After playing with the demo version it was obvious that eCarillon was the solution.
I had tried my own Task Scheduler using Win11 with limited success. Hard to change, awkward to work with and I wanted a set it and forget it fix that anyone could alter as desired. This software checked all the boxes. I did put in a task to only turn on wifi between 7am til 8am for a clock sync time and ms update because we had some hacking issues. For $167 bucks it was money well spent.
I initially downloaded the demo on my desktop computer to see what it looked like and how it functioned. I like what I saw, and am now trying to download it to my laptop to provide a working demo to the church. I cannot download the demo a second time. I can't build a proof-of-concept demo for the church until I figure out how to download it a second time.
Tried the app for a few days and it worked as expected. Took a bit to figure out the operation, but once learned it really isn’t tough. I cloned the default template and added some chimes and times. After my few days of trial I bought the app outright and its running well at St. John’s Church where I donated the CPU to plug into their existing amplifier.
It does what we wanted it to do, only thing I think that can improve the product is to include some standard bells music for Weddings, Funerals and daily Call to Worship. The application does allow you to import your own bells music, which was helpful for sure!
Surely a great alternative, when budgets are restrictive!
We purchased your product, it's not as intuitive as I'd hoped but it's usable!
Wished it included more standard bell songs for everyday church, weddings and funeral songs.
The Youtube videos are a bit of help but some features have changed and my look is different. Will keep reaching out to eCarillon for help, they've been responsive
The product seems to work as intended. The demo was limited to just a few seconds of the songs. It would have been good to set up the demo to replace our old product completely but overall I think it is a good product.
I tried the demo and it was fine. Now I've purchased the full program but it is not downloading. Hopefully customer service will help me this week.
Our Carillion system at our church was installed when the building was built. It ended up dropping out about 3 years ago. Nobody would repair our existing system and the cost to replace it was pretty high. This was a great setup that had us back up and running for 1/3 the price.
First, I will say that this is the best carillon for the price you can get and the price is very reasonable. It is versatile in that all you need is a computer and not an expensive dedicated system that can run into the thousands. I read other reviews where eCarillon was going to release a printed manual but have not seen it yet. eCarillon - get a manual done and out. The videos are helpful but I want a manual! I initially had problems loading the zip file music into the library. I finally just let it create files automatically. I separated the chimes and counts from the hymns and Christmas music. I tested one of the default schedules and let it run but it kept stopping. I finally created various schedules such as weekday/Saturday and Sunday where the chimes stop during church. We use eCarillon internally and not through loudspeakers in the steeple (yet). I further broke those down into quarter chimes, top of the hour chimes, with music and without and hymns and Christmas. The way that I found to not have the default schedule stop was to put my selected custom schedules into the calendar. Use a default schedule, clone it, rename the new schedule, and modify it. I would like to see some elementary computer settings on the eCarillon site. My computer kept going to sleep or hibernating even though I changed all my power options to do nothing. I restarted the computer and now it stays awake and I have had no problems for a month. I recommend a laptop because of the battery. When I restarted the computer, I wanted to see if eCarillon would come back and start. I was pleasantly surprised that it did. I am now waiting for December 1st to see it switch to 8a to 6p quarter hour chimes with Christmas music. Then January 1st, switching back to hymns. eCarillon is somewhat intuitive but watch the video before you attempt and operation. It’s nice to know tech support is responsive and they will call you if you include your phone number in the help request. They called me back about my music zip issue but I figured it out before the call. Don’t be afraid to play with it. You can always delete a schedule and clone or create another one. Again, manual please. Otherwise, if you want a real carillon sound, spend tens of thousands on bells and support. I am ore than satisfied with eCarillon and give it my highest recommendation.
The team at eCarillon goes above and beyond to deliver a user-friendly program and friendly experience to enhance any church!
Demo was installed on PC with windows 11 it is functional I have ver. 2.047.1 on windows 7 noticed that on windows 11 changing between tabs and editing it performs sluggish even dragging eCarillon in window. I am replacing PC with windows 7 having problem with it I will replace with windows 11 PC I just installed software ver. 2.047.1 it is functional however sluggish as with demo version.
previously used a different company for our installations. ried the Ecarillon system with excellent results.
Old silent transistorized carillon system was replaced by a Windows O/S computer configured as Local User and off-line with eCarillon. eCarillon has worked flawlessly for the past 5 years and everyone is delighted with the bell sounds of the Blessed Bells Collections of Hymns and Christmas Bells.
I found it easy to use and like it. The only thing I found disappointing was you don't get Amazing Grace song unless you purchase all the music which is expensive. I wish you would have included at least that song.
The eCarillon Software is an excellent low cost alternative to expensive replacement. We had a functioning Amplifier and Bell System but had the carillon itself break. The replacement cost would have been in the thousands but an inexpensive laptop and eCarillon saved our small congregation the expense.
After long years with another software provider we lost the computer that ran our chimes and needed a cost-effective replacement. This software fits the need and though it took a little fiddling to understand and get things programmed, it is working great and we are very pleased. Thanks for developing a solution to our need!
I would like to see an annual schedule as an option. This would allow us to add specific events that happen on the same day every year.
I set the program up on a laptop at our church to play music. Checked following week and found program shut down after one day. It needed the key code re-installed. That took several hours, but once re-installed it has been working ok. It seems to be easier than other platforms to work with. Time will tell how it long it works. I am happy with it so far.
Our system went live Sunday, Dec 15 at 8 AM. It has performed well. We are using the Beta version. The time you spend with me filled in all the areas I missed in the videos. Using an existing unused slower desktop computer I was abel to marry it up to a receiver to push the sound out to the there rooftop speakers. It replaced a Maas Rowe 8 track system from the 1960’s which had quit working about 11 months ago. We are looking to expand the music selections but haven’t found a source yet. Thank you for the time you spent with me.
Amazing deal that included hymns and Christmas songs. Our church will love it! Thank you.
This software is reliable. The interface is dated and basic. Given that it clearly has not been updated recently, it is priced really high, out of touch with other current software. However, it is the only program I could find to do the job, and it worked reliably in the trial, so I bought the full package. The sound files seem to be good quality. I question the pricing there as well, but again, it's hard to find other quality audio files.
Hi Robert,
Thanks for choosing eCarillon and we appreciate your candid feedback on our pricing. Hopefully I can shed light on our strategy when it comes to supporting our product and customers. When you purchase eCarillon, you are not just getting our software but you are also getting our excellent, patient and attentive customer support team to help you get up and running. We designed eCarillon and our business to sustainably meet the requirements of a relatively small set of customers and do so in a way that is accessible, affordable, and far less than competing options. Our goal has always been to build something that can last and be a solution for our customers for years to come. As we have watched countless customers be abandoned by their previous bell solution providers, we have chosen to be here to restore the sound of bells to their campuses and we intend to be here to serve these and other customers for a long time-- not only with a great product but also great service. These values are what drive us forward and what drives value into our product over other solutions. We trust you will also find this to be true over time.
The bells from our steeple have brought forth:
* Delight for the Deacons
* Praise from the Pastor
* Congratulations from the Congregation
* Songs of praise from the Choir
* Accolades from the Acolytes
I could not be happier!
Blessings,
Jay Hodge
The church ordered the eCarillon Full Pack to download to a new laptop. It was so easy and fast to download. Setup of the schedule was easy, and we had it playing hymns in a couple of hours. The congregation and the neighbors have all remarked on how lovely the hymns sound.