HT300 Organ Box: Programming Programming

HT300 Organ Box:
Programming
Version 1.0 27MAR16
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Contents
Introduction ................................................................................................... 2
Important information about the HT300 .................................................. 4
Useful documents ......................................................................................... 5
Memory card contents .................................................................................. 5
Changing the contents of the Memory card on a PC/laptop .............. 6
Loading MP3s onto the HT300 ................................................................... 6
Standard set of MP3s ................................................................................. 6
Programming HT300 playlists .................................................................... 7
Standard playlists....................................................................................... 7
Playlist name............................................................................................... 8
Organ styles ................................................................................................ 8
Manufacturer detail .................................................................................... 10
Introduction
HT300 is an electronic hymnal. Key functionality:
•
•
•
•
•
Internal library of several thousand hymn tunes. Includes most
(but NOT all) of the traditional-style hymns and worship song
tunes.
Internal memory of different simulated pipe organ sounds.
Removable SD memory card, capable of storing user-created
MP3 files.
Playlist capability, allowing the creation and storage of multiple
playlists
Playback: either individual items or playback of a playlist
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At St Mary's we mostly use the HT300 for two types of situation:
1. As an 'electronic organist' for Sunday services. A playlist is
created in advance for each service, from a standard library of
hymn tunes and MP3s, which includes all the music for the service,
typically:
• A (usually quiet) introductory pre-service piece
• Hymns for the service, in order
• Background music (usually MP3) during communion
• A 'recessional' (usually upbeat) piece
2. As a source of music for weddings and funerals. A playlist is
created in advance for each service. This may contain all the music
for the service, however there is often a 'live' organist, so the HT300
may only used for any MP3 recordings.
As requirements for pre-recorded music at weddings and funerals
become more complex, we may turn to using tablets or mobile phones
to play pre-recorded music. The advantage of the HT300 is that the
playlist allows for reliable and stress-free playback by a verger or
clergy person who is not tech-savvy.
This document must be read in conjunction with the manufacturer's
User Guide (see link below). Here, we give specific information
relating to its use at St Mary's:
•
•
•
•
Important information about the HT300
Location of electronic copies of the manufacturer's
documentation
Contents of the memory card and loading MP3s onto it
Programming HT300 playlists
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Important information
information about the HT300
The HT300 has many excellent attributes, however it's also got some
irritating idiosyncrasies - mostly rooted in its outdated underlying
technology. Best to get them out in the open first:
1. MP3 files have a filename MAXIMUM of 8 letters or numbers. It
allows you to go over the 8 characters, or use non-alphanumeric
characters, and the first thing you know is the system gradually
degrades and screws up (about a month later in my experience).
2. Never switch the HT300 off while it's in the middle of playback
or saving something. Always return to the 'Home' screen before
switching off.
3. The screen is touch (pressure) sensitive with softkeys. Pressing
with the pad of your finger can easily result in an accidental
double-touch (e.g. when you press the 'Start' softkey and then
without realising it press 'Pause' immediately after, and wonder
why the tune won't play). Tap the screen using a fingernail, or the
blunt end of a pen as a stylus (but never with a sharp object!)
4. When programming a playlist, watch out for the number of verses
for a tune. In particular, a few well-know hymns have an all-in-one
version (check out the different versions of 'Praise my soul'). The
printed library in the HT300 bag carries a bunch of annotations that
may help.
5. You really don't want to know about this, but just in case ... we
have had ongoing reliability problems with MP3 playback since
day one. Most times, switching off and on again can help. Regular
garbled sound issues have been solved (once) by taking the unit
apart and (very carefully) tightening up the screws which hold the
two main internal circuit boards together.
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Useful documents
The HT300 user guide is on our website, in the Resources area, 'How
to' section:
http://www.stmarysburghfield.org/documents/soundequipmentma
soundequipmentma
nuals/ht300_user_manual.pdf
Read this guide for complete manufacturer's instructions on use and
care of the HT300.
The HT300 library of tunes is also on our website, in the Resources
area, 'How to' section:
http://www.stmarysburghfield.org/documents/soundequipmentma
soundequipmentma
nuals/ht300_master_index_2016.pdf
Note this is a more recent download than the version we have installed
- all the tunes on our HT300 are listed here, but this online list includes
some that are NOT installed on our HT300. The printed version in the
HT300 bag is a more accurate list.
Memory card contents
See below for a Windows Explorer view of the memory card contents.
The two folders are four xml files are mandatory, the only one we
might edit is the playlist.xml (see later). The HT300 is capable of
playing midi files (from within the 'MIDI' folder, but we've never used
this facility.
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Changing the contents of the Memory card on a PC/laptop
You will need an SD card reader, then you can edit the card contents
just like any other insertable media. Just be VERY careful to keep the
files in the correct format - always keep a safe backup first.
If in doubt, don't fiddle!
Loading MP3s onto the HT300
MP3 files are copied onto the SD memory card, and must be placed in
the 'MP3' folder. They must have a filename NO LONGER THAN
EIGHT CHARACTERS consisting of numbers and letters only.
Standard set of MP3s
Listed below is the standard set of 31 MP3 files which we use for the
9am service (during communion), also the last post and reveille (which
are vital when the bugler fails to show up on Remembrance Sunday),
plus a useful 10s of silence!
