With over 100 new features, ProPresenter 4 represents a major leap forward for the best selling Worship Presentation Software for the Mac platform. If you’re new to ProPresenter just to cover the basics, it is a lyric and media presentation package geared toward the live worship service. ProPresenter’s intuitive, thumbnail-based approach to display, is very simple for beginners but allows a vast degree of customization that is sure to please the power users as well. The interface for version 4 has been tweaked just a bit to provide some more continuity while maintaining the clean look that ProPresenter’s users have been enjoying for years.

The heart of any display software is its display engine. In ProPresenter 4 the display engine has been completely redesigned to allow more capabilities than ever before. Multiple objects can now be placed on a single slide with precise control of spacing, alignment, and style. Adjustments for kerning, line color, and fill color as well as other parameters make it simple to create a custom look without sacrificing the overall ease of use of the software.

A new feature for ProPresenter 4 is Templates. Templates are a simple way to change the style of any presentation in the library quickly and easily. If you want to use a certain song as lower thirds to go over the top of a live video feed, just create a template with the text constrained to the lower part of the slide. Place a graphic behind the text and apply the template to your presentation. It’s that easy. Changed your mind and want that same song to full screen, just apply your normal full screen template and it’s done.

The Props Layer is another new addition to ProPresenter 4. Props are objects that can be placed on certain slides, multiple slides, or an entire presentation independent of the other layers that are being displayed. For example, does your church have a logo that you would like to place in the lower right hand corner like a screen bug. No problem, just create a prop and place the logo where you want it to sit on the slide. Props also maintain any transparency settings for graphic formats that support them.

PP4 even has a feature that enables very simple and affordable environmental projection (if you don’t know what that is, wait for our upcoming blog post about Environmental Projection to find out more).

These are just a few of the new features offered in ProPresenter 4. There are plenty of others to check out when you install the free 30 day trial that is available at http://www.renewedvision.com/pro_download.php.

Fowler Productions also offers a training class for ProPresenter 4 every other month for $99. The next class is September 14^th at 6pm CST, so be sure to register soon!

Every once in a while a new product comes out with the combination of features, usability, and price point, that the industry has been craving.  There is a great chance that Panasonic’s new AW-HS50N is one of those products.

For years, churches have been asking for a small video mixer with digital inputs, an auxiliary bus, a keyer, and an affordable price. The HS50N has got all of this covered plus some extras that make it an especially desirable little piece of tech.

To start, there are 5 fully digital inputs. 4 are HDSDI and one is DVI so the unit can handle a computer graphics input without any external processing. For those not familiar with it, SDI/HDSDI is a professional video signal that has been utilized in broadcast and high end production facilities for years. It is a reliable way to distribute a pristine digital video signal over long distances.

Another powerful feature of the HS50N is the MultiViewer. This feature allows one output to an HD monitor to display up to 10 images simultaneously. You can have Preview, Program, and all input sources viewable at the same time on one centrally located display. This eliminates the need for a bank of high definition production monitors and significantly reduces the costs associated with deploying an HD video system.

The Auxiliary, or Aux, bus, allows one particular input to be sent to a separate output regardless of what is being shown on the program out. For instance, let’s say you have one camera that always shows a wide shot of the whole front of the sanctuary and you want to send that shot only to the nursery. Just call up that camera on the Aux bus and its done. It’s truly a set it and forget it option.

Panasonic has really packed the features into this little switcher and when you throw in a lower list price than their last generation standard definition small format production mixer, you have the makings of a product that could be a game changer in the market.

Last week I was on vacation with my family. We packed the family vehicle to within an inch of its life with groceries, clothes, gear, and kids (not necessarily in that order) and headed off for a week of wilderness fun! Upon arriving at the campgrounds it fell to me, of course, to set up our tents. Feeling quite the outdoorsman and ready to teach my children the joys of living in commune with nature, I encountered the only real setback of our otherwise idyllic trip. In all our frenetic packing, I had failed to bring a hammer, an essential in staking down the tents. Well, I was not about to be deterred by such a small detail, so after a little searching, I found a fairly hefty piece of wood that I thought would work out pretty well and commenced a-hammering. And in the end it all worked out, but not without several sore fingers, a cramp in my right forearm, and a caustic look from my wife about the “new words” that our 5 year old twins had learned. Just kidding!

