A 30-year-old system at the end of its life
Speech and music across one historic space
Multi-zone coverage for full, chapel, and communion services
Loudspeaker positions limited by the architecture
Control simple enough for church staff, open to visiting crews
Paisley Abbey, Paisley, Scotland
Creating the perfect sound in historic church
Paisley Abbey has gathered worshippers since 1163, and after three decades the old sound system could no longer serve the building. The brief was exact: speech and music that carry through a historic stone space, zoning that fits communion, chapel, and full Sunday services, and a system simple enough for the church team yet open to visiting production companies. The fixings and loudspeaker positions had to respect the architecture, not fight it.
Case Study
House of Worship
Dynacord
Europe
Dante
Multi-zone
Paisley Abbey, Paisley, Scotland
Creating the perfect sound in historic church
Case Study
House of Worship
Dynacord
Europe
Dante
Multi-zone
Paisley Abbey has gathered worshippers since 1163, and after three decades the old sound system could no longer serve the building. The brief was exact: speech and music that carry through a historic stone space, zoning that fits communion, chapel, and full Sunday services, and a system simple enough for the church team yet open to visiting production companies. The fixings and loudspeaker positions had to respect the architecture, not fight it.
- Venue
- Paisley Abbey
- Install partner
- Adlib
- Product highlights
- Dynacord MXE5, TPC-1, SONICUE, IPX 5:4, C1300FDi · TS 400, TS 100, TS 200
The venue
A stone room that was never built for amplified sound
Paisley Abbey traces its foundation to 1163, and the building still hosts the full range of worship — full Sunday services, smaller chapel meetings, and communion. Each of those uses asks something different of the room, and the historic fabric limits where loudspeakers and fixings can go.
After thirty years, the existing sound system had reached the end of its life. It could no longer meet the facility's needs, and it gave the church team little control over how the room was covered for each kind of service.
“This was never going to be an easy install, due to the nature of the building.”
Andrew McCullyApplications Engineer/Project Manager, Adlib
The challenge
Create a flexible sound system that is simple to use and blends in
Adlib had to deliver coverage that worked for full congregations and for small chapel gatherings alike, with zoning that staff could switch between on their own. The system also had to welcome external production companies for larger events, so the design needed to be both simple and flexible.
Above all, the control had to be user-friendly. A system that sounds excellent but confuses the people operating it still fails the room.
The solution
A future-proof, flexibe sound system that is simple to use
Adlib built a networked sound system around a Dynacord MXE5 Matrix Mix Engine, with IPX 5:4 amplifiers and a C1300 amplifier serving as system drive for the loudspeakers. Four TS 400 cabinets cover the main nave, with TS 100 and TS 200 cabinets serving the adjacent spaces. Additional Dante I/O plates carry the audio across the building to allow the church to connect additional mics when needed, or to plug a mixing desk at a FOH position for whenever there are additional requirements.
Control runs through SONICUE Sound System Software and a TPC-1 Touch Panel Controller, with an iPad as a second option. Three preset modes — Normal, Chapel, and Chancel — let staff match the system to each service in a tap. A custom interface was a focus of the project, since the people using the room day to day are not audio engineers.
- Dynacord MXE5 Matrix Mix Engine
- Dynacord IPX 5:4 amplifiers
- Dynacord C1300FDi amplifier
- Dynacord TS 400, TS 100, and TS 200 loudspeakers
- Dynacord TPC-1 Touch Panel Controller
- Dynacord SONICUE Sound System Software
- Dante I/O plates for networked audio
"The sound is very good, spoken word is fantastically clear and playback is rounded and warm. I’m confident that the system is so versatile that it will stand up to whatever they can throw at it."
Andrew McCullyApplications Engineer/Project Manager, Adlib
The result
Clear speech, warm playback, and controls staff trust
The church team got up to speed with the preset controls quickly and reported positive feedback from the congregation. The system covers the room for every kind of service and stays open to the production companies that visit for larger events.
Andrew McCully sums up the outcome: the sound is very good, spoken word is clear, and playback is rounded and warm — exactly what a 1163 stone space asks for.
Clear spoken word across the building
Music and speech from one networked system
A discreet install that respects the architecture
Preset modes staff mastered quickly
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