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Presentation Training

ProPresenter Training

Master the industry-leading worship presentation software. This comprehensive guide will take you from beginner to confident operator.

ProPresenter 7

Current Version

Video Tutorial Series

Watch the official ProPresenter training playlist to see these concepts in action.

Watch on YouTube

Ready to test your knowledge?

Complete the training, then take the 20-question quiz

Take ProPresenter Quiz
01

What is ProPresenter?

ProPresenter is the industry-leading worship presentation software used by churches, conferences, and venues worldwide. It's designed specifically for live events where you need to display lyrics, scripture, announcements, videos, and more—seamlessly and professionally.

Unlike PowerPoint or Keynote, ProPresenter is built for live operation. You can trigger slides, videos, and audio instantly without awkward transitions or loading screens.

Why Churches Use ProPresenter:

  • Non-destructive editing — Make changes without affecting the live output
  • Multiple outputs — Send different content to FOH screens, stage displays, and streaming
  • Media integration — Play videos, audio, and images without external players
  • Stage display — Show different information to worship team vs. congregation

Key Concept

ProPresenter uses a "Look" system. Your operator screen shows everything, but the audience only sees what you've sent to the output. This means you can prepare, preview, and cue content without anyone seeing it until you're ready.

Our Setup at CDR:

  • Main Output Front Screens
  • Stage Display Confidence Monitors
  • Stream Output Live Stream Feed
02

The ProPresenter Interface

Understanding the interface is your first step to confident operation. ProPresenter's workspace is divided into distinct areas, each with a specific purpose.

Library (Left Panel)

Your content storage. Contains all presentations, playlists, media, and documents. Organized into categories like Songs, Media, and Templates. This is where you find and select content to add to your playlist.

Playlist (Center-Left)

Your service order. Drag items from the Library here to build your service flow. Each service should have its own playlist containing songs, announcements, videos, and scripture in order.

Slide View (Center)

Shows all slides in the selected presentation. Click any slide to send it live. The currently live slide is highlighted with a red border. Navigate using arrow keys or mouse clicks.

Preview/Output (Top-Right)

Shows what's currently on screen. The Preview shows your next cued slide, while Output shows what the congregation sees. Always watch the Output to confirm your content went live.

Media Bin (Bottom)

Quick access to backgrounds, videos, and images. You can assign media to slides or trigger them independently. Contains motion backgrounds, countdown timers, and announcement graphics.

Clocks & Timers

Built-in countdown timers and clocks. Use for service countdowns, sermon timers, or break notifications. Can be displayed on stage display without showing to the congregation.

Essential Keyboard Shortcuts

Next Slide
Previous Slide
Space Next Slide
C Clear All
B Black Screen
L Clear Logo
⌘F Search
Esc Clear Text
03

Creating & Managing Presentations

Creating a New Song

  1. 1

    File → New → Presentation

    Or use keyboard shortcut ⌘N (Mac) / Ctrl+N (Windows)

  2. 2

    Name your presentation

    Use "Song Title - Artist" format for consistency

  3. 3

    Add lyrics by typing or pasting

    Press Enter twice to create a new slide

  4. 4

    Apply a theme/template

    Use our standard worship template for consistency

  5. 5

    Label your slides

    V1, V2, C, B (Verse, Chorus, Bridge)

💡 Pro Tip: Slide Labels

Always label your slides! During live operation, you'll see labels in the slide view. This helps you quickly jump to the right section when the worship leader changes the song order.

V1 = Verse 1
C = Chorus
B = Bridge
PC = Pre-Chorus

Building a Service Playlist

1

Create New Playlist

Right-click in Playlist area → New Playlist. Name it with the date (e.g., "2026-01-15 Sunday AM")

2

Add Content

Drag songs, videos, and announcements from Library to Playlist in service order

3

Organize & Review

Use headers to separate sections (Worship, Message, Offering). Preview all content before service.

