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So You Want To Use Your Computer Live?

Guest Contributor — Thu, 19 May 2011 02:49:00 +0000

Reposted with permission from Aaron Hein who blogs about technology and worship at inheinsite.blogspot.com.

With everything getting faster and cheaper these days it’s easy to think that if you just dust off that extra computer you have laying around the house then you have what you need to use it in a live application. Let me just say that if you have to dust it off it’s unlikely it will be able to perform the way you need it to and even if it can it is only one piece of the puzzle. So the question I want to answer in this segment is:

“What do I need to use my computer live in an audio application?”

The answer is much simpler than you might think but many people tend to overlook at least one of the 4 crucial components: the computer, software, audio interface, and MIDI controller. Let’s take a look at each one and explain why it’s necessary in creating a great audio computer rig.

1. The Computer

This is obviously the heart of your setup since the entire topic surrounds using a computer live but what kind of computer do you really need? Do I have to have a Mac or will a PC do the job? Does it have to be the fastest computer on the market or will a computer that is a year or two old do the trick? Here are some general rules of thumb to help you know if what you have will hack it or guide you to making a good purchase if your looking for a new computer.

1. The debate between a Mac (Apple) and PC will live on for eternity. I actually enjoy using both platforms but for this type of application I have found Mac’s to be much easier to work with. Truthfully the biggest reason is that the software that I use is Mac only so that makes my choice pretty easy. There are lots of PC programs as well and if you have one you love a PC will do the job. We’ll leave this topic at that.

2. Generally, computers that are within the last two years most likely will work for this application. They should have enough processing speed, support enough ram, and be able to run the most current operation software platforms so that you can run the software you need to. Some general specs to look for would include a dual core processor, at east 4 GB’s of ram, and a 320GB hard drive or larger. I also recommend using an external hard drive to store your samples as this will take a lot of strain off of your internal hard drive and improve your overall performance.

2. Software

Software is extremely important because it’s really what dictates what you can do and how you do it. The computer is just a processor at this point so software can make or break your experience. Since we are talking about a live application I believe Apple’s Mainstage is the best at what it does. For the PC side there is a program called Ableton Live (which also runs on a Mac) which is uniquely good at what it does. It’s feel is very different from Mainstage however. Other than Ableton many people will use an audio sequencer like ProTools, Cubase, or Sonar to accomplish a similar task. Mainstage by far out shines the other applications for a live performance platform as that is it’s specific intent, but people have different workflow preferences and may feel a program like Ableton Live is better suited for the task. Remember it’s about you, the user and what you are trying to accomplish.

3. Audio Interface

This is just a fancy term for external sound card but it is VITAL to making your computer capable of pulling off it’s job in a live application. So why do you need one when you already have a sound card built into your computer? There are many reasons why it is necessary:

1. Latency – All computers have what’s called latency which basically is the time it takes the computer to process the audio signal passing through it. Built in sound cards are very slow typically. Since you will be using this live you don’t want any weird delay because it will make it almost impossible to play a sound or run your vocals through effects. It would be like hitting a note on your keyboard and having it play a second later. Almost all audio interfaces have special drivers (called ASIO drivers) which are super fast and allow you to get the audio through the computer without noticeable delay.

2. Professional Connections – You might need a way to plug your microphone or guitar into your computer so you can use the effects inside it. Depending on the audio interface you choose you will have the ability to plug in multiple things as once as well as feed multiple outputs to different channels on the board or snake. For example I use an M-Audio Profire 610 which has 4 analog inputs and 8 analog outputs. That might sound like overkill at first but it doesn’t take long to starting using them. With my setup I use Output 1&2 for my stereo keyboard sounds and I use output 3 for my direct vocal send. There are many more scenarios to could be cover here but trust me when I tell you it’s better to have a few extra than not enough!

3. Sound Quality – There is no question that an external audio interface will sound 10 times better than your build in sound card. This stands to reason when you consider the internal sound card probably costs less than $5 to make and is not a core component to your computer, yet a decent audio interface starts at around $99. Hardcore Mac fans will tell you they use their internal sound card with great success but I’m telling you, you don’t know what your missing until you get professional sound card. The result is dramatic and it can make the difference between you cutting through the mix and being heard by the audience or get buried in the mix because you lack sonic definition.

