The MxU Podcast

In this episode, we dive into the essential skills every audio engineer needs to elevate their mixing game. Join us as we break down the Triple Threat of Mixing, covering:

1. Gain Staging: Learn how to properly manage levels to achieve clarity and depth in your mixes.
2. Filters: Discover the importance of high-pass and low-pass filters in shaping your sound.
3. Volume Faders: Master the art of balancing your mix for a polished final product.

Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned pro, these three techniques are crucial for creating professional-quality audio. Tune in for insights, tips, and practical advice that will help you mix like a pro in under 40 minutes!

This is episode #181 of the MxU Podcast! Jeff and Spencer are joined by Zach and Nick from d&b Audiotechnik.

Sound boards have grown vastly in technology, so why haven't we welcomed that innovation when it comes to our PA? In this episode, we dive deep into the world of immersive mixing and explore how this cutting-edge technology can revolutionize the way your congregation experiences sound.

Whether you're a sound engineer, worship leader, or a church tech enthusiast, this episode offers valuable insights into making your audio environment more engaging and impactful. Don’t miss out on discovering how immersive mixing could be the game-changer your church needs!

Links

MxU
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d&b

This is episode #180 of the MxU Podcast! Spencer is joined by Max Williams and Cameron Fries from Summit Integrated in Denver Colorado.

Does your churches gear follow the vision laid out for your congregation? The guys dig into this, and ask some hard questions around the reasons we might feel inclined to get that new piece of gear, even if we don't really need it.

Thanks to the Summit Integrated crew for hosting us in this episode, you can find them at the link below.
Links

MxU
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Summit

This is episode 179 of the MxU Podcast! Jeff and Spencer are joined this week by Toby Walters and Blake Hodges from ChurchGear. They talk everything from the "joys" of running to enneagrams and history lessons. We did discover that Spencer and Blake are more alike than you might think... at least on paper. On a more serious note, the guys discuss whether or not the companies churches work with are really looking out for their best interests. Is your church just another business opportunity for them?

Service Review (04:46 - 12:49)
The guys review a service from North County Christ the King Church in Washington state this week. As far as the mix goes, it's killer for one console running FOH, monitors, and broadcast. Some of the static camera angles and occasional issues with the mix are areas to improve on when it comes to making online streams more engaging and less confusing. Otherwise, great job Jason & team!

Upcoming Content (12:50 - 23:58)
You've asked, we've listened. Tomorrow, we're releasing a course all about the Blackmagic Ecosystem with our friend and MxU Ambassador Drake Kelch. If you currently use or have considered using any Blackmagic switchers, routers, cameras or anything else from their product lineup then this course is for you.

If you're not already subscribed, head to getmxu.com and sign up for FREE today. Be on the lookout for an email with the course drop!

Church Goer or Profiteer? (23:59 - 48:11)
This question might hit home for those working in church worship and tech ministries. Have you ever felt a little exploited? Or perhaps unsure of where the money you're spending is actually going? It might be that the organization you're working with is just looking for a quick buck. Or, they do genuinely care about your church. There's some tell-tale signs that the guys discuss this week to know whether or not your church is just another business opportunity.

Links

MxU
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ChurchGear

This is episode 178 of the MxU Podcast! Michael Keith Lewis, FOH Engineer for Colony House, is at MxU HQ filming content on Allen & Heath's dLive series of consoles releasing on the MxU platform tomorrow. He joins Spencer and Nate to talk about all things volume in the church. Everyone's heard "it's too loud!" before on Sunday morning and chances are you didn't really think twice about it. This week, the guys discuss whether or not church really has gotten too loud and if so, what to do about it.

Service Review (19:59 - 28:07)
The team reviews a service from First Baptist Church in Arlington, Texas. Michael gives insider insight as he used to work at FBCA. They discuss the challenges of balancing an orchestra with a contemporary band and offer practical advice on how to integrate everything into a cohesive mix.

