The Program in Detail
Features
Using Virtual Belfry, you can:
- Select bells to ring (the obvious combinations or an arbitrary mix);
- Vary the speed of the ringing (peal speed or "clock speed");
- Freeze the action and step through frame by frame;
- Fire the bells (ring them all simultaneously);
- Set the key of the bells as desired;
- Turn the sound off (of all the bells or of individual bells);
- Set a variety of other preferences;
- Call call-changes;
- Call touches using bobs, singles, or other calls;
- Customise the menus of methods and compositions;
- Add your own methods and compositions in a variety of styles;
- Make half-lead calls or method changes - manually or in compositions;
- Use the full screen (including hiding the menu, tool bar, and status bar if desired);
- See the list of rows as they are produced during a touch;
- Practise ropesight using the ropes window;
- Watch a graphical demonstration of place notation as a touch progresses;
- Ring a bell yourself.
The bells swing realistically, including holding up and cutting in for dodges. The smaller bells swing higher than larger bells, as you would expect. It can be interesting and instructive to slow the clock speed down to a crawl and then watch the tenor and treble firing together.