4. MIDI Controller

The MIDI controller is a key component because it’s the piece of hardware you will be interacting with in a live performance and it brings to life everything else we have talked about. There are lots of options for MIDI controllers these days and most of them have more knobs and buttons then you’ll know what to do with until you start seeing the potential and assigning it to your software. I currently use the Edirol PCR-500 49 key controller pictured above and almost every single thing you see on the face of it has a label of some kind. Just to give you an idea of how powerful it is here are some things my controller does for me:

* I can change patches (aka sounds) with the push of a button
* I use one of the sliders to control my master volume
* I use 8 of the drum pads to play and stop different loops I have assigned to them
* I use the 8 knobs above the pads to control the individual loop volumes
* I assigned Tap Tempo to one of the buttons so I can make all loops and effects play in sync with the tempo of whatever song is being played in real time
* I assigned another button as a mute for my keyboard sounds
* I assigned one of the sliders to control how much delay you hear on my voice

The possibilities are endless!

In Summary

As you can see all 4 parts are vital to turning your computer into something that you can perform with. Now that you have a good understanding of what you need you can focus on buying products that fit your work flow and personality so that your rig is your own. Please feel free to post any questions you might have.

Tools For Worship Arts Ministry

David Lindner — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 13:39:12 +0000

David Lindner shares a list of ESSENTIAL tools for worship arts ministry:

1.) Planning Center Online

Okay, this is what sparked the debate in our last podcast. It’s an extremely useful to, especially if you’re more the artist personality and less of the organized type. If you always feel like you’re behind in scheduling or in keeping in touch with the volunteers you work with, you’ll love it. If you like to plan ahead, it’s great because you can just go to the plan you’re thinking of, ad in an idea or two for that weekend and then when you’re ready to finish the plan – you have it – right there!

There are some other great features to PCO as well. Song & Chart organization, printing songbooks for the weekend, the community where you can see what other churches who use PCO are doing and others. With all that great functionality, it’s extremely simple & easy to use.

2.) Facebook

If you’re still using email & not using facebook, I’ll be praying for you. I pray for Kevin all the time about this. Facebook is such a great tool for ministry. It provides and easy way for you to keep tabs on your worship personnel & what’s going on in their lives without (and I know this sounds bad) having to have a conversation with each one of them every week. I don’t mean that it’s bad to talk to people in person, but who among us has time to talk to every single volunteer every single week? I know I don’t and because of facebook I don’t have to. We have a group for our Worship Arts Members. If nothing else, I can use this group as a list to go & mingle with all our people, but you can also use the group for discussions, announcements & prayer requests.

3.) A Blog

Obviously I think a blog is an important piece of the puzzle. It’s another way to build community among your team members online. You can use it as a teaching platform, you can use it to get feedback on new songs, and other things.

If adding a blog seems like too much, use facebook. You can have a blog within facebook & you can use your group for this kind of stuff too!

4.) An iPod

I’ve done posts about this in the past, and you can go check that out for more info. But there are many great ways to use your ipod as a worship tool. You can use it in rehearsals to listen to new music, you can put a slew of new worship songs on there and then go through them and decide which songs best fit your congregation. You can put your set on there and use it to practice with or learn new songs. There are a lot of great ways to use this as a tool.

It should also be said that the iPhone, iPod touch and Droid add another layer of functionality & usefulness for you as a worship leader. I haven’t been able to afford one yet, but one day I will. With apps like guitar tuners, metronomes, real time analyzers, etc. there are a lot of useful things in there!

5.) You Tube

Warning! Caution! I just want you to beware that not everything on You tube is, shall we say, wholesome. That aside, there are a lot of useful video tutorials on You Tube that members of your worship Team will find useful. Paul Baloche teaching his new songs, or Lincoln Brewster teaching the guitar lick to his new song, and many others doing the same kind of thing. It can save you & your instrumentalists a ton of time.

Well, that’s my list. What’s yours? Comment on this post with your tech tools that you can’t live without!

What is Visual Worship?

Guest Contributor — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 14:00:21 +0000

As I’ve been on the road having conversations with pastors, worship leaders & techies who are all trying to figure out how creativity works in worship, I have had a growing burden to gain a clearer understanding of what true, biblical worship is. I have much to learn and more scripture to dig into than i can comprehend. Here are some of the main things that have stuck with me, and here are some questions I’m asking myself in hopes of finding the answer to “What is Visual Worship?”.

• Worship is our response to a revelation from God…specifically, Who He is, what He’s done, and what He’s yet to do. // So how can visual media/art facilitate a revelation from God (just as text on paper can), and how can we use visual media as a way of leading our response to God?

