Comments on: Projection Blues http://churchtechmatters.com/2006/11/05/projection-blues/ Mon, 07 Nov 2011 22:44:20 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Samuel http://churchtechmatters.com/2006/11/05/projection-blues/#comment-571 Samuel Thu, 13 Sep 2007 13:15:17 +0000 http://churchtechmatters.com/2006/11/05/projection-blues/#comment-571 Do NOT spend any money on this (or any) software before trying out the free options, especially Easislides and OpenSong. It can't hurt to try something free. We use Easislides, and it does everything we could ever want and more. The only downside is that it is Windows only. I have tried OpenSong too, the main advantage with this is that it runs on Windows, Mac and Linux, so if you change computers in future you won't have to learn a different program. It is also open source if you care about the philosophy of your software. But I do not find it as simple and intuitive to use as Easislides, and it doesn't seem as fully-featured. It also comes with a smaller selection of music to download. Having said that it is still an excellent program and well worth checking out, it is very different to Easislides and you may prefer it. Make sure you proofread the songs you are using, especially checking if all the verses you know are in the song. We have had many songs where Easislides has run out of verses while the congregation still knows a couple more... Make sure you fix this before presenting the second time! It is easy to do. www.easislides.com www.opensong.org Do NOT spend any money on this (or any) software before trying out the free options, especially Easislides and OpenSong. It can’t hurt to try something free.

We use Easislides, and it does everything we could ever want and more. The only downside is that it is Windows only.

I have tried OpenSong too, the main advantage with this is that it runs on Windows, Mac and Linux, so if you change computers in future you won’t have to learn a different program. It is also open source if you care about the philosophy of your software. But I do not find it as simple and intuitive to use as Easislides, and it doesn’t seem as fully-featured. It also comes with a smaller selection of music to download. Having said that it is still an excellent program and well worth checking out, it is very different to Easislides and you may prefer it.

Make sure you proofread the songs you are using, especially checking if all the verses you know are in the song. We have had many songs where Easislides has run out of verses while the congregation still knows a couple more… Make sure you fix this before presenting the second time! It is easy to do.

http://www.easislides.com
http://www.opensong.org

]]> By: Mark http://churchtechmatters.com/2006/11/05/projection-blues/#comment-570 Mark Sun, 10 Dec 2006 16:54:17 +0000 http://churchtechmatters.com/2006/11/05/projection-blues/#comment-570 We are having a problem in our church with using opensong. Our preacher sometimes adds verses to songs after the presentation is set and in motion. Does anyone know how to get the verse in without interrupting the slide show? We are having a problem in our church with using opensong. Our preacher sometimes adds verses to songs after the presentation is set and in motion. Does anyone know how to get the verse in without interrupting the slide show?

]]> By: David http://churchtechmatters.com/2006/11/05/projection-blues/#comment-569 David Fri, 01 Dec 2006 04:53:44 +0000 http://churchtechmatters.com/2006/11/05/projection-blues/#comment-569 I'm a worship pastor, and I think Video and creative slides behind the words can acutally enhance the song you are singing and not detract from it. For instance, if you're singing "God of Wonders" and you have a video of Galaxies and other aspects of creation, it helps you see all the things that God has created. Singing the song "Grace like rain" having a moving or still background of rain falling is also something that enhances the song. We use Media Shout V3, we're getting a new gaming computer from tigerdirect.com because our previous computer was incapable of what we wanted to do. It seems to me that Media Shout is a little more user intensive than it should be, it requires a substantial amount of time in set up of the presentation as well as a substantial amount of training for volunteers to do this. While this may not be a problem for some churches, if your church is solely volunteer run, you want to make it as easy as possible for them to succeed. I’m a worship pastor, and I think Video and creative slides behind the words can acutally enhance the song you are singing and not detract from it. For instance, if you’re singing “God of Wonders” and you have a video of Galaxies and other aspects of creation, it helps you see all the things that God has created. Singing the song “Grace like rain” having a moving or still background of rain falling is also something that enhances the song. We use Media Shout V3, we’re getting a new gaming computer from tigerdirect.com because our previous computer was incapable of what we wanted to do. It seems to me that Media Shout is a little more user intensive than it should be, it requires a substantial amount of time in set up of the presentation as well as a substantial amount of training for volunteers to do this. While this may not be a problem for some churches, if your church is solely volunteer run, you want to make it as easy as possible for them to succeed.

