DURBAN CHRISTIAN CENTRE GETS NEW TECHNOLOGY

Durban Christian Centre, the biggest church in Durban, realised they were lagging behind in technology and decided it was time for an upgrade.  The main church building, The Jesus Dome, based in Mayville (and visible from the freeway) needed to upgrade their media department.

 
After trying various options and not getting the result they had hoped for, PM Consulting was called in and an assessment was done. 

PM Consulting had to make recommendations regarding structured cabling solutions, production projection solutions and communication solution for in-house and video purposes.

PM Consulting suggested that some of the equipment could still be utilised – 2 x Sanyo 9000AS Projectors, 2 x 400x300 fixed frame screens, 1 x Kramer VP4x4 Matrix switcher and 1 x PC.

After several site meetings with Pastor Joy Torrens, PM Consulting proposed the following:   one large 720 x 405 motorised screen be installed centre stage, one Sanyo 15000 AS Projector where the native ratio from 4:3 could be changed to 16:9 to project on the above screen.

The 2 existing 400 x 300 screens could be used as side screens in the main hall but also in the Alpha Room and Pastors Lounge as break away rooms.  Three LCDs monitors were installed in the foyer but were also tapped off for the Mothers Room.

On stage, a screen was installed for the presenter/pastor to follow what was shown on the big screens.  Two PCs for Songshow and for slide backgrounds were also supplied.

Four Kramer VP727 scalers were supplied to preview each input before it gets displayed on the master display – i.e. projector or LCD.  VP111s were used to eliminate cable length due to the fact that each cable feeding the relevant display was longer than the recommended cable run.

Two patch points were installed, one on stage and one at the media desk for production managers.  Two high end DVD players were also supplied for proper video and audio queuing.

All the cables were replaced and that consisted of a full 16-way VGA Data/Video Communication system for the house as well as a full 8-way VGA Data/Video Communication system for technical team.  All the video cables were replaced with patch points at all inputs.

The end result of the upgrade meant that the Durban Christian Centre is the most technological advanced church in South Africa with the largest indoor projection screen in any worship centre in the country.