Running a Service¶

This page explains what you do during the 9:30am Sunday service. By now the system should already be on — if not, go to Sunday Startup first.

Your job during the service is to:

Open and close the right microphones at the right time.
Switch the cameras to follow what is happening.
Advance the PowerPoint slides.
Keep an eye on the livestream.

Golden rule

The most important job is sound in the room. If you have to choose where to focus, always keep the in-room sound working first. Cameras and livestream are second.

Before the service starts¶

Confirm the livestream is live (you started it in Step 10 of startup).
Have a holding slide showing (church name / welcome).
Make sure the lectern microphone is on and ready for the first speaker.

Microphones — who uses what¶

When	Microphone	Channel
Speaking from the lectern	Lectern Sennheiser condenser	Channel 1
Speaking from the pulpit	Pulpit Sennheiser condenser	Channel 5
Roving speaker / guest	Handheld radio mic	Channel 2 or 3
Service leader moving around	Headset radio mic	Channel 4
Choir or organ	Stereo pair of Rode M5	Choir/Organ channels

Open a microphone = raise its fader (slider) so sound comes through. Close a microphone = lower its fader when not in use.

Only open the microphones being used

Open microphones pick up background noise and can cause feedback (a loud squeal). Lower the fader for any microphone nobody is speaking into.

➡️ Full detail: Microphone Guide

Cameras — following the service¶

You have two cameras:

Camera 1 — RoboShot HDMI 12 — usually a wide shot of the front.
Camera 2 — AVKANS 20X PTZ Camera Pro — usually for close-ups (the speaker, the lectern).

To change which camera the livestream shows, press the matching camera button on the StreamDeck. The picture changes smoothly.

Simple camera plan for a normal service

Singing / whole congregation → wide shot (Camera 1).
Someone speaking → close-up of that person (Camera 2).
When unsure, stay on the wide shot. A steady wide shot always looks fine.

➡️ Full detail: Camera Operation

PowerPoint — advancing the slides¶

The slides (song words, notices, readings) are run from PowerPoint on the presentation PC.

Press the right arrow (or the StreamDeck "Next Slide" button) to move forward.
Press the left arrow to go back.

Stay one step ahead

Watch and listen so you can change the slide just as the song or section changes. It is better to be ready slightly early than late.

➡️ Full detail: PowerPoint Operation

A typical Sunday service flow¶

flowchart TD
    A[Holding slide + livestream live] --> B[Welcome - lectern mic, wide camera]
    B --> C[Singing - song slides, wide camera]
    C --> D[Readings/prayers - lectern or pulpit mic, close-up camera]
    D --> E[Sermon - pulpit/headset mic, close-up camera]
    E --> F[More singing - song slides, wide camera]
    F --> G[Notices - lectern mic, notices slides]
    G --> H[Closing - wide camera, closing slide]
    H --> I[End: stop livestream after final words]

This is a guide, not a strict rule. Every service is a little different — follow what is actually happening in the room.

Keep an eye on the livestream¶

Every few minutes, glance at:

The RodeCaster Video screen — is it still streaming?
A phone or the PC showing the YouTube stream — does it look and sound right?

If the livestream drops out, see No Livestream Audio or No Camera Video.

A livestream problem is not an emergency

If the livestream has trouble, the in-room service continues normally. Fix it calmly if you can; if not, note it for Mills IT and carry on.

At the end of the service¶

Switch to a closing / holding slide.
Keep the livestream running for a minute or two after the final words.
Stop the livestream (StreamDeck "Stop Stream" button).
Lower all microphone faders.

Then move on to Sunday Shutdown to turn everything off safely.