It was during one of the more painful moments of this adventure that I began to think longingly of the hammer that I knew was in my tool chest back at the house, which is undoubtedly the right tool for hammering tent stakes into hard ground. As I see it, the right tool gives us three major advantages in any job;

1. It makes the job easier

2. It makes the job faster

3. It provides a better finished product

This brings me to the subject. Worship Presentation Software has become, if not a necessity, at least a trend in the church and worship world, and for good reason. Almost regardless of which product a church or ministry might choose, the advantages and benefits over a regular slide show creation program like PowerPoint™ are marked and numerous. Now this is not to knock PowerPoint™. It’s a great program and it does exactly what it was designed to do, it goes from slide to slide to slide with tremendous reliability. It’s just that most of our church services don’t go from slide to slide with anywhere near the same kind of reliability! There is a lot more spontaneity built into even the most programmed church service, than in any sales or corporate presentation (which is what PowerPoint™ is specifically designed to do).

Ideally, the church will look at the biggest Worship Presentation Software players in the market and decide which feature set is right for them THEN purchase a computer that runs that software well. This seemingly backwards approach is because, arguably, the top two competitors run on different platforms; Windows and Mac. As of right now, EasyWorship runs in Windows only and ProPresenter runs on Macs only. They both do a fantastic job of serving up song lyrics and Bible scriptures on demand but they each have some defining features. By choosing the features your church needs, then choosing the computer to run it on you will generally be better served in the long run.

EasyWorship includes a rich feature set, with motion backgrounds, built in scripture database, and support for running PowerPoint™ files directly from within the EasyWorship interface being some of the most popular. It is very easy to operate and volunteers can be quickly trained to operate it.

ProPresenter 4 has a beautifully designed, very graphical user interface, which provides an intuitive working environment for beginners while maintaining an outstanding set of advanced features for power users. If your church does a lot of live video production, ProPresenter has some features that help it to fit into that environment more seamlessly.

Fowler Productions provides monthly training classes for EasyWorship and ProPresenter to help anyone from the first time user to the old pro to better utilize either of these tremendous tools to the greatest advantage.

This dual-lamp DLP® projector gives you superior performance and reliability, with brightness, super resolution and continuous-use capability. If you’re looking for a reliable, quality solution for presenting in large, bright rooms or auditoriums, the XD8100U data projector is the answer.

The XGA Projector That Accommodates Your Needs
You can rely on your new XD8100U DLP projector to be just what you need, when you need it.

• Continuous non-stop 24/7 operability with dual lamp and lamp relay modes
• Automated and reusable self-cleaning filter for a lower total cost of ownership
• Ingenious heat pipe cooling technology that delivers projection cooling, energy savings and quietness as well
• Super Resolution technology that delivers ultra-sharp detail projection
• Built-in support for Crestron RoomView and AMX Device Discovery for remote management
• Edge blending for both side-by-side as well as top-bottom projection
• Supports geometric projection on curved surfaces as well as 360 degree projection
• Closed Caption support
• Estimated lamp life of up to 4000hrs (low mode)
• Consumes less than 1W of power consumption for increased energy savings (low mode)
• Natural Color Matrix support independent controlled color adjustments with effecting other colors
• Side-access lamp design for easy and convenient lamp access
• Delivers a bright 7000 lumens image
• Accepts 5 optional lenses, ranging from a 0.8 rear projection fixed short throw lens all the way up to our new 9.0 UZ lens

Highest Quality Images Even in Bright Halls or Auditoriums
Present with confidence even in the largest rooms with the XD8100U XGA projector. Images are reproduced in high contrast and superior brightness and with its dual lamp design it will allow for continuous projection for long periods of time. This DLP projector offers truer, more vibrant color with Texas Instruments BrilliantColor^TM technology.

Designed for Easy Usability and Maintenance
Depending on a particular presentation’s needs, you can change out the high-brightness color wheel on your data projector with an optional six-segment color wheel that emphasizes richness and depth of color. The filter is self-cleaning and reusable. Each of the dual lamps needs only one hour of shut-down every week, so you can meet even the most challenging projection needs, including continuous operation over long periods of time.

Automated and Reusable Self-Cleaning Filter
The XD8100U is equipped with an automated and reusable self-cleaning filter. This combination of a mesh filter and cleaning brush helps protect and prevent dust and dirt particles from entering and affecting the internal components of the projector. Additionally this automated self-cleaning filter design not only helps reduce maintenance efforts but its reusable design makes it very eco-friendly and lowers the overall total cost of ownership.