• “We breathe in the wonders of God, and we breathe out our response.” – paraphrasing Matt Redman // Can we “breathe” in/out using our eyes and what we see?

• Worship, by nature, is 3-dimentional (picture an X, Y, Z axis): UP (Godward/Intimacy), ACROSS (Communal/Relationships), and OUT (missional/Kingdom)…all three working in motion & together..never independently. God is everywhere. // How can our visual media support each dimension? Can our screens and walls be windows into the world around us, bringing everything from the wonders of God’s creation to the hurting and oppressed into the church building, where we tend to confine our worship?

• ” ‘Missions’ exists because worship doesn’t.” – John Piper // How does “missions” play a role in the visual content we are choosing?

• Worship stems from the heart…it’s not what we do, but how we live. // How are we using visual media/art to connect the dots… that worship is not the songs we sing nor the experience we have during an event, but a lifestyle of authentic relationships, loving others, and adoring God in everything?

• “Religion (worship) that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit widows and orphans in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” – James 1:27 (ESV) // Again, how does this relate to “visual worship”? What priorities do we have when it comes to worshiping ourselves and leading others to worship?

• “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” – Romans 12:1 (ESV) // If we are using this phrase “visual worship”, how does it apply to this passage of scripture?

• I once heard a friend in Hong Kong say that we can glorify/worship God by what we see, that if we weren’t able to do that, God wouldn’t have created us with eyes. // How can I see Jesus in everyday life? How can I use images and art to help others see Jesus in the midst of singing worship songs and hearing a sermon?

So, with all of this said, what would you say is the definition of “visual worship”, and how does it relate to leading your congregation?
Stephen Proctor is a VJ and event producer for Grateful Inconvenience, Inc., based out of Nashville, TN. He blogs his experiences & stories from the road at worshipVJ.com.

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7 Ways to Make Your Projector Bulb Last

Jesse Lewis — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 14:00:20 +0000

There is no way around it – projector lamps are expensive. At $150 to $600 or more per lamp, it is important to get as much use out of them as possible. This is especially true for churches with multiple projectors. Here’s a couple ways to make your lamps last longer:

1. Regular Filter Cleaning. It is essential that the projector be able to cool the lamp by moving air through the projector’s housing. In order for this to happen the filter(s) must be cleaned regularly. Generally, this means at least once per quarter – once per month if you are in an environment that has a higher than average amount of dust particles.

2. Allow for good air flow. The fan exhaust area of the projector should be at least 3-5 feet from any wall or other impediment to free air flow. If air does not flow freely around the projector, it will overheat, which will shorten the life of your lamp.

3. Avoid temperature extremes. If you store your projector in an extremely cold area (below 45 degrees or so), the bulb may burst when you turn it on. If you store your projector in an extremely warm area (read: the back seat of your car in the summer), you can do permanent damage to the projector’s electronics.

4. Avoid turning the projector off and on. When you turn on the projector, a burst of power excites the lamp filament, and over time it burns out. Switch your projector lamp off only when it will be at least 30 minutes before it is used again.

5. Allow lamp to cool before switching off power or unplugging. The projector fan should continue to run for a period of time after your turn the lamp off in order to cool the lamp. If the power is turned off before the end of the process, the life of the lamp will be shortened.

6. Avoid moving the projector while it is on. The projector bulb is very sensitive when it is hot, and any movement can cause damage to it. Make sure the lamp is permitted to fully cool before moving the unit.

7. Consider using the “economy” mode. Most projectors have an economy mode in which the projector operates at less than its brightest level. If the environment in which you are projecting allows for operating the projector in this mode, it will extend the life of your lamp.

All About Worship Roundtable Discussion

Russ Hutto — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 14:28:48 +0000

Tonight at 9pm CST, join the All About Worship Podcast crew live for a roundtable discussion on the Sr Pastor & Worship Leader relationship. We’ll be broadcasting live on Talkshoe while we record this episode of the podcast. You’ll be able to join the discussion in the Talkshoe chatroom.

Check out the panel guests and link info at AllAboutWorship.com

*******************************

Join Carl Albrecht to discuss DRUMS in worship LIVE Tues, August 17 at 9pm EDT / 6pm PDT on http://www.livestream.com/integritylive! Add your questions via the live chat OR ahead of time on their facebook page.

