Front panel menus

Standby display

When the system is idle, we say that it is in Standby, waiting either for a manual command or an automatic schedule event to trigger. The display may be in a dim screen saver mode that moves the current time around the display. Pressing one of the gray cursor keys will exit screen saver and show the following display:

N 3:02* PM. MON 05-26
Swng Peal Toll Hymn

The top line indicates

  • Current SmartAlmanac liturgical season
  • Current time with AM/PM
    • an asterisk after the minutes indicates daylight saving time
    • a period after the AM/PM indication shows that the time is synchronized
  • Day of the week
  • Date

The bottom line indicates an abbreviated name for each of the first four programmable function/remote buttons.

Main menu items

Press the Enter button to bring up the Main Menu. Press the cursor up or cursor down button until the desired menu selection flashes, then press the Enter button again to go into that menu. Pressing a numeric button for the item number will also quickly access each menu item shown below in bold.

  • View/Edit Schedule (shortcut 2) is used to review and modify the active weekly ringing schedule.
  • Play Selections (1) plays any selections manually.
  • Tower Performance (default, press Enter again) enables the keyboard for performance both inside and outside.
  • Record a Performance (5) enables the keyboard inside only for practice and music recording.
  • Recording Librarian (4) titles and categorizes user recordings for retrieval and automatic play.
  • System Setup Menu (3) contains the following sub-menus that are used to configure the bell system.

System Setup menu items

  • Time Strike/Auto Level (0) globally sets time strike and volume level changes for blocks of time.
  • Set System Clock (1) makes adjustments to the system time and date. Also see Daylight Saving setup menu for instructions for changing the dates DST will change.
  • Edit Remote Button (2) is an editor for eight programmable buttons on the front panel that allow easy access to common functions. Any or all of these eight buttons can also appear on the Church Bell Remote Control app, and the first four can be activated from the mini hardware remote. Schedule these functions using functional macro codes to simplify changes to automatic ringing styles.
  • Seasonal Options (3) makes changes to the SmartAlmanac features, enables Daylight Time adjustments, music options and zoning.
  • Keyboard Sensitivity (4) customizes the touch of the keyboard performance.
  • Keyboard Size/MIDI (5) automatically sets the chimes to ring with any keyboard or organ manual.
  • Swinging Bell Timing (6) set tempo for simulation or motor controls
  • Time Strike Melody (7) lets you select which melody (default is Westminster) will play for the time striking function.
  • Misc Options (8) tolling tempo and coasting time for swinging bells
  • Security Options (9) allows you to set a PIN number to unlock the front panel keypad to prevent unauthorized tampering.

Operation

Remote control and function buttons

The four remote selection buttons duplicate the buttons 1 through 4 on the front panel of the Chime Master System Unit. When the system is in the Standby mode, these four buttons allow special functions to be played. The buttons have the following factory defaults:

  1. Swing - call to worship/Mass bell
  2. Peal - celebration/wedding peal
  3. Toll - funeral toll
  4. Hymn - selection of music appropriate to the current season

The red Stop button on the remote duplicates the red Stop button on the front panel. Whenever the system is playing, pressing stop will cause the selection to be interrupted. If a function with multiple selections is programmed, then the next selection in the sequence may play after the current one is canceled. To cancel all selections, press Stop at least two times.

When a selection is ready to play, the green Play button duplicates the action of the Play button on the front panel. If the Jukebox concert menu is open in the Management Suite software, the playlist will begin to play when you press the remote control's Play button.

To send a command from the remote transmitter to the Chime Master, simply press the appropriate button. Each time a button is pressed, it should be held for about one second. If the battery condition allows proper transmission, the green battery condition light will illuminate.

The buttons can be re-programmed from the factory functions. Entering zeros for the program will restore the factory settings.

Monitor volume control

Inside monitor audio is an option on the Libertas bell control system. If you have it, you may adjust the inside volume level by pressing either the cursor up or cursor down button to raise or lower the volume level.

While a selection is playing

During the performance of a music or ringing selection, the display will indicate the selection that is playing on the lower line of the front panel screen. The current date and time will continue to be displayed on the top line.

You can reject the selection that is playing or all selections that are queued to play. Press the red Stop button once to go to the next selection, or double click it to reject the entire program.

Automation suspend

Press and hold the zero button for three seconds to suspend automation. The default suspension time is three hours, but this can be adjusted using the Management Suite's settings menu. The time display will alternate between the current time and Automation Suspended every two seconds. During suspension of the automatic schedule, manual selections may be played with the remote control or front panel function buttons.

Press and hold the zero button to resume scheduled ringing.

Management Software

Management Suite is a Windows software application that extends the usefulness of your Chime Master ringing equipment.

Free version features

Premium version features

Optional