Submit your service for review to [email protected] or reach out to us on any of our social media platforms.

Is Church Too Loud? (28:08 - 54:38)
There's always been an ongoing debate about volume levels in the church. Michael, Spencer, and Nate chat about their experiences in different church settings and how they've navigated this exact challenge. It's important to find a balance that serves the congregation without overwhelming them. Sometimes, the mix gets prioritized over the message and that's just not okay. Audio should enhance, not detract, from the service.

Here's our recommendation: focus on serving the church community rather than pushing personal preferences.

Upcoming Content
Tomorrow, we're releasing "The Allen & Heath dLive" as a comprehensive walkthrough of Allen & Heath's dLive series of consoles. From a console overview to patching, routing, scenes, effects, and so much more. Michael covers everything there is to know about the dLive. And in a couple of weeks, we're releasing an entire course from Michael where he builds a mix on the console, stay tuned in for that.

Watch our social accounts and be on the lookout for an email with the course release tomorrow!

Links
MxU
MxU Pop-Ups
Michael Keith Lewis

This is episode 177 of the MxU Podcast. Jeff and Spencer are joined by a familiar face and one of our MxU Ambassadors, Drake Kelch. Stemming from previous discussions and a post that was a tad controversial about Apple events and iPhones... the guys chat about value engineering in church and why sometimes, it's OK to get scrappy.

Service Review (13:57 - 22:59)
The guys review a service from Calvary Chapel in Knoxville, TN. From lighting to audio and the service as a whole, they offer feedback on how minor tweaks can make a significant impact on the overall worship experience. Spoiler: It's not about having the newest gear, it's about getting the most out of what you've got.

Submit your service for review to [email protected] or reach out to us on any of our social media platforms.

Upcoming Content (23:00 - 25:34)
Tomorrow, we're releasing "Media Manipulation with Resolume" as the third course on MxU all about Resolume. From slice transforms to generators, advanced outputs, and more... this course takes things deeper into the entire feature set that Resolume has to offer.

Stay tuned in to our social accounts and be on the lookout for an email with the course release!

Value Engineering for Smaller Budgets (25:35 - 55:34)
Creativity can be your greatest asset when budgets are tight. Drake shares his insight on how churches can make the most of what they already own and yes, the camera in your pocket might just be enough. It's about finding practical solutions that work for your church and fit in with your church's vision without breaking the bank.

Links
Drake Kelch
MxU
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This is episode 176 of the MxU Podcast! Things look a little different for the podcast this week. Spencer is joined by Nick Kofhal and Max Williams from Summit Integrated Systems at their office in Colorado. The guys chat all things identity and discuss what it looks like to separate your role in your church from your identity.

Your Role Is Not Your Identity (05:47 - 59:15)
There's a delicate balance between one's calling and one's personal identity. It's common to get these confused and fuse your job with your identity. It's easy to lose yourself in the hustle of ministry and it's essential to ground your identity in the right things. The guys chat about how to focus more on what you're called to be rather than on what you're called to do.

Upcoming Content
Tomorrow, on the MxU platform, we're releasing "The Complete Guide to Vista" with Tony Fransen. We've heard your requests and we're following through... everything you need to know about Vista is covered in this comprehensive and practical course. Tony walks through everything from controls to patching to presets to designing and so much more. Stay tuned in to our social accounts and be on the lookout for an email with the course release tomorrow.

Links
MxU

MxU Pop-Ups (Up Next: Dallas TX, August 20th)

Summit Integrated Systems
Nick Kofhal
Max Williams

This is episode 175 of the MxU Podcast! Jeff and Spencer are joined by two familiar faces, Josh Reeder-Esparza from the MxU crew and Dillan Howell from EVNT Ready. They chat all things experiences and answer this question… "Why are we Obsessed with 'Experiences' in Church?"

Service Review (02:09 - 20:54)

The crew review a service from AG Church of Willmar, MN. They dive into the mix, pointing out how the piano overpowers the guitars and the snare drum's sound. The consensus? Balance and subtle adjustments could make a significant difference. Thanks for the submission, Steve!

