Media Shout for Mac - Week 1

[Sysmom]

Well, it was trial by fire last week, we installed the Macs, got them working with the hardware and projectors ... and downloaded Media Shout for Mac to try on them.

We've used Media Shout on Windows here since version 1.something, so we figured it would be the least impact on the learning curve for our volunteer team. To top that off, they will grandfather in our site license for only the 'cross-grade' price of $200something.

I'd be interested in hearing how other Mac installations like Media Shout. It looks fab. Once the script is built, it works fine.

Getting a script built, though, ... was crash city on both the new iMacs and my MacPro on my desk.

Our decision over the next few weeks may end up being whether we have faith that MediaShout can be de-bugged soon enough, or whether we have to go to another program.

Anyway ... looking for some opinions from other users.

deb

[Mustangnaz]

I played with it some, but the fact that you can't control powerpoint and especially no DVD playback are game killers for us. We use both regularly.

[Sysmom]

OK, I give ... Yesterday was an even bigger disaster than the Sunday before. I'm now looking at Pro Presenter. (I know, I know, *everyone* told me to use that to begin with...)

deb

[Sysmom]

End to this thread ... Media Shout for the Mac isn't ready for prime time yet. We're jumping ship to ProPresenter4. Although I'm a fan, we need our media to be bullet proof _now_. It's mission critical for our Sundays, I fear.

I hope that they are able to get it up to speed quickly.

deb

[jdcountryboy91]

We (regrettably) just purchased MS for mac. I am have the freezing and crashing issues on our iMac. I'm pretty bummed out because we have this iMac that doesn't get used for much and are in need of a new presentation computer but the software just isn't cutting it! I'm with Deb, presentation software NEEDS to be bullet proof. I still haven't decided if I'm going to return it or hold out.

[Sysmom]

Return it and get ProPresenter 4

I was having trouble with it crashing the first of March ... that alone should tell you all you need to know about it.

You can download PP4 and demo it without even buying it. The online training videos were awesome!

Now I'm going to have flashbacks...

[jdcountryboy91]

I looked into pro presenter and downloaded the demo but I'm not a huge fan of the way it works. I really like the script layout of Mediashout. I have been using MS heavily for the past couple days and only ran into a few road blocks. We are going to try it tomorrow morning in one of our services. Hopefully Media Complete will fix the remaining bugs soon. It's a great program, it just needs a little work.

[northerntech]

You have summarized the reasons to stick with MediaShout perfectly. For those with any experience with secular presentation automation systems such as those used by TV stations, you will see the similarities immediately. You say you are in need of a new presentation computer anyway - why not see if the MS guys will swap your version for the PC one and buy a new PC for way less than a Mac.

[Sysmom]

JD, we had used Media Shout for years ... so I feel your pain.

There is an alternate view you can toggle in Pro Presenter that is more like Media Shout shows it ... one thing to a line, rather than the thumbnail view.

It's worth the effort to give it a couple weeks, there's an incredible flexibility built into the thing that when the lights went on for me after the second week I was like ... "Whoa, Man, why haven't I been using this for years?!"

deb