Running a Service

This guide explains how to run lyrics during a service: using the GO LIVE button, the Presenter view, keyboard controls, multi-display setup, and quick access to songs.

The GO LIVE button

In Presenter, the header has:

  • Black — Sends a black screen to the output immediately (stays black until you change the slide or go off live).
  • GO LIVE — Starts sending the current Preview to the presentation output (projector or NDI). The button turns green and shows ● STOP.
  • ● STOP — Stops sending to the output. The audience display stops updating until you press GO LIVE again.

Typical flow:

  1. Before the service: build your schedule and open Presenter.
  2. Select the first item and first verse/slide in the list.
  3. When you’re ready to show lyrics, press GO LIVE (or Enter). The current preview goes to the output.
  4. Advance slides with Space or arrow keys (see Keyboard navigation).
  5. For a black screen (e.g. prayer), press B or click Black.
  6. At the end, press ● STOP or Escape to stop the output.

Presenter view explained

Presenter has three main areas:

1. Schedule / Songs (left)

  • Schedule tab — Lists all items in the active schedule (songs, custom text, blank). Click an item to load its verses/slides. The first item is auto-selected if none is chosen.
  • Songs tab — Full song library with search. Use this to pull up a song that isn’t in the schedule (e.g. an extra song). Click a song to see its verses; use + to add it to the schedule on the fly.

2. Verses / slides (center)

  • Shows the sections (Verse 1, Chorus, etc.) for the selected schedule item or song.
  • Click a verse — Updates the Preview (and, if you’re live, also updates the Live output).
  • Double‑click a verse — Pushes that slide to the output and turns GO LIVE on if it wasn’t already (“→ LIVE” behavior).

Use this list to see what’s coming and to jump to any slide.

3. Preview and Live (right)

  • Preview — What will go out when you push or go live. You can change the slide background here (small background icon) for the current slide.
  • Live — What is currently on the audience display. A green dot and “LIVE” mean output is active.
  • → LIVE — Sends the current Preview to the output (and turns live on if needed).

So: choose item → choose verse (click or double‑click) → use GO LIVE or → LIVE as needed.

Keyboard navigation

These shortcuts work in Presenter when the focus is not in a text field (e.g. not in the song search box):

Key Action
Space Next slide (or next schedule item at end of current item).
→ or ↓ Same as Space (next slide).
← or ↑ Previous slide (or previous schedule item at start of current).
B Black screen (send black to output).
Enter Toggle GO LIVE on/off.
Escape If live, stop live (same as ● STOP).

Full list: Keyboard Shortcuts.

Multi-display setup

  • Operator screen — The main app window (Library, Schedule, Presenter, Settings) stays on your laptop or control monitor.
  • Audience output — The slides the congregation sees. This can be:
    • A second monitor (projector or TV) chosen in Settings → Display → Presentation Output. Pick the display you want (e.g. “Monitor 2”) or leave “Auto (Primary)” to use the primary display.
    • NDI — If you use OBS or another NDI receiver, enable NDI in Settings and add “Open Worship” as an NDI source. The same slide content is sent over NDI (see NDI & OBS Setup).

So: run Presenter on your machine, set the correct Presentation Output in Settings if using a second monitor, and press GO LIVE when you want that output (or NDI) to show the current slide.

Quick song access during the service

  • From the schedule — Use the Schedule tab and click the next song (or any item) in the list. Verses load in the center; click or double‑click to update Preview/Live.
  • Ad‑hoc song — Switch to the Songs tab, search for the song, click it. Click a verse to preview; double‑click to push to live. Use + to add the song to the schedule so it appears in the Schedule tab as well.
  • Black — Press B anytime for a black screen; advance or change slide to bring lyrics back.

Tips for volunteers

  1. Before the service: Open Presenter, select the right schedule, and click through the first few items to confirm order and verses.
  2. Rehearse: Practice Space/arrows and B so you don’t have to look at the keyboard.
  3. One person on lyrics: If two people run the app, agree who advances slides to avoid double-presses.
  4. Backup: Export a backup from Settings occasionally; if the machine is replaced, you can restore or re-import data.

For NDI and livestreaming, see NDI & OBS Setup. For all shortcuts, see Keyboard Shortcuts.