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The Daily Journal
journal:: a daily record of news and events, our community diary
987 topics in this forum
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- 4 replies
- 1.1k views
The Gallery section has been a huge success... NOT! No one seems to interested in this particular format, preferring I guess to just post images where needed, like along with the topic in a post. For images specifically, the Images of Interest area has worked well, so maybe we'll just keep it going that way. I won't take the Gallery down, I am just making an observation. Regards, Jeff Wexler
Last reply by Brian Maier, -
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And just wanted to say "Hello" Also quite new to the industry, so am glad to find a resource like this on the www... Im 27, and work for a production company in Sydney, doing post production audio and location sound. We do "reality" style shows for Discovery, Nat Geo, as well as local TV networks. Cheers, Jason
Last reply by JDirckze, -
Directorial update
by Guest Mick- 3 replies
- 1.1k views
I've been in post with my short film for the last several weeks. I'm doing it all at home on AP Pro and getting a real "feel" for the amazing spackling job that post people do on the material that we give them. I'm learning first hand the value of buckets of varied "room tone", the value in separation of dialogue from noise and overlaps, the chance you take when you let actors "do their thing" and hope that it will be "all right on the night" I had a scene in which the two main leads went at each other in a physical and verbal melee that I had nightmares about before actually seeing it, but was saved by my sound man's (Kenny Mantlo and Brian Whooley) savvy in micing both …
Last reply by Doug Brandon, -
- 10 replies
- 2.1k views
One of the most ignorant and amateurish things I've witnessed in my career just happened. I work for a cable/satellite network. We are NOT LIVE, we shoot live to Hard Disk, and send the videos up an optical network pipe to San Fran, where they are on a server, and go to air according to schedule from there pending any post requirements. As the Universal City fire burned, and every LIVE NEWS network was airing footage of something we could see from the roof of our building, executives in our building started contemplating "Why don't WE do that too?" and told my boss. My boss told the camera guy, and they went up on the roof, alone. Meanwhile, I'm in the contro…
Last reply by dfisk, -
- 9 replies
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Probably just a stoopid question here from an ignorant brit, but - does anyone know the origin of the term 'Barney', as in the piece of padded crusty leather (well, sometimes leather - more often than not these days they don't have one, so use the 1st AC's coat) that they put over the camera to keep the noise in, as it were. The favourite story I heard so far was that in the early days of shooting sync sound they used horses barn blankets, or Barneys, to throw over the camera and reduce the noise coming from it. Sounds reasonable to me, but does anyone have any other ideas? Kindest regards to all, Simon B
Last reply by Jeff Wexler, -
- 13 replies
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On my last day off of this hiatus I just finished "stuffing" 20 more DVD-RAM disks into the ProLine cases I use. I began thinking again how so many things have changed in our industry in a fairly short period of time. There has been a debate, still on going, about the use of DVD-RAM disks and how they are not so readily available if we were to get into a pinch, finding ourselves short of media (what we used to call "raw stock" whether it was film or tape). Many have hoped that we would all use DVD-R or CD's because "I can go into any Best Buy or Radio Shack" and get these disks. Let's think back to not so long ago when we all used Nagras. Could we ever have gone into any …
Last reply by Philip Perkins, -
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I just spent a couple of days filling in as an audio supervisor on a reality show. 6 boom mics, around 45 Lectro 400 series transmitters, many Lectro IFB's, around a dozen PL's, Phonak in ear talent cueing, live music, etc, etc. Recording was a combination of direct to cameras and to a 24 track Metacorder system. Of course most of this was live without the benefit of a take 2. Lots of frequency co-ordination, and a LOT of hard work having to be done very quickly. We, as a sound crew, were called on to use a very broad spectrum of the skills and knowledge that we have spent a career acquiring. As a result, I found it to be a very enjoyable/rewarding experi…
Last reply by chris_bollard, -
MOS
by Guest Mick- 7 replies
- 1.7k views
I haven't been asked the "what does MOS stand for" question in a very long time, but it happened today and I gave the standard "old German director from the 30s/40s ...Mit out sound" answer, along with the evergreen "minus/missing optical stripe", the widely used (on our set anyway) "Mick off set" and the ever-popular "Mick out snoring". I even tried a few new but relative ones..."mandatory observed silence" (that went down well)..."many 'orrible setups"...(stretching)..."manky old soundtrack"...(too ethnic)..."miserable old sod"... You get the picture. Anyone know any others? Regards Mick
Last reply by John Blankenship, -
- 9 replies
