How to Set Up a Phone Number Which Plays MP3s & Podcasts Down The Line! (Dial-A-Sermon)

День тому

With the Coronavirus lockdown and social distancing measures meaning mass gatherings are banned for the foreseeable future, setting up a "Dial-a-Sermon" phone number that the elderly and vulnerable can call to listen to sermon recordings, podcasts or any other MP3 audio file down the phone can help to prevent feelings of isolation caused by the COVID-19 crisis.
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This is like an on-demand telephone service for anyone who doesn't have access to the Internet, or isn't comfortable using computers and mobile devices, and who is in danger of being left behind as the whole world moves online during the current times. It can also be used for announcements, information lines or entertainment like audiobooks.
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Written guide (first published 18th March 2020)
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Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:22 Sign up for Twilio account
03:01 Build function to play MP3 down phone
06:30 Add phone number to account
09:37 Configure phone number to execute function
10:30 Test phone number
11:18 Cost to callers and to you
11:52 Format of URL to MP3 file
12:09 Host MP3 files on Twilio as an Asset
13:01 Upgrade Project to remove demo limits
13:26 Ending
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КОМЕНТАРІ: 73

@AaronFreemanPowell 4 роки тому

Thanks, really helpful. I've set this up for my church and lots of people are finding the talks played down the phone really helpful! I've uploaded the talks as 16-bit, mono, wav files, direct to Twilio assets, and found that this helps the audio to load very quickly so that there's almost no perceivable delay.

@desktop1001 4 роки тому

Paul, thank you for a very clear and step by step guide to setting up a dial-a-sermon account. As this isn't my main job, but can usually sort out, IT functionality, you saved me so much time and I was up and running within 30 minutes. we've used it for a daily reflection for Thy Kingdom Come starting on 21 May 2020 for those who are finding difficulty accessing online services at the moment. Our Deanery Chapter discussed the potential but now we know how easy it is to set up, I'm sure there'll be more subscribers. Thank you again.

@lex1212 3 роки тому

Thank you, Andrew Brown.

@MrAdyas 4 роки тому

Thank you for putting this video on UKposts. You did a great job explaining the steps. We are now able to use this software to reach some of our church members who do not have a computer.

@SwitchedOnNetwork 4 роки тому

Excellent news, I'm really glad it has helped you!

@thebartlettfactor Рік тому

Thank you for this video. We live in a retirement community and I wanted to record our weekly community newsletters but couldn't figure out how to get the recordings out to neighbors that don't have email or access to a computer. This is EXACTLY what I've been looking to do for weeks. Appreciate you creating this content.

@SwitchedOnNetwork Рік тому

Glad it was helpful! :)

@trinitybaptistgorton 4 роки тому

Thanks for this - we've used your walkthrough to set up our 'phone church'. Blessings.

@SwitchedOnNetwork 4 роки тому

Excellent, great news! 💪👍

@rolandkovacs8731 4 роки тому

Thank you Paul, it was a really good intro for the topic.

@SwitchedOnNetwork 4 роки тому

My pleasure, I hope you get it set up ok - let me know here if you need any help!

@grimsbybaptist 3 роки тому

I've been able to implement this without issue for my church thanks to your great instructions here Paul! If you know how to get Twilio programmed so that callers can listen in to a live UKposts worship service, I'd be interested in that also.

@seanfoulkes 3 роки тому

Dude. You're a lifesaver. This is the PERFECT way to do this. Zoom zoom.

@SwitchedOnNetwork 3 роки тому

Happy to help, glad it was useful for you 👍👍

@wpbcoffice 3 роки тому

Excellent resource. Thanks so much.

@SwitchedOnNetwork 3 роки тому

My pleasure, hope you find it useful 👍

@jamescoffey5282 3 роки тому

This is a great example and it has worked well for our church and helped us provide an audio recording of our daily Facebook mass to our parishioners without internet access. I would now like to enhance it and dynamically detect the day of the week and use it to switch my message so I can fully automate my announcement.

@SwitchedOnNetwork 3 роки тому

That's great, I'm glad it's worked well! It's fairly simple to expand your function to do different things based on the day of the week, using Timezone (more info at momentjs.com/timezone/) In Functions/Configure, add NPM name: moment-timezone, version: 0.5.14 Then add this to the top of your function to initialise it: let moment = require('moment-timezone'); let timezone = event.timezone || 'Europe/London'; Then, define two constants for time and day: const hour = moment().tz(timezone).format('H'); const dayOfWeek = moment().tz(timezone).format('d'); Then with a basic "if/else" structure you can do stuff like this: if ((hour >= 9 && hour < 17) && (dayOfWeek >= 1 && dayOfWeek

@jamescoffey5282 3 роки тому

@@SwitchedOnNetwork Great. It works. Thank you

@wpbcoffice 3 роки тому

I used this process to set up a dial-in sermon for our church and it works well - Thank you! Twilio is not notifying me that I have to upgrade to Twilio Functions Node v12. Is this necessary and if so have you done a video on what has to be done. I tried with Twilio's instructions and got lost.