Using SongSelect Integration

ProPresenter integrates with CCLI SongSelect to download lyrics directly. This ensures accurate, licensed lyrics.

Search by song title or artist
Import lyrics with one click
Automatically formatted for slides
CCLI reporting included
04

Media & Backgrounds

ProPresenter excels at handling media. Understanding how to properly manage backgrounds, videos, and images will elevate your presentations.

Motion Backgrounds

Motion backgrounds add visual interest without distracting from lyrics. Use subtle, looping videos that complement the mood of worship.

Import: Drag video files to Media Bin or File → Import → Media
Apply: Right-click slide → Set Background → Choose media
Tip: Use 1080p or 4K video files for best quality

Announcement Graphics

Pre-service and announcement slides should be created as image files (PNG or JPG) and imported to a dedicated Announcements folder.

Resolution: Create at 1920x1080 for HD screens
Format: PNG for graphics, JPG for photos
Loop: Set as auto-advance for pre-service loops

Video Playback During Service

Adding Videos to Playlist

  1. 1 Import video to Media Library
  2. 2 Drag video to correct position in Playlist
  3. 3 Right-click → Properties to set behavior
  4. 4 Choose: Loop, Play Once, or Soft Loop

⚠️ Important Settings

  • Audio routing: Ensure video audio routes to FOH, not just headphones
  • Scale to fit: Check aspect ratio settings before service
  • End action: Set what happens when video ends (clear, hold, next)
05

Live Service Operation

This is where it all comes together. Running ProPresenter live requires focus, anticipation, and the ability to adapt quickly.

Pre-Service Checklist

During Worship

  • Listen to the music

    Advance slides with the natural phrasing, not on a fixed beat

  • Watch the worship leader

    They may repeat sections or skip ahead—be ready to follow

  • Stay one slide ahead mentally

    Know what's coming next so you can advance smoothly

  • Clear at the right moment

    Remove lyrics during instrumental breaks for visual rest

During Message/Sermon

  • Scripture ready

    Have all scripture references prepared in order

  • Follow the outline

    If provided, use sermon notes to anticipate slides

  • Display points clearly

    Leave sermon points on screen long enough to read

  • Video cues

    Pre-cue videos so they're ready to play instantly

When Things Go Wrong

Wrong slide showing?

Press C to clear, find correct slide, click to display.

Video won't play?

Clear screen, check media bin, try re-triggering. Have backup plan ready.

App freezes?

Force quit and reopen. Playlist should auto-recover. This is why we arrive early.

Can't find a song?

Use ⌘F to search. Stay calm—it's there.

Remember: Stay calm. The congregation doesn't know something went wrong unless you panic.

06

Best Practices & Standards

Visual Consistency

  • • Use the same font for all lyrics
  • • Keep text positioning consistent
  • • Use approved backgrounds only
  • • Maintain margin spacing

Readability First

  • • Max 4 lines per slide
  • • High contrast text/background
  • • No all-caps for lyrics
  • • Test from back of room

Library Organization

  • • Sort songs alphabetically
  • • Use folders for categories
  • • Archive old playlists monthly
  • • Delete unused media

Timing Excellence

  • • Advance 1-2 words early
  • • Match the song's rhythm
  • • Pause on long holds
  • • Don't rush transitions

Advance Preparation

  • • Build playlist by Thursday
  • • Review changes Friday
  • • Test everything Saturday
  • • Arrive 30 min early Sunday

Team Communication

  • • Confirm setlist with worship
  • • Get sermon notes early
  • • Report issues immediately
  • • Document changes made

Ready to Practice?

The best way to learn is to do. Schedule time to practice with the worship team, build playlists, and run through services. Excellence comes through repetition.

Ready to Test Your Knowledge?

Take the ProPresenter Quiz to verify your understanding. Answer 20 questions covering the interface, slides, media management, and live service operation.

20 Questions
~10 minutes
Instant Results
Take the ProPresenter Quiz

Also available: Mixer Quiz