dlwilliams

I've just been in contact with a PhD candidate in Australia who is writing her dissertation on creating sound for TV and Film. She is particularly interested "in your views on the craft of sound, and how you work with sound technically, creatively and physically". While she's not a production person I did an interview with her last week and the questions were thoughtful and interesting. Here's her contact letter: Introduction Letter-AlisonW.docx David

I'm not the biggest fan of B&H but they've got some strange deal on a MKH416 for the next 6 hours. /dw

How to disable BMW's ASD (Active Sound Design) system http://f10.m5post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=983411 It's buried in the trunk apparently-- they estimate about an hour to remove the liner and paneling:) geesh /dw

more on car tech-- Lux cars are so quiet there seems to be a need to artificially pump some engine sound back into the passenger compartment http://www.caranddriver.com/features/faking-it-engine-sound-enhancement-explained-tech-dept /dw

-- I've had two of these-- Mazda 5-- the only small wagon with sliding doors.-- I can pack it pretty full--small cart & plenty of Pelican cases etc. A bit noisy-- not great mileage for a small car (~25mpg) but great size- especially when maneuvering in city and around sets. . without gear pretty comfortable long distance with 4 adults. . Front wheel drive only-- I bought some snow tires for it-- but haven't really needed them so far. They're discontinuing it this year -- but they're still around. . /dw

Working now:) It was not working on my Macbook under Chrome or Safari-- but all seems good now ( a bit sluggish-- but perfectly usable) Thanks! David

Sorry, Bell, Splash, or IPBClean doesn't work either.docx

Yea, I'm still having a problem with text entry.docx

Ad for Chris.docx

Hi all Did some shuffling-- and came up with a work around with a singer in the first act. Alan-- thanks for the reply and Michael --thanks for the pointer-- yea -- they too were one of 9 who don't carry any block 23 in their inventory! Best regards David

I realize this is a long shot (since I just finished calling about 8 or 9 rental houses) I'm looking for a Block 23 SMQV or equivalent (SM, SMV etc. . ). I'm working on a opera recording downtown and one of my SMQVs in block23 just went belly up (won't power on). I can do some shuffling and squeeze another in blk 21 where I have a spare but if anyone happens to have a blk 23 they'd like to rent for the weekend, let me know. Apologies for the wide posting for a local issue! Thanks! David Williams 781-690-1472

Thanks- I passed this info on to him David

hi-- posting for a local (Boston) client who's looking for a mixer with equipment for a 2 day green screen shoot in Chicago next Mon/Tues. Here's his email-- contact him directly. . This is a 2 day shoot, all green screen interviews on 9/15 and 9/16. Need a sound guy with gear. The shoot is at the Palmer Hotel in downtown Chicago. Non union. Obviously we need someone ASAP. Let me know if you need more info. Thanks for your help. Andy Andrew Scherr <ascherr@bostonproductions.com> cheers, David

I have a pair of 185s that have saved my butt a number of times in sudden RF clusterf. Also handy as impromtu IFB or TC sends to remote reader for scripty-- love 'em! /dw

Ah yes, this is why I'm talking you y'all FIRST! -- and as far as what a rental house would charge-- that's a whole 'nother rant I could get into-- There's been some farm-giving-away-to-get-on-a-show going on here that no one I know can compete with. . . Thanks for the replies -- now back to our regularly scheduled flaggelations. . . /dw

Hi all I've been asked to join the first season of a reality show as they travel about multiple locations in the US in December. It's not the best rate for 12s and only about half of what the gear is worth. However on the positive side I worked on the pilot and like the crew and project, and they would really like to have me (the crew that is, not necessarily the PM:). I may have a some leverage to negotiate for add-ons and other gotchas that would make it worthwhile One thing that bothered me is that they say it will be a 5 day shoot week including travel and that we'll get 2 days a week off -- at no pay, just per diem ($40). This seems a bit of a stretch since 1. I can't imagine we won't be traveling on those days, and 2. I certainly can't get home for those two days. Is this the standard? ( Of course this is not a union gig where the question would be moot). I am planning on asking for them to buy batteries since they want a couple sets of hops, IFB and 3-4 wires. . . Apologies in advance if this has already been beat to death . . . Thanks, David

Yea I worked with them for a while on the east coast-- It is nice but EXTREMELY finicky-- as Marc says-- one . Also can only play black vinyl or shellac. It is great when you tape the back side of an old 78 together and it plays seamlessly. Its big selling point, that nothing touches the record is great, but for the overhead you need to get a record to play- it was a hard sell . . . At one point a colleague did some extensive audio tests on the output and came to a similar conclusion as Mr Fremer. Mr Chiba, the owner of the company has sold a bunch of 'em in Japan though. . . /dw

I use the SB-3 with a BNC-T all the time-- works great. I think I may have even tried 3 ways? Whooie! /dw

The DVD 'bonus' disk has lots of great stuff on the sound design and how involved the director is in cutting individual words or even syllables from various takes. They do a great BTS bit on the nightclub scene-- how the whole thing was constructed. -- I use it in my Location sound class regularly--it was worth the $10 for the 2nd disk alone:) /dw

Worked with an Epic for a commercial the other day-- they recorded directly to the Pix240, Audio was easy, syncing easy-- a bit of a chore for the AC to ge the Pix going but they simply bypassed the problem. Fan noise was not a prob for this shoot. (the refrigerator and furnace drowned out the noise from the camera:) /dw NOTE Edit above-- Sorry Jim it was the 240-- not the hot off the press one. . .

I see that Hawk-Woods has a nice little NP35 battery-- I love the size-- 1/2 of the standard NP-1-- has anyone used them with say a small ENG bag (SD552/3xLectros) or with a Nomad? http://hawkwoods.com/products/details/details.php?code=np-35&mainMenuItemToSlide=5&asi=mr2&asi2=npb-sqn4s (They quoted me £80.00 plus shipping at £15.00). Thanks /dw

I have the Ultrasone Pro650-- not as fancy ear cups-- They fold, but not like the 7506s. The ear cups do fall off they have an OK bayonet mount for them -- but they come with extras ones. I use them most of the time. Better isolation than the 7506s which I use for run 'n gun parties... /dw

Danner boots are great, -- if you want to invest ($250+) you can get them resoled after they wear out.-- They do have plenty of models that aren't so heavy duty and will last a couple of years too They can take some time to break in though! cheers, /dw

no of course not-- they all want to be sound designers:)... but one or two a semester think this is pretty cool work and they appreciated a non-academic-in-the-field guy's perspective. . .

I play this every semester for my Location Sound class-- to get them warmed up about the 20 questions to ask their hiring producer discussion. thanks! /dw