10 Things To Consider When Buying Worship Software

Jesse Lewis — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 12:00:11 +0000

Reposted with Permission from WorshipFilms.com

Many churches around the country are recognizing the limitations of Microsoft Powerpoint® in a worship setting, and are seeking other solutions. There are a number of good church presentation software packages available, and it is a significant decision because your choice will impact your worship service in a tangible way for years to come. Here are some key factors to consider before you make your final purchase:

1. Flexibility. The ability to make changes to a service schedule quickly is critical, particularly in a contemporary worship environment. Can you access songs and scriptures ‘on the fly’? Can you make an edit while an image is being projected, so that you can correct typos, etc.? Can you change backgrounds in the middle of a song?

2. Background Options. It is essential to have a variety of options available for background images. Does the software allow for text over video? Does it accept Flash files? Does it allow for a live camera feed as a source on which you can overlay text?

3. Control Screen Interface. Most presentation software packages (including Powerpoint® now) can utilize a dual monitor approach, meaning that your computer screen acts as one monitor and shows the control interface, while the projector acts as the second monitor and shows only the image you wish to project. How easy is it to navigate the software’s control screen (and to teach others to do so)? Is the interface intuitive, or are some elements difficult to locate? How quickly can you make changes?

4. Access to Scriptures. Many pastors want to be able to read from multiple translations of the Bible, and want the key verses projected. How does the software access scriptures? How many different translations of the Bible are included in the purchase price? Are additional versions available? What about foreign language versions (if you have that need)?

5. Text Editor. Most churches that utilize presentation software project sermon notes during the service. Does the software have a built-in text editor? Does it import Powerpoint® files easily? What kind of background options do you have when projecting text? What kind of text animations or transitions are available? Can you print the notes that you type?

6. Accepted File Formats. In today’s media environment, versatility rules. What video and audio file formats does the software accept? Can you play audio files that do not contain video? Will the software accept a video file with audio as a background on which you can overlay text?

7. DVD/Blue Ray Playback. Many pastors love to use movie clips for sermon illustrations. Can the software set an in-point and out-point on a DVD or Blue Ray disc and allow you to put that clip into your service schedule?

8. Song Library. What kinds of songs are pre-loaded with the software (only public domain hymns, or contemporary songs as well)? Does the software allow easy import of lyrics from other sources, such as CCLI? How easy is it to add your own song lyrics?

9. Hardware Requirements. Hardware requirements vary greatly from package to package. It should be noted that the minimum hardware requirements listed on the software package may be lower than what is actually required if you are wanting to use videos or video backgrounds within the software.

10. Support and Upgrades. Technology is changing at a rapid pace, and it is important to get connected to a software company that is committed to ongoing improvements and enhancements. It is also important to have a good reference manual and readily-accessible online or phone support. What are current users saying about the support they receive?

Most of the more popular software packages have free trial versions that you can download and use on a temporary basis. Experimenting with them is a worthy investment of time and should go a long way in helping you determine which one is most suitable for your church.

Using Intensity in House & Stage Lighting

Adam Ogden — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 12:00:06 +0000

Disclaimer: If your church uses IMAG (Image magnification, aka Cameras on big screens in the room), this article is NOT….repeat…..NOT for you. I am writing this article to the majority of the churches out there, who aren’t using IMAG, either because of budget, or because of the lack of need. If you do have IMAG, and you aren’t happy with how things look, contact me directly.

In my last article, I covered a lot of color theory, with a lot of book-smart information. Hopefully, you have had a chance to experiment with some of those theories….hopefully, with some great results. This article is a bit of a sequel to that article….but the kind of sequel where you didn’t need to see the first one, to get the second one. Here, I would like to continue talking about lighting in worship, and specifically how using intensity (Brightness) can help your overall goal.

