Worship Together Blog

Gear Corner: Blue Goes LIVE with the enCORE series

It has been a long time since a new competitor showed up in the live mic venue.  For the last 30 years the market has been dominated by the Shure SM58.  Recently Blue decided they wanted to challenge the status quo.  With Blue’s innovation and design in the studio, they have the tools they need to build a quality live mic.  The question is whether the enCORE delivers.

To build a great live mic it has to have quality sound, price, and robustness all summed into one product.  The enCORE is definitely robust.  It is heavier than the SM 58 and feels like a tank.  The mesh grill is very strong.  I guess only time will tell if it will last 30 years of being dropped and mouthed by countless people.  One definite is the price is great.  The enCORE 100 sells for $99 and the enCORE 200 sells for $149. With quality build and price both wins in my book, the big question is how does it sound?

We wanted you to hear the enCORE 100 and 200 next to the SM 58 and Beta 58 so we recorded vocals with all 4 microphones and put them back to back.

Click the links below to listen to full audio recording for each mic...

Blue Encore 200

Blue Encore 100

Shure SM 58

Shure Beta 58

Since the enCORE 200 was my favorite mic of the bunch, I wanted to highlight what makes it unique.  The 200 is an active dynamic meaning it requires phantom power.  The reason is because it has a transformer on the output.  This gives the mic a more “condenser” like quality.  The enCORE 200 is brighter and more detailed than the Shure microphones.  Beyond the recorded test we used the enCOREs in a couple church services as well as an artist showcase.  From the services I felt the enCORE 200 kept better presence and detail as the vocalist distanced themselves from the mic.   The 200 also cut through the mix better than a SM 58.  My church just built a 1400 seat sanctuary in a warehouse with concrete floors.  This is a very hostile sound environment.  Gaining vocal clarity without having to raise volume is extremely important.  The 200 definitely delivered.

One concern of mine was that with the added brightness and response there would be potential for excessive feedback.  We did a feedback test with a Beta 58 and the 2 enCOREs both rang equal or less than the Beta 58.

Blue has announced they will add an enCORE 300 to the lineup which will be a condenser microphone.  It will sell for $200 which is very exciting since my favorite live condenser (Neumann KMS 105) sells for $500.  We will definitely be adding it to this comparison in the future. 

I am a big fan of the enCORE line and think they are a fantastic newcomer to the live microphone venue.  Any microphone that can make the live music and worship experience better is a beautiful thing.

 

CMS Redmond Parting Shots

Yesterday we wrapped up the Christian Musician Summit at Overlake Christian Church in Redmond, WA. What a great event! It's so encouraging to get outside the Bible belt and see the great ministry that's happening in other areas of the country. 

Here are my takeaways from the conference:

• Worship leaders are a diverse bunch. Young and old, multi-ethnic, male and female, hip and not-so much.
• There's still a void of twenty-something leaders at most conferences. Probably the group that needs training the most is the most absent. We must figure out a way to engage young worship leaders.
• The proportion of female attendees is not represented from the platform. While probably a little less than have the conference attendees were female, there was only one female worship leader (Laura Story) on the platform. This is unfortunate and we (music biz) are partly to blame.
• Small things learned make a big difference. Most worship leaders can take away 2 or 3 things from a conference. It's usually the small practical things that make the most difference.
• Worship heroes. I had the opportunity to meet Andy Park and Brian Doerksen, two of my heroes.  

If you haven't attended a conference in a while, what are you waiting for? WorshipTogether is doing a conference in Kansas City next April. Come and join us! http://conference.worshiptogether.com

The Renewing of Your Mind

Paul writes in Romans 12:2 "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind".

There is a "renewing" of our minds that happens and we meditate on God's Word.

10 Free Christmas Worship Songs

Can you believe Christmas is just a little over 6 weeks away?

 

This week we've got 10 Free Christmas Songs for you. So as you are planning your worship services - we encourage you to give some of these new songs and fresh arrangements a listen and introduce them to your church this Christmas season!

 

Emmanuel (Hallowed Manger Ground) - Chris Tomlin

Free Sheet Music  |  Lyrics  |  Listen

 

All Creation Sing (Joy To The World) - FEE

Free Sheet Music  |  Lyrics  |  Listen

 

Sing - Josh Wilson

Free Sheet Music  |  Lyrics  |  Listen

 

Born In Bethlehem - Third Day

Free Sheet Music  |  Lyrics  |  Listen

 

Here Is Our King - David Crowder*Band

Free Sheet Music  |  Lyrics  |  Listen

 

Glory In The Highest - Chris Tomlin

Free Sheet Music  |  Lyrics  |  Listen

 

Silent Night (Emmanuel) - Matt Maher

Free MP3  |  Free Chord Chart  |  Lyrics  |  Listen

 

Joy Has Dawned - Keith Getty & Stuart Townend

Free Sheet Music  |  Lyrics  |  Listen

 

Love Came Down - Ben Cantelon

Free Sheet Music  |  Lyrics  |  Listen

 

Born That We May Have Life - Chris Tomlin

Free Sheet Music  |  Lyrics  |  Listen

The One Thing that Pleases God

"Everything that goes into a life of pleasing God has been miraculously given to us by getting to know, personally and intimately, the One who invited us to God. The best invitation we ever received!" 2 Peter 1:3 The Message

What a great reminder today that it's not what we "do" that pleases God, but that we know and love His son Jesus. That's good news!

Interestingly enough, as I write this, I just received a visit at my door by a Jehovah's witness. They handed me a booklet on what the Bible really teaches. It's a list of extra things we must do to please God. How sad.

I'm so glad that my hope is in Christ alone and not in my ability to please God. Let's pass this invitation along to those who are not already at the party.

