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Jim Feeley

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Everything posted by Jim Feeley

  1. > So, can anyone recommend a sturdy location hard drive instead of the Rugged? Two LaCie Rugged drives. I hear fairly frequent tails of LaCie failures; but is that because of poor design/ventilation of the cases (one theory) or because they sell so many drives we of course hear more about their failures than we do of failures from a vendor with smaller sales? Got me. Anyway, here are some brands of portable drives I've worked with that seem pretty reliable: Glyph http://www.glyphtech.com/ CalDigit http://www.CalDigit.com/ And I see (and end up using) drives in cases from G-Technology, LaCie, and Macsales/OWC. The drives seem to rarely fail. The power supplies and electronics in the cases fail somewhat more often (but not all that frequently)...usually, just putting the drive in a new case (or in a toaster drive dock like the NewerTech Voyager) gets us through the problem. HTH, Jim
  2. Hi everyone, Six weeks until THE HIGHLIGHT OF NAB. If your plans for Vegas have solidified and you plan to join a few dozen of us for dinner on Tuesday April 9 then please RSVP by filling out this simple form: http://bit.ly/yHt6G9 The secret word is: Kudelski Thanks!
  3. More Anne -> Simon love: http://entertainment.time.com/2012/12/06/anne-hathaway-on-les-miz-singing-live-and-the-power-of-hugh-jackman/ Q&A Anne Hathaway on Les Miz, Singing Live and the Power of Hugh Jackman By Jesse DorrisDec. 06, 2012 ++++ How was the experience of having to perform live? I spoke with sound mixer Simon Hayes earlier— Oh, thank you, Simon Hayes! Please, please, please give him an Oscar. It’s a breakthrough, and I don’t know anyone else who could have done it. I’ve never been in this situation before, where 99% of the performances are what’s used in the film. ++++
  4. I agree with Jon, Phil, and the rest. Nothing inherently wrong with mics on cameras, and sometimes useful (though of course relying on only an on-camera mic isn't great, etc). Speaking of cheap mics on DSLRs- Rode has a new version of their Videomic. Integrates a sexy-red Rycote Lyre mount; cool. They describe the mic as very directional; dang...I'd prefer something a little wide. Haven't seen or heard this mic. Not expecting too much, but I'd guess we'll be seeing them around. More info here: http://www.rodemic.com/videomic
  5. Guys, the Herman Miller Aeron chairs are good for some people, but don't go all reduser.net. No single chair best serves all people (as Marc points out above). And lots of ergo design advancements have been made since the Aeron debuted in the mid 90s. Humanscale is reportedly a bit ahead of the curve. But really, the best thing to do is to find someone who can find and fit the best chair--hell, the best workstation environment--for you. Marc, have you seen anyone about your carpal tunnel issues? I've spoken with a number of people (including several close friends and former colleagues) who had to change careers because of such issues. Would hate for that to happen to you.
  6. Reminds me of the revolutionary products from Funk Logic such as the Algorhythmic Prosecutor, Digilog Dynamicator, and Palindrometer: And the even more lamented Funkilyzer (sadly, I can't even remember the proper name and spelling of this)...and other products that never quite made it out the door: http://www.funklogic.com/ideas-that-almost-were
  7. Clearly Phil has better luck with lead vocalists than I had :-) I certainly agree about difference between a band and a film crew.
  8. > if you have a passionate and committed crew. Sounds like in this case, there isn't anyone on the crew with solid audio post experience. If the filmmaker can't find someone to provide that service for free, she's going to need to pay. And this thread has provided some useful thoughts on dealing with that. But again, filmmaking is the new rock-and-roll. When people form bands, or post notices that they need a drummer, they expect respondents to provide craft and equipment for free. That same approach is now pervasive in the indie film world. That's all fine; like with most bands, that sort of filmmaking is a passionate hobby. I have nothing against passionate hobbies, but I have bills to pay and a family to raise. I can't work every free gig that comes my way (though as I said, I do work a few gratis gigs). Budget isn't everything, but it is something.
  9. Mark wrote: > I got to work with friends... I'll help out friends for free on their passion projects, but I'm much less likely to work for free or super-cheap for someone I don't know. If she can't find a friend who's willing to help (or an interested, experienced, and willing stranger), maybe she could try to raise a little more money. If picture is locked, then should could try showing it to friends, having a fundraising house party, appeal to individual donors (but not the cast & crew...they've already given enough, presumably). Maybe apply for finishing funds, but that could take a long while. Here's some basic fundraising info on the site of Women Make Movies (a NYC-based group that I hear good things about, btw): http://www.wmm.com/filmmakers/members/sponsored_fundraising.shtml I mean, if she could get $5,000 she'll have a better shot at a mix that does justice to everyone's hard work.
