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Sanctuary Mix

Sanctuary Mix Training

Train your sound team, one Sunday at a time

From "what does this button do?" to leading the team. Level 1 runs a spoken-word service safely, Level 2 mixes a full band with in-ears and tracks, and Level 3 leads the team, handles the stream and stays calm when things go wrong. Short lessons on your phone, with a task to try at church after each one.

Join with your church's code Sign in

Comes with the Sanctuary Mix team licence: when your church buys it, we email the leader link. Your volunteers join with a code from your leader.

1WatchSit besidesomeone at aservice.Ch 1–22HelpSet up, linecheck and coilcables.Ch 2, 3, 93Learn thechannelGain, EQ anddynamics atrehearsal.Ch 4–64Mix witha mentorRehearsals,then part of aservice.Ch 7, 8, 105Run a SundayThe wholeservice, mentorclose by.Ch 11, 126TrainsomeonePass on whatyou know.Ch 13New volunteerTrusted team member
A training path for new volunteers, with the chapters of this guide that go with each step. Move people on when they’re ready, not when a date arrives.

1

Learn

Short lessons with the book's diagrams and hands-on simulators that make real sound: set gain, find a boomy frequency, train your ears, mix a practice band.

2

Try it at church

Every lesson ends with one real task at a rehearsal or midweek meeting, beside a mentor.

3

Take the quiz

Twenty or more real Sunday situations for each level, with the reason for every answer.

4

Signed off at home

Your own leader, or someone in your church with Level 3, signs off what you can do on the day. Then that level's certificate is ready.

The levels

Each one follows the book's volunteer pathway, and each certificate builds on the one before.

Level 1

Essentials

Run a spoken-word service safely: line check, gain, feedback and volume.

  1. 1The desk is a place of worshipExplain what great church sound is for, and what comes first in the mix.
  2. 2Follow the signalTrace any sound from the source to the speaker, and find where it goes missing.
  3. 3Mics, DIs and wirelessChoose and place a mic, and look after phantom power and wireless packs.
  4. 4Gain, the most important knobSet gain on any channel so it's strong, clean and has room to spare.
  5. 5EQ without fearUse the high-pass filter and make one useful cut.
  6. 6Speech that stays steadyKeep speech even and dry.
  7. 7Feedback, stopped before it startsPrevent feedback, and handle it calmly when it happens.
  8. 8Line check, and a backup for everythingRun the line check alone, and have a backup ready for everything that matters.
  9. 9How loud is right?Measure the level, and keep it where your leaders agreed.
  10. 10Your first spoken-word serviceRun a whole speech-only service with a mentor close by.

Level 2

The Full Band

Mix a full band with in-ears and tracks: a clear lead vocal, a solid low end, clean transitions and musicians who can hear.

  1. 1Build the band mixBuild a full band mix from the lead vocal out, and keep it clear as every part joins.
  2. 2Mic the drums, check the phaseMic a kit with three to ten mics, and make every mic add to the sound instead of cancelling it.
  3. 3Kick, bass and making spaceGive every part its own space in the frequency range, starting with the low end.
  4. 4Vocals that leadKeep the lead vocal on top and steady through a whole song, with the backing vocals just under it.
  5. 5Gates and the drum groupClean up the kit without making it sound like a series of clicks, and make it move as one.
  6. 6Effects that serve the wordsSet up reverb and a tempo delay the right way, and ride them with the service.
  7. 7Groups, DCAs and scenesShape the whole service from a handful of faders, without hidden routing mistakes.
  8. 8In-ear mixes musicians loveBuild each musician's in-ear mix with them, at a safe level, and keep the stage talking to you.
  9. 9The band's network and mixing appSet up a network just for the sound system, connect the desk, and get every musician's phone on it, locked to their own mix.
  10. 10Tracks, click and playbackRun tracks with a click and cues that reach only the right places, with a backup ready.
  11. 11Soundcheck and the band SundayRun a short, predictable soundcheck and a full band service with clean transitions.

Level 3

Lead the Team

Lead the sound team: know the room and the system, run the stream mix, stay calm when things go wrong, and train the next person.

  1. 1Your room and your systemUnderstand what the room and the speakers do to every mix, and know when to call for help.
  2. 2Volume you can defendLead the church to an agreed volume target, measure it every week, and protect every ear.
  3. 3The stream mixGive the stream its own mix, built for the people watching at home.
  4. 4Stream levels, loudness and lip syncGet clean, loud-enough, in-sync sound to the computer and out to viewers.
  5. 5Ring out, and learn your frequenciesFind how far each speech mic can go before it rings, and learn to name a ring by ear.
  6. 6Troubleshoot under pressureStay calm, fix it or switch to the backup, and keep the service moving.
  7. 7A team that lastsBuild a team with at least two trained people for every job, and look after them.
  8. 8Train someoneTake a new volunteer through the first steps of the pathway, well.
  9. 9Lead with the worship leader and pastorWork with the church's leaders so the desk is part of the plan, not a surprise.
  10. 10Lead the SundayRun the whole morning as team lead, from the week before to the handover note.

Each level means "trusted to do this at this church". It isn't a professional qualification.