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I heard one grip say to another, " did you know that no wardrobe person has never been killed in a earthquake"? His bro. said ,"Really"? "Yea, they're always standing in a doorway". Great old joke that makes me love our biz.... Got me thinking of all the mixers I worked with over the years, and their POV about where they needed to be. Many I worked with way before video assist was even an option. Some needed to be as close as possible. Others just wanted to be close enough to communicate and be involved and record the scene in a easy manner. One mixer who shares the same initials as our host J.W. would and could be city blocks away from the set. I was lucky to work wi…
Last reply by Philip Perkins, -
- 18 replies
- 3.2k views
I start a show on Monday, TV PILOT. They have a "capture van", filled with computers, that will record all the image and audio. 2 Grass Valley cameras ( that record nothing, all info goes to the "capture Van") are connected to a DIT, and this "capture van". They have 17 CAST MEMBERS. I am sending 8 tracks digital audio to the truck, time code back to me, and 2 video back to me as well. All on cat two (2) 5 cable. I was told " BE READY TO MOVE QUICK, WE ARE GOING TO RUN AND GUN" I think these morons are going to shoot "wide and tight", because the producer who hired me will not say they are not. Coleman "these people are on the cutting edge of something..." …
Last reply by Coleman, -
Directorial Debut
by Guest Mick- 8 replies
- 1.4k views
This last weekend, (14th and 15th April, '07) I directed my first dramatic piece, a 10 minute short that I co-wrote with a guy I've never met. We shot on 2 DVX 100s at 24p and it was crewed by guys from our show who gave of their time and energy just to help me out. They worked hard and gave me more than I had any right to expect. Incredible support. We had great food (Tony's catering) and a really good time. Shooting down at the real LA crime lab for two days gave me an insight into the real forensic scientists that investigate crimes so horrific and visceral that they don't make the news for fear of scaring everyone out of town and lowering real estate values. These men…
Last reply by dfisk, -
Noisy splits
by Guest Mick- 2 replies
- 1k views
4. 4/5. 07 So we go out to the western town on the backlot at Universal. I'm stoked because I've never actually shot on such a renowned lot where some of my favorite movie icons have worked. With a happy heart and a child-like enthusiasm I listen to rehearsal. "...and action!" " Hold on, I thought we were rehearsing." " No that's Eddie Murphy's new movie on the next lot." " OK" "...and to our left you'll see the crew of "CSI" shooting an episode of..." A tram crammed to capacity with spring breakers and tourists goes noisily by in the background. "Are we going to have to deal with this all day and night?" "No, just until..." A loud hydraulic hiss drowns out the…
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- 15 replies
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I find the stats for my Discussion Group very interesting. In terms of shear numbers, compared to many other groups, this is not really a success. I am personally pleased, though, because the QUALITY of posts and the members who are posting, is outstanding. I certainly cannot claim that the overall intelligence, the thoughtfulness and civility we have on this group, comes from anything specific I may have done --- but I am very gratified that we all do present ourselves, our veiws and even our disagreements, in such a civilized manner. For some reason, most everyone here seems to put in quite a lot of thought before posting. I know it is a lot more work to really think be…
Last reply by taylormadeaudio, -
X chromosome mixers
by Guest Mick- 4 replies
- 1.3k views
I've noticed that with all the various androgynous names that we use on the web, it's hard to differentiate between X and Y mixers, chromosomes that is, not IATSE membership. I was just curious as to how many of our posters are female. I know of but have never met, two or three here in L.A. but there don't seem to be that many in the business and there seem to be even less that post on this forum. Just a thought. Regards Mick
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- 20 replies
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There are some new gloves out that might actually keep your hands warm! I've never had good luck with gloves, but these look fool proof: http://www.gorgonz.com/ <img src="http://img.timeinc.net/popsci/images/2007/01/wgoods_20070129_glove.JPG">
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Wet work
by Guest Mick- 8 replies
- 1.5k views
I seem to be somewhat of a magnet for classic sound crew anecdotal occurences lately. Monday morning, a little chilly, north Hollywood location, no big deal. Elderly well respected actress charming the crew and doing as well as can be expected given her age and fragility. We do all her coverage and then turn around. Ten minutes later a p.a. strolls gingerly up to the sound cart where I am busy doing the L.A. Times weekend crossword. She is holding the aforementioned actress's transmitter by the very tip of the antenna in a rubber gloved hand. This is clue number one that this is probably not good. With an apologetic smile she says... "Ms ----- dropped this." "Where?"…
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- 2 replies
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Post (On a highly rated network series): We're having major audio problems! You guys are messing up the audio in the field! You're not iso'ing the talent! Me: There's only two tracks on the camera, if I have two people or less, they get their own channel. If there's more, the main talent is iso'd on one and the rest mixed to two. I tried to multitrack the show but you guys didn't want to pay for it. Post: But there's four tracks on the camera? Me: No, 3 and 4 are camera mic with an AGC circuit. Post: Huh? Me: I only have two channels available to me. Post: Well, the two people were mixed together. Me: I remember that scene, and I remember splitting…