  10. We have a dozen people signed up right now. Are you coming? Then let us know by filling out the RSVP form: http://bit.ly/yHt6G9 The secret word is: Kudelski
  11. Good points Steven and Crew. I alternate between a standing and sitting desk (different tasks on different desks). But if you're looking for a single desk, I think an adjustable desk is the way to go. Martin & Ziegler make nice heavy-duty stuff (nice people, too): http://www.martinandziegler.com/ I don't have one of their desks, but some friends do. There are of course other options.
  12. View chairs like shoes; it's gotta fit you. A guy I know runs the UC Berkeley/UCSF Ergonomics Program. They do research ranging from microbiology to epidemiology. Also see patients, consult, and all that. Anyway, a few years ago when I was looking for a new chair, he suggested I talk to the people at Humanscale and check out their Freedom chairs: http://www.humanscale.com/products/category_detail.cfm?category=seating Humanscale has an office in LA, but that may be aimed at corporate sales: http://www.humanscale.com/about/locations.cfm Their chairs are available at a lot of places...but even more than recommendations from colleagues, you need to find a place with enough expertise to fit you to the chair best for you. Mail order is probably not optimal for chairs: http://shop.humanscale.com/about/stores.cfm Don't know what retailer in LA to suggest.
  13. You can get the specs and such for the Blackmagic Cinema Camera here: http://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/blackmagiccinemacamera/ It currently offers these frame rates: 23.98p, 24p, 25p, 29.97p, 30p
  14. Justan, I agree. The mic is clever though I don't think unique. And things could be worse. Much worse: Hacking Apple iPhone earbuds to get audio for an interview in your next film! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPjL2COL2_Y
  15. Based on past experiences reviewing Azden equipment, I wouldn't recommend their products for...well, I wouldn't recommend their products. Since you'll be a one-man-band, a compact mixer/recorder sounds like a good option. I mean, since it sounds like you intend to shoot and record everything yourself, how much stuff do you want to mess around with? Maybe that small Fostex R302 recorder/mixer. Or maybe even a Tascam DR-100mkII. Maybe a Sound Devices MixPre-D as a front end. Whatever you bring, make sure you have a backup system (like at a Zoom or another Tascam recorder) in case your primary system goes down. Maybe you'll find someone with equipment you can borrow or rent. And considering how far you're traveling and how much work you're putting into the project, try to raise a little more money. Morrie Warshawski has some good ideas about that: http://www.warshawski.com/books.html Get all your friends to agree to visit one less bar or coffee shop per week for the duration of your trip. And have them advance you the money the would have spent on drinks. Your trip is going to be a great experience. And you're preparing for a career in sound. Make sure you don't come back from Mongolia thinking "if only I had better equipment during the trip." Have a wonderful trip.
  16. It's going to be $60 USD. Something for their growing iPhone line, like the iXY http://www.ixymic.com/ These aren't the droids we're looking for.
  17. I'm not defending the illustration. But I'd guess the illustrator started with a photo showing two guys in those positions with the one holding the boom pole for some reason holding the cable just like that. I mean, everything seems pretty specific; I don't think an art director and illustrator just winging it would come up with that. The editor should have provided some guidance. And I say that as a former magazine editor who worked with lots of talented art directors who weren't necessarily experts in the subject matter of the stories they designed (and usually designed quite beautifully). Oh well. For me, the "Photoshop For Sound" headline was weirder. Cute analogy, but misleading cover type. Again, oh well.
  18. Anyone have current info on when Maxx might be shipping?
  19. That is an interesting article. Understandable, but still surprising career turn. And a nice interview Thanks for posting!
  20. My guess: the difference won't be significant enough to hassle with double system over sound-on-um-card. The 305 has good-enough-for-dialog (at least compared with a H4N) audio, ime.
  21. There are two "small biz" versions of TurboTax, one aimed at sole proprietors, single-owner LLCs, the other at S Corp, partnerships, etc: http://turbotax.intuit.com/small-business-taxes/ IIRC, both handle Schedule C. Maybe even some of the other versions do, too.
  22. Thanks for the answers. Alas, I don't know of any local (San Francisco area) dealers who are likely to stock this. Guess I'll wait until the next trip to LA or NYC or NAB.
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