Presentation Software

What are you using to display your graphics on a projection screen during service? My hope is that most of you have grown past PowerPoint, but if you haven't, just know that there are MUCH more powerful software options available that will take you to a whole new level!

My personal favorite right now is Renewed Vision's ProPresenter software. Understandably, it's a toolbox and you should use what you're comfortable with, but allow me to fill you in a little bit on what maybe you should consider when evaluating a new presentation software product.

The most important question is what do you want it to do for you that your current software doesn't? If it's not that much, it may not be time to upgrade yet.

Next would be to do your homework; make sure that the software WILL actually do what you need it to do. Do you need to integrate live video into your slides for IMAG? How about motion backgrounds behind lyrics? Full-screen Scripture references? Multi-screen output capability? Editing on the fly with a built-in Bible passage finder? Know what you need and don't be afraid to ask the software developer if you have questions; they are happy to answer your questions.

That brings up another point; what kind of support can you expect once you purchase the product? If you have trouble getting responses even before you purchase, you can probably expect the same treatment. Make that part of your evaluation.

Ask LOTS and LOTS of questions-some of this software is quite expensive (compared to PowerPoint and Apple's Keynote) and you don't want to make a bad investment so make sure you know everything you can about the software.

Finally, have a very firm understanding of how the software will integrate into your current system. Before we purchased ProPresenter, I made sure I knew what external hardware we needed and how we could utilize the layering capabilities of the software to multi-task on the fly (powering full-screen projection, lower thirds for live video, and full-screen image for video, as well as a Stage Display).

I'd love to know what software you guys are using and why-comment away!

Update from the FCC

Finally, it appears that the FCC is showing some brains and setting aside two TV channels' worth of spectrum for all of us wireless microphone, IEM, and intercom users!

To find out what this is all about, please visit: http://www.shure.com/americas/news-events/press-releases/shure-applauds-fcc-decision-white-spaces

It would appear that we will be able to operate anywhere from 14-16 wireless systems concurrently and be protected; venues with a need for more wireless systems than that can apply for additional protection with the FCC. However, I think that most churches should be able to make the 14-16 numbers work; after all, as a tech, if I can have a wired mic vs. a wireless mic, I will. Unless, of course, all of my wired lines have inherent noise in them as I have experienced at a particular church in the Portland area. :)

Anyway, praise God that we are now going to be protected in the wireless spectrum! It's still important to read the details and make sure that you are going to be safe with your current wireless microphone systems, but at least there is protected spectrum for us now! Or at least there WILL be!