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Sound Check Procedure for a Worship Band

Before the Sound Check Check mic placement and always line check all inputs before sound check. Listen to the sources (vocals/instruments) on stage if you’re not familiar with them.

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Preset Floor Monitor Levels Preset vocal monitor levels on the soundboard and the worship leader’s instrument if floor monitors are being used. Check the Mix Sends to the Aviom mixers and be sure they are assigned to the correct channels on the Aviom mixers.

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Library on Digital Mixers Recall EQ and compressor settings from the digital audio console library if applicable. This will provide a starting point for each channel that can be later adjusted.

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Communication to the Stage Use the talkback mic to communicate with musicians and vocalist on stage. Let the worship leader know you are ready to begin sound check. Briefly explain the sound check process to the worship band members if it is not known.

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Reasoning for the Sound Check and Order of Checking The vocals are always the first step in the process along with the worship leader’s instrument. The worship leader’s vocal will be one of the loudest things in the mix followed by the background vocals. The worship leader’s instrument will also be checked during the vocal check. These parts need to be able to sound good by themselves if other instruments are not being played during portions of songs. Floor monitors will be adjusted after the “house sound” is checked.

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The checking of the drums and bass will follow the vocals and worship leader’s instrument. The drums and bass are the foundation of the mix and typically sit under the vocals in volume. The vocals, worship leader’s instrument, bass, and drums will and should take the most time during the sound check.

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Check additional keyboards, guitars, pianos, etc., as they are the “glue” in the mix. These instruments will be heard in the mix, but not necessary as prominent. They can be used at the beginning of songs, ending of songs, or for solos, and need to be briefly highlighted. These instruments can also be used to “drive” the song and will need to be adjusted in their relative volume position to other instruments during a song. 


The process described in this procedure should take approximately 15 to 20 minutes depending on the needs of the band and unforeseen problems. 


Primary Channels

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Vocals Ask the worship leader and background vocals to sing and have the worship leader play their instrument for pitch reference. Adjust the gain levels and bring up each vocal individually to be heard at a reasonable volume and EQ as necessary. Once you’re finished dialing in each vocal, bring up the vocals together making sure the background vocals are not overpowering the worship leader. Continue on to the worship leader’s instrument during this check.

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Worship Leader’s Instrument Turn down the vocal faders and bring up the worship leader’s instrument fader. Set the gain and EQ as necessary for the worship leader’s instrument (guitar or piano). Bring vocals back up and balance.

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Floor Monitors After setting gains, house levels for the vocalist and worship leader’s instrument, take requests for volume levels in the floor monitors if being used.

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Note: Leave the vocal mics on and faders up during the rest of sound check to ensure no feedback takes place and to hear the “bleed” into vocal mics from instruments. Leaving the microphones on will also provide a way for members of the band that do not have a mic the ability to communicate to you through a vocalist.

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! Secondary Channels (Foundation of the Mix) !

Drum Kit Ask the drummer to play his kick, snare, and hi-hat only. Set the gain for each channel and then EQ each appropriately. Ask the drummer to switch from the hi-hat to the ride and adjust the gain and EQ. After completing this check, ask the drummer to stop.

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Ask the drummer to now play the toms, quarter notes on each, in a succession, and in a loop (example: tom 1, tom 2, tom 3; repeat). Adjust the gains, EQ’s, and create a balanced volume level between the toms.

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Ask the drummer to play his cymbals if the cymbals are close mic’d. Adjust the gain and EQ.

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If there are overhead kit mics, ask the drummer to play the whole kit with occasional drum fills. Adjust the gain for the overhead mics and EQ.

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Have the drummer play his whole kit and balance all channels. Add and set compressors and gates if necessary. The compressors and gates can further be finetuned during rehearsal.

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Thank the drummer for their time and let them know you will need them to play again momentarily after “dialing in” the bass guitar.

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Bass Guitar Ask the bass guitar player to play something they would play during the worship set. Adjust the gain and EQ fittingly. Add and set the compressor if necessary. The compressor can further be adjusted during rehearsal.

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Drums and Bass Ask the drummer and bass guitar player to play a part of a song together from the worship set. This will allow the drummer and bass player to modify their personal monitor mix and give you a reference for the foundation of the mix.

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! “Glue Channels” !

Electric Guitar (if not played by worship leader) Ask the electric guitar player to play something they would during the worship set. Have them play a lead and also full range (clean and distortion settings). Adjust the gain and EQ appropriately.

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Acoustic Guitar (if not played by worship leader) Ask the acoustic guitar player to play. Have them play full range and then with capo if used during the song set. Adjust the gain and EQ.

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Keyboard Ask the keyboard player to play a sample of what they would play during the worship set. Adjust the gain level and EQ. If the keyboard player plays organ or synth only during the check, ask them if they will be using the piano setting. If so, ask to hear this as well.

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Piano (if not played by worship leader) Ask the piano player to play, and adjust the gain and EQ on both high and low range mics if both are being used.

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Other Instruments Adjust the gain and EQ additional instruments appropriately if being used by the band.

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! Final Check !

Instruments Only Have the band play through a verse and chorus together with instruments only so the band can adjust their own monitor levels or make requests if using floor monitors. Create a basic house mix during this time.

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Vocals and Instruments Ask the worship leader to have the band play through a verse and chorus of a song to create a basic mix with the vocals. This will also be a time the band and vocals can continue to dial in monitor mixes and ask for adjustments if they are using floor monitors. Apply compressors and gates as needed during this time. Tweaking of the compressors and gates can also be done throughout rehearsal.

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Turn Control Over to the Worship Leader Let the worship leader know you are done with the sound check and ask if anything else is needed. If nothing is needed, turn control over to the worship leader for rehearsal.