FAQ

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about AnchorCast.

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General

Is AnchorCast really free?
Yes — completely free, forever. No subscription, no trial, no credit card. AnchorCast is MIT licensed open-source software.

Does it work offline?
Yes. AnchorCast works entirely without internet using the local Whisper AI engine. The only features that require internet are: Deepgram online transcription (optional), Genius lyrics search (optional), and the initial download of the Whisper model.

What operating systems are supported?
Windows 10 and Windows 11 are officially supported. The app can also run in web server mode on macOS and Linux via npm start, though the desktop installer is Windows-only.

How is it different from ProPresenter or EasyWorship?
Those apps focus on manual presentation control. AnchorCast adds AI-powered automatic verse detection — the app listens to the sermon and puts the verse on screen the moment it is spoken. It also includes live sermon transcription and AI sermon notes — features not found in traditional church software.

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Transcription & AI

Does it detect paraphrased scripture?
Yes. The detection engine recognizes both direct quotes and paraphrased references. For example, "God so loved the world that He sent His Son" will detect John 3:16.

Can it detect verses in different languages?
The small.en Whisper model is English-only. The multilingual small model supports multiple languages but has lower accuracy for English. Switch models in Settings → Audio & AI → Whisper Model Manager.

Is my sermon audio sent to the cloud?
Not in Offline mode. When using Local Whisper, all audio is processed entirely on your computer and never leaves it. In Online (Deepgram) mode, audio is sent to Deepgram's servers for transcription.

How accurate is the verse detection?
Accuracy improves with a quality microphone, a clear speaking voice, and the small.en model. Direct quotes are detected with very high accuracy. Paraphrased references depend on how closely the wording matches the verse text.

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Setup & Installation

What is the Whisper model and why is it not bundled?
The Whisper AI speech model is ~244 MB. To keep the installer manageable, it is downloaded separately on first use. The installer offers to download it automatically, or you can do it later from inside the app.

Do I need Python installed?
No — the Windows installer bundles a portable Python environment. You do not need to install Python separately.

Can I run it without installing?
Yes — clone the repository and run npm start. This requires Node.js 18+ but no installer.

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Songs & Bible

What Bible translations are included?
KJV is bundled by default. You can import NKJV, NIV, NLT, ESV, NASB, ASV, or any translation in JSON format via Settings → Bible Versions.

Can I import my EasyWorship song library?
Yes. Go to Songs → Import and select your EasyWorship database file or a ProPresenter XML export.

Are my songs backed up?
AnchorCast automatically backs up your song library every Sunday. You can also manually export from the Song Manager at any time.

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Technical

Can I use AnchorCast for live streaming?
Yes — AnchorCast outputs via NDI to OBS, vMix, or Wirecast. Without the NDI addon, you can use the MJPEG stream fallback at http://localhost:49876/stream. See [NDI & Streaming] for setup.

Can multiple people control the presentation?
Yes — via the Wi-Fi remote control. Multiple devices can connect simultaneously. The Admin role has full control; other roles (Scripture, Songs, Media, Monitor) have limited access. See [Remote Control].

Where is my data stored?
All user data is stored locally in:

C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Roaming\AnchorCast\AnchorCastData\

This includes your songs, settings, Bible translations, themes, and sermon history. Data survives reinstallation.