]]> By: Jason http://churchtechmatters.com/2006/11/05/projection-blues/#comment-568 Jason Mon, 13 Nov 2006 14:32:37 +0000 http://churchtechmatters.com/2006/11/05/projection-blues/#comment-568 While the software discussion is interesting, I'd like to hear more guidelines for displaying song lyrics. I'd been to so many churches where the singspiration leader spent <em>3+ hours</em> rehearsing the songs, <em>only 3min</em> making a PowerPoint, and <em>30min</em> looking for unrelated background images to up on every 2nd page. As Jim said, "Backgrounds are cool", but "cool" is bad (i.e. distracting). I come to worship, not admire someone's photography/Photoshop skills. While the software discussion is interesting, I’d like to hear more guidelines for displaying song lyrics. I’d been to so many churches where the singspiration leader spent 3+ hours rehearsing the songs, only 3min making a PowerPoint, and 30min looking for unrelated background images to up on every 2nd page.

As Jim said, “Backgrounds are cool”, but “cool” is bad (i.e. distracting). I come to worship, not admire someone’s photography/Photoshop skills.

]]> By: Jason Powell http://churchtechmatters.com/2006/11/05/projection-blues/#comment-567 Jason Powell Mon, 13 Nov 2006 02:39:35 +0000 http://churchtechmatters.com/2006/11/05/projection-blues/#comment-567 We're using ProPresenter http://renewedvision.com/pp.php Mac only, but it was a sweet step above PowerPoint :-) Some deets on our presentation/projection gear can be found here http://www.google.com/search?q=spyder&domains=jpowell.blogs.com&sitesearch=jpowell.blogs.com Jason We’re using ProPresenter http://renewedvision.com/pp.php

Mac only, but it was a sweet step above PowerPoint :-)

Some deets on our presentation/projection gear can be found here http://www.google.com/search?q=spyder&domains=jpowell.blogs.com&sitesearch=jpowell.blogs.com

Jason

]]> By: Matt Kerner http://churchtechmatters.com/2006/11/05/projection-blues/#comment-566 Matt Kerner Sat, 11 Nov 2006 20:59:13 +0000 http://churchtechmatters.com/2006/11/05/projection-blues/#comment-566 We're going to be switching from MediaShout to ProPresenter from Rewnewed Vision at some point next year. I really like it's ability to output video over firewire rather than the main monitor port (backgrounds/video play via firewire and lyrics via monitor). The text keys very cleanly as well (still no alpha though). We’re going to be switching from MediaShout to ProPresenter from Rewnewed Vision at some point next year. I really like it’s ability to output video over firewire rather than the main monitor port (backgrounds/video play via firewire and lyrics via monitor). The text keys very cleanly as well (still no alpha though).

]]> By: Jim Walton http://churchtechmatters.com/2006/11/05/projection-blues/#comment-565 Jim Walton Sat, 11 Nov 2006 05:36:45 +0000 http://churchtechmatters.com/2006/11/05/projection-blues/#comment-565 John, I have seen churches run 2 different PC's to do what you are talking about. For instance, one PC controls the 2 side screens and they are identical and a second PC controls the center screen. I think it would definitely take some practice for one person to manage that much at once, but I would love to hear how it goes. :) I'm going to be exploring more on this topic soon. John,
I have seen churches run 2 different PC’s to do what you are talking about. For instance, one PC controls the 2 side screens and they are identical and a second PC controls the center screen. I think it would definitely take some practice for one person to manage that much at once, but I would love to hear how it goes. :)

I’m going to be exploring more on this topic soon.

