Hi Folks,

We are using " Song Show Plus" as our primary display program. We also use " Power Point" for some of our locally produced material.

We use a 2.53 Ghz. Pentium computer running "XP pro" as an OS. We have two video output cards with the second one having a " S-VHS" output also.

We are using a Sanyo projector that has two computer inputs and two S-VHS inputs.

We use these by routing the second video output card's, 15 pin output via a 100' cable to the projector.

We have the first video output card to the computer monitor which is a 19" Sanyo LCD "TV" with a computer 15 pin input connector. This monitor was selected because it accepts a "video signal" as a "PIP"( picture in picture) in the S-VHS domain.

So the S-VHS input to the projector comes from a Radio Shack 4 input video selector ($45), which has two isolated outputs, and will select 1 of 4 inputs, which can be either composite video or component video ( S-VHS) and stereo audio.

We have as selectable video sources, the computer, a VCR, a DVD, and a Camcorder.

We use the input selector's 2nd output to drive the "PIP" input on the computer monitor. This allows the operator to cue up a video source, with out switching the projector to video, or when the projector is in the " no show", or black output mode. We can also roll the DVD or Tape or and source and come out of black of the projector, so we don't show the annoying " tally messages", like "Playing", or "Paused". This also allows smoother presentations since the projector requires about 1.5-2 seconds of black when it switches between computer and video inputs via the IR control. This box also works as an input converter, since it will convert an S-VHS input to a composite or a composite to S-VHS. This allows an older TV monitor to be also used as a "preview monitor", since it had a composite input and can be now used to see the S-VHS inputs.

We use the camcorder input for viewing live, the "Children’s Sermon" portion of our contemporary service.

During an internment in our Columbarium we also route the outside service portion with the immediate family via the camera to the big screen, since the outside area is rather small.

We are currently adding a second complete system to be placed at the back of the Church to allow the singers in the "Praise Chorus" to see the words they are singing.

This will also be used by the Pastor for his notes during the sermon. This second system will be an 100" diagonal screen placed at the rear of the Church. The main screen is a 150" screen at the front of the Church on the left side.

We are a small church, St. Luke Lutheran Church of Sunnyvale, with two services, a Traditional, (150 + attendance, typically) and a Contemporary service ( 75+ attendance)

We are using the projection system at both services in different ways and another future project is an " electronic pulpit" which can be used anywhere in the church and will allow the pastor to control either or both projection systems.

Our bells run on a 300mhz Pentium 2 laptop (obsolete donation) running Win 98,SE thru a cannibalized Slumberger carillon amp and speakers.

I am a retired video engineer with over 30 years of video marketing management as a background. I also have a strong computer background with 25 years of experience with both Mac and Intel based systems, with a little bit of embedded Unix also.

Bye for now, Bill Carpenter