Last reply by Rob Lewis, -
Getting my back up
by Guest Mick- 10 replies
- 1.8k views
It finally happened. In the middle of a scene my Cooper 208 tanked, (power supply) and I'm left hanging. Quick scramble. re-route the wirelesses (2) directly to the Deva V, reset the Deva configuration for hardware faders and post fader recording and mix the scene with the knobs. PHeeewwww! Lunch was then spent digging my heretofore but since not -on -your -nelly -up -for -sale Soundcraft GP1 out of the truck and re patching the rest of my wires and the Deva II so that we could continue for the next few days while the Cooper is repaired. Moral of the tale? There's no such thing as too much equipment!!! Backups for everything is an essential part of a mixer's kit. Expensiv…
Last reply by soundtrane, -
- 13 replies
- 2.2k views
Many of you probably heard that Nicole Kidman was in an accident a couple of days ago. If you haven't heard, she was in a tow car which skidded around a corner into a pole. There is video of the incident online here: http://cbs5.com/entertainment/local_story_025174123.html I've never seen a tow rig going that fast!!! Whenever a stunt is performed, I have never found myself feeling at risk in the slightest. Everyone I've worked with has been the utmost professional, and I have no doubt that the folks involved here were as well. Still, something went wrong, and people went to the hospital, but everyone was alright. So I'm wondering what steps people have gone to to be…
Last reply by Alex Altman, -
The Totem Pole
by Guest Mick- 9 replies
- 2k views
1.19.07 Studio...early morning. A.D. "OK, Roll!" Boom man. "Let's wait for the heater to cycle down" A.D. "Rolling, rolling." Boom man. "We just need 10 seconds, it won't be long." Director. "Let's roll! Now!!" Boom man. "It's still noisy." A.D. "Gotta go, gotta go." Me. (via headsets) "Speed." Boom man. "Speed" 1st.A.C. "Marker." Director "....and...action...no, no cut, cut. There's a flyaway on her head, just there...see it?" A.D. "Cut, cut. Hair! Makeup!" Hair and makeup rush in and proceed to futz. Wardrobe joins the fray and rollers off invisible int from areas not even on camera. DP tweaks a light here and there. PA runs to…
Last reply by old school, -
- 1 reply
- 1.3k views
Happy New Year! I just wanted to take a moment to say thanks to John Coffey, and all the great folks at Coffey Sound for the holiday gift they sent! I am not one of their top customers by a long shot, so I think it was especially nice that they thought to include us little people. I plan to be visiting more often in the coming year(s) as I return to freelance, and gestures like that don't go unnoticed. Best wishes, and a spectacular new year to you all! Tom Curley
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- 16 replies
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Happy New Year to all the great sound people who have contributed to this Discussion Group this year. Let's make 2007 even better. Remember, I started this Group but it is all of you that make it work so well... I am so pleased we have all found this to be a useful endeavor. Again in 2007, always feel free to make suggestions, observations and criticism (praise is nice too), for all of these things benefit the life of this Group. Best Regards to all,  Jeff Wexler
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- 4 replies
- 1.7k views
I've been dealing with a "Creative Executive" for the past 15 months, who seems to only be capable of causing problems for the crew. He is a top level guy, friends of the CEO... untouchable. The problem is that he never pokes his head out of his office until the morning he wants to shoot something. There is never so much as an email, and on the day, the details of the shoot trickle out as the crew is setting up, frequently causing the entire setup to change mid-stream. It's always elaborate, and as complicated as humanly possible. He drops these things into our daily schedule, and pushes all work already scheduled for later. The crew have repeatedly spoken to our boss, wh…
Last reply by mikewest, -
An interweb idiot...
by Guest Jeffrey Colon- 2 replies
- 1.5k views
Hi All, I just posted something on the thread "certain reservations"... It came out looking like the quote of the quote of the... I don't know... Is there a good place to learn board posting procedures and what all those things like <g> and "Schrieb" mean... I did find out why some people end posts with a "ploink"... I would rather make a decent shot on a billiards table than "ploink" on the net. I am afraid that figuring out the 01v96 will keep me somewhat ignorant of proper posting 'n stuff... but I'm trying ! any help or direction appreciated. ThX Jeff C
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Certain reservations 1 2
by Guest Mick- 30 replies
- 4.9k views
I just had a nice visit with Glen Sanders along with John Coffey and Robert from Coffey sound on the set here at Universal Studios. I was impressed with the digital wireless transmitter/recorders and with the IFB system which transmits jammable timecode to the flash cards for later download along with the audio. I'm not explaining this very well but the issue I have is not with the excellent equipment and ideas that Zaxcom have presented, but with the moral concerns about having a transmitter on an actor which is recording constantly whether or not we are rolling. I didn't have time to ask Glen certain questions with regard to these concerns, but I hope that there is faci…
Last reply by Jeff Wexler,