Image Correction Using Advanced Technologies
Mitsubishi Electric’s Super Resolution technology is an advanced algorithm that analyzes the signal of the original image, identifies and estimates areas of the high-resolution data not provided—and corrects the image quality. The result is a projected image that delivers ultra-sharp details and clarity. The XD8100U also includes built-in edge blending technology for multiple side-by-side, as well stacked projection, allowing multiple projectors to create a single, seamless image. Corrective distortion allows for projection to curved surfaces, and full 360 degree projection along its vertical axis enables extensive projection ranging from floor to ceiling.

If you think you’re not familiar with digital signage, you probably are but just don’t realize it. It’s hard to go a single day without seeing some kind of digital signage. The mall, restaurants, even theme parks and doctor’s offices are jumping on the bandwagon.

To fully understand how a digital signage system can benefit your ministry, you have to understand what a digital signage system is. At the most basic level, a computer screen showing something like a Power Point presentation qualifies as a signage system. While this makes for a start, what really opens up the possibilities is scheduling content to play at specific times. Power Point and Keynote won’t let you do that so you have to move over to an actual signage solution. When you do that, you get to drop content onto a calendar to play only when you want it to.

Imagine the lobby of a busy church with a 50” LCD opposite the main entrance. On Sunday mornings you could schedule an announcement loop that shows slides advertising upcoming events for the week. There could also be a slide showing the title and scripture reference for that morning’s message. When the service starts, some signage systems will even allow you to show live video so you could have the display switch over and show the camera feed from the auditorium. Then, at the end of the service the display switches to a video with details about the new building program.

Now, imagine expanding this system so that there’s a display or two for the youth area of the building. Maybe another display at the toddler check-in area and finally a display in the young adult hallway. Each of these displays can show content specific to each audience. Show slides about the upcoming youth camp in the youth area, advertise the mission trip to the young adults, and advertise a mom’s-day-out program to the check-in area. Now you’re able to get the most relevant information to the right people where they are.

There are many types of signage systems on the market, each with different features and prices. In the above scenario, you’ll need a four zone signage system. Each display (or group of displays) you want to be able to show independent content on constitutes a zone: the lobby display, the youth area, check-in area, and young adult area. It doesn’t matter how many displays you want per zone, multiple displays are easy to accommodate with distribution amplifiers, but if you want different content on display B than what’s showing on display A, you need two zones.

Creating the content for your signage system can be a fairly straightforward exercise or, if you want more complex animations or actual video footage, a rather involved process. If you’ve been showing announcement slides at the beginning of your service then you already have what it takes to get started. As your system grows, you’ll likely want to come up with a process for submitting announcement requests and decide who does what part of that process. In larger systems you may have an online form to submit a signage request. When that request is submitted it goes to someone to edit or approve the announcement before it is passed on to the person who will actually create the graphic or movie. Smaller systems can be as simple as creating a Power Point graphic and emailing it to the church secretary to be included in the announcement loop.

Think about how you communicate events to your congregation now. Is it effective? Is it efficient? The world is changing and reading through a list of announcements from the pulpit may not be the best way to keep your audience’s attention. Digital signage doesn’t even end with a display hanging on a wall. Post your announcements and events to a church Facebook and Twitter account and you’ll get that important information in front of even more people. If it plugs into a wall it’s digital and if it conveys information it’s signage. Remember that there are many ways to communicate a message and the more ways you communicate that message, the greater the chance it will be remembered.

Give Fowler a call to see how inexpensive it can be to get started with a digital signage system in your church.

Hopefully you know this already but just in case you don’t, the FCC has now officially shut down the 700MHz range for wireless systems and you can be thrown in jail for using one that operates in that frequency range. Thank you for your attention.

Huh? Ok, here’s the deal. Wireless microphone manufacturers have traditionally offered many frequency options for their systems. This allows you to choose the frequency that works best or avoid an over-crowded frequency range in your area. This is a great way for many wireless systems to operate in a relatively close proximity to each other and has been the way things work for many years now. Unfortunately, the FCC is closing off the 700MHz range to use it for fire and safety communications, which will only take up a small portion of the range, and selling off the rest of the frequencies in that range to broadband providers such as internet providers and cell phone companies.

