Instrumental Reflection #11- Veteran’s Day
Nov 9, 2009 Free Stuff, Instrumental Reflections
This past week we created a video of member of our church, who was in the military, sharing his thoughts on what veterans day means. This weeks instrumental reflection is the background music I composed for that video. Click here to see the whole video.
To listen click play!
Just a reminder.. Instrumental Reflections is now available as a podcast. Click here for the feed for the podcast or here to subscribe in itunes
Tags: Background, Church, Click, compose, Instrumental, mp3, Music, podcast, reflections, song, Songs, subscribe, Thoughts, video
Video Tips- One Way to Capture Audio
Oct 7, 2009 Communication, Media and Technology
Video is something I have just started doing at our church. Even though it is new to us as a way to communicate, we are already seeing some awesome results. We started out doing all of our youth updates as a video and have had some fun with that.
To start off with though, all the videos have been kind of funny and light. That changed this past week when our pastor wanted me to video the testimony of one of our members. When doing the funny, light videos it was good to hear what was being said, but with background music and other elements in the video sound quality could be compromised a bit. With the testimony, however, I knew that we had to get the best sound possible.
First you should know we are using two Everio Hard Disk cameras, set up in two locations with different angles. Its a good consumer level camera with a decent microphone. We have not invested in higher quality equipment, extra microphones or any thing else up to this point because we are just getting started and want to build slowly. But I did need to find a way to capture good audio. When telling a testimony, we really need to hear the story.
This is when I got the idea to just use the church sound system. We used the wireless lapel mic as our input. I then captured the audio three different ways. First it was captured by one of the two cameras I had set up; Second it was captured by sending it from the board, to a wireless earphone pack, to the second camera’s microphone input; and third it was captured by a CD recorder running on the sound board. We recorded the interview and I used my computer later to sync up the video, and audio from the different sources.
The best thing would be to purchase a good microphone for the video camera, and I hope that is in our future. However, this way gave great results and did not cost us anything.
Do you use video in your church? If so how? Is it effective? What is your setup?
Tags: audio, Background, Camera, capture, CD, Church, computer, Everio, Funny, late, Music, sing, tips, video, youth
Your Favorite Blackberry and Iphone Music Apps
Oct 6, 2009 Communication, Media and Technology
For about a year the most searched for and viewed posts on my blog had to do with worship backgrounds. That was until I posted a list of my most useful iphone applications for musicians, along with a link to a friend’s post on iphone audio applications.
Since I wrote the apps for musicians post I know that many more applications have come out for the iphone, and you may have different favorites than me. I also know that there are a lot of you out there who use Blackberrys and use apps for them in your ministry.
So here is my question. What applications, for Blackberry and Iphone, do you use in your worship ministry and would recommend to others? List the name of the app and what platform it’s for in the comments below. If you have a link that would be great too.
Tags: application, apps, audio, Background, blog, iphone, Music, question, Worship
Instrumental Reflections #5
Jul 3, 2009 Instrumental Reflections
This weeks Instrumental Reflection is a song I wrote in college at East Texas State University. It’s kind of a theme and variation type song and it’s called Autumn Leaves. I hope you enjoy.
Click to listen. Right click and choose “Save as” or “save target as” to save to your computer.
Did you enjoy this Instrumental Reflection? Check out the other instrumental reflections in the suggested sites below. To get them delivered to your inbox Subscribe to forkintheroad by Email
Tags: Autumn, Background, Instrumental, Leaves, Music, peace, piano, reflections, Songs
Free Background- Palm Trees
Mar 29, 2009 Free Stuff, Photos and Backgrounds
Took this photo on Galveston Island last year. Feel free to use it for your worship slides, announcements or other publications. Enjoy.
Tags: Background, Free, Palm, Tree
My Five -Posts Since August
Mar 22, 2009 Uncategorized
I’ve been writing posts for this blog since August of 2008. So after 9 months I wondered what my most popular posts are… well I wonder no longer cause here they are. Apparently so far a lot of people are looking for free backgrounds. Tune in later for my 5 favorite posts.
