Ballast Media

I figured out how to do something fun and useful that I thought I’d share.  I wanted to replace a recorded drum track – in this case the kick drum, from a live recording with a sampled kick drum sound.  I used Reaper as the multi-track DAW ($60 for non-profit) and Grizzly (Free) as the Drum Virtual Instrument.  For the sake of this tutorial I’ll assume that you have both installed properly.

1. Initial Track Setup

This isn’t really a step, but it just shows you the initial track arrangement in Reaper.  Notice the kick drum track that we will be working with.

2. Insert Drum Trigger

First we will insert the drum trigger effect in to the kick drum track.  This is the effect that will use the recorded audio to generate a midi trigger signal.  Do this by clicking the “Track Insert FX” area that is the top most part of the track in the mixer view.  Search in the FX dialog for “trigger” and you should see the SStillwell/drumtrigger effect.   Select it and click ok.

3. Insert Grizzly Virtual Instrument

Go to the Insert menu in Reaper and select “Virtual Instrument on new track…”  Search in the dialog for “Grizzly” and you should see the Grizzly Virtual Instrument.  Select it and click ok.

4. Select NO to build routing prompt

You will receive this prompt, but since we are only replacing one track, the kick drum, and don’t need individual tracks for any other sounds, just the default stereo track will be fine.  Click NO.

5. Set the Midi Note

Look at the midi note assigned to Pad 1 in Grizzly.  The default is 36.  Enter this note in to the SStillwell/drumtrigger effect in the midi note parameter.  Here the midi note has been set to 36 in the drum trigger.

Note that in the top pull down of Grizzly you can select different drum kits to obtain a kick drum sound you like.  Click the Play button of Pad 1 to hear the sample.  You can also define your own sample by clicking the folder icon in Pad 1.  I also turn the volume all the way up to 100.

6. Add  track send to kick drum track.

So now we need to create the link between the kick drum track and the Grizzly track.  So, click the “Track Sends” area of the track, which is right below the “Track Insert FX” area.  You will be presented with the following dialog.

Use the “Add New Send” drop down to select the Grizzly track, your setup should now look like this.

7. Adjust the trigger threshold

You should now be able to playback your project and the audio from the original kick drum will now be triggering the sample in Grizzly.  Adjust the Open threshold so that each kick sound causes Grizzly to be triggered, and the close threshold so that background noise doesn’t trigger any sound.

Thats it, you’ve now replaced the live recorded audio with a sample.

Here is a design that I’m thinking of using for Palm Sunday. It’s very simple, uses red to remain true to the vestments of Palm Sunday, and has a hint of palm trees in the design.  Since we will not only be celebrating Palm Sunday, but also Passion Sunday, at some point during the service we will switch to the second background with a cross design on the side.  Feel free to download this design and use it.  As always, all I ask in return is that you post a comment and let me know who you are and where you are using it, what church, etc.

You can also search “free worship backgrounds” on this blog to find all the other media I’ve given away.

	Download here: Palm Sunday #1 (185)
	Download here: Palm Sunday #2 (196)

It’s been a while since I’ve posted any free media on my site, so I figured with Easter coming up this would be a good time.  This is a welcome slide and background that I created last year for our Easter services.  I’ll be making a new set of slides for this year’s services, but will probably have those out too late for anyone to use this year.

Again, feel free to download and use these, all I ask in return is that you leave a comment here with your name and where/how you plan to use these.

You can also search “free worship backgrounds” on this blog to find all the other media I’ve given away.

	Download here: Easter Welcome Slide Variation (237)
	Download here: Easter Welcome Slide (173)
	Download here: Easter Background Slide (351)

Is your church hosting a Super Bowl party this year?  Here is how your church can do it legally: http://www.youtube.com/churchlaw#p/a/u/0/EX1s9iDztQU

Also, here is an article outlining some of the legal process that occurred to get the NFL to agree to these new guidelines.

Streaming live audio of your worship service can be a great service to people who can’t physically make it to church on Sunday.  Missionaries, shut-ins or even members who have to stay home with sick kids.

