Immersive Worship Enabled by d&b audiotechnik Soundscape Technology
In a significant development, UPPERROOM church, a dynamic Dallas-based congregation with a global outreach, has revolutionized immersive worship experiences with their latest facility. To achieve this, the church installed a sophisticated d&b audiotechnik loudspeaker system, alongside the company's Soundscape acoustic enhancement system, which features En-Scene and En-Space software modules.
The church aims to offer an intricate and captivating worship environment, enhancing attendee engagement. Aside from in-person services, UPPERROOM serves as a content powerhouse, connecting with over 10,000 viewers daily on YouTube. The installation aimed to boost the quality of the online ministry as well. A d&b audiotechnik Soundscape solution proved to be the perfect fit, exceeding the church's expectations for both in-person and online pastoral care needs.
Architectural firm Overland Partners designed the industrial church space to deliver transformative, innovative, and sustainable solutions. However, the design posed several acoustic challenges, such as an asymmetrical room shape, an acoustically dead environment, and structural poles obstructing loudspeaker dispersion. To tackle these issues, a combination of d&b audiotechnik design tools provided a viable solution.
Brandon Chynoweth, founder of Epic Resource Group, the team responsible for designing and installing the audio system, praises d&b's ArrayCalc software for its swift visualization of how acoustic energy would fill the room and for guiding loudspeaker placement. Once the system was operational, ArrayProcessing ensured consistent energy projection throughout the church.
The installation's focal point was the introduction of Soundscape, addressing the room's most pressing acoustic problem – 12 support poles. En-Scene minimized acoustic shadows caused by these obstructions, ensuring even coverage across the room. As Matt Wheeler, Epic's senior audio systems designer, puts it, "Soundscape's object-based mixing ensures a single loudspeaker doesn't have to perform all the work."
Together with En-Scene, En-Space room emulation offered further possibilities. This technology created a natural reverb tail, making the effective worship space feel like a grand cathedral. As for content production, the system's clarity, dimensionality, and low stage volume have significantly improved UPPERROOM's live recordings and online broadcasts.
Congregants report feeling more profoundly connected and immersed in the worship services. Jonathan Lewis, executive prayer and worship pastor, notes, "It's as if you're in the middle of the experience, and you're part of it." The system's advancements have also contributed to increased attendance, with Sunday services already reaching capacity and nearly doubling the attendance of the previous location. As a result, an additional Saturday service has been added to accommodate eager worshipers.
Ultimately, Epic Resource Group founder Brandon Chynoweth concludes that the d&b audiotechnik Soundscape investment provides a significant return. With its capacity to connect deeply with people, retain members more effectively, and foster continued engagement, Soundscape offers a promising solution for churches seeking meaningful, immersive worship experiences for their congregations.
- The d&b audiotechnik Soundscape solution, featuring En-Scene and En-Space software modules, is expected to enhance attendee engagement in the UPPERROOM church's immersive worship environment.
- The home-and-garden of the UPPERROOM church, now equipped with a sophisticated d&b audiotechnik loudspeaker system and Soundscape acoustic enhancement system, aims to boost the quality of not only in-person services but also online ministry content.
- The lifestyle of UPPERROOM congregants has been transformed by the technological advancements in the immersive worship experience, resulting in increased attendance and a more profound sense of connection during worship services.
