Virtual Belfry
- What it runs on
- PCs running ME, 2000, XP, Vista. (More details about system requirements can be found on the Virtual Belfry website - see below.)
- What it does
- Virtual Belfry features a ring of eight bells viewed from above and animated using hundreds of photographs, with an alternative rope view featuring sallies that move up and down with smooth graphics and realistic motion linked directly to the physics of the swinging bells. The belfry view is great for open days and other similar occasions, or simply for enjoying at home, watching the bells ringing from a rarely-experienced perspective while listening to excellent striking. The rope view is designed for method and ropesight practice. Several innovative aids have been developed for helping develop ropesight, including a game for testing your ability to spot the next rope (you score points by pointing your mouse at the correct rope before it is highlighted). The bells will ring any method, composition or call change sequence you choose (from the program's built-in lists, or by entering your own). You can also call touches or call changes manually. Compositions are stored in formats that closely match their normal written forms so it is easy to add more to the list. Virtual Belfry supports half-lead calls and splicing, both manually and within compositions, with ease. You can ring any combination of bells (including just one); change the speed of the ringing; watch a graphical display of place notation (hard to explain - see the website for more on this one); enjoy the sound of half-muffled ringing and whole-pull changes; fire the bells and more.
- What it costs
- £35, or AUD$80 if purchased within Australia.
- Where to get it and/or more information
- The program can be purchased via the Virtual Belfry website, www.belfryware.com The normal payment method is with a credit card, following PayPal links on the site. Delivery is by CD through the post. Full details about the program are also available on the website.
