How to use Himnova Live, step by step
How to install it, run each part of the service and set it up, and what to do when something goes wrong. It's written for whoever runs the screens, in plain language.
Get started
Install it, go through the welcome, connect the projector and get to know the control window.
- What you needThe computer, operating system and second screen you need to run Himnova Live.
- Install on WindowsDownload the installer, get past the Windows warning the first time, and open Himnova Live.
- Install on macOSOpen the .dmg, drag the app to Applications and allow it the first time you open it.
- Install on LinuxThe .deb package for Ubuntu, Debian and Linux Mint, or the AppImage for other distributions.
- First launchThe welcome you see the first time, the “First steps” checklist, what comes with the app, and your first test with the projector.
- The control windowThe three columns of the window you work in, and what each button on the top bar does.
During the service
Prepare, project and move between hymns, songs, videos, verses and announcements.
- Preview and GO LIVEHow the two-step flow works: you pick and check things in Preview, and the congregation only sees them when you click GO LIVE.
- Build the service scheduleAdd hymns, videos, verses and announcements in order, then save the schedule and reopen it whenever you need it.
- Presentations and hymnalsPowerPoint, Impress and PDF files, and hymnals with auto-advance and music: how they open, how to move through them and what carries over.
- Videos, images and audioWhich formats it opens, how it plays any video, the backgrounds that come with it, and how to handle volume and background music.
- Project the BibleLook up a passage by reference or search for a word, pick the verse and click GO LIVE, on its own or side by side with another version.
- SongsFind, type or paste worship lyrics, set the song order and put it on screen. Each song keeps one text size, and keys jump to a verse or the chorus.
- Countdowns, clock and stopwatchPut a countdown on the projector before the service, show the time or run a stopwatch, and build your own timer scenes.
- Overlays: lower thirds, banners and bugsShow the preacher's name, an announcement or the church logo on top of whatever is being projected.
- Keyboard shortcutsRun the projector from the keyboard or a presentation remote: GO LIVE, move through slides and verses, BLACK and LOGO.
- Before the service: a checklistWhat to set up the day before and check half an hour before, so nothing goes wrong during the service.
Settings and data
The screens, the NDI output, the options, Bibles, the song library and its look, your data and updates.
- The projector screenHow Himnova Live picks the screen to project on, how to change it, and what happens if the projector disconnects during the service.
- The stage screenA screen for the worship team and the preacher with what's live, what's next, the chords and the time, even when the projector is on black.
- NDI® output for OBSSend what the projector shows as a video source on your network, so you can livestream the service with OBS, vMix or any other program that receives NDI.
- SettingsEvery option, section by section: projection, slides, Bible, songs, system, version, updates and help.
- Bible versionsThe nine Bible versions included with Himnova Live and how to install them offline, how to import another from a file, which one opens by default, and what it's called on screen.
- How verses lookChange the font, size, colors, background and reference of the verses you project.
- Import songs and song foldersBring your songs over from EasyWorship, OpenLP, OpenLyrics, SongSelect or ChordPro, or read them from a folder on your computer. What gets imported, what's saved back to each file, and how to delete songs.
- How songs lookSong themes for your worship lyrics: background (a video too), text, margins, copyright footer and translation. Plus the default theme, your CCLI license and the usage report.
- Your data and backupsWhere Himnova Live keeps your schedules, songs and library, what happens to your files, and how to back everything up.
- Update Himnova LiveHimnova Live lets you know when there's a new version and updates itself from inside the app, without touching your data. If you have 2.2.0-beta.5 or earlier, you'll need to install the latest version manually, once.
- UninstallHow to remove the app on each system, and how to also delete your data and start fresh.
Troubleshooting
What to do when something doesn't work, and how to tell us.
- Windows or macOS won't open the appWhy the unknown publisher or unverified app warning appears, and how to get past it.
- A presentation won't open or looks differentWhat to do when a presentation won't open, takes a long time, has a damaged slide or doesn't look like it does in PowerPoint.
- A video won't play or stuttersWhat to check when a video won't start, stutters or has no sound.
- Nothing shows on the projectorWhat to check when the projection doesn't appear, shows up on the wrong screen, mirrors your screen or freezes.
- “Missing”: a file that movedWhy a video or a presentation shows as Missing, and how to find it again without rebuilding your schedules.
- Linux: known issuesHow to fix an AppImage that won't start (on Ubuntu, or without FUSE) and videos that need libmpv.
- The app showed an errorWhat each Himnova Live error message means and what to do about it without losing your work.
- Report a bug or request a featureHow to tell us what went wrong so it can be fixed, what to send and where.