Here’s what that means to you and I: If you are using any wireless microphone systems that have a listed frequency range from 698MHz to 806MHz they are now illegal to use. As of June 12th, the 700MHz range is closed and any broadcasts happening at those frequencies are subject to a HUGE fine of $4000 per day, per system, up to a total of $375,000!

There are many resources on the web to help you determine whether your gear is “legal” or not but here’s the word, straight from the horse’s mouth http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/wirelessmicrophones/manufacturers.html

You can also call your Fowler representative and they can help you determine if you’re in compliance and suggest solutions if you are not.

The first two parts of this series covered the theoretical and the technical—the whys and whats—of media ministry. This final installment looks at the practical. The questions have all been answered, the design has been done, the equipment has been installed. Now, how in the world do we use this stuff?

Let’s take it step by step, starting with music. The good news is that projection systems have made the chore of getting words on a screen much less work. The bad news is that it is still work. The computer has become a part of the worship service and song lyrics should be rehearsed with the same dedication shown by the worship team. Once, at a conference, I broke a cardinal rule of presenting. I agreed to run a program that I had not created, for a group I had not rehearsed with. I did this to help a friend, but it ended up as more of a hindrance than a help. The songs were mistyped, in the wrong order, and I didn’t even know some of them.

I learned a valuable lesson that day. Someone once put it this way, “An amateur practices until he gets it right, a professional practices until he can’t do it wrong.” What I should have done is worked through the songs while they were rehearsing them, making notes of odd transitions and fixing the problems as they arose—before anyone saw them.

Looking at the system from the point of view of the pastor is somewhat different. For hundreds of years, ministers prepared messages by studying scripture, poring over commentaries, and searching for the right illustrations or stories that make a point. Now the pastor must also approach each topic from a visual standpoint. How do we do that? Are you ready?

Go into your living room, sit down and…turn on the television! Sound good? Don’t break out the popcorn just yet, this is still work. Keep a notepad next to your favorite easy chair and keep your finger on the record button of your DVR. Watch for things that will help you communicate a point: a news story on farming to illustrate a point on witnessing, a commercial for a credit card company to show how material our society is, a clip from a movie with a very profound statement.

What else can help communicate your message? A computer slide presentation can be very effective in helping the audience to follow along, which increases their attention and retention. Be careful not to overdo it though; it is easy to go overboard. Use subtle graphics, and always ask why. Why am I including this image? It may be just for fun to loosen things up, but ask the question anyway. In the end the message will have more impact and will be more effective at bringing people closer to the Lord throughout the week, and that is what it’s all about.

There are many other uses for a multimedia projection system in the church service: announcements for the congregation, a video of a missionary in the field, a Veggie Tales video for Vacation Bible School. Many pastors have begun teaching points of their sermon in illustrative settings and showing the video during the sermon. Creative uses of multimedia can enhance the worship experience, improve stewardship among the Lord’s people, increase attendance and promote a more informed congregation. The list goes on and on.

The ultimate principal goes back to Jesus himself, when he stood in front of the crowd and said, “A sower went out to sow some seed…” He gave a mental image with which every person in the audience could identify. He also gave us a mandate, as Paul said: “I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some.”

The end of this series is an open door to an endless path. One of the main purposes of this blog is to share ideas from churches that use media to advance the Kingdom. What’s working for you? What would you like to know? Join the conversation, and keep stopping by for more.

The Tech Behind Video Venue from Amber Reid on Vimeo.

In this segment of our Van Dyke Church feature, listen to Cory Schob as he describes working with and training volunteer staffs, equipping the ministry through multimedia, and building a video venue site through both trial and error and years of experience. He describes the ins-and-outs of dealing with challenging situations while sticking to deadlines and how to build a team into a well-oiled machine.

In part one, we introduced the three basic areas that need to be addressed under the umbrella of media ministry: the whys, whats and hows of multimedia in ministry. Part 1 covered the theoretical basis: why we use multimedia.

The second  question—the what—is technical: “What questions need to be answered before we invest in equipment?” How big a screen do I need?  How bright does the projector need to be? Are the windows in my sanctuary going to cause a problem?

There is no one formula that takes into account all the variables in every given church.  There is no “One Size Fits All” solution, which is sometimes frustrating. We in the ministry must approach these questions like we approach counseling. Each individual is unique and requires a unique type of interaction. Although we may say the same things to many different people, we will say them in different ways, discerning the direction we need to follow. In the same way, each church is unique in its goals, needs and philosophy and should be treated as an individual when looking at implementing a multimedia ministry.