@wheathillbenefice 3 роки тому

Thanks for this, it took a few goes as (predictably) they appear to have changed some aspects! Funny to hear Ian's voice, I used to be in Hunts Cross!! But now in Somerset...

@SwitchedOnNetwork 3 роки тому

Ha, great! Small world 🙂 Glad you got it up and running 👍

@RiversideChurchWhitstable 3 роки тому

Thanks for the very useful video. Rather than having to log in every time there’s a new sermon and add the link to it on our account. I wondered if it could be automated with a piece of code in the same way that Soundcloud propagates the podcast every time there is a new one uploaded to iTunes for instance with a RSS feed. This then triggers iTunes to show the latest podcast. Surely this must be possible to have them hosted on Soundcloud and automatically feeding the latest podcast link to Twilio so it always plays the latest podcast?

@annealexander7329 3 роки тому

Paul, thank you very much for your brilliant instruction on setting this up for our church, do you have an update in mind to refresh for the new version V12, the editor seems to be confusing and somewhat difficult to master.

@SwitchedOnNetwork 3 роки тому

I hadn't been planning an update... has yours stopped working? What messages are you getting?

@wheathillbenefice 3 роки тому

Hi again, just another update. I followed your instructions and initially thought I've done something wrong, but it turns out that you can no longer test with a new (not upgraded) account, it just gives you the initial notice that occurs with the set up. I was about to loose heart, but thought 'I'll upgrade' I did & lo & behold it was there!

@SwitchedOnNetwork 3 роки тому

Great! Glad you sorted it 🙂

@sweetjackgames872 4 роки тому

First off awesome and clear video! Second, I was searching the whole week how to set such a thing up. I would like to do this on a bigger scale with multiple sermons and lectures. Is it possible to do this with prompts, for example, for Sunday's lecture press 1 for Monday's lecture press 2 etc....Or even for Pastor/Rabbi A press 1 for Pastor/Rabbi B press 2 and then after pressing 1, for Sunday press 1 for Monday press 2 etc... Additionally is it possible to control playback on the sermons/lectures like Fast Forward or Rewind a minute or Pause/resume?

@SwitchedOnNetwork 4 роки тому

Thank you! The menu options are available, yes. You can code it in Node.js within a function or if you prefer you can create a "Flow" in the Studio (it's in the same left hand menu as Functions). AFAIK there's no facility within Twilio to control playback (but I might be wrong) so you may have to check other providers for that functionality. Let me know how you get on! 👍

@StAndrewsChurchArbroath 4 роки тому

Thank you for making this video. So much easier than following documentation. The cost to me per minute, would that be per user too? Are you planning on creating a guide for scheduling recordings?

@SwitchedOnNetwork 4 роки тому

Yes, that's per call - and multiple people can call in simultaneously. When you say scheduling recordings, what precisely do you mean? I may, if I get time during lockdown, create a more advanced function that simply looks at your church podcast feed and plays the most recent episode, announcing its title to the caller. Then you can schedule the episode release there (if you have a podcast setup, of course) and this will respond accordingly.

@StAndrewsChurchArbroath 3 роки тому

@@SwitchedOnNetwork Thinking that if an audio while has been uploaded on the Thursday but don't want people listening until the Sunday, is there a way to either to schedule the file so that it isn't played before the Sunday - maybe have a mid-week message informing people that they have reached the correct number but the service isn't yet available?

@TrinityChurchSutton 3 роки тому

Thanks for a great video... Sorry if I'm being slow here - I couldn't find your referral link which I am keen to use?

@TrinityChurchSutton 3 роки тому

I was being slow - now found thanks!

@sweetjackgames872 4 роки тому

Thanks! Would know how to set up a function or can you send sample code, which would allow me to call my twilio number from a landline and then place a outgoing call by entering a phone number I choose. The caller ID should be the landline number. I need this to make long distance calls from my landline which only allows local.

@SwitchedOnNetwork 4 роки тому

That's a whole different project and outside the scope of this video tutorial I'm afraid. That said, I'm sure there will be examples and/or tutorials on how to achieve that if you look online. Good luck!

@beneficeofbletchingleyandn7627 4 роки тому

Hello Paul, this was brilliant and I have set up a dial a sermon line for our elderly parishioners. Now I would like to be able to add a function whereby someone can phone the number and have a choice of Sermon or hymn? Or would I have to create another number ?

@SwitchedOnNetwork 4 роки тому

Yes, if you go into the Studio (left-hand menu, near Function) and create a new Flow you can do that. You can start with a template to make it easier, and then modify to suit your needs. It's an easy drag-and-drop interface, so you should have some fun with it and be set up in no time. Let me know how you get on!

@beneficeofbletchingleyandn7627 4 роки тому

@@SwitchedOnNetwork well I've started an IVR and got so far, now wondering how I connect it with the function?

