Ron Scelza

Jeff, just another note on my 2.4gHz config. I am using a 1 watt amp at the antenna also the backfire dish is 40 dB down in the rear with 60 degree front radiation. Ron Scelza CAS

We are using abackfire dish antenna, have not exceeded thrange yet average 250 ft Ron SCELZA " The Director asks… “Why isn’t everyone using these?” " I'm pretty much in agreement with the points of Bob's rant... I'd probably say something along the lines of "let xxx (producer, line producer, UPM) know what you need, and he can arrange it" that arrangement being $$$. I, too, have always liked to have the best toys to work with, but particularly on low budget projects (where production nickel and dimes me down) when it comes to what gets handed over to others, like RX's, and headphones, I often apply my rule to production: 'Generally speaking, you get what you pay for!'

Dear All, Heads up on the ERX and Zaxnet, WOW! Two are hanging on the Red’s for TC and one channel of audio... The other two are being fought over! They are crystal clear with a great range…. Most surprising is the demand by the “DP” he loves em… (: Hide them The Director asks… “Why isn’t everyone using these?” Don’t get me started on the 992! (Boom ops dream) Flourish & Prosper Sincerely Ron Scelza CAS

Dear All, I had the opportunity of adding the IFB 100 to my cart on a stage "Brilliant" We toyed with it in a few different configurations with RED, TRX900/Stereo adapter, RX900s, It's a time saving confidence builder offering many options for TC , program signal and monitoring. We swaped the supplied antenna to a (Tin Can) "waveguide circular antenna".. Without measuring line impediance and VSWR.I would guess 5 to 13dbi. We didn't have a "Bird" or instrument to measure the PO, FS, ERP. The tin can was available, cheap and it gave us a greater distance over the supplied antenna. (The IFB100 proved to be a rock solid delivery system using the supplied antenna at our distances to the camera and TRX900's ). Tin Can building instructions; http://www.turnpoint.net/wireless/has.html http://www.w1ghz.org/antbook/chap6-3.pdf Sincerely Ron Scelza C.A.S.

Dear All, Thank you for your input to this topic. I started this thread to find the most practical playback software for the majority of our PB scenarios with consideration to some of the Cuing applications that I would like to try… I've used many different PB & editing programs and really like "BWF Widget Pro" as a good simple PB option -- especially when there isn't a good communication between the director, post & telecine. In every case I believe I t behooves us to ask post to strike a PB two track with a TC track and a program track from their master. A delivered PB medium will maintain a known consistency thru the workflow. IMO this can save a lot of time and lesson confusion later. If the director expects to record to playback, use a thumper, a metronome, a speed change or a different version ask for the PB delivered in a format you can use. Has anyone tried? Sound Cue http://download.cnet.com/Sound-Cue-System/3000-2139_4-10182591.html or QLab (Mac) http://figure53.com/qlab/ Sincerely Ron Scelza CAS

Playback Software Dear All, There are so many great new playback programs that easily fit our needs….Here are a few that I've found... you might try/or have tried… Please comment on them and add your favorites to the list. Sincerely Ron Scelza BWF Widget Pro http://www.bwfwidget.com/html/bwf-widget-pro.html Sound Devices Wave Agent http://www.sounddevices.com/download/waveagent-1. htm Sound Cue http://download.cnet.com/Sound-Cue-System/3000-2139_4-10182591.html QLab (Mac) http://figure53.com/qlab/ OnCue Audio Mixing System 1.3 http://download.cnet.com/OnCue-Audio-Mixing-System/3000-2170_4-10073657.html?tag=mncol Audacity 1.2.6 http://download.cnet.com/Audacity/3000-2170_4-10058117.html?tag=mncol;pop Audobe Audition http://www.adobe.com/products/audition/ Protools LE http://www.digidesign.com/index.cfm?navid=28 Traktor http://www.native-instruments.com/newreleases/#/en/products/dj/traktor-pro/ CuePlayer http://www.baxeldata.com/products.html#cue NUMARK CUE DJ/VJ Software Mac/PC http://www.idjnow.com/StoreModules/ProductDetails.aspx/PID=CUE--BranchID=--DepartmentID=COMPUTER%20%5E%20PRODUCTION--SubDeptID=DJ%20Software--CategoryID=--DeID=0

