Large church setup

[dunk_1984]

The computer in the control area runs Easyworship and powerpoint - giving us the best of both worlds :) , Easy worship was selected after 18 months spent experimenting with virtually every other package for song word that is on the market ;) . If you want any further information please feel free to pm me.

 

This is true, and if you are after software recomendations too, this is spot on!!

[cedd]

also try www.whitewell.com

 

 

Ok, that one's a bit bigger than we are at present!

 

At my church we use song show plus. Been used for years and hasn't been updated, but it's proved reliable and we all know how to use it!

This new venture may well require some slightly more up to date software!

 

 

I've been looking with some interest at the Sony Anycast system. Looks very nice indeed, just waiting on the result of an ebay bid they're currently making on a different mixer though. No idea what it is they're bidding on at all, apparently it'll do the job though I'd like to have a look for myself!

[notheruser]

My experience of remote controlled cameras is that they are fine for moving from one shot to another whilst off screen (moving from a lectern to a pulpit, for example, whilst the shot from another camera is being used). However they're way too jerky and imprecise to follow someone around, especially if you have a lively minister - if you want close-ups of him/her you'll need a manned camera.

Couldn't agree more - we have two in our church, and one operated camera (Canon XL2). We only move the PTZ cameras when they're not on shot. We looked at Edirol before buying, and were not too impressed - thought they were to club orientated, couldn't afford Panasonic MX70, so we went for a Datavideo SE800 - had it for two years now, and very happy with it. Relying totally on remote control cameras is likely to be a disaster - there is just no way you can frame a good shot quickly if someone moves from where they ought to be - a real operator with a camera on a tripod will be there in a split second (provided he's awake ;) )

[Heapsy]

so we went for a Datavideo SE800

Sorry slightly OT

 

I recently bought an SE 800 as well but find the video delay to much to use for live camera work, have you had any similar problems?

 

Mark

[timperrett]

One suggestion is viewing some of the options available out there in the flesh... http://www.creonline.co.uk/ is for the Christian Resource Exhibition this week - if you can get down there, there are many companies exhibiting and letting people 'have a play' to see what they like.

 

Hope that helps

[grasseynoel]

Greetings from Australia,

 

We are a medium-large church with an auditorium of 600 (very low ceiling) which 2 years ago inspired us to install an IMAG system. After trying Ediroll, Panasonics, datavideo, I couldn't go past the Sony equipment - Anycast switcher and BRC300 remote PTZ cameras. The picture quality and low latency is fantastic. The Anycast typically allows for 4 Composite inputs (we use 3 cameras and a DVD player) and 2 VGA inputs (computers we use for song words EasyWorship software). The Anycast allows us to also mix upto 6 Audio inputs (which we take from the Live Audio mix) and to record them to external HDD via firewire. This is so great because we then just plug this external HDD into our editing PC and drop and drag the video file (AVI) into the timeline. The other beautiful thing about the Anycast is it's small format to fit into our tiny space. It has all monitors included as well as controls for the BRC300 cameras. One complete package.

 

Glad to offer more info if you need it.

 

Regards

 

Noel

www.kbc.org.au

[afrophish]

Ok fist things first why do you need so much gear for a church! The key thing is worshipping god not how good or fancy your visuals are.

 

However there is the canon anycast its very good and also portable.

 

http://www.expandore.com/product/Sony/Proa...xer/AWSG500.htm

[paulears]

I'm not a churchgoer, and being honest, the last time I was in church it was a C of E church with hymn books and little boards either side telling you what hymn number came next.

 

At Christmas, the person I was living with, who does go to church, wanted to go to a Christmas Day service. She asked around at the theatre and stage door suggested one reasonably local. Loads of big flat screens all over the places, and a big projection screen behind the business end. No hymn books, and the words came up on the screens. No cameras, or clever graphics. Everywhere you looked were the words. Made it very easy to join in, and you could see what was going on. No wonder the churches you see on Songs of Praise where hymn books are still in use look so dull. Everybody looking down really kills any attempt at atmosphere.

 

Using technology this was is so sensible, I thought. Nobody looking for their glasses, everybodies head up helps the singing, and to a total noice to this kind of thing, I really see how even basic installations make the experience better.

[J Pearce]

Incidentally, when I took part in a songs of praise recording, the screens usually installed in the church were taken down and hymn-books were used. Took the house crew ages to realign the projectors.

[Ben.]

contrary to what you have said about getting software.

I would recommend Words Of Worship ( WOW ) it's by far the easiest software to use at the moment.

the Edirol video mixers seem to be pretty good for mixing between cameras and a selection of computer outputs.

but as notheruser said they are more club video mixery minded.

 

hope some of that helps

[dunk_1984]

I would recommend Words Of Worship ( WOW ) it's by far the easiest software to use at the moment.

 

I will admit WOW is easy to use however whether you can say it is easier to use than Easy worship I'm not convinced. Admittedly cheaper than Easy worship, It doesn't incorporate video and photo play out etc. Not to start a

[Ben.]

I would recommend Words Of Worship ( WOW ) it's by far the easiest software to use at the moment.

I will admit WOW is easy to use however whether you can say it is easier to use than Easy worship I'm not convinced.

im sure Easy Worship wasnt that easy when I tried it last.

 

never mind.

 

if you are using a video mixer for sorts then you don't need to worry about if your software will encorporate that too......

[dunk_1984]

Free Trials. :blink:

 

Easy Worship - http://easyworship.com/downloads/v2006.2.4...hip2006_web.exe

 

WOW - https://www.wordsofworship.com/Register/?Re...ganisation.aspx

 

Zion Worx - http://www.zionworx.org.uk/download.htm

 

Song Pro - http://creationsoftware.com/sp4eval.exe

 

Easislides - http://www.easislides.com/

 

Good Luck.

[cedd]

Free trials! That's what I'm after! Thanks Dunk.

 

I'll pass on a link to this page to the guy really heading this up on the computer side. The words tend to be operated by a non-technician, often one of the musicians as they have a habit of throwing in other verses and the like, so it's their choice not ours. The anycast is the top of the wish list at the minute!