What is the advantage of using
specific software designed to display
songs and hymns?

 

Using PowerPoint to project songs/hymns
PowerPoint is excellent for displaying sequential slides with transitions such as in a sermon, but it isn't the best option for working with songs.
 
Strengths:
  1. With PowerPoint it is easy to create a presentation set
  2. Each slide in PowerPoint can have different graphics
  3. It is relatively easy to combine song slides with sermon slides in PowerPoint
  4. Many people are familiar with creating PowerPoint slides
 
Weaknesses:
  1. With PowerPoint, for each occasion, all the chosen songs must be added in their correct order with their verses, choruses and bridges in correct order to compile the complete presentation. For each occasion it takes time to put all the various elements together. For the next event it is back to square one.
  2. PowerPoint provides minimal flexibility. If the song leader selects a different song, leaves out a verse, repeats a chorus or changes the verse/chorus sequence, the operator is left scrambling to find the appropriate slide, with everybody watching the process. Often the musicians keep on playing, blissfully unaware that the 'atmosphere' has been lost.
Using Song Software
Song software is specifically designed to facilitate the selction of songs from its song library to compile a song play list. The software is used to arrange the songs in presentation order, then it displays the song verses, choruses and bridges to the congregation in any order, efficiently and effectively. Once you have used a programme like Presenter 3 or EasyWorship, you would never use PowerPoint for songs again.
 
(Presenter 3 example) What the computer operator sees on his computer screen
 
(Presenter 3 example) What the congregation see on the projection Screen
 
Strengths:
  • With song software it only takes seconds to move selected songs from the library to the song play list for instant display
  • All song verses, choruses and bridges can be displayed in any order or repeated
  • New songs are easily configured for inclusion in the song library
  • Operators need minimal training to run a presentation
  • The operator can use a control panel screen showing the song list with all the available songs and verses. The congregation only sees the current verse displayed their screen.
  • Graphic images can be displayed in random order and/or behind songs
   
Weaknesses:
  • When using Presenter 3 in conjunction with PowerPoint, the operator has to switch to from Presenter 3 to PowerPoint (Alt Tab) and switch back (Alt Tab) when finished
  • Verse text configuration is a global setting (providing a consistent appearance for all slides). This may restrict the use of some background images
  • Presenter 3 not designed for audio and video files
 
Presenter 3
Eye Drops graphics work particularly well with Presenter 3 which is one of the simplest song software programmes to use.
Version 3 now allows individual songs to be displayed with different Eye Drops background graphics.
Presenter 3 also provides for random display of Eye Drops images.
Trial version available for download: www.discoverysystems.com.au/presenter/
Contact Multimedia Interface Pty Ltd for:
  • Special Eye Drops user price on Presenter 2 or 3
          • Special Eye Drops price on Presenter and Eye Drops bundles