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ProPresenter 7 Worship Software [Review]

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Enter a giveaway for a free paid license to ProPresenter 7

ProPresenter is the industry standard for church presentation software. If a church uses something other than PowerPoint, it's most likely ProPresenter. That's not to say that it's perfect. As with most things, there is always room for improvement. Nowhere is that more obvious than in the implementation of ProPresenter 6 for Windows. The recent update to ProPresenter 6 answers many of the issues from former versions, plus it adds features you didn't know you needed.

ProPresenter 4 was the first time that Renewed Vision offered a Windows version. With each major release, the feature-set has gotten more robust, to the point that ProPresenter 6 is now very capable on Windows. It's not as capable as the Mac version, but capable, nonetheless.

ProPresenter 7 changes all of that.

Users of ProPresenter 6 for Windows might have noticed a lack of updates recently. That's not because Renewed Vision has abandoned the Windows version, but because they've been hard at work making version 7 as good on Windows as it is on Mac.

Here is a quick list of updates available in ProPresenter 7:

  1. Updated & Modern UI/layout – New Quick Search, multiple libraries, clear buttons, plans to move timers/props/etc to the area below the preview screen
  2. Multiscreen is now internal to the computer. No longer need Matrox hardware.
  3. New Editor with advanced text/shapes/layout tools
  4. Advanced Slide Notes
  5. EasyView – a way to view the content of your slides in a way that is more easily readable
  6. Dynamic Text Scaling
  7. Linked Text Fields (other text elements on a slide or things like timers, etc)
  8. Advanced Preview Screen (multiple screens, interactive clear buttons)
  9. New Transitions/Effects (from PVP)
  10. Stage Display can go over SDI/NDI/Syphon
  11. Multiple Stage Displays
  12. Announcement Layer – a new layer that you can target to a separate output to run a loop of slides or separate presentation
  13. Multiple Video Inputs (SDI or NDI)
  14. New Screen Configuration
  15. Midi on Windows
  16. Multi Bible search
  17. Audio channel routing and audio inspector
  18. Completely rewritten windows app – now 64 bit

Now, we'll dive into 11 of the most significant changes updates available in ProPresenter 7. Here's a video review:

#1 – Compatibility on Both Mac & Windows

Previously, the Windows version of ProPresenter was only 32-bit. Now it joins the Mac version in the happy promised land of 64-bit apps. Before, there were certain text formatting options that the Windows version just couldn't do, but the Mac version could. Now, both versions have powerful text editors onboard. Before, most of the modules worked, but the Midi module didn't work on the Windows Version. Now, you can send and receive midi notes from both versions, whether you're controlling other software or ProPresenter is being controlled by it.

#2 Modules are a Thing of the Past

While both platforms now have complete parity with regard to functionality, it wouldn't be correct to say that all the modules are supported in both versions. Modules are a thing of the past, meaning that all functions are included with ProPresenter 7 for no additional fee.

This is great news for churches who always wanted to try sending alpha channel information to a video switcher. No more worries if you can't quite justify $1000 per computer running ProPresenter for the Alpha Keyer Module.

Maybe your church always wanted to try edge blending or a triple-wide-screen using the Multiscreen module for a special event, now you can. Try all the features that were formerly in modules or none of them, either way, the choice is yours, not the finance committee or treasurers.

ProPresenter Updates ChurchTechToday

#3 – Slide Loops on Separate Video Outputs and Support for More Video Outputs at Different Resolutions

A handy feature for churches that have a slide loop playing constantly in the lobby is the ability to create a loop within ProPresenter and have it run continuously on a separate video output (or one of the outputs of a Matrox TH2Go, DH2Go, DataPath x4 or similar).

That, in and of itself, is brand new. In ProPresenter 6 (and earlier versions), split outputs (like from the Matrox and Datapath units) had to be used for edge blending or multi-screen modules. Now, with Pro7, you can use any output as a dedicated screen for stage display and still use the other screens for multiscreen or edge blending.

Each display can be a separate resolution, too. So, if you have a center screen that 1600×600 and two side screens that are 1080p, you can do that with a single computer running Pro7.

#4 – Direct Audio to Different Outputs

Additionally, ProPresenter 7 can direct different audio to different audio outputs, assuming you have the correct hardware to do so.

This feature, along with the slide loop function, make a single computer able to operate like multiple computers.

Will you be able to run a presentation for the Kid's ministry on the same computer at the same time as the presentation for “Big Church”? No, but your sanctuary presentation can run on the same computer as a slide loop running for lobby TVs.

#5 – Multiple Versions of the Bible are Supported

Now, for the first time, ProPresenter also supports multiple versions of the Bible at the same time.

Maybe your Pastor wants to compare KJV with NLT. No problem.

Maybe your church is bilingual. You can have English and Spanish translations up at the same time, too.

#6 – Option for CheckerBoard Background for Media With Transparency

In Pro5, if you had video with transparency you'd often see it rendered as having a white background.

