Sermon Manager is the WordPress plugin we have been using since around 2017. It has options to host audio, video and documents associated with the sermon. Here’s the basic summary:
- Ahead of the service, add a new Sermon
- Fill out the various attributes of the sermon: date, preacher etc.
- (If there was no stream) Upload an audio recording of the sermon after the service.
Below I show the screen for uploading a new sermon, with suggestions on how I propose we use each field. I hope it’s fairly self-explanatory (click on it to get a bigger, more readable, version):
In detail:
- Enter a title for sermon, this can include the series title and date or minimally the passage being expounded
- Click in the Date Preached field and select the date. I have noted that this field can get ‘forgotten’ so after publishing check it is still there. If necessary set it again and Update.
- Select the service type. If there is a stream, choose whichever is being streamed (i.e. 9:15 or 11:15, otherwise choose the one that will be recorded or, if unsure, leave it till after the Sunday.
- Bible passage is self explanatory.
- If there is a stream URL add it under ‘Video Link’
- Permalink (aka ‘slug’) should start with the date in the format yyyy-mm-dd. This is what allows the audio to posted automatically on Sunday afternoon. For example: 2021-11-21-good-news-by-mark. Spaces are not allowed in the slug.
- Select the Preacher, Series and Book from the available lists. Occasionally you may find you need to add a new one but please take care not to add the same one repeatedly by searching first (type the first couple of letters and wait).
- Under ‘Sermon image’, set the series image or the CBC logo if we have a one-off sermon. In the event of needing new images a number of people are willing and able to create something. Note that we must use licensed images such as from Pixabay.com
- Description, MP3 location and duration, Video embed code, Sermon notes and Bulletin are not currently used.
- Preview, check and publish.
After the service, if there was no stream, we need to post the audio file (MP3). This is done as follows:
- Collect the mini audio recorder from the sound desk and extend the retractable USB A connector so it may be plugged into the computer to transfer the file.
- The recorder will typically mount two drives automatically. Within one of them should be a file named Rec_file (from memory) and you should find a file named yyyy-mm-dd-hh-mm, which I believe corresponds to the start time of the recording. So the recording at the 11:15 service on 14 Nov 21 would be something like 2021-11-14-11-41.mp3 depending exactly when the sermon starts.
- Copy this file to the computer.
- Open and edit the audio file as necessary (see below)
- Return to WordPress and re-open the Sermon (under Sermons > All sermons)
- Click Add Sermon Audio and select the audio file
- Wait as it uploads and then
- Preview, test the audio and
- Update
- (Then check the date has not been lost)
Use of Audacity to edit audio
Audacity is a very powerful tool description of which is beyond the scope of this guide but the common steps are:
- Trim the start and end of the file if necessary.
- Convert to mono
- Amplify to raise or lower (using a negative value for amplification) the volume to ensure it peaks as close o the top of the green as possible but without slipping into the red.
- Export setting the file properties as follows:
- Artist: Preacher’s name
- Track title: YYYY_MM_DD_SERVICE, e.g. 2021_11_14_1115
- Album title: Sermon series title
- Year: YYYY
- Comments: Corsham Baptist Church