Using PCs in a production environment

Consumer PC hardware is a very affordable way of achieving impressive results in terms of audio and video. However, some care is needed to make sure that they contribute, and do not [unintentionally] detract from the purpose of the occasion.

PCs are designed from the paradigm that they're meant for a single user. When the sound is routed via a large PA system, or screen / video outputs are sent to screens that are metres wide in the field of vision of many people, care must be taken to ensure that only intentional content is broadcast, as any mistake is amplified due to the environment.

Audio

The wrong sound at the wrong moment, at a significant volume, can completely break an experience.

Following these suggestions can help to prevent unintentional sound:

• All PC "system sounds" must be turned off, e.g. selecting sound scheme "No sounds" in Windows
• All tabs that could generate unwanted sound, such as WhatsApp notifications, should be muted
• All sound sources that aren't used should be muted in the sound mixer
• The sound desk should always keep inputs muted, unless a signal is needed and currently expected from that input

Video

Some outputs take top priority on a screen while enabled (such as ProPresenter), whereas others allow windows to be dragged over them (e.g. EasyWorship), or a mouse to be seen over them and influencing what is shown (e.g. PowerPoint).

Additional output screens, which are usually fed to projectors displaying on large screens, visible to the audience, are typically placed on the right of the primary screen (the one that the user interacts with). This is because it is natural—and most people have been conditioned—to move things to the right.

Following these suggestions can help to prevent unintentional visual distraction:

• Rearrange the screen layout so that the screen shown to the audience is on the left and higher up, so that there is only a small overlap
• When one really wants to move the mouse onto the secondary screen, or drag a window onto it, this can simply be done by dragging up and the left; because this is counter-intuitive, it is much less likely to unintentionally happen

Recommended layout for two screens, where screen 2 is for the operator and screen 1 for the audience:

Recommended layout for more screens: Additional screens are further away to the left, such as foldback and timing information:

Note that in both cases, the operator's screen is at the bottom, on the right.