Mark Foerderer, manager of the Brainerd branch of Kingdom Sound and Lighting, soundly believes in the importance of the Twin Cities based company's slogan -- "So the Word Can be Heard."
"That's why the company was started -- to do audio systems so the Word can be heard, basically," Foerderer said in an interview. "We are an audio and theatrical lighting contractor. We're a very Christian oriented company, and our basic market for audio and lighting is with churches."
Husband and wife Loren and Joyce Bartelt of Shakopee own the company. "For more than 25 years, President Loren Bartelt has worked in the industry as a consultant, installer and designer," the company's Web site tells readers.
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'That's why the company was started -- to do audio systems so the Word can be heard, basically. We are an audio and theatrical lighting contractor. We're a very Christian oriented company, and our basic market for audio and lighting is with churches.' -- Mark Foerderer Manager of the Brainerd branch of Kingdom Sound and Lighting
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"The main office in Burnsville has been open for 15 years. ... Kingdom Sound, who we are now, purchased the audio division of Electric, Etc., in January 1999," said Foerderer. "(So) this (Brainerd) office has been open since the first of January 1999.
"Churches are doing more contemporary type services with worship teams where their needs are greater, both audio and lighting," Foerderer said.
"Basically we are a design and build company," Foerderer said. "So we go in and discuss with them their needs and help them design a system from the ground up, based on their needs. And, of course, then we follow through and if it works out for them, we're also the installer. We install and service the system. ... I do all installs and grab help from Minneapolis when I need it. We do portable systems as well."
Effective sound systems are born out of an extensive technical knowledge base of acoustics and all of the variables involved in delivering quality sound.
According to information in "Your Church" magazine (January/February 2000), a room's acoustics are mostly determined by its size, shape and the finishes in the room, such as hard walls versus soft seats.
"Since a room's size, shape and finishes largely determine its acoustics, each becomes a critical factor in the architectural design of a worship space," says writer, acoustical consultant, and sound system designer Vance Breshears.
He said, "The aspect ratio (ceiling height to room width to room length) is a critical factor in the room's acoustics. As sound bounces around a room, it is perceived as either reverberation (diffuse sound traveling in all directions) or as discrete reflections (echoes)."
Existing churches that still serve their congregations well except for an outdated sound system may want to look at how to update that system in their facilities.
Fan-shaped rooms can create "a nightmare of echo" that can be very costly to fix, Breshears writes. He said, "Solving the problem isn't easy. But computer-aided modeling and design tools are now available to help determine the problem, analyze options for solving it and predict the effects of proposed solutions."
Kingdom Sound employs the technology. "The biggest computer-aided design program used now is EASE/EARS," Foerderer said. "It allows you to predict acoustical issues, sound coverage issues, and it has an oralization portion of the program that lets you model and hear what your room will sound like -- prior to its construction even. It helps stay on top of things with architects and helps them design a better acoustic room because we can give them parameters up front that show them whether it'll be good or bad."
Unfortunately, he added, too often architects don't incorporate the information they are provided from those who know about achieving great acoustics, and, ultimately, wonderful sound for congregations.
"The lighting (that Kingdom Sound and Lighting installs) is basically theatrical lighting that goes with the audio system. Lighting up stages and presentation areas. ... A lot of churches have insufficient stage lighting because they were not designed for that. With both offices, we have systems out through Wisconsin, North and South Dakota and Iowa."
"Make sure the prospective consultant has a clear understanding of your church's ministry goals and program," the "Your Church" magazine article advised. "See if you and other team members have a good working rapport with the consultant."
"First Lutheran Church in town was a very successful project," said Foerderer. The company designed and installed a full audio system, as it has for other area churches, for the church's sanctuary and fellowship hall.
"That was just about exactly a year ago," First Lutheran Pastor Dan Clites said about the project. "Mark Foerderer was just a wonderful person to work with, because immediately we connected in faith. And work in church life is important to him and he understands. ... We were two people trying to make the gospel be heard and he just happens to make a living at doing it."
When asked about his church's new sound system, Clites said, "It turned out beautifully. The congregation loves it. Our problem before was that we have an older church with a balcony (which caused many acoustical problems). ... Now we have sound like we've never had it before. ... And it's even gotten our church interested in doing stage lighting someday, which they can help us with as well."
"We also do schools and numerous other commercial facilities, like arenas and football fields," Foerderer said. "We just finished the audio system at the athletic field for the high school. ... Last year Breezy put up a new hockey rink (the Breezy Point Ice Arena) and we put in a sound system."
Kingdom Sound and Lighting's Brainerd office is at 1014 Laurel St. It can be reached by phone at 825-7888. To see the company's Web site, go to www. kingdomsound.com.
