WorshipSong Band offers a wide set of capabilities like multitrack playback, synchronized chord charts, and lyric display. To serve the most performance and playback environments, the software offers capabilities like touchscreen operation, MIDI control, multichannel output, dual screen lyric output, and more. A solo worship leader can operate from a tablet computer and control these features. But many churches have setups that include separate sound boards, projected screens for lyrics, and larger bands. To better serve these environments, WorshipSong Band's network capabilities are available.

WorshipSong Band's networking is a way for the control, playback, and display functions to be distributed across a wireless network and run in a synchronized operation. It achieves this by allowing separate copies (or nodes) of WorshipSong Band to perform different roles:

• If networking is used, there must be a single node in the Master, or playback role on the network. This node is also connected to the audio output system and has the set list loaded. For a church setting, this node is often run on a Mac or PC tied to a higher quality multi-channel output system to allow full stereo output. Very inexpensive PCs such as a Mac Mini or Windows NUC can fill this role nicely.
• There may be one or more nodes in the display role, either displaying lyrics or chords and the current playback state as sent from the master. These can be IPads or most any Android tablet, including low-cost ones. For lyric display with looping video, choose a Mac or a PC for this role (which can just be the main playback machine if desired).
• Any node in the chord display role may play synchronized audio in time with the master.
  • The song zip file must be in the library of the network node
  • Synced audio mode must be enabled on both master and display
  • The Band Mix window will then control a local mix of the audio coming directly from the display node.  This will typically be routed to headphones for the musician using the display node, as a basic in-ear system
  • A latency adjustment is available on the display node
• Any node in the chord display role may also function as a controller, offering control of the playback, mix levels, setlist, and more. The control role is only enabled if both the master and the display node have the remote control setting enabled. A controller node can change:
  • The mix levels,including master audio level and click level.
  • Set list song selection and song order.
  • Song start, stop, pause, and looping control
  • Pad start, stop, and cross fade
  • Song tempo and key (only settable when the song is not being played).

The following conditions apply to control mode:

• All controller options such as MIDI mappings are as set up on the controller node, not the master node
• Multiple control nodes may also control any settings. So, for instance, the mix levels may be set by a tablet in the congregation or sound desk while the leader controls playback from a tablet onstage.
• The control interface is identical to using the application in master mode, and UI settings are synchronized to all nodes.

Network - all computers or tablets must be tied to the same network, and must all be running WorshipSong Band verson 2.4.1 or later. For use on stage, we recommend using a dedicated wireless network set up in the auditorium, not a public network. Nodes with an ethernet port (such as a laptop) may be connected to the router via a wired connection, but in this configuration, any wireless adapter on that machine must be disabled.

IP Addresses - IP addresses are usually automatically assigned by the wireless router, and consist of 4 numbers of the form xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx. Usually, all nodes will receive addresses with the first three numbers identical, and the last number unique for each tablet or laptop. WorshipSong Band will show the IP address being used by each node on that node's settings page. A common setup might be:

• Master: 192.168.50.20
  
• Controller: 192.168.50.21
• Lyric Display: 192.168.50.25

In most settings, all nodes will find each other on the wireless network and begin communicating automatically (indicated by filled-in arrows on the network icon). In rare cases, this won't work, and the fixed IP dials on the settings screen of a node can be set to the IP address as displayed on the master's network settings page to allow the node to find the master.

Network Mode Selector. Sets the network mode. When this mode or other settings are changed, it is best to restart WorshipSong Band. The choices are:

• Off - WorshipSong will not act as a network node. All functions operate from a single computer/tablet in this mode.
• Master - WorshipSong is the master, and will output audio and be the central point for all settings. If a second monitor is attached, this node can also be a lyric display.
• Chord Display - WorshipSong will act as a remote chord display, and optionally as a remote control node. If a second monitor is attached, this node can also be a lyric display.
• Show Lyrics - The main screen will be replaced with a remote lyric display. Useful as a way to use an inexpensive Android stick computer as a slave to drive an HDMI input to display lyrics.

Network Id - Allows separate independent networks to be used at the same time, by having each set of cooperating nodes using different IDs. Usually set to 1 in a single network.

Fixed IP Settings - Used when automatic discovery fails. A Chord or Lyric Display node can use this setting to force detection of the Master on the given address if the automatic detection does not connect. The address to use may be read from the readouts on the Master node when it is connected in network master mode. This setting is not used on the master, and does not affect the computer's IP settings.

Enable Remote Control - Must be set on both Master node and any remote controller if remote control is desired.

Song Copy Mode - Controls whether client nodes are permitted to directly copy songs from the master to their library.  Must be enabled on both nodes to function

Sync Audio Playback - Controls whether synchronized audio playback will be attempted on the client node.  If enabled, the beat grid and tempo (as synchronized through Ableton Link) will be updating. When the song is started and the audio for the song is in the client's library, the client will play audio in time,

Network Status Readouts - Displays information about the network status, such as the IP address being used, and when data is sent.

Network Icon - Displays a green (Master), or red (display/controller) icon. The icon is unfilled until a connection is made.

When operating in network mode, there are certain limitations on a display/controller node:

• The set list is as sent from the master. Order and playback can be controlled, but songs may not be added to the set except from the master node.
• No song from the local library on the remote node can be loaded or added to the set. To select a song from the set-list, use the set list menu and the 'show' menu selection, or a MIDI controller.
• Control actions will not work unless remote control is enabled and a connection is established, and then any control actions will apply to the master node.
• In lyric display mode the screen will be black until backgrounds and lyrics are sent from the master. A message appears on startup, and you can click on the upper left corner to enable the full UI.