House Lighting

House lighting is somewhat of a thorn in my side. During worship, or specials like songs, dramas, videos, etc….I would prefer to have the house lights all the way off. My Fire Marshall disagrees. Every place is different, and some of you may have the blessing of not having to deal with your FM. If that’s the case, good for you….but keep in mind that safety is still our responsibility, even if we don’t have a city official checking over our shoulder. House lights are used for 2 things….to see where we are going, and to see each other. Depending on the quality and coverage of your particular system, these suggestions may vary, so test it out, and see what works for you. I like to live by the rule of lower is better, especially during a particularly worshipful moment. The higher the house lights are, the more you can see (duh)….which means you can see the kid play with his GI Joe…you can see the husband checking football scores on his iPhone….you can see the old man asleep in his wheelchair…..you can see the people scurrying in late. You can see everything while you are ‘trying’ to worship. Lowering the house lights during these times helps to focus people’s attention on the stage, by eliminating the potential distractions around them. At CRCC, we did our walk-in look at 100%. Once the first song started, we bumped down to 90%. With the start of each song after that, we bumped down another 10%, until we were down to 70% or so. This is nice and subtle, and helps keep the way lighted for the stragglers coming from their cars during the first couple songs. House lights are necessary operational lights…not theatrical lights…..so don’t flash them, or other crazy things like that. Nice slow 4-5 second fades look real nice on House Lighting systems. There are some churches that never go above 60%, and that’s when the Pastor is teaching. If that works for you, that’s cool…just remember every system is different. If you look at the picture below carefully, you can see how the crowd is lit up with a deep red, to match the feel of the stage. If the house lights were at full, I wouldn’t have been able to achieve this effect:

House lights don’t have to be house lights

“Huh”, you say? Just as a matter of creativity, remember that house lights exist primarily, to see where you are going, and to see each other. That doesn’t automatically mean you have to use the house chandeliers or cans or whatever your house lighting system is. You CAN be creative with that as well. Check out this picture below from an Easter service I did at CRCC. All of the house lighting was what you see on the wall behind the gentlemen in the picture (yes, he’s wearing a Kilt. No, I don’t know why). Color splash on the walls and a breakup gobo proved to be a great way to light the house, while still keeping a creative mood:

Stage Lighting

Just like your house lighting system, your stage lighting system can become a very effective tool if you use the intensity of those lights in a logical and practical manner.
Not every light has to be on all the time. Likewise, not every light that is on, should be on at 100% intensity. White lights will ALWAYS wash out whatever colors you have on stage. Always. No seriously. They will. So if you are trying to use colors, keep your white lights down. During worship, cover your stage with tons of color. Slap it on as thick and rich as you can. Then, add in the white front light a little at a time, just until you can see the facial features of the people on stage. This method will help you achieve the design you desire….lighting to color, and lighting to see. Also, try only using the white lights to light the specific areas on the stage where people are. If you can shutter off, or focus a light so that it doesn’t splash all over the place, that will help your color saturation stay high. Try using zones on your stage, and setting up your lights to light just those zones. See the picture below for examples of keeping the white light under control.

Also consider that in stage world, a blackout is never a blackout. Typical theater practice is to use a deep blue color to signify a “black” stage. I try to never use a total blackout, unless it is specifically requested or needed for a specific reason.

Intensity can also be used to mood, just like color can. A guy sitting on a bench, lit with a white light at 100%, doesn’t say “A Park, at night”. However, that same bench lit in blue at 100% with 2-3 lights, and then a white light at 20%, does convey that idea much more clearly.

Lastly, keep in mind that some colors are inherently brighter than others. If you were to take a par can, and insert a yellow gel, and then take a second par, and insert a blue gel, the blue would be 2-3 dimmer than the yellow. This means one of two things needs to happen…you either need to add 3-4 extra blue lights to balance the intensity, or lower the intensity of the yellow light. See the balance in intensity between these lights:

There are several emotions or ideas you can convey by using intensity. If you change your thinking about the way you use your lighting, and try some new things, I believe you will find that you can create some great worship environments.

As always, if you have any questions, feel free to light me up at adamogden@hotmail.com.

Lighting Color Theory

Adam Ogden — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 12:00:23 +0000

Maybe you are fresh new church, just starting out. Maybe you have been around a while, but are just updating your equipment. Maybe you just built a new building, and have tons of new technology. No matter where you are right now, there is a potential that you could be saying this, regardless of which category you may fall in to: “What do I do with these lights?!?”

Lighting has really taken off in churches over the last decade or so. As the technology gets better, it gets cheaper, which makes it more accessible to smaller churches. Gone are the days of only the “mega-churches” having the best technology. The reasons for using lighting in the worship setting are numerous. Not only can you use lighting for the obvious reasons of seeing the people on stage…but if used well, it can help take someone to a deeper, more abundant place of worship. “Are you serious?” you may ask. I absolutely am. If you go to Disney, you are fully immersed from the very moment you enter the front gate. The lights, the sounds, the environment, the staff, etc….EVERYTHING is there for a specific reason, to take you to that magical place where they want you to be, so you can get the most of your experience. Churches should be the same way. Except, we aren’t delivering some Mickey Mouse message (no pun intended)….we are trying to get people to connect to our Creator in a meaningful and very real way. Why not use lighting, projection, set designs, awesome worship bands, etc….if it draws people in?