In Pro6, it's more subtle, often showing as a snapshot of what the first slide, or the slide ALSO containing the background, will look like.

Now in Pro7, if media has transparency, the background can be set to show a checkerboard background. It's like you might see in a video editor or motion graphics program, although that's optional.

#7 – Dark Mode

That's not the only improvement to the UI. In the last couple of years, Apple has slowly rolled out dark mode to its operating systems. For techs sitting in the back of a darkened sanctuary, this was a welcome change, but ProPresenter didn't support it.

Now, the whole UI for ProPresenter 7 has been darkened. The glaring white glow of the ProPresenter control screen no longer illuminates your face in a dark room.

ProPresenter 7

#8 – Left to Right Layout Reorganization

The interface has been reorganized with a left-to-right layout. The left-most column is your library and playlists, while the middle is where you'll interact with your slides and media. The right-most column shows a preview of what is on screen for the congregation to see, as well as controls for that screen, the stage display(s), other outputs, and control of audio-only content.

ProPresenter Updates ChurchTechToday

#9 – Toolbar and Editing Updates

Even the toolbar follows this three-column convention, like the new layout. The icons immediately above the center section allow you to switch between the four primary ways of interacting with ProPresenter: Show, Edit, Reflow, and Bible.

Speaking of the toolbar, even the “clear” buttons are repositioned. Want to clear the props layer? There's a button right by the preview window that will be highlighted when a Prop is active. Want to clear the background? It's highlighted when a background is running so you know that clicking the button will clear it. This is really valuable when a video is playing and you don't know what layer it's playing from. You may assume that the person who created the presentation put it on the media layer, but they, instead, put it on the slides layer. Having the highlighted buttons make it clear which is which.

The Editor has also been reorganized and augmented, making more trips into Photoshop unnecessary. Click directly into the Editor to bring the Notes section to the forefront and additional editing tools. (Thank you to Pro 6 for the Bezier Curve!) No need to right-click on a slide and then choose edit any longer. When you're done with edit or reflow, just click on Show and you're back ready to continue controlling the screens.

#10 – Updates to the Unregistered Version

For people who are building presentations on unregistered copies, you no longer have to click the button to try ProPresenter when you first start it up. Perhaps you are working at home or maybe your church only has one license, which is devoted to the computer located in the sanctuary.

It's also worth noting that the ProPresenter logo doesn't stay on the output permanently with the unregistered version – it fades in and out. This does two things. First, it makes it more obvious if someone tries to present with an unlicensed copy. Second, it temporarily shows you what the output will look like on the licensed version, which may be located in another room or another part of the city from where you're working.

#11 – New View Option

While earlier versions of ProPresenter had the ability to toggle between a thumbnail and list view of slides, ProPresenter 7 adds a third option. This option brings the text to the forefront, at the expense of how it actually looks on screen. This can help techs with aging eyes.

Conclusion

ProPresenter 7 unlocks a lot of the power that ProPresenter 6 had reserved for larger churches. It also adds refinements that will make creation and presentation easier than before.

If you've been dragging your feet waiting to upgrade from ProPresenter 5 or earlier, there's no better time to upgrade. Make sure your computer can run it and then start the process your church requires to buy the upgrade. If you've been using ProPresenter 6 for a while, this update will unlock power you didn't know you needed. If you just upgraded recently, start saving now because you'll want this as soon as you can get it…it's that good.

For More Resources Related to ProPresenter, Check out These Articles:

Pros and Cons of Running ProPresenter With Volunteers

7 Common ProPresenter Mistakes to Avoid

Choosing the Right Computer to Run ProPresenter

10 ProPresenter Hacks to Take Worship to the Next Level

ProPresenter Training and Advice to the New User

Paul Clifford
Paul Cliffordhttp://trinitydigitalmedia.com
Paul Alan Clifford, M.Div. is the creator of ChurchTechU and LearnProPresenterFast.com where you and your team can learn church tech through self-paced tutorials on your time-table. He is also the author of Podcasting ChurchThe Serving ChurchChurch Video School, and other church tech books. He releases free tech training regularly on TrinityDigitalMedia.com.

23 COMMENTS

  1. 1. see above
    2. Microsoft keeps changing Powerpoint making importation more and more difficult without warning.
    3. They’re working on improving issues related to Pro6 importation.
    4. Publishers give RV the Bible text with the stipulation that they change NOTHING, even obvious fixes.
    5. You can add a timer in exactly the same way as before, but you can ALSO do other things.

  2. That article is 2 years old…and it applies to both MacOS and Windows. Consider that perhaps it’s an out-sized problem to fix, like it would require years of coding to fix something that can be solved with “or just make your outline a little thinner.” I have no information on the matter, but know them and have talked to them often. Their default position is NOT “Oh, that’s annoying, but there’s nothing we can do.” I’d bet they’re looking with each new OS at what it would take to fix it.