@andy-sheffield2866 3 роки тому

@@beneficeofbletchingleyandn7627 Although you can call your Function from your Studio Flow, as you'll no doubt have "gathered" by now, you may as well simply add the necessary Say and Play statements directly to your Flow (then go back to your Menu/IVR after the recording of your sermon has finished playing). Here's a tutorial which explains all about it: www.twilio.com/blog/ivr-menu-podcast-selector-twilio-studio

@cairncastlepresbyterianchu6181 3 роки тому

Thanks so much for this - we've been trying to get something set up for those without web access. However, when I try to change the webhook to function, it just reverts back to webhook. What am I doing wrong? THANK YOU

@SwitchedOnNetwork 3 роки тому

Are you also setting the "Function Path" after changing the "A Call Comes In..." setting to Function?

@beneficeofbletchingleyandn7627 4 роки тому

Hi Paul, if I put the function to play a sermon or hymn in the flow programme is there anything different I should do to the function?

@SwitchedOnNetwork 4 роки тому

If you're doing that, then that's instead of a function (unless you're ALSO using a function to do something else more complex, like doing something different depending on the date/time, but I digress) - so when you're configuring the number, select your "Flow" rather than the function under the "When a call comes in..." heading.

@sarahcorlett1699 3 роки тому

Excellent but there are now no London numbers on their platform. I have submitted a request and they say it may take 6-8 weeks

@SwitchedOnNetwork 3 роки тому

Aw that's a shame - don't forget though that it doesn't cost anyone any more to dial non-London numbers, as long as they start 01, 02 or 03! So you could grab, say, a Birmingham 0121 number and use that until 020 numbers are available again. Or an 03 number which is non-geographic but still exactly the same cost to call (ie. included in free minutes etc.) Hope that's helpful!

@wolfgangenfield4984 4 роки тому

Hi Paul, could i make a suggestion to have a copy of the mp3 named current.mp3 on the server I know this would mean double upload or copy on server then rename it but it would mean less work on the Twillo end and maybe add a twiml say thanks for calling the sermon has now ended at the end

@SwitchedOnNetwork 4 роки тому

Hi! Yes a message at the end is a great idea. The naming convention is a bit more problematic... it might work, and you might get away with it but it has potential for problems as Twilio may well cache the file to avoid downloading it again each time. If the file always has exactly the same URL and filename, it may not try to redownload it and therefore not notice that there's a new version available. A better way to avoid repetitive work editing the function each time is to write code to have it check an RSS feed (eg. of you have a podcast setup) for the latest episode. I'm planning to do that for our church (and will probably make a follow-up video too) but I've still not gotten round to it, as lockdown has been so hectically busy! 🤣

@williamharkness1 3 роки тому

Hey, you responded to a message and told me to comment here. I am having great difficulty with this (Im old and can't code) would love some advice. Thanks William

@SwitchedOnNetwork 3 роки тому

Hi William, yes sure happy to help. Can you share your code and the error you're getting?

@williamharkness1 3 роки тому

@@SwitchedOnNetwork now hen I dial the number it’s unobtainable. I’ve messed it up

@SwitchedOnNetwork 3 роки тому

whoops - have you removed it from your account, or is it just not configured to do any action?

@williamharkness1 3 роки тому

@@SwitchedOnNetwork I think its how I configured, might be best to start again. The Twilio actions are a little different to your video, which doesn't help me.

@SwitchedOnNetwork 3 роки тому

Oh that's odd, which bit has changed?

@randomorder4234 4 роки тому

What happens when 2 or more people call to listen to the church service? Do they get a busy signal until the first person is finished listening?

@SwitchedOnNetwork 4 роки тому

No, you can have lots and lots of people listening simultaneously - there isn't a defined limit as such. This is the same type of system that's used by big corporations and call centre systems etc 🙂

@taex6274 2 роки тому

Hey does it capture data of who has called ?

@SwitchedOnNetwork 2 роки тому

Twilio does, yes (unless they withhold their number)

@TheOssia 2 роки тому

@@SwitchedOnNetwork - How many pre-recorded audio files can be uploaded for the callers to choose from at the 'main menu’ when they call in? Thanks for your great videos!

@SwitchedOnNetwork 2 роки тому

5MB limit per file, max 500 files or 100MB in total. (Source: support.twilio.com/hc/en-us/articles/360019105433-Getting-Started-with-Twilio-Assets)

@not_at_de_top4107 5 місяців тому

i think the video is outdated now? the path, function and event things are all confusing and different now

@SwitchedOnNetwork 5 місяців тому

Quite probably, yes - but hopefully it's still useful for the general concepts and inspiration etc.

@not_at_de_top4107 5 місяців тому

@@SwitchedOnNetwork yeah been stuck on this for hours cant seem to make an event or path and i have no idea how to code :(

@10HALLOWEEN31 2 роки тому

Can you use your own phone number?

@SwitchedOnNetwork 2 роки тому

If you port it into the Twilio platform then yes. You could build a little IVR menu to say Press 1 to listen to the latest sermon or Press 2 to be put through to the office, for example.

@10HALLOWEEN31 2 роки тому

@@SwitchedOnNetwork Thank you