AV Team Handbook

Minnesota Family Church — Worship Ministry

Welcome

Welcome to the AV team! This handbook is your guide to serving in technical ministry. Whether you're new to AV work or experienced, this resource will help you understand our systems, procedures, and the heart behind what we do.

Our Mission:
Every word heard clearly, every visual that serves the message, every smooth transition—that's worship. Your technical excellence creates space for people to encounter God without distraction.

How to Use This Handbook:
Don't memorize everything at once. This is a reference guide—come back to it as you learn and grow. Start with the sections relevant to your role, then expand from there.

1. Getting Started

1.1 Your First Sundays

Week	Focus
Week 1	Shadow & observe. Learn where things are. Ask questions.
Week 2	Hands-on training (weekday session with Kenei or experienced member). Shadow Thursday rehearsal and Sunday.
Week 3	Run your role with someone next to you for guidance.
Week 4	Run your role independently with backup nearby. Debrief afterward.

After Week 4, you're ready to serve confidently. Continue growing through practice and feedback.

1.2 Cross-Training

We encourage learning multiple roles so the team can flex when needed.

Entry Level: Stage Manager, Camera Operator
Intermediate: ProPresenter, Streaming Coordinator
Advanced: FOH Audio

Goal: Everyone comfortable in at least 2 roles, and familiar with all roles at a basic level.

2. Sunday Morning Overview

2.1 Timeline

Time	What's Happening
8:00am	AV team arrives. Begin setup.
9:30am	Tech/worship overview meeting (Sunday School area)
9:45am	Final tech checklist
9:50am	Countdown timer starts
10:00am	Service begins
10:05–10:20am	Worship set (tech runs on autopilot—only walkie for critical issues)
10:20am	Sermon
10:45am	Announcements/Benediction
10:50am	Closing song, service ends
Post-service	Teardown and debrief

2.2 Setup Checklist (8:00am)

2.3 Teardown Checklist

Stop streaming (Zoom and Vimeo)
Close ProPresenter (save any changes)
Break down camera and tripod
Store camera and tripod in cage backstage
Store walkies and wireless mics in booth [specific location placeholder]
Leave mixer powered on
Brief debrief with worship leader if needed

3. Role Guides

3.1 ProPresenter Operator

What you do: Control what the congregation sees on screens. Advance slides smoothly so people can follow along without distraction.

Setup:

Launch ProPresenter
Load Sunday's playlist (should be ready from Thursday)
Verify all songs have complete lyrics
Check announcements slides
Load sermon slides if provided
Test output to projector/screen

During Service:

9:50am: Start countdown timer
Advance slides in sync with worship leader (watch for hand cues)
Stay one step ahead—know what's coming next
Display sermon slides as directed by pastor
Stay focused throughout

Tips:

Learn the songs beforehand so you know when choruses repeat
Watch the worship leader's hands for cues
If you make a mistake, fix it quickly and keep going

Common Issues:

Problem	Solution
Slides won't advance	Check if locked. Try spacebar. Restart ProPresenter if needed.
Wrong song loaded	Stay calm. Use search (Ctrl/Cmd+F) to find correct song.
Output not showing	Check display settings in ProPresenter preferences.

3.2 FOH Audio (Front of House)

What you do: Mix the sound the congregation hears. Balance vocals, instruments, and spoken word so everything is clear and serves the worship experience.

Equipment: Allen & Heath Qu-32 digital mixer
Current preset: "Ableton Test" (this will change over time)

Setup:

Power on Qu-32
Load Sunday preset
Check wireless mics—replace batteries weekly
Verify wired mics are connected and unmuted
Walk through sanctuary and listen to speakers

During Service:

Maintain balanced mix—vocals clear but not overpowering
Adjust levels smoothly during transitions
Monitor for feedback; address immediately but discreetly
Watch worship leader and pastor for signals

Mixing Basics:

Start with vocals, then layer instruments around them
Use EQ to cut mud (200–400 Hz) and add clarity (2–5 kHz for vocals)
Aim for peaks around -10 to -6 dB
Less is more with effects

Note: Band handles their own monitor mix via IEM and app. You focus on house sound only.

Common Issues:

Problem	Solution
Feedback	Pull down gain on problem channel. Check mic placement.
Wireless dropout	Replace battery first. Check antenna.
No sound from channel	Check mute status. Verify phantom power if condenser mic. Check routing.
Muddy mix	Use high-pass filters. Cut 200–400 Hz on problem channels.

3.3 Camera Operator

What you do: Frame shots for the online congregation. Help remote viewers feel connected to the service.