The best thing we can do here is clarify some of the questions that will arise. There are three categories:

1. Questions you as a church should ask of yourselves

2. Questions you should ask any company you are looking to for equipment

3. Questions that the equipment provider should ask you.

First ask yourself about the desires and goals of your ministry. What is it that we want to accomplish?  Are we looking at putting song words on a screen, or are we planning to broadcast on TV or the internet? Will it be some of each? Will our budget allow us to install this system as one large package or do we need to act in stages? Who will run everything, and what kind of qualifications will the operators need to meet? What software will we use? Who will be responsible for building presentations and what kind of training are we going to provide for them?

The biggest question: will the church contract with a design/install company who will provide a “turnkey” solution, or will you install it yourselves? The complexity of the system will determine whether or not professional installation is required. The type of company is important too. There are many companies that work in audio, video and lighting. Many of them focus on businesses; churches are a side business. You are much better off securing the services of a reputable company that specializes in church accounts. The local church is unique in its needs, surroundings and requirements.

Of course, you’ll need to ask questions of that company. What kind of technical support is there after the sale? Is it available 24/7? What is the typical process for a technical support issue going to be? This can mean the difference between reaching people effectively and frantically trying to throw something together at the last minute. How long are the various warranties? Does the company guarantee that the entire system will work together? Do they have a return policy or trial period? Is there a restocking fee if we find that the projector is not bright enough and you want to upgrade it? Keep in mind the old saying, “The bitterness of poor quality lingers long after the sweetness of a cheap price has been forgotten.”

Finally, these are the questions they should ask you. What do you want to be able to accomplish? How will the equipment fit in your facilities? What are the lighting conditions?  What are your future plans? If a company is trying to sell you equipment without asking these questions, RUN, don’t walk away. It is hard to buy a bad projector, but it is very easy to buy the wrong one for your application. If these questions are not asked and answered, it is likely that you and your congregation will be disappointed and unhappy with the end result.

Like an endless train on the horizon, the advent of multimedia as an integral part of the church service was a long time coming. It seemed slow to approach, but now that it has arrived, it is moving by in a blur of light and sound. Large and small churches alike are using this technology for the advancement of the gospel.

Even with more and more churches embracing multimedia, there is still a need for help in selecting and using projectors, screens, software, cameras, and lighting in the church environment. Under the umbrella of media ministry there are three basic areas that need to be addressed. You might say these are the whys, whats and hows of using multimedia in your ministry.

We’ll cover all of these in successive posts, but let’s start with the theoretical, “Why use multimedia at all?” It might seem an odd question if most everyone has already jumped on board, but like anything important, losing sight of why we do what we do is inadvisable at best. So even if you think you know the why, take a moment to review.

Consider the following: People remember only 10% of what they hear, but 50% of what they see and hear. If we present a visual message that the people can emotionally identify with, retention rates can be as high as 85%! I once heard Pastor Ed Young of Fellowship Church in Grapevine, TX talk about a trip to Las Vegas. “I couldn’t help but notice the signs,” he said. “They’re everywhere: big signs, little signs, blinking signs, flashing signs, moving signs, even talking signs. It was dazzling. They don’t have a lot to say, but they definitely know how to say it!”

In the church it is just the opposite, we have the greatest message in the world, but often fail to communicate it effectively. The use of multimedia in the church helps bring the gospel of Christ to the congregation in a culturally relevant way. As recently as 1996, 99% of Americans had a television, while 97% had indoor plumbing. It is obvious that our society wants to be reached in a visual way.

The permeation of our culture with images is staggering. When I think about the space shuttle Challenger explosion I don’t see in my mind the articles I read after the tragedy occurred. I think of the television coverage of the event itself. I think of what I saw. The same goes for the events of 9-11, or in truth almost any major event since the middle of the 20^th century. Every great memory we have of the gospel is associated with a visual. The birth of Jesus brings to mind the manger scene; Jesus’ teaching reminds us of the parables; his crucifixion, we see Him on the old rugged cross; his resurrection, the empty tomb.

It is vital in the church that we tap into the power that a visual medium provides to our message. The why of multimedia is abundantly clear. It is all about impact. The question we need to ask is, “Will this technology help us be more effective in reaching the lost with the gospel?”

What are the limits of technology? What boundaries still need to be pushed? Leave a comment and share your thoughts.