]]> By: John De Souza http://churchtechmatters.com/2006/11/05/projection-blues/#comment-564 John De Souza Sat, 11 Nov 2006 02:05:13 +0000 http://churchtechmatters.com/2006/11/05/projection-blues/#comment-564 While on this topic, does anyone know of projector software that can handle 2 projects, each with a different image? Plus the operator's console of course. I know that I would need 3 VGAs out of my PC. Presentation Manager claims to do it, although I have not tested it yet. Thanks While on this topic, does anyone know of projector software that can handle 2 projects, each with a different image? Plus the operator’s console of course. I know that I would need 3 VGAs out of my PC.

Presentation Manager claims to do it, although I have not tested it yet.

Thanks

]]> By: Clayton Luckie http://churchtechmatters.com/2006/11/05/projection-blues/#comment-563 Clayton Luckie Sat, 11 Nov 2006 01:42:00 +0000 http://churchtechmatters.com/2006/11/05/projection-blues/#comment-563 I have been using MediaShout for over 2 years now with only a few complaints. The features that I feel like it lacks are really only done well in high end Character Generator systems. As a larger church, we fall in the gap between the pack of programs (MediaShout, EasyWorship, etc) and CG machines. I feel like there would be a market for some software in that gap. Features that would be useful to me would be alpha channel support and more specialized video usage; basically I want it to act more like a CG, but not as featured/expensive. We don't use much of the audio and other media features of MediaShout, and I doubt that many larger churches do. As for the web based software, I would not trust it. I would need the option to run it offline. If someone else on the network starts up BitTorrent, then my presentation runs slow. I keep a backup of the MediaShout show on a USB key every week, and I would need that feature in any presentation software. I could talk forever about this! Its good to see the church utilizing media more and more all the time! cl I have been using MediaShout for over 2 years now with only a few complaints. The features that I feel like it lacks are really only done well in high end Character Generator systems. As a larger church, we fall in the gap between the pack of programs (MediaShout, EasyWorship, etc) and CG machines. I feel like there would be a market for some software in that gap. Features that would be useful to me would be alpha channel support and more specialized video usage; basically I want it to act more like a CG, but not as featured/expensive. We don’t use much of the audio and other media features of MediaShout, and I doubt that many larger churches do.
As for the web based software, I would not trust it. I would need the option to run it offline. If someone else on the network starts up BitTorrent, then my presentation runs slow. I keep a backup of the MediaShout show on a USB key every week, and I would need that feature in any presentation software.
I could talk forever about this! Its good to see the church utilizing media more and more all the time!

cl

]]> By: JM http://churchtechmatters.com/2006/11/05/projection-blues/#comment-562 JM Fri, 10 Nov 2006 21:57:01 +0000 http://churchtechmatters.com/2006/11/05/projection-blues/#comment-562 I'd like to second Sean Goheen's suggestion of trying OpenSong (though I've heard openlp is good, too). I used OpenSong both in youth and main services. The Music ministry purchased MediaShout since then, but the youth and college both still use OpenSong. The nice thing about OpenSong is that it also generates guitar chord sheets for each song (which is nice if you're the musican) and it integrates into CCLI so you don't have to type in any new songs (you *do* have a CCLI license for your church, right?). And I *love* the keyboard shortcuts for navigating between (and within) songs. Naturally, it has the dual screen view and you can insert scripture in several versions easily. MediaShout is nice, but cost can certainly be a factor. When cheap counts, OpenSong is really good. I’d like to second Sean Goheen’s suggestion of trying OpenSong (though I’ve heard openlp is good, too). I used OpenSong both in youth and main services. The Music ministry purchased MediaShout since then, but the youth and college both still use OpenSong. The nice thing about OpenSong is that it also generates guitar chord sheets for each song (which is nice if you’re the musican) and it integrates into CCLI so you don’t have to type in any new songs (you *do* have a CCLI license for your church, right?). And I *love* the keyboard shortcuts for navigating between (and within) songs. Naturally, it has the dual screen view and you can insert scripture in several versions easily. MediaShout is nice, but cost can certainly be a factor. When cheap counts, OpenSong is really good.

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