Where can we find the video of that seminar you're reffering to ? Best regards Jan Deca brussels Dear Jan, The Don Coufal Seminar is in the archives of training seminars given by local 695... Another invaluable tool to help you hold the line -- "The Letter" Coffey Sound: Sincerely Ron Scelza CAS Ron,

Dear Don, I missed your seminar a few years ago-- but not the video. I've watched your video many times and insisted new crew working with me study it. A couple of those trainees gained a wealth of operating knowledge in leu of actual "set time". It ramped them up ten fold. Your seminar is the best training "ever" for anyone in our craft. Thank you… I have never had anything good come from working a feature with a two man crew (akin to piercing the skin on the back of ones neck and be hung for a month). Sad but true... A one man crew doing a feature. Is this a natural progression from reality show producers changing venues or an overzealous SM ? Flourish & Prosper Sincerely Ron Scelza CAS

Dear RVD Thank you for a good laugh! <RVD wrote> <Snip> < Wow, there's probably more than 200. I'm not sure exactly because at each location we start over with number one." > Sincerely Ron Scelza

Dear Crew, Thank you, I doubt that any thought or word I've ever had or spoken is original. In the spirit of "good will" my plagiarism & juxtaposing of others words and thoughts might be helpful to someone here. As with you, we made it through simpler times in a post-fade mono world without disclaimers other then "Directors Choice". Sincerely Ron Scelza CAS

There is no doubt in my mind actors are capable of tapping into a breadth of human dynamics most of us will never understand. I've lived with them, worked with them and rode the rollercoaster as a scripted character is brought to life. The issue at hand is who has the duty to enforce discipline on an individual failing to grasp who they really are and where they are … (out of touch with the present). Out of touch project members in any department are a threat to our safety and our future... These folks need to be disciplined. Friendships and politics sometimes keep that from happening. If you've worked on sets with drunks, drug addicts or people under the care of doctors and shrinks, you get the point... The most ethical professional production sound mixer in the course of a days work dutifully doing his/her job has absolutely no control over what was said and where it might go. We are directed by a Director… Production sound mixers/ recordists are without choice of when we start or stop a recording... We do our jobs and respect the wishes of the Director. Our professional choices are limited to maintaining the quality of the recorded sound for the project... Not the words -- that's it, that’s all we do! I've winked at a Director to cut a scene because of noise and then been upbraided by that director when he verbally instructed camera and sound to cut because of noise.. We don't make the sounds we just record them... If we observe that a director is incapable of creating an environment conducive to getting usable sound safely. — What to do? If you walk --your professionalism might be commented on by some... Your personal integrity is to yourself… One very controversal professional operating standard that I adhere to religiously when it comes to personal talent privacy: Show the talent the on-off switch on their RF mic; explain the nature of open mics, off stage RF receivers, scanners and other possible privacy compromising technology that could be present. Instruct them to turn off their own mic at anytime, anywhere on stage or off when speaking of personal matters that they would prefer to keep private. Instruct them on how to take it off if they are still unsure. It is the personal responsibility of that individual wearing your RF mic to ascertain their own privacy... it has nothing to do with you! Sincerely Ron Scelza

Dear Wayne, You answered all of your own questions, don't do it! I've worked with you-- enjoyed your good spirit, technical abilities, incredible work ethic and your friendship. I doubt I have ever met anyone who manages their time so efficiently… Most of the folks here know you threw your writing of the Zaxcom manuals and your willingness to share on this forum. They haven't a clue of the things you are capable of. For what it's worth -- I believe that it's a good time to economize and not take on any future long term costly commitments... Sincerely Ron Flourish & Prosper

Dear Jeff, I think were in for a treat -- If were talking about "Heather Marshall" IATSE 695 (mixer- sound supervisor). She's a reality, with a lot of sound skill sets... We might even get a few tech tips -- and some good laughs... Welcome Heather…. looking forward to some fun and funny Brazil stories! Sincerely Ron Scelza CAS

Wishing you all a New Year that brings you good health & happiness.. It's a good time for me to say thank you to so many un named & Jeff Wexler for your foresight, past knowledges, stellar work ethics and your contribution to my and others successes. Wishing you and yours good health & happiness and a flourishing and Prosperous New Year (My new year wish) --- Zaxcom Deva 16 & Fusion --- Sincerely Ron Scelza C.A.S.