Using lighting correctly can make all the difference between helping or hindering a worship service. You don’t have to have haze, or flashy intelligent lighting….you can make a room look great with just a few pars….if you use them correctly. Let’s get into some of the basics.

The Color Wheel

An RGB Color Wheel is traditional in the field of art. The wheel shows the three Primary colors as Red, Green, and Blue. I suggest you save this. Print this. Use this. You’ll see why below.

PRIMARY COLORS : Red, green and blue
These are signified by the black triangle. They are Primary, because there are no two colors that can be combined to create these colors. However, by combining any of these three colors, such as any LED lighting fixture, you can create any other color in the universe. Adding all of these colors together at once produces a white light. This technique is called additive color mixing.

SECONDARY COLORS : Cyan, magenta, and yellow

These are the colors formed by mixing the primary colors. They are located exactly halfway between the primary colors. Intelligent lighting uses Subtractive color mixing, using these colors, to obtain any other color. The reason this is called subtractive mixing, rather than additive like the RGB, is that RGB starts black, and adds the colors until you get to white. With CMY mixing, you start with a white light, and then add filters in front of it, until you get your desired color. Additive color mixing gets brighter as you add color, while subtractive gets darker, to more color you add.

TERTIARY COLORS:  Red-yellow, red-magenta, magenta-blue, blue-cyan, cyan-green and yellow-green

These are the colors formed by mixing a primary and a secondary color, which is why they are located halfway between a primary and a secondary, and why the hue is a two word name, such as blue-green, red-violet, and yellow-orange. They are indicated by the white hexagonal shape.

COLOR HARMONY
Harmony can be defined as a pleasing arrangement of parts, whether it be music, poetry, color, or even an ice cream sundae.  In visual experiences, harmony is something that is pleasing to the eye. It engages the worshiper and it creates an inner sense of order, a balance in the visual experience. When something is not harmonious, it’s either boring or chaotic. At one extreme is a visual experience that is so bland that the worshiper is not engaged. The human brain will reject under-stimulating information. At the other extreme is a visual experience that is so overdone, so chaotic that the worshiper can’t stand to look at it. The human brain rejects what it can not organize, what it can not understand. The visual task requires that we present a logical structure. Color harmony delivers visual interest and a sense of order.

Some Formulas for Color Harmony

There are many theories for harmony. The following illustrations and descriptions present some basic formulas.

A color scheme based on analogous colors

Analogous colors are any three colors which are side by side on a 12 part color wheel. Usually one of the three colors predominates.

A color scheme based on complementary colors

Complementary colors are any two colors which are directly opposite each other. In the illustration above, there are several variations of yellow-green in the leaves and several variations of red-purple in the orchid. These opposing colors create maximum contrast and maximum stability.

If you talk to any graphic designer, they will tell you the #1 Rule of things NOT to do in graphic design, it to put yellow text on a blue background. It’s hard to read, and it’s not visually pleasing. If you look at the color wheel, you see why. Yellow and Blue are neither analogous nor complementary colors. In theory, this is why it does not look good. Having this color wheel handy when setting your lights will give you a great starting point when deciding what to do with your lights. When you use the Analogous theory, it may seem like the colors are too close to the same, but that’s ok. Subtle differences create depth, without going overboard. Once you get cozy with this theory, start playing with it, and combining practices. For instance, maybe start with an analogous set of 2-3 colors….let’s say Blue, Cyan, and Blue-Green. Then, as an accent color, maybe to be used in on 1-2 lights, use a complementary color to that set, like yellow-orange. You can create some great looking designs, if you stick to the wheel. As you can see in the photos above, even things in nature seem to follow this theory. Knowing this theory helps you to view the beauty He sets before us in a whole new light.

Different readings of the same color

Keep in mind that even once you choose your color palette, you can still vary the way that they are used. In the boxes above, the same two colors are used, but the primary color is flipped. Just changing that subtle difference makes a drastic change. Consider a change like the between a verse and chorus, or maybe on a key change. It will help build the anticipation along with the music, but you don’t have the reinvent the wheel (pun intended). Simple, but effective.