Setup:

Set up camera on tripod next to tech booth
Frame initial wide shot of stage
Connect to streaming computer via HDMI/SDI
Test video feed in streaming software
Adjust white balance and focus

During Service:

Frame worship leader during songs
Zoom in for key moments, pull back for full band
Switch to pastor during sermon
Keep movements slow and smooth
Anticipate transitions

Framing Tips:

Rule of thirds: Place subject's eyes on top third line, not dead center
Headroom: Leave space above head, but not too much
Lead room: If someone looks to the side, leave more space in front of them
Variety: Mix wide, medium, and close-up shots

Storage: Camera and tripod go in the cage backstage.

3.4 Streaming Coordinator

Often combined with Camera or ProPresenter when team is small.

What you do: Manage the livestream so online viewers have a good experience.

Setup:

Launch Vimeo streaming software on Windows computer
Start Zoom meeting for remote attendees
Verify audio feed from Qu-32 is coming through
Verify video feed from camera is displaying
Test stream quality before service

During Service:

Start stream at 10:00am
Monitor stream health (connection, audio/video sync)
Address issues quietly

Important: Turn on streaming computer before iMac. The iMac is a source input and won't be recognized if it's already running when streaming software starts.

Common Issues:

Problem	Solution
Stream drops	Check internet. Restart stream.
Audio/video out of sync	Restart streaming software.
No audio in stream	Verify routing from mixer to streaming computer.

3.5 Stage Manager

What you do: Help with physical setup, assist tech roles, observe and learn.

This is a flexible role—great for new team members learning the ropes or experienced members who want to support the team.

Setup:

Arrive at 8:00am
Help with chair spacing
Set up mic stands, music stands (band handles instruments)
Assist other tech roles as needed

During Service:

Observe service flow—take notes on what works and what doesn't
Handle last-minute needs discreetly
Learn by watching other roles

Post-Service:

Help with teardown
Share observations with worship leader

4. Communication During Service

Current System: Walkie-talkies with earphones

Protocol:

Keep chatter to a minimum during service
During worship set (10:05–10:20): Tech runs on autopilot. Only walkie for critical issues.
Be clear and concise: "Audio, we've got feedback in the pastor's mic"
Acknowledge messages: "Copy" or "Got it"

5. Troubleshooting Quick Reference

Audio

Problem	Try This
No sound from speakers	Check master fader. Verify speakers are powered. Check output routing.
Feedback	Pull down gain. Check mic placement. Notch out problem frequency with EQ.
Wireless mic issues	Replace battery. Check antenna. Switch to backup mic.

ProPresenter

Problem	Try This
Slides won't advance	Check if locked. Try spacebar. Restart if needed.
Output not showing	Check display settings. Verify correct screen selected.

Streaming

Problem	Try This
Stream drops	Check internet. Restart stream.
No audio	Verify routing from mixer to streaming computer.
Poor quality	Lower resolution. Close unnecessary programs.

General

When in doubt: Stay calm. Communicate via walkie. Ask for help.

6. Equipment Reference

Audio

Mixer: Allen & Heath Qu-32
Wireless mics: [placeholder for models]
Wired mics: [placeholder for models]

Video

Camera: [placeholder]
Tripod: [placeholder]

Streaming

Streaming computer: Windows PC (dedicated)
ProPresenter computer: iMac (separate feed into streaming computer)
Software: Vimeo streaming, Zoom
Platforms: Vimeo, Zoom

Storage Locations

Camera & tripod: Cage backstage
Walkie-talkies & wireless mics: [placeholder — in booth]
Mic accessories: [placeholder]

7. Getting Help

You're not expected to know everything.

Ask in Zulip — the whole team benefits from shared questions
DM Kenei for private concerns
Schedule a training session if you need hands-on help
Shadow an experienced member on Thursday or Sunday

There are no dumb questions. We'd rather you ask than guess.

Contact

Worship Ministry Lead: Kenei
Email: worship@minnesotafamilychurch.com
Phone: 319-290-5056
Zulip: mfc.zulipchat.com

Quick Reference Cards

Print these and keep in the tech booth.

ProPresenter

Start countdown: 9:50am
Advance slides: Spacebar or click
Go back: Left arrow
Search: Ctrl+F (Cmd+F on Mac)

FOH Audio

Feedback? Pull down gain on problem channel
No sound? Check master fader, speaker power, mute status
Wireless issues? Replace battery first

Camera

Leave headroom above subject
Use rule of thirds
Move slowly and smoothly
Anticipate transitions

This handbook is a living document. As we learn and grow, we'll update it together.

Last Updated: Jan 18, 2026