Hi Eric, It's a good thing that Librarian 3, is Dec 7th.on TNT-- otherwise those that might have watched it on Nov 7th, would have already seen it, and those that would like to see would have missed it.… Thank you for the correction! Hi Mike, Senator Mike Micheals said.. <just the list of numbers you sent it!> Wouldn't that be neat? Sorry for that Bit of un-clarity – A Byte of clarity follows: The two analogue audio signals I sent from the Mix 12 - Deva V were recorded @ 24bit. They were HW to input of the Zaxcom 900 xmitters equipped with the stereo adaptors. The Zaxcom 900 Stereo Receiver's analogue outs were fed to the RED line inputs through the mini XLR in's on the Red... Editors never used the RED audio... Sincerely Ron Flourish & Prosper xīng róng 兴荣 Ron Scelza CAS

Dear All, I went to the screening of Librarian 3, "Curse of the Judas Chalice" (See It on TNT Nov 7th)... Fun picture looks terrific & sounds terrific" lots of CGI and visual effects... Jo DeLuca's music is exceptional and rich sound effects to keep you on the edge of your seat... As this was the first time Dean Devlin used RED we had a lot of prep even sending the camera to Coffey sound for testing and sound evaluation..We all agreed it would be best to record double system to a Deva V & also send a wireless 24bit stereo mix and selected iso tracks to both Red's. No complaints from the camera department with Steve Sullivan hanging Zaxcom 900's stereos on the cameras & Evolution's for monitoring... The editors were very pleased with the Deva V tracks and no sync issues... The Red tracks were also clean and very usable, but were not used... Just the Deva tracks Lesa Foust did an incredible job of booming in some very difficult situations and environments-- like the hull of John Lafitte's ship and staying away from the hissing vampires... Sincerely Ron. Flourish & Prosper xīng róng 兴荣 Ron Scelza CAS C 305 318 2203

Congratulations Jeff, Best wishes to and your family! Flourish & Prosper xīng róng 兴荣 Ron Scelza

[Youth Wants To Know: how did you keep rolling after the gaffer's power ruse smoked you? Philip Perkins] Dear Phillip, Old is good…. please excuse my lengthly story… by the time you finish reading this… I might be retired or having another senior moment or even worse… Isn't this a wonderful resiviour of skills and shared knowledge? I wonder, do the whipper snappers that grew up using the internet really appreciate the years of cumulative trial and costly errors of our craft that are so easily researched & freely shared on JW's board.. Old farts like me truly appreciate and learn so much from those whopper snappers -- keeps my head hatched! The Furman Plus D took the surge -- It smoked itself but protected the PS/charger, Solar Controller, batteries and the gear… I never even noticed when the second Plus D smoked itself with the same gaffer. Not even surprised when told by an onlooker smoke was coming from under my cart…. A good thing that there wasn't any firemen there So that’s when I ordered the Furman AR15... production paid... It's worked fine ever since.. Must say that I love fuses… my cart has lots of fuses including two fused 30 amp hr batteries that were fully charged and ready for many hours of a 7 amp draw after the smoking.. Given these two events the Plus D was the only component affected. The batteries just kept cranking out the current... They eventually got low though, so I found some house power and plugged the PS/charger into the wall "Samlex"(It charges the batteries simultaneously powers the equipment)... Sincerely Ron Flourish & Prosper xīng róng 兴荣 Ron Scelza CAS C 305 318 2203 walawala@bellsouth.net http://ronscelzasoundrecording.com

Dear Jeff, Congratulations to you and your family. Flourish & Prosper xīng róng 兴荣 Sincerely, Ron Scelza