Here are 3 simple steps to free audio streaming at your church.

1. Audio source
You need a way to feed audio in to a computer that is internet connected.  You could probably use the built in sound card, but I’d recommend using an external USB audio device for better sound quality.  You may already have these kinds of things laying around your church.

2. Encoding Software
You need to download the free Windows Media Encoder.   This program will take your source audio and encode it to an mp3 stream that can be sent to a streaming server.

3. Streaming Server
You need a streaming server for people to connect to and listen to your audio.  You can obtain this service, free for churches, from www.netbroadcasting.tv.  By sending them an email with your church website, they will setup an account for you.  Its quick and easy and once your account is setup, they will send you an email with simple step by step instructions on how to configure Windows Media Encoder, and also how to get the streaming content placed on your church website.

Thats it!  Happy streaming.

Since the number one reason people visit my blog is for free worship backgrounds, I thought I’d offer a simple step by step guide to how I made my latest background.  This should show you how you can take a few freely available resources and turn it in to something that can work as a worship background.

This is the background I’m going to create.  You can download it here: Ancient Stone Background (421)

1. Find Inspiration

The first step is to come up with a concept or idea for your background.   I like to look through stock photography sites like http://www.sxc.hu.  Or you can even take a look at what people have made over at www.worshiphousemedia.com (Be warned, you may just decide to purchase a background for a couple bucks rather then make it yourself if you come across one you really like!)  I also like to visit sites like cgtextures.com to find interesting textures.

I found the following image at cgtextures.com and it became my source of inspiration for this background.

I knew that it wouldn’t suffice on it’s own, so I also found this bare cement texture to go along with it.

2. Create the initial concept.

In Photoshop I put these together two images together and came up with this:

3. Change the color

To make the background the color you want, use Hue and Saturation to color the image.  Don’t make it too dark yet initially as we still have a ways to go.  Leave the final brightness tweaking until the end.

4. Add a little something for interest

I found this image of christmas lights on http://www.sxc.hu

Add it to the original image using a blending mode, in this case Add.  I used hue and saturation in colorize mode on this layer to make the color brownish-orange and a bit de-saturated.

5. Keep the center area clean for words.

Since this is a worship background, its important to keep the center area clear of too many distractions for the words.  Using a faded mask I removed some of the lights from the center.

6. Final color correction

Finally I added a vignette to darken the edges and used a curves adjustment to create the final look of the image.

Thats it!  Just a few simple steps and you have something that could be used as a worship background.

Cedar Springs Presbyterian Church Sunday School Promo Video 2009

Came across this resource today from Elevation Church.  They are offering some of their graphic designs for free.   They also provide you with the photoshop .psd files, so you can customize the graphics for your needs.  Check it out:  http://resources.elevationchurch.org/

This is my final entry about the teleprompter.  Just wanted to show a few pictures of what it looks like in use, how the laptop is setup and what software I’m using.  Also, a few thoughts on some additions I’m planning on making.

First, here is the teleprompter in use.  You can see what it looks like to someone reading it, and what it looks like from the camera’s point of view.  You just place your laptop screen down on the shelf flat and I propped up the keyboard with some books.

Talent Perspective

Camera Perspective

Finally, here is a shot of someone who is reading the teleprompter on video.  You can see they are looking right in to the camera.  Nice!  I’ve used this teleprompter on every video I’ve made since building it.  Definitly well worth the investment!

West Reading the Teleprompter

The teleprompter generated so much buzz, other people started asking to use it!  Here Rachel Vander Merwe borrowed it for a video she is putting together.

Rachel using the Teleprompter

Finally, I’m going to add a support piece for the black felt cloth.  Right now it just kind of rests on the top of the glass and then the camera.  I’m going to put in two supports and staple the felt down to it.  This will help clean up how it looks and also make it so that the felt won’t fall down in front of the camera.

I am using a software program called Prompt to generate the text for the teleprompter.  It mirrors the text on screen so that it appears correctly reflected in the glass for the talent.  It also handles scrolling the text, etc.  You can find it here.