  3. Important to note, on the “Devil Horns”, not only is this an issue that they acknowledge and haven’t fixed, but they indicate that it isn’t their fault and that it is the OS that causes it. They don’t have any intentions on fixing this in future releases.
    https://support.renewedvision.com/hc/en-us/articles/360011693154-Why-do-my-letters-have-horns-spikes-points-

    Forgive me, but if you choose to offer your software on an OS, you can’t then blame that OS for processing text a certain way. You should conform to the way the OS processes text.

    I would be okay with it if I new they were working to fix it, and a future release would correct it. But I may opt to use different software altogether due to their response.

  4. For us ProPresenter 7 has been a disaster. It seems like completely different software, meaning they didn’t refine things that ProPresenter 6 already did well, they replaced them. And now, some of those things don’t work as well, or at all. Our biggest complaints:
    1. Outlines on 95% of the fonts results in devil horns being added (especially on Ws).
    2. Importing the Pastor’s PowerPoint no longer allows you to edit the slides that had text. It adds them as a single object.
    3. Importing projects that were created using ProPresenter 6 often results in loss of text and poor formatting.
    4. Importing Bible verses results in a strange character bug where if a ” ‘ ” is present such as in “can’t”, it adds a huge character space before the apostrophe (can ‘t). Simply backspacing it and entering the apostrophe removes the space. WHY?
    5. Timers seems to be separate from Messages now, and they are controlled individually, yet do very similar functions. Very confusing, though I think I do prefer the new Timers.

  5. I was excited to purchase ProPresenter 7 in order to use NDI to feed Live Stream. I was dissappointed to discover that the NDI was video only with no audio. You must feed audio seperately into the computer. This manageable for still slides, and videos with no speaking, but no way to get Audio and video synced on Live stream when playing a video of someone speaking.

  6. We are having the same issue. Brand new MacBook Pro 16″ with 2.3GHz 8-core 9th-generation Intel Core i9 processor, AMD Radeon Pro 5500M with 4GB of GDDR6 memory, 16GB 2666MHz DDR4 memory. Text typing has severe lagging in editor mode and it runs VERY hot after about 15 minutes (metal strip between keys and screen is almost too hot to touch. Fan runs high constantly. CPU% between 150 and 200%, We are connected to 3 output screens and a Tricaster NDI production system with 3 NDI\HX cameras. We had it connected through SDI while we worked through some new camera glitches and it was worse as the background video loops would studder also. It’s better on NDI, but still lagging and running hot.

      • We had Renewed Vision support online today. The beta 7.12 versiion seems to fix the typing lag. Supposed to be out next week. Tech also said we had our main, lower third and stage screen output all configured for NDI. This is taking a huge amount of CPU. Would love to understand a better way to configure the screen outputs to our switcher. Hopefully Paul an chime in.

  7. We upgraded from ProPresenter 6 to 7 a while back and I’m afraid it has not been a particularly pleasant experience. Perhaps our hardware (a mac, unsure of model) is underpowered, but it ran PP6 just fine. With PP7 it is *really* lags, both in setup/editing and during presentation. There are also features that have changed so much it’s difficult to find out even how to perform them (e.g. text reveal of bulleted lists is now far more difficult when it was a couple of clicks before). Bottom line – we are considering retrograding back to PP6.

    • So sorry to hear that! I guess that is a drawback from a completely new version upgrade. I felt this way when Windows 7 went to Windows 10! Hang in there. You might check out Paul Alan Clifford’s resources at ChurchTechU.com. He’s our resident ProPresentor Guru. Thanks for reading, Lauren

    • I replied on my own site, but for the sake of others, what do you mean: what hardware, what cabling, how do you make slides, how do you tell a slide loop to show on a particular output? There are a lot of possible answers.

  8. Do you have to re-create all the projects (songs, playlists, media bins, sermon slides, templates, etc.) from Pro6 or does Pro7 open them directly? I’m hoping you will say it opens them without a lot of work. Thanks

  9. It depends on the computer and how many displays you want to use, but for one extra, I’m using a USB video adapter (TDM.fyi/usbvideo). For up to four more, J5Create has a USB-c to four hdmi adapter that works. The BlackMagic Design decklink duo 2 and quad 2 cards work well. If you can’t put them directly in the computer but have thunderbolt 2 or 3, sonnet makes an external enclosure that can hold them.

    For cabling, I like SDI signals running over coax with bnc ends. You can convert to and from SDI and HDMI pretty easily with converters from various manufacturers.

    Two more options are AppleTV with a wired network OR Magewell (or Birddog) NDI to HDMI boxes. The appletv is the least reliable of those three, but also the cheapest.

  10. What equipment is recommended to be able to use the multiple display function? Not just at the computer (though I need to know that too), but also what cabling, what type of displays (tv, tablet, etc) can receive the information from propresenter 7?

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