Dear all, I also use a Furman AR 15 ll, and a Xantrex connected to a solar controller. The solar controller protects the batteries. It also indicates the current and voltage of its source and load... An issue I had a while ago when using a "Furman PL Plus D" rather then the Furman "AR 15". Our gaffer insisted on setting the generator to regulate at 150+ volts when he loaded the line with three 15K's. Sad part was… after alerting him of this dangerous condition and showing him a volt meter reading of 150+ volts at my cart…The gaffer still held to his claim of a non flickering light and insisted that his balanced legs had a large enough voltage drop to make safe my load from the resistance increase of the 0000 run. (Say what??? No "E" drop at my cart)... Oh well... so much for showing proof, so much for Ohms Law, so much for series - parallel circuits… and so much for false data….. Two new PL plus D units smoked… Production paid! The "PL Plus D" clamped and protected the equipment on steady state voltage but smoked on a spike when a globe blew protecting the equipment from the surging current. Thanks to JW's board…. Mr Lightstone suggested I try the AR15... It worked fine in that situation and has ever since… If I change my powering I will change to the "Meon"... Sincerely Ron Scelza C.A.S. http://ronscelzasoundrecording.com Flourish & Prosper xīng róng 兴荣

Hang in there buddy --With affection.. Happens to the best of us! Enjoy it all Sincerely Ron Scelza

So true Chris -- In the absence of a severe penalizing contract and the enforcement of it, the employer will and can do most anything they choose... Conditions erode every time an individual film worker keeps their mouth shut, settles for less, or turns a blind eye: There is always a mute to do your job cheaper faster better... The fat lady sings, the fan club cheers and we go happily off to work -- again… The more things seem to change the more they stay the same... I came into IATSE in 1970 having helped organize a local affiliate TV station. I started working there in 1967 making $78.00 a week and was immediately fired when the vote favored the union... As an IA union worker these fast "38" years I came to expect certain contractual enforced conditions that are basic to human respect by an employer--and have difficulty dealing with less.. Today just trying to think of one employer of film workers with enough clout or FU money to enforce a respect for the individual worker without a contract is mind boggling. Mass acceptance of this spiraling down to the lowest intellectual form of entertainment that reaps a profit is your reality along with its conditions, unless you have the balls to change it.. . Enjoy it all Sincerely Ron Scelza

Dear Izen, Some basic trouble shooting might be needed for you to sort this out... I have 900's as well but am not having the issues that you are having --- I enjoy a reasonable FS on the 900's Many times in the past I have run into different types of reduced field strength issues caused by i.e. bad cables, intermittent connectors, mismatched impedance, cluttered fq's, swamping RF from other devices, local oscillator desensitized receivers, off axis polarization, parasitics, bad or shorted PS these all these could closely describe a cause for the poor FS you are now having… It is sometimes confusing and can be difficult to sort these out without spectrum analyzers, FS meters, RF power meters and a line analyzer -- In most every case poor handling, a mismatched component, one or more faulty components are found to be the culprit... Heat can occur if the load from the xmit antenna is open shorted or mismatched, an intermittent mic cable, incompatible mic or a battery is not seeded properly... If you find that the FS is reduced in a single xciever line of sight test, i.e. (having no other xmitters radiating and all receivers turned off and separated). Try Individually replacing the mics, antenna's, multi couplers, bi amps, rf amps, interconnect couplings & any other components in the line making sure the replacements are working correctly and of the recommended specs, impedances.. If all that fails to give you a reasonable FS - Call Zaxcom, they will help you sort this out... Sincerely Ron Scelza C.A.S.

The first build we used was 13 then 14.. I think.. Both our RED's were off by 2 frames @23.976 when we tested them. The Camera was returned and a board was repalced.. I understand that a board replacement fixed the offset.. Sincerely Ron Scelza C.A.S.

Dear All, New equipment, workflows, and last minute rush and change has become today's norm in our business... Have you ever asked your UPM if it would be ok for production to hire on an additional thirteen member sound crew to do the project right? I haven't asked yet, I just do it anyway! It takes a very extensive knowledge base and a highly competent team to get it right and if you have the right team; you won't work and worry yourself to an early grave...…Qualifying statement; In my well over thirty years of doing sound for Film & TV. I've found a great team that I highly respect and totally depend on for everything… from a kind word and advice, to research and repair… So as to not bloviate and tout the "C" word or the "Z" word --- Happy to share, just call or Email! Sincerely Ron Scelza C.A.S.