Getting the screen and sound right

Open the screen once

Open your private screen link on the device you'll use. It's in your page manager under TV screen, and in the reminder email. Press Play movie and let a few photos go by.

Pick the best device

A laptop plugged into the TV with HDMI is the most reliable. A smart TV's own web browser works too. Chromecast or Apple TV work from a laptop or phone, but casting music from a phone replaces the movie.

Check from the back row

Photos and words are sized to read from about 40 feet. If the TV is small for the room, choose Slower photo speed in the dashboard.

Set the TV and laptop to never sleep

Plug the laptop in. The screen asks the device to stay awake, but some TVs have their own sleep timer.

With HDMI, sound plays through the TV's speakers. That's fine for a small room. In a chapel, connect to the house sound.

From a laptop

Run a 3.5 mm cable from the laptop's headphone jack to the sound board (3.5 mm to dual RCA or XLR, depending on the board). Set the laptop volume to about 80% and control loudness at the board.

From the TV

Use the TV's optical or audio out to the board, and set the TV's speakers off.

Test before guests arrive

On the screen's menu, press Test sound. It plays a short sample at talking level. If the back row can't hear it, raise the board, not the laptop.

One source at a time

If the family plays music from a phone, choose "We'll play our own music" so the screen stays quiet. Two sources fighting each other is the most common sound problem.

Built-in music

Eight quiet playlists, from hymns and gospel to Ave María and Spanish guitar. They shuffle softly under the movie so people can still talk. The family picks one in their dashboard or on the TV.

Silence for prayer or the honor guard

Press ▼ then select Mute, or press M on a keyboard. The music pauses where it is, and Unmute picks up the same song.

The family's own music

Use a paid account so no ads play, download the playlist, turn off Autoplay, and turn on Do Not Disturb. From the same laptop, open the music service in its own window, not a tab, so the movie stays on the TV.

How guests add photos

When the family turns guest photos on, a code appears in the corner of the screen. Guests scan it with their phone camera. No app and no account.

The family stays in control

Every guest photo waits for the family before it joins the screen or the page. Guests can remove their own photos. The family can pause guest photos at any time, and the code disappears within seconds.