Past Year (Since August)
Free Stuff:Angel Background
Youth Worship: Worshipping Without a Band
Free Backgrounds
Cardboard Testimonies
How to Make Your Own Worship Background
Tags: angel, Background, band, blogs, Free, Free Stuff, How To, Worship, youth, Youth Worship
Sunday Songlists- 3/1/09
Mar 5, 2009 Worship Planning
This past Sunday was an interesting one. I thought that the band and vocals sounded great, were tight and was over all an awesome Sunday. Unfortunately there were many other events this weekend that hindered our Sunday morning attendance. I do have to give props to our ladies who do the stage decorations each week. When I arrived at the church 3 years ago all we had was the black curtain background. This Easter will mark one full year of using colors in different ways to decorate the stage. They don’t really use elaborate props but have come up with a quick and easy system to add some color and a different focus depending on the week. Hopefully Ill put a post up next week showing how we do our stage.
Songlist (Planning Center)
Everlasting God
My Hope is You
Your Love is Amazing (Halleluiah)
Here I Am to Worship
Praise to the Lord the Almighty (from the Wow Hymns)
In the Secret
This Sunday Setlist is posted as part of Fred McKinnon’s Sunday Setlist #32. Come on and see what other churches are doing each week, and share your own Sunday experiences.
If you like this article then consider subscribing to Fork In the Road music by email or using your rss reader. Visit my contact page for more ways to stay in touch.
Tags: Background, band, Church, fork In the Road, Fred McKinnon, Setlist, songlists, Sunday, Sunday Setlist, Worship
Free Background- Garden Angel Blur in 4 Colors
Jan 2, 2009 Free Stuff, Photos and Backgrounds
One of the most downloaded backgrounds on this site has been the Garden Angel Blur that I made from a photo I had taken this Summer at one of my work camps. I thought maybe someone would like it in a color other than green… so here they are. Click on the image once to go to the gallery, and then again to view the full sized image. Then right click and save. You are free to use them for your worship services, announcements etc.. It would be cool if you would let me know how you used them.
Tags: angel, Background, camp, Free, freebie, Media Shout, Powerpoint, summer, work, Worship
Using Video- Incorporating Scripture in New Ways
Dec 31, 2008 Free Stuff, How To, Media and Technology, Worship Planning
Isaiah 60:1-6 from russell martin on Vimeo
Our contemporary worship service as well as our traditional service follow the lectionary. The lectionary usually provides four different scriptures for each Sunday that follow a theme. In the traditional service we have typically used one for the main scripture the sermon is based on, and then atleast two of the others are read or used as a responsive reading. Up until this point in the contemporary service we have only really used the one that the sermon is based on. I was trying to think of ways to incorporate more scripture in our service that fit the style of our service.
While I was at Youth Specialties in Nashville they used several scripture videos. (available on their resource page) The videos consisted of a moving background, generally a moving view from a car, or rollercoaster, or something like that, with the scripture laid on top and an audio loop in the background. The YS team used them very well for transitions during different parts of the general sessions.
So I thought I would try to create something in that same style. I took a section of video on a recent trip to Houston. Using Vegas Movie Studio I lightened, blurred, and added noise to the video. Then took the Old Testament reading for the week, Isaiah 60:1-10, and placed it on top. I then used Sonic Foundry Acid to make a short audio background loop and added it on.
So this is the result. I think we will play it after the offertory as a transition for the band to get off stage before the pastor and person reading the scripture for the sermon.
Oh.. if you use the lectionary in your church and you would like a copy without the little “Xperience Worship” tag on the end just leave me a reply and let me know. I can run it with out the tag and send it to you or upload it..
Tags: application, Background, band, CD, Church, Resource, resources, Russell Martin, Sunday, Team, video, Worship, youth
Two Free Cross Backgrounds
Dec 17, 2008 Free Stuff, How To, Photos and Backgrounds
Here are two cross backgrounds that you can use for worship slides, web pages or whatever. The original photo of the “message cross” is the big white cross at Peace Chapel of Lakeview Methodist Conference Center where I have spent many many weeks leading music for youth camps. The original picture for “Hanging Cross” was an out of focus “mistake” that turned out to make a good background. It reminded me that even an out of focus photo can be redeemed and used for good. Enjoy.
Tags: Background, camp, Free, Free Stuff, Photoshop, Worship, youth