Color Association

Lastly, listen to the lyrics. Colors have meaning. Every logo you have ever seen, whether at a restaurant, a clothing store, a grocery store, an online advertisement for something….the designer picked the colors you saw for a specific reason. Lighting is no different. Colors have many meanings, and can be used to relay information. There are some associations that people know by heart….”Green with Envy”, “Red-faced with Anger”, Sadness is blue, purity is white, girls are pink, etc. But did you know that colors can also stand for certain days of the week? Or even planets? Colors can carry meaning just like the lyrics of a song can…..so if you take time to listen to the tone of the song, and then program your lights accordingly, the effect can be quite dramatic. See this chart below:

COLOR: Associations and Symbolism

RED: Signifies: strength, health, vigor, lust, danger, Holiday: Yule, Planet: Mars, Day: Tuesday.

ORANGE: Signifies: encouragement, adaptability, stimulation, attraction, plenty, kindness, Holiday: Candlemas. Planets: Sun, Mars, Mercury Days: Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday.

YELLOW: Signifies: knowledge, learning, concentration, persuasion, charm, confidence, jealousy, joy, comfort, Planet: Mercury, Day: Wednesday.

GREEN:Signifies: finances, fertility, luck, success energy, charity, growth rejuvenation, ambition, counteract greed and jealousy, plants kingdom including herbal healing, Planets: Venus, Mercury, Days: Friday, Wednesday Holidays: Spring Equinox, Beltane.

BLUE: Signifies: tranquility, understanding, patience, health, truth, devotion, sincerity, honor, loyalty, peace, wisdom, protection during sleep, astral projection Planets: Moon, Venus, Saturn, Jupiter Days: Monday, Friday, Saturday, Thursday.

VIOLET/PURPLE: Signifies: power, piety, sanctity, sentimentality, tension, sadness amplification of other energies. wisdom, high ideals, spiritual protection and healing, psychic ability, protective energy, Planet: Jupiter, Day: Thursday.

BLACK: Negation without reflecting, unlocking when stuck, banishing evil or negativity, Holiday- Samhain, Planet- Saturn, Day – Saturday.

WHITE: Signifies: purity, consecration, meditation, divination, exorcism, the full moon, healing, peace, spiritual strength, may be substituted for any other color. Planet: Moon, Day: Monday.

GRAY: Signifies: balance, neutrality, used in erasing, canceling, neutralizing, and return to the universe without repercussion destructive energies Planet: Moon, Day: Monday.

PINK: Signifies healing, familial or emotional love (rather than sexual), friendship, affections, unselfish emotions, spiritual healing, banishing hatred, Gem: rose quartz Planet:Venus, Day: Friday/

BROWN: Signifies: The Earth. grounding, trees, concentration, telepathy, spells to locate lost objects, protection of the familiars, pets, and animals, Planets: Moon (tan browns), Venus (all), Saturn (dark browns), Days: Monday/ Friday/ Saturday.

SILVER: Signifies: purity, the moon, treasure, values, female energy, the unconscious mind, Day: Monday.

GOLD: Signifies: the sun, male energy, wealth, financial wisdom, conscious mind, attracting happiness, activity, intelligence, Planet: Sun, Day: Sunday.

In closing, I hope you see that the impact you can have with lighting, is much greater if you take some time, do your homework, and specifically try to connect to your congregation with your design. Note also, that these theories can be used with any stage lighting apparatus that has coloring options. You don’t have to have the latest and greatest gear to get great results. In my next article, we will dive into how intensity, or brightness, can make a difference as well.

Some information/graphics were obtained from website whose Copyrights I believe, ran out. I am in no way, claiming that this article is 100% mine. I thank those sites for providing this info.

What Can Worship Software Do For Your Church?

Guest Contributor — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 18:58:03 +0000

Worship presentation software is an investment. And like any investment, we want to make sure we are getting the greatest return out of it. But many local churches are under-utilizing this valuable resource because they only use it in the main Sunday morning worship services, when in fact, there are a number of church ministries that can benefit from it.

Before we get into possible applications, though, we need to discuss software licensing. Some software companies (e.g. EasyWorship) allow you to load your worship software on as many computers at the same church campus as you like – this is called a “site license”. Other companies, such as Media Shout, allow you to install the software on a certain number of computers before requiring you to obtain additional licensing (2 in Media Shout’s case). Licensing is important because often, different ministries meet in different areas of a church campus. So the first step is finding out where on campus computers are available, and whether or not you are able to load your worship software on them.