ADORCHR.MP3
ADORDOM.MP3
BLESLORD.MP3
BONUMEST.MP3
CHRSTSLV.MP3
COMEOLOR.MP3
CONFITEM.MP3
IHEARD.MP3
JESUSREM.MP3
KINGDOMG.MP3
LASTPOST.MP3
LAUDATE.MP3
LAUSTIBI.MP3
MYPEACE.MP3
MYSOUL.MP3
OCHRISTE.MP3
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Adoremus te Christe 6m19s
Adoramus Te Domine (Taizé) 2m56s
Bless the Lord my soul (Taizé) 3m52s
Bonum est confidere (Taizé) 4m40s
Christe Salvator 3m32s
Come O Lord and set us free (Iona) 4m12s
Confitemini domini (Taizé) 2m26s
I heard the voice of Jesus calling (Iona) 2m08s
Jesus remember me (Taizé) 4m47s
The Kingdom of God is Justice and Peace 4m15s
Last Post (1m 27s)
Laudate Omnes Gentes (Taizé) 3m50s
Laus tibi Christe (Taizé) 2m32s
My peace I leave you (Taizé) 5m04s
My soul is at rest (Taizé) 2m42s
O Christe Domine Jesu (Taizé) 4m01s
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OLORDHEA.MP3
POUROUT.MP3
RAFMCH.MP3
REVEILLE.MP3
SENDOUT.MP3
SILENCE.MP3
STAYWITH.MP3
TAKEOTAK.MP3
THLORDIS.MP3
TUIAMORI.MP3
UBICARIT.MP3
VENISANC.MP3
WAITFOR.MP3
WEWILLB.MP3
WITHINOR.MP3
O Lord hear my prayer (Taizé) 3m34s
Pour out I will pour out my spirit (Iona) 1m08s
RAF March Past (1m 48s)
Reveille (0m 33s)
Send out your light (Iona) 2m07s
Silence (0m 10s)
Stay with me (Taizé) 3m56
Take O take me as I am (Iona) 2m00s
The Lord is my light (Taizé) 2m35s
Tui Amoris Ignem (Taizé) 5m25s
Ubi caritas (Taizé) 3m15s
Veni sancte spiritus (Taizé) 3m46s
Wait for the Lord (Taizé) 4m50s
We will be fed with finest wheat (Iona) 2m58s
Within our darkest night (Taizé) 2m51s
Additional files for wedding or funerals are also placed in this folder.
Give them a suitable name and remove them after the wedding/
funeral. If the number of MP3s increases, eventually the card gets full
and the HT300 takes longer to startup.
Programming HT300 playlists
The User Guide explains how to create playlists, here we offer some
Burghfield-specific information.
Standard playlists
There is one playlist called 'Pre Service' that stays permanently on the
HT300. This contains about 20 mins of background organ music,
which is useful to play prior to a baptism or wedding, while the
congregation arrives. Play this using the 'Cont' (continuous) button and
you have instant background music (NB the silence.mp3 file gives you
a short break between items).
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There may also be another playlist
ist called 'Wedding' which contains the
basic music for a wedding, which saves time when preparing for most
weddings.
Playlist name
The system automatically names each playlist with a default name:
Playlist 1, Playlist 2, etc. we usually rename this with the date or name
of the service. To do this, you can plug in an old PC keyboard with a
circular DIN plug (when the playlistt name is editable, you can type
typ the
name you want).
Alternatively you can edit the PLAYLIST.XML file. To edit
e the playlist
file, open the file using a text editor (e.g. Windows Notepad).
Notepad Each
playlist starts with a <playlist> statement, followed by the <number>
and <name>. The playlist name is highlighted
ighted in blue in the example
below.
Organ styles
When programming organ pieces, you may choose from a number of
sound 'Styles'. Whilst many would not notice if the default 'Full Swell'
was used for every piece, it adds colour if the style varies according to
the piece and its use (e.g. as background music or to lead the
congregation). The HT300 has dozens of styles, however
ver in our view
the quality is variable. We recommend the following styles
st
are good to
use:
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Full Swell
Good all-purpose default for congregational
singing
Small flute
Very light, good for quiet organ-only music
Baroque 1
Ideal for pre-service Bach etc.
Medium flutes
Deeper sound
Smooth flutes
Light, good for quiet organ-only music
Small Diapason
Light, good for quiet organ-only music
Flutes & Diapasons
Suitable for congregational singing of quieter
hymns, but does not have strong melody.
Medium Diapasons
Suitable for congregational singing of quieter
hymns, but does not have strong melody.
Diapason chorus 1
Suitable for congregational singing of quieter
hymns (e.g. gradual hymn). Better than other
similar sounds as it carries the melody well
Reed chorus
Quite a full sound, reeds give distinctive
melody, if a little harsh.
Full Diapasons
Suitable for congregational singing of quieter
hymns, but does not have strong melody.
Full diapason chorus
Suitable for congregational singing of quieter
hymns, but does not have strong melody.
Medium combination Suitable for congregational singing of quieter
hymns, but does not have strong melody.
Full organ
Good for congregational singing, with strong
melody
General 2
Like ‘Full Organ’, strong melody, but with
more bass pedal
General 1
‘Big organ’ sound. Loads of bass pedal,
excellent for rousing congregational singing
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Manufacturer detail
Our HT300 was new in 2009, so it's got a few miles on the clock. In case
you need it, the HT300 is manufactured by Hymnal Plus UK:
PO Box 862A, Surbiton, Surrey, KT1 9GQ
020 8255 0270
info@hymntechnology.com
www.hymntechnology.com
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