Sing to the Lord a New Song

Recently I received an interesting question for an upcoming panel discussion:

What is and is not the "new song" referred to in Isaiah 42:10 and Psalm 96:1?

Interesting question. I've heard many worship leaders quoting these Scriptures, mostly before they introduce a new song to the congregation. However, digging a little deeper into these verses reveals that there's something deeper being said.

What is the "new song"?
-Both of these verses in context are talking about the coming Messiah, so the "new song" should be a song centered on Christ.
-Under the law (old song) believers were justified by the sacrifice of animals, but our "new song" should be about grace through faith in Christ.
-2 Cor 5:17 says we believers are a "new creation", so our "new song" should be sung from a redeemed position and not people still awaiting rescue.
-The "new song" is both historical and prophetic regarding Christ. He has come and he is coming back!
-The "new song" is meant for every believer regardless of age, ethnicity, language etc.
-The Scripture encourages us to join together as a church to sing.

What is not a "new song"
-This is tricky, but we know based upon the Scriptures that it is not referring to a newly created musical work. We can sing "Amazing Grace" as our "new song".
-It's also not a style of music. I recently about a church that only allows hymns and southern gospel songs to be sung in their church. This is wrong on several fronts.
-I believe the "new song" is to be centered on the completed work of Christ. Songs that are purely historical, while having a purpose, would not be considered a "new song".
-I believe the "new song" must have lyrical content. A symphony is beautiful, but the purpose of the "new song" is to tell the Gospel and shine a light on Christ.
-It's the song of the redeemed. Only we believers can sing a "new song" to the Lord.

I know I've missed many things here. Feel free to add your thoughts.

Be blessed and sing a new song to the Lord today!

3 New Christmas Songs from Chris Tomlin

Chris Tomlin's new Christmas CD, Glory In The Highest: Christmas Songs of Worship, features some incredible new songs for this sacred season as well as some classic carols that will be a fresh addition to your worship times this Christmas season.

 

Since Christmas is unique time when you may want to involve more people in your services or even use a choir, we want to provide you with a few extra resources that can help you introduce and use these new songs. So, in addition to listening to the songs and downloading Free Sheet Music, we also have some exclusive FREE choral/praise team arrangements for 2 of the new songs. Click away below and enjoy the new music!

 

Emmanuel (Hallowed Manger Ground)

Listen | Free Sheet Music | Free Choral/Praise Team Arrangement

 

My Soul Magnifies The Lord

Listen | Free Sheet Music | Free Choral/Praise Team Arrangement

 

Born That We May Have Life

 Listen | Free Sheet Music

 

 

God Doesn't Want Our Songs

I recently came across this powerful Scripture in Psalm 50:

 ⁷ "Hear, O my people, and I will speak,
       O Israel, and I will testify against you:
       I am God, your God.

 ⁸ I do not rebuke you for your sacrifices
       or your burnt offerings, which are ever before me.

 ⁹ I have no need of a bull from your stall
       or of goats from your pens,

 ¹⁰ for every animal of the forest is mine,
       and the cattle on a thousand hills.

 ¹¹ I know every bird in the mountains,
       and the creatures of the field are mine.

 ¹² If I were hungry I would not tell you,
       for the world is mine, and all that is in it.

 ¹³ Do I eat the flesh of bulls
       or drink the blood of goats?

 ¹⁴ Sacrifice thank offerings to God,
       fulfill your vows to the Most High,

In verses 9-12 God says, "I appreciate your effort, but I really don't need your singing (sacrifice)." 

Creation composes a much better song than we ever could and I doubt any of us singers could compare with a choir of angels. But the one thing we can give God that nothing else can is a thankful and fully committed heart.

We should spend as much time "heart planning" this week as we do worship planning.

Song Devotion for Matt Maher's "Shout Of The King"

From Matt Maher...

In the book of Numbers, chapter 22-23, there is the story of Balaam, a non Israelite soothsayer. Everyone knows the part about how God used a talking donkey to reach him, but the rest of the story is just as interesting. He was asked repeatedly to give a curse towards the Israelites, but all three times, he came back with blessing for the people of God. In the second of these oracles, Balaam says, “God is not man that he should speak falsely, nor human, that he should change his mind. Is he one to speak and not act, to decree and not fulfill?  It is a blessing I have been given to pronounce; a blessing which I cannot restrain.  Misfortune is not observed in Jacob, nor misery seen in Israel. The LORD, his God, is with him; with him is the triumph of his King."  It goes on, but that last line, "with Him is the triumph of His King" in other translations says, "the shout of the King with them."  I thought, that was a great image of who is instigating worship - the LORD!  Not us.  God initiates worship, not the other way around. When you pray in the morning, God is already moving and stirring, way before you say good morning to Him. He is already working in every situation of your life.

So, if we looked at worship that way, maybe it wouldn't depend so much on our emotional status (aka, how we're "feeling").  Maybe it would be more about having faith and letting the Shout of the King - the voice of Jesus - awaken and stir your heart.

FREE MP3 Download: "You Are My Creator"

Our featured Free Sheet Music and New Song Cafe this week, "You Are My Creator," is a fresh and energetic new song from Unhindered. We're excited to introduce you to these guys, their songs and their ministry over the next few months and hope you enjoy their music as much as we do.

 

Unhindered is a community that is dedicated to tirelessly laboring to lead people to God. Led by front men Ben Smith and Patrick Barrett, Unhindered's unique ability to engage worshippers across age as well as cultural barriers has brought the group in front of churches and conferences nationwide as well as internationally. With a passionate heart for engaging students in worship, the band now travels extensively and is excited and humbled by their quickly-growing platform for ministry.

Download a FREE MP3, get Free Sheet Music and watch the New Song Cafe for "You Are My Creator" now!