What’s Cool: In terms of creating and running presentations, MediaShout Version 4 can do just about anything you want it to do, and that puts a lot of power at the fingertips of you, the church leader.
The most impressive thing about Version 4 is that it boasts more features and a better organization/navigation scheme than the incredibly popular MediaShout Version 3. The most notable change is the new Decks interface. Essentially, Decks are media browsers that allow MediaShout users to quickly explore, select, and insert various elements into a presentation script. In other words, all the important elements of a worship service presentation are prominently featured in the Decks interface, ready to be dragged-and-dropped into your presentation. The new Cue Editor is another handy tool in Version 4, making it easier than ever to edit and customize individual cues with background media, transitions, and more.
Another focus of the new features in Version 4 are the Script Pane and the Firebox, both of which make it extremely convenient for users to change their presentations on the fly or adapt smoothly when a service goes off script. In particular, we liked the way the Firebox features buttons that place a default logo or a blank slide on the screen—something we imagine would come in handy when a technical meltdown causes everyone in the booth to panic.
There are a myriad of other great features in Version 4 that we wish we could explore in this space (the smooth integration of the Song Deck comes to mind) but you’re probably better off seeing them for yourself. The “Getting Started” presentation in MediaShout Version 4 makes for a fantastic guide to the software.
What’s Not: The challenge for all feature-rich software titles is ensuring that users can find their way around inside the program and get the most out of the available functionality. Consider, for example, the cottage industry of tutorials that exists to help Photoshop users learn and maximize the powerful but complex software.
Though intuitively structured, the sheer number of tools and options in Version 4 require a modest investment of time and experimentation. While that might be no big deal for church staff, experienced MediaShout users, or volunteers with a basic technological aptitude, you may find it difficult to quickly train volunteers who aren’t so technologically savvy. That’s by no means a deal-breaker for us, but it is a tradeoff you should be aware of if you plan on asking volunteers to operate this powerful software.
The Bottom Line: If you’re a Windows user and you want to make the most of your visual presentations, you have to strongly consider MediaShout Version 4. If you’re not sure Version 4 is right for you, take advantage of the free, full-featured 45-day trial and find out for sure. You can be sure you’re getting the most out of the software by using the software’s included tutorials and the helpful support options at mediashout.com. One last thing we’ll mention is that potential users should always check the system requirements before investing in a new piece of software. The better the computer you use to run MediaShout Version 4, the better your experience will likely be, especially if you plan on incorporating a lot of multimedia elements into your presentations.
Official Website:
www.mediashout.com
Cost:
$429 (new) or $249 (upgrade)
Our Rating:
