (6) top boxes up in the ceiling in the catwalk area.  For the recessing line delay, of Mach M12T’s (6) we took out the grid work and raised the ceiling.  We then installed the speakers and built a cavity around them so they wouldn’t be seen.  It took a lot of extra effort but the result looks and sounds, excellent.”

The Mach M12T is a compact and powerful full range speaker with a 12” woofer and the M30T a dual 15” top-box.  Don worked together with Martin’s Audio Projects Specialist Corey Silverman and Southwest Regional Sales Manager Daryl Sutton on the installation.

Mach Ballister
Six high-output Mach Ballister Subs were originally placed underneath the stage, but when Don noticed that the Ballisters were “lifting the stage” due to sound pressure levels it was necessary for them to be relocated.  Therefore, wings were built on both sides of the stage to incorporate the Ballisters.  These wings were not attached to the stage, which eliminated any stage vibration.

Additionally, a pair of Mach M129i 2-way medium-throw installation speakers hangs from the ceiling as choir monitors at the backside of the catwalk.  Six high-output Mach M1502T full range stage monitors are located on stage.

“We’ve programmed 48 channels at FOH, 42 channels through the stage monitors, and a full 10 channel mix on stage since they wanted their own mix options, “ states Don.  “They really put the system to the test by reaching on average 110db.  The system has met and exceeded the expectations of the congregation.”  The installation was completed this past August.

Audio control is from two Mach M20.06 one-unit loudspeaker management systems.  Eight Powersoft Q4004 and a Powersoft Digam 7000 fill out an impressive amp rack.

On the light side
On the lighting side, the brief called for color changing wash projection and focus for different areas of the church.  Four MAC 600 wash lights provide the color projection with a pair of MAC 2000 Profiles used as video lighting, following an active Bishop Shelton Bady across the stage and alter.

A Martin TrackPod, a single-operator multiple-followspot that automatically directs intelligent lights to follow a performer wherever they move, controls the Profile and Wash units.  “It’s easier to get one person to donate time rather than twenty,” Don commented.  The lighting system is also used theatrically for plays and even themed communion.  Lighting control is from a Martin PC-based LightJockey.