resources

recommended gear

the short list i keep sending churches. build reliable systems, buy once, cry once.

quick note: every room + team is different. treat this as a starting point. if you want a real plan (and not “random amazon purchases”), book a consult and we’ll spec it properly.

new custom drum cage: see the wtu custom drum cage pdf (linked wherever you host it).

snares

  • ludwig universal 14x8
  • ludwig black beauty 14x8

drum kit sizing

  • 22"–26" kick drum
  • 12"–14" rack tom
  • 16"–18" floor tom(s)

cymbals

  • istanbul agop joey waronker 24" ride
  • istanbul agop traditional dark 22" crash
  • istanbul agop traditional dark 24" crash
  • heartbeat 24"–26" light jazz ride
  • heartbeat 24" epic crash
  • heartbeat 22" epic crash

drum mics

  • kick in — shure beta 91a
  • kick out — audix d6
  • sn top — shure sm57 / lauten snare mic
  • sn bottom — shure sm57 / akg 414
  • toms — audix d4 / lauten tom mic
  • oh’s — any pencil condenser mic (lewitt match 040/140 = great cheap; sE electronics sE7 = more money but great)

drum skins

  • kick — evans emad2
  • snare — remo powerstroke 4 (coated)
  • toms — remo emperor vintage (coated or clear)

drum accessories

  • snareweight m80
  • moongels

pedals

  • aguilar tonehammer preamp di box
  • electro-harmonix ehx bass microsynth
  • walrus audio ages 5-stage overdrive

accessories

  • stringjoy nickel wound / steel wound strings
  • dunlop tortex .88 picks
  • lollar dc-jazz bass pickups

digital amp solutions

  • ik multimedia tonex (2x per eg)
  • line 6 hx stomp (1x per eg)
  • walrus audio acs1 amp/cab simulator (1x per eg)

accessories

  • dunlop tortex .88 picks
  • stringjoy / ernie ball / d’addario nickel wound strings

compression

  • barber tone press
  • walrus audio deep six

overdrive / boost

  • benson preamp
  • xotic ep booster
  • tc electronics spark

modulation

  • walrus audio julia
  • tc electronics tailspin
  • boss dc-2w / ce-2w
  • strymon mobius

delay

  • tc electronics flashback
  • strymon timeline
  • strymon el capistan
  • strymon ec-1 / brig
  • meris lvx

reverb

  • tc electronics hall of fame 2
  • strymon bigsky / mx
  • strymon cloudburst
  • meris mercuryx
  • meris mercury7

wired mics

  • neumann kms 105
  • dpa d:facto ii
  • sE electronics v7

wireless mics / systems

  • sennheiser ew 500 g4-965
  • shure ksm9
  • shure qlx-d
  • shure axient digital
  • dpa n-series digital wireless system

headsets

  • dpa omni headsets
  • countryman e6

crowd / ambient mics

  • sennheiser mkh 416
  • sennheiser mke 600
  • rode ntg5

midi controllers

  • studio logic sl88/sl73 studio
  • native instruments kontrol s88/s61
  • nord stage 2/3/4
  • arturia astrolab 88

software / computer

  • macbook air/pro m series (minimum 16gb ram)
  • mainstage 3
  • ableton live

samples / sounds

  • native instruments — noire
  • native instruments — the giant
  • spitfire audio — labs soft piano
  • spitfire audio — cinematic soft piano
  • spectrasonics omnisphere 2
  • spectrasonics keyscape

pro tip

  • if you’re laggy, you don’t need “more plugins.” you need more ram and a cleaner session.
ideal world: separate foh, iem, and livestream.
minimum: separate foh + iem. livestream can run off foh or iem.

recommended budget foh / iem systems

  • midas m32 / behringer x32 ecosystem (rack, producer, full console—any combo)
  • s32 / dl32 digital stage i/o box

allen & heath qu / sq ecosystem

  • any combo of sq/qu series
  • run sq at foh and qu at iems
  • or run sq at foh and sq rack at iems
  • ar2412 & ab168 digital stage boxes

allen & heath avantis ecosystem

  • avantis console / avantis solo (console at foh; solo at iems)
  • gx4816 digital stage box or ar2412/ab168

wired iem systems

  • headphone amp / aux extension cables
  • mackie hm-800 / hm-400
  • art headamp 6 pro
  • dual female xlr to 1/4" (6.35mm) trs stereo male plug y-splitter cables
do not buy: “personal monitor mixing” boxes (behringer p16, a&h me-1, etc.)

health

  • our ears are designed for stereo; mono iems are an unnatural listening experience and can increase strain over time.

better instrument separation

  • pan instruments to reduce clutter; mono stacks everything on top of everything.

improved spatial awareness

  • stereo feels more like real life: lead vocal centered, other elements placed around it.

easier pitch + timing

  • clearer separation helps players lock pitch/rhythm; click/cues can be panned slightly off-center.

customizable personal mixes

  • each musician can pan/balance their preferences (example: click slightly left; bass centered).

reduced ear fatigue + better immersion

  • stereo distributes sound more naturally so long sets feel less overwhelming.

professional-level sound

  • stereo aligns with modern worship standards (bethel/elevation/hillsong style expectations).

encourages team excellence

  • when musicians hear a clean mix, they play better and focus on worship instead of “can’t hear myself.”