Sometimes an unforeseen delay yields better-than-expected results. Such was the case with First Baptist Church (FBC) in Decatur, Ala., which had planned to replace its aging and inadequate sound system several years ago. Due to changing priorities and a fragile economy, the church stalled its plans. But the timing was just right: the holdup fortuitously synchronized the purchase decision with the introduction of Meyer Sound's new MINA line array loudspeaker.

"We could have put in a new system somewhat earlier, but when I heard about MINA, I decided we should wait," says Doug Collingsworth, director of technical ministries for the church. "I had auditioned some other small line arrays in the meantime, but when we went up to Soundcheck in Nashville to hear MINA, my jaw hit the floor. We all fell in love with it."

Supplied and installed by ICON Live Technologies of Muscle Shoals, Ala., the new system is anchored by two main arrays, each one comprising eight MINA speakers flown under a 500-HP subwoofer. Completing the system are five more MINA for front and under-balcony fill, two UPJ-1P VariO loudspeakers for balcony delay, two UPJunior VariO loudspeakers for corner fill, two 650-P subwoofers, and a Galileo loudspeaker management system with a Galileo 616 processor.

"Our worship services are largely traditional, with organ, choir, and orchestra," notes Collingsworth, "but we also have high-energy youth concerts with artists such as Kristian Stanfill. The MINA system handles both beautifully. The only difference is that we roll in our 650-P subs and change the setting in Galileo."

Collingsworth reports that he's received numerous compliments on the upgraded sound, one being particularly memorable. "I was setting levels during our first rehearsal when the orchestra director came up to me with a grin from ear to ear and said, 'I know you're busy, but this is just awesome.'"

For monitoring on stage, Collingsworth mounted Meyer Sound MM-4XP self-powered miniature loudspeakers to the Audix MicroBoom microphone stands. "The MM-4XP loudspeakers are so small, nobody really sees them, and we've eliminated problems with unwanted ambient sound," Collingsworth observes.

The Meyer Sound installation at FBC Decatur was the first for ICON Live Technologies, but company owner Seth Daniel expects more to follow, particularly with MINA. "That little box is incredibly accurate and precise," he says. "It's very musical, yet it packs plenty of horsepower. It covers the needs of any modern church. At FBC Decatur, there are no limits now. They can do whatever they want in that building."

Along with the MINA system, ICON Live Technologies also supplied a DiGiCo SD8 console, aSennheiser 500 Series wireless microphone system, and a complement of Shure and Sennheiser wired microphones.