Assuming hardware and software are not a limitation, here are some possibilities:

Children’s Ministry. It just might be time to retire that flannel board, folks. There are some great media collections available now that are created specifically for children’s ministry. Grab a dependable member of your church’s youth group, give them a couple weeks to get up to speed on your worship presentation software, and viola – your children’s worship service instantly has a completely updated new look that will help you keep the attention of youngest members. WorshipFilms has collections of worship backgrounds, countdowns, transition elements, and still-image Bible stories design specially for your children’s ministry.
Youth Ministry. Most of the uses for your worship presentation software in a youth group setting are the same as the ones for your main services (and make no mistake – you need to be using video extensively in youth services). The thing that is different is the content – here it is louder, edgier, raw, and completely honest. Remember too, that humor is an especially effective tool in this environment. Check out Countdowns 4.5 for some hilarious examples.
Seniors’ Groups. Seniors are sometimes victims of bad stereotyping when it comes to technology – many of them embrace and enjoy it (they might just have a harder time with the actual operation of it). When using projection in this setting, consider using background loops that are more nature-oriented and subtle in motion. You will also want to make sure that the font you are using is easily readable from the anywhere in the room.
Men’s Ministry/Women’s Ministry. There is some great video content out there that is designed to be shown only to men, or only to women. These videos can be great discussion starters on issues that are gender-specific. In particular, real-life testimonies are highly effective because they provide points of identification for people watching.
Small Groups. Although possibly a little less convenient, your small groups may also benefit from your worship presentation software. Most newer televisions have a VGA input. Plug a laptop in and display song lyrics for your groups worship time, or show video clips to launch discussions. You could also use it as an active whiteboard, by typing in text and firing it to the screen as thoughts are being shared.

These are just a few of the many applications for your worship presentation software. You have invested a lot of time and money in getting the software functional for your church. Now think outside the box and experiment with new ways to use it.

Reposted with Permission from WorshipFilms.com

Should You Use Loops in Worship?

Nick Thacker — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 14:56:30 +0000

It’s pretty obvious these days that most Christian bands and artists have a bit of help on the platform. From AutoTune to Vocoders, musicians are getting pretty technologically advanced when it comes to creating music for worship. While some of this technology can easily be thrown to the wayside as “trendy” and not worth truly exploring, one simple fact remains: “loops” are here to stay. Originally a loop (as it applies to music) involved repeating a short section of music, a riff or motif, or a repeated background part or texture. While this still may be the case in some instances, bands and artists that use “loops” usually are referring to the background musical ideas and pieces that accompany the live band. Think karaoke without the main instruments and much less lame. Today loops incorporate synth patches and rhythmic textures, drum beats and guitar riffs, and are used commonly to fill out a thin texture or just add a fresh element to a worship experience.

So the question is: should you use them in a worship environment? Obviously there are benefits that loops can bring to the table, including:

Perfect tempo. Loops are played with a click track that is piped into key musicians’ ears (drums, leaders, etc.), meaning that you’ll STAY in time throughout the entire song.
Fill-in-the-blanks. Missing a musician you’d really like to have in your lineup? Adding a piano part or some background synth to a loop can wake up an old arrangement and really make your worship set come alive.
Freedom. Ironically, loops tend to help musicians feel more “free” in their worship: they’re able to play around the loop’s textures, melodies, and harmonic elements in ways that weren’t possible before.

There are certainly other ways loos can add to a worship experience, but as with all good things, they can also come with a price:

Adds points of failure. Using loops means you’ll need extra equipment, a computer, and someone trained to run them. All this can be a blessing to your ministry, or just chaos. Choose wisely in your setup and you should be fine, but computers inevitably crash and people don’t always show up.
Money. Buying the equipment to get started may be the option available to you, and while you can save some money following some of our guidelines, budgets always seem to be tightest around uncertain musical ventures…
Musical constraints. Some of your musicians may not be ready to “hang” with a loop right away, especially if you have a drummer who loves to drag, or a singer who can’t count. These problems can be easy to work around in a normal band setting, but a loop is unforgiving–tempos must be locked in and lead sheets must be accurate!

While brief, these points outline the first things most leaders look for in the pros and cons of introducing loops to a worship team’s repertoire. Playing around with loops should obviously happen during practices and rehearsals, and ONLY when all musicians needed are ready should they be introduced (slowly) to a congregation.

We’ll cover more about introducing loops to a church in later posts, but if you’re interested in learning more, check out our website at www.LoopingWorship.com. Also, follow us on Twitter at LoopingWorship!