If you're interested in a service review, submit yours to [email protected] or DM us on our social accounts!

Why are we Obsessed with Building ‘Experiences’ in the Church? (20:55 - 01:06:54)

Experience or service, whatever you call it, what's the true purpose behind them? Have we become too obsessed with the 'show' and not with genuine worship? In a larger sense, does our modern view of a church service align with the theological foundation of church in general? Take a listen as the guys dive into this topic and much more... Dillan even recounts his experience at a Cowboy Church.

Upcoming Content (01:06:55 - 01:10:24)

Tomorrow, on the MxU platform, we're releasing 'Mixing on an Analog Console' in response to the many... many... requests we've gotten over the years to film this course. Jeff used his "seasoned" expertise to craft a mix on an analog console and in doing so, he shared it all with you. Be on the lookout for the course drop tomorrow on our social accounts and via email.

Links

MxU

MxU Pop-Ups (Up Next: Dallas TX, August 20th)

Dillan Howell

This is episode 174 of the MxU Podcast. Jeff, Spencer, and Nate are joined by a local worship leader and friend - Lance Asher! They chat about all things worship and the why behind churches writing their own worship songs. Here's the question... should you write your own songs? If you've wrestled with this before, you know there's no easy answer. Take a listen as the guys do their best to answer it.

Service Review (23:04 - 35:07)
This week, the team reviews a service from The Summit Church in Raleigh, NC. They give their thoughts on the mix overall and provide constructive feedback in terms of the balance of instruments, vocal presence, and more.

Submit your service for review to [email protected] or reach out to us on any of our social media platforms.

Upcoming Content (35:08 - 37:04)
Tomorrow, we're releasing "Music Directing with Matt Gilder" on the MxU platform! Matt is a long time friend and is the MD for Chris Tomlin. He brings a wealth of knowledge about Ableton Live and music directing in general. In case you missed it, at the beginning of this month we released our first batch of worship content that we shot with Thrive Worship. We’ve filmed even more and we’re excited to continue releasing worship content this week.

Stay tuned in to our social accounts and be on the lookout for an email with the course release!

Should Churches Write Their Own Worship Songs? (37:05 - 01:29:49)
Lance Asher is a local worship leader here in Knoxville, TN. He gives his why behind his church writing their own worship songs and explains the journey that brought them to write. In general, however, the question of whether or not churches should be writing their own worship songs still remains. Jeff, Spencer, Nate, and Lance all debate this topic and emphasize the importance of theological accuracy.

Links
Lance Asher
MxU
MxU Pop-Ups

This is episode 173 of the MxU Podcast... Tony Fransen is back! Jeff, Spencer, Tony, and Nate chat about Jeff's repeated Tesla stories and Spencer's demand for organization. Tony's been involved in some pretty cool things since we last talked, and has some advice to offer on what seems to always be a heated debate. Is church lighting essential or excess?

Service Review (20:47 - 27:01)
This week, the guys review a service from Grace City church. Tony provides insight on the overall look, highlighting the do's and don'ts of creating an engaging worship environment. Here's a tip: be intentional!

Submit your service for review to [email protected] or reach out to us on any of our social media platforms.

Is Church Lighting Essential... or Excess? (40:20 - 01:03:39)
We seem to always get the most feedback when we talk about lighting. Everyone always has an opinion on whether or not it belongs in church and if it does, how it should be done etc... This week, we answer the question "Is church lighting essential or excess?" and if it is essential, what parts?

Upcoming Content (01:03:40 - 01:07:59)
We're releasing "Resolume as a Media Server" tomorrow to the MxU platform! Using Resolume, and any form of a media server for that matter, requires a level of skill and thought put into it. Stay tuned into our socials and be on the lookout for an email tomorrow about the course drop!

Links
Tony Fransen
MxU
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