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What Worked |
What Didn't |
What We learned |
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Easy Worship (EW) |
PowerPoint (PP) |
While Easy Worship uses PowerPoint slides (or OpenOffice), slides alone just didn't cut it in a worship environment.Blanking the screen with PP meant either using the remote control for the projector or using a black slide.The worship experience can be accentuated by blanking out the screen during prayer time or when the focus is need on the speaker.Also if you need to do a little touch up on the slides, blank the screen and alter the slides and no one is the wiser. |
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Easy Worship |
Media Shout
Sunday Plus
Song Show
EasiSlides
OpenLp
OpenSong |
Although we use Easy Worship, there are several other excellent worship presentation products.I personally liked some of the Media Shout's ability to freeze one screen and push data to another, but it is has a greater learning curve and EW is, well easy.Click on one of the links and try them out and see what works best for your worship team.The last three listed are free the others have 30 day trial periods. |
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Headset Mics |
Lapel Mics |
Headset mics move with the head, eliminating the need to constantly adjust to volume as the speaker moves their head around. |
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Lapel Mics |
Headset Mics |
Try putting one on someone who has never tried one.It's like bags on a cat's feet, they just want leave it alone.Keep a lapel around just in case! |
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Computer Speakers and head phone amplifier |
Extra amplifier and expensive speakers in high volume areas |
I added a head phone amp to the main system and ran cables to some extra computer speakers that I placed in the entry way and in the nursery.This way the ushers and the nursery workers can adjust the volume as needed. |
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Movie Maker |
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Need to earn points with the church board, create videos of children/grandchildren in church events.Make sure that every parent is aware that you are filming for the purposes of distributing videos to church members and never post videos to the internet without written permission!While it is kind of limited in function, Movie maker is free with Windows XP and is fairly easy to use. |
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Tech Stuff in plain sight |
Our sanctuary is a beautifully decorated area with an old world appeal.At first the drop down screen and speakers were viewable at all times.With some creative adaptations most of our equipment now has blended into the background or hidden all together.Check back later on.I hope to add pictures of our solutions. |
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Wireless Mics |
Track your frequencies, keep extra batteries on hand or buy rechargeable and never buy cheap mics, even on a small budget.Inexpensive cordless mics tend to pick up interference and typically don't have the range or sound quality of a good Sure or AKG mic. |
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Never use the same device for play back and record |
Using the same device for both can lead to feedback issues.We used to use one VCR to play tapes as well as record the service, when switching from playback to record; you would get serious feedback, if you didn't lower the gain first. |
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Recording straight to the computer |
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Use a PC and digitally record audio or video straight to the hard drive.Remember to use a separate one from the playback! |
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Rehearse |
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Use of technology should be rehearsed, just like a sermon or music.Encourage singers and staff members to meet as practice their program, but sometimes the spirit just moves through a service and you've gotta go with the flow.Ensuring your congregation knows your limits before hand can save you from a lot of headaches and last minute shuffling. |