Sunday service translation checklist — for church AV teams

The week before Sunday

1. 1Confirm your service plan with the pastorGet the order of service, sermon title, any scripture passages, and key names or theological terms that will be used. Load these into Voco's glossary so AI accuracy is tuned before Sunday.
2. 2Check your translation languagesConfirm which languages are active in your Voco dashboard. Add or remove languages based on who's expected this week — add a language if a group visiting from another church or a language community is coming.
3. 3Check your audio routingIf you use a USB audio interface from the sound desk, confirm the interface is working and the gain is set correctly. Do a brief recording test — listen back and confirm the voice is clear without clipping or background noise.

30 minutes before service

1. 1Log in to Voco and start a sessionOpen the Voco dashboard on your translation laptop or tablet. Create a new session with today's date and service name for your records.
2. 2Display the QR codeLoad the QR code into ProPresenter, OBS, or your presentation software. Confirm it's scheduled to display at the start of service announcements — usually when the congregation is seated and settling before the service proper begins.
3. 3Test with a phoneScan the QR code yourself. Confirm it opens in the phone browser without requiring an app download. Select each active language and confirm the page loads correctly for each one.
4. 4Do a live translation testSpeak into the microphone (or audio source) and confirm you see the text appearing in the Voco dashboard and in the attendee reader on your phone. Check each language channel individually.

At the start of service

1. 1Display the QR code during announcementsProject the QR code slide and make a brief verbal announcement: 'If you'd like to follow today's service in your own language, scan the QR code on screen. No app required — just open the link on your phone.'
2. 2Start the live translation sessionBegin the Voco session before the first speaker takes the microphone. Don't wait for the sermon — starting early means the system is confirmed working and any early remarks are captured.
3. 3Monitor during serviceKeep one eye on the Voco dashboard during service. If you see the transcription stop or lag, check your audio input connection and WiFi status. Voco's backfill feature will send missed text to attendees' phones when connection is restored.

After service

1. 1End the sessionClose the Voco session in the dashboard. Note any issues — audio lag, incorrect transcription patterns, languages that underperformed — for the following week's glossary update.
2. 2Gather informal feedbackAsk two or three congregation members who used translation this week how it went. Their practical feedback is invaluable for tuning your setup.
3. 3Update the glossaryAdd any words that were misheard or mistranslated to the Voco glossary with corrections. Over time, this trains the system to handle your pastor's speaking style and your church's vocabulary accurately.

Common problems and fixes

• Translation has stopped: check your audio input is still selected and active; check WiFi connection on the translation laptop
• QR code isn't scanning: ensure the projected QR code is large enough and the projector is in focus — test from the back of the room
• Translation is in the wrong language: check the language settings in the Voco dashboard; attendees can switch language themselves on their phone
• Audio sounds robotic or muffled: check gain levels on your audio interface; reduce room reverb if possible by positioning the microphone closer to the speaker
• Latency seems high: ensure you're on a wired connection or strong 5GHz WiFi; close other bandwidth-heavy applications on the translation laptop