Advanced Settings for SN’s Hymnal Control ExplainedSN’s Hymnal Control is a specialized software/hardware interface designed to manage digital hymnals, setlists, and live presentation of liturgical music. This article walks through the advanced settings available in SN’s Hymnal Control, explains what each option does, and gives practical guidance for using them during worship services, rehearsals, and remote streaming. The intended audience is worship leaders, church IT volunteers, audiovisual technicians, and musicians who already know the basics of the program and want to get more out of its customization and automation features.
System overview and prerequisites
SN’s Hymnal Control integrates three main subsystems:
- a local song library (PDFs, chord charts, lyric slides);
- a live presentation engine (slide sequencing, transitions, overlays);
- external device/control interfaces (MIDI, network controllers, foot pedals).
Before changing advanced settings, confirm:
- Backup your library and settings — export configuration and media to external storage.
- Run the latest stable version of SN’s Hymnal Control and firmware for any connected controllers.
- Ensure your display/output devices and audio routing are connected and recognized by the software.
Profiles, roles, and multi-user management
Advanced setups often require different configurations for rehearsals, worship services, and guest musicians. SN’s Hymnal Control supports multiple profiles:
- Create a profile per service type (e.g., Morning Worship, Evening Praise, Choir Rehearsal).
- Assign role-based permissions (Admin, Operator, Viewer) to restrict changes during live events.
- Use profile inheritance to share core settings while overriding only required parameters for each profile.
Practical tip: keep a “Safe Live” profile with minimal editable options for volunteers.
Library organization and metadata optimization
Efficient metadata improves search, sorting, and automated setlist generation.
- Use consistent tagging: key, tempo, meter, arrangement, language.
- Enable automatic metadata extraction for PDFs and MusicXML where available.
- Group versions (e.g., “Lead sheet” vs “Full score”) to avoid duplicates in searches.
Create smart playlists based on metadata filters (e.g., all songs in G major under 90 BPM) to speed rehearsal planning.
Slide templates, overlays, and dynamic content
Advanced slide templates let you control layout and behavior per element.
- Define master templates for verse/chorus/bridge with flexible text boxes that auto-wrap.
- Use conditional layers to show chords only on musician displays while hiding them from congregational screens.
- Set up dynamic overlays for announcements, countdown timers, or hymn numbers that can appear between songs.
Use transparent PNG overlays to display logos without covering lyrics. Test readability on the actual projector/screen from the back of the room.
Transitions, timing, and slide follow mode
Fine-tuning transitions and timing reduces visible glitches during services.
- Configure crossfade, cut, or slide transitions with adjustable durations.
- Use Slide Follow Mode for automatic advancing based on pre-set durations per slide or MIDI timecode.
- Enable “Grace Advance” to allow manual advance within a small time window when Slide Follow Mode is active.
For hymns with variable verse lengths, prefer manual or MIDI foot-pedal control over strict auto-advance.
MIDI and external controller mapping
SN’s Hymnal Control exposes nearly every function to external controllers via MIDI and network protocols.
- Map foot pedals to Next/Previous slide, Start/Stop follow mode, or Toggle overlays.
- Use MIDI Program Change messages to switch between profiles or load setlists.
- Support for MIDI Clock allows synchronization with external metronomes and DAWs.
When mapping, label MIDI bindings clearly and keep a printable cheat sheet for stagehands.
OSC and networked control
For advanced installations, OSC (Open Sound Control) enables rich, networked interactions.
- Control slide changes, template switches, and custom actions from tablets or console surfaces.
- Implement secure subnetting and firewall rules to prevent accidental control from guest devices.
- Use OSC bundles for batching actions (e.g., start countdown and switch overlay together).
Test latency over Wi‑Fi; prefer wired Ethernet for mission-critical control.
Audio routing, click tracks, and embedded media
SN’s Hymnal Control can manage click tracks and embedded audio/video assets.
- Route audio to separate outputs (PA for backing track, monitor for click) using the mixer settings.
- Create per-song audio presets (mute backing, enable click, set volume) and apply automatically when a song is loaded.
- Use embedded metadata to cue videos or sound effects at specific slides.
Always check audio latency and buffer sizes before live use to avoid sync drift.
Custom actions, macros, and scripting
Power users can automate complex sequences with macros or scripts.
- Build macros that load a setlist, set the appropriate templates, start follow mode, and enable overlays.
- Use scripting hooks (where available) to react to events like “song end” to trigger recordings or lighting cues.
- Test scripts step-by-step in a sandbox profile before enabling them in live profiles.
Keep scripts under version control and comment them clearly for future maintainers.
Display routing and multi-screen arrangements
Large venues often require different content on multiple displays.
- Configure Audience, Stage, and Musician outputs independently.
- Use region mapping to show lyrics on main screens while sending chord charts only to musician tablets.
- Scale and align output to accommodate projector keystone and screen aspect ratios.
Perform a final walk-through to verify all screens show the intended content.
Performance tuning and troubleshooting
Common issues and fixes:
- Stuttering slides: increase GPU acceleration or lower transition complexity.
- Missing fonts: embed fonts into PDFs or use the software’s fallback font mapping.
- Controller not responding: verify MIDI/OSC port, check IP addresses, and restart the device.
Keep a live debug overlay enabled during rehearsals to display active profile, latency, and controller connections.
Security, backups, and disaster recovery
Preparation prevents last-minute failures.
- Schedule automatic backups of library and settings to local NAS or cloud storage.
- Export setlists and key bindings before major services.
- Keep a bootable spare device with a recent configuration image for quick switchover.
Train at least two people on recovery steps.
Best practices for live services
- Rehearse with the exact profile and controllers used in service.
- Lock critical settings in the “Safe Live” profile to prevent accidental changes.
- Maintain a simple paper backup of setlists and hymn numbers as last-resort fallback.
Example advanced workflow
- Load “Sunday Service” profile.
- Auto-load setlist from “Worship — Aug 31.”
- Apply audio preset for first song (backing track off, click on).
- Start Slide Follow Mode with MIDI foot pedal enabled.
- Trigger overlay for announcements between songs via OSC from tablet.
Conclusion
Advanced settings in SN’s Hymnal Control unlock powerful customization for worship technology teams. Proper organization, secure networked control, tested scripts, and reliable backups will make services smoother and reduce on-stage stress. Start small—implement one advanced feature at a time—and expand as your team becomes comfortable.
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