Richard Ragon

This show has been going on for about 30 years. In that time, there have been several incidents. Once before a camera guy started CPR on someone once, and the sound mixer picked up the camera and filmed it! I've been on some crazy LA shots, but I don't think I'd be doing that one! I'm really sorry for the families that have been fighting to get this video released, and saddened by the loss of a brother in the field...

Hard to watch.. I almost signed up to work on COPS a number of years ago.. It could have been me. https://www.3newsnow.com/news/local-news/video-of-the-fatal-shooting-of-a-cops-crew-member-at-omaha-wendys-released -Richard

Did anyone get stalked by Oleg? I did.. He was doing some weird stuff, like reversing my IP address and trying to locate exactly where I was located while posting.. Believe me, it was a bit nerve racking.. When the community more or less moved over to FB, he tried for more than a year to friend request me... Nope.. nope, nope.. -Richard

I want to let everyone know about a pretty kewl technology coming down the pike used currently in live camera switching environments. It's called NDI (https://www.newtek.com/ndi/). In a nutshell, it's basically what Daunte is to Audio, NDI is to Video. It allows for IP based video to be driven over and routed from anywhere to anywhere over standard cheap routers, switches, and WiFi. And the remarkable thing is that its open source, and a lot of hardware coming! Why is this huge for Sound Mixers? Because getting video from video village has been a huge cumbersome deal, and it gets even harder if you times this by three cameras!! So, here's how it works. You place a small device at video village that loops through 3g-SDI and turns that into NDI. A single Ethernet plug then runs to your Mixer Cart where you view the video on a laptop, iPhone, iPad, Raspberry Pi, or any other computer. So, three camera shots, convert ALL video signals over a single Ethernet cable. Then converters run on PoE so no need for any power adapters at video village and at the video end, you can watch the video through a Mac mini, or your iPad. And even split screen the video feeds to see three/four screens on one monitor. The reason why this is so awesome? Because less hardware the better.. by having only 1 encoder box at video village, and a software solution at your cart, connected with a cheap Ethernet cable. It makes this solution very inexpensive. And, as a bonus, you can send a video feed to each boom op from the camera they are attached to. This means that your boom op can 'see the shot' from his iPhone. Here's an example of one of the converters. https://www.markertek.com/product/bds-bdstum01/birddog-studio-bdstum01-sdi-and-hdmi-to-ndi-network-device-interface-encoder-with-tally-and-poe?utm_medium=shoppingengine&utm_source=googlebase&cvsfa=3786&cvsfe=2&cvsfhu=4244532d42445354554d3031&ne_ppc_id=1360273584&gclid=CjwKCAjwuO3cBRAyEiwAzOxKstel4gMWdTp-808EbuGu8zaaL3ZN8L3stazPHgJkRWu89Uo80hWcmRoC1gQQAvD_BwE There are some really attractive possibilities with this new open NDI standard coming. We might even have WiFi based video feeds everywhere on set too. Just thought I'd give you guys and girls a heads up on this new stuff. -Richard

PSM looks great..But, it looks like I can't use it for the bag system.. Which means, I would have to buy an entire other system for a bag system. Price is great though.

I wasn't planning on selling off my whole Block 24 ifb system, but someone offered to buy most of it, so I said, "well.. bite it and just get on with it". So, I'm in the market for replacing it, and here's what I need. I'm a Lectro fan on the ifb side, mostly because while expensive, it just works so, so, so well.. I had x2 T4 transmitters on my cart, and x2 smv transmitters on my bag, and I was able to have 11 receivers that I could use for any bag or cart gig. 1) The first choice, buy the whole system again with the same pieces, only in Block 22. Retire the x3 venue channels, and x2 411s on the bag, and move all my wireless to block 19, 20, and 21. Then just buy as many r1a's as I can. Pros: This would be the cheapest route as I can use the SMVs for new ifb transmitters for the bag. Cons: I'm afraid of putting ifbs in blocks close to my wireless. Will the 'spray' from the transmitters, effect other close blocks?? 2) Second choice, buy new 941 or VHF ifb? x2 T4 units, x2 smvs, and r1a's. I'm an FCC part 74 holder, so this is not a problem. Pros: Would put ifb far away. Cons: would cost a small fortune to buy everything. 3) 3rd choice, buy M2 Duet System. Pros: would be nice to have all those channels, on my cart (and Dante). Cons: No bag set up, and even higher prices.. I would estimate close to 20K just for all the receivers. Wow. Does the M2 Duet System even integrate with r1a's?? 4) Go with something other then lectro? Comtec? Anyone else find themselves having to move around wireless lately? Thanks for everyone's input -Richard Ragon

Producers will always try this.. But it 'burns' out the sound department. Imagine a single sound mixer, holding a boom pole, and a 90lb pack, day after day after day.. Give it about 2-3 days, and you'll be seeing that boom on a c-stand, and then another 2-3 days and that poor guy's feet will just start to buckle. Yeah.. That guy is going to quit.

Bingo... Everyone, it looking for some kind of shortcut to experience.. Surprise, there is NO shortcut to experience.

For a second I bought this one... then, I went.. Heeeyyy.. I know this one.. LOL

I just rented 12 SMQVs for this gig that I'm working on. Hopefully, I won't run out of HD space while recording 12 tracks for 10+ hours!! :) Thank you everyone!

Whats longer lasting? A SMQV with double Lithium batteries? Or a 400 series with one of those Ultra batteries? Or is there something else? Just picking other's brains. Thanks, everyone. -Richard

Yep.. great job on the sound!

Remember.. when your filming your movie.. try to let the cops know, before you film.. or this happens.. https://www.liveleak.com/view?i=778_1506977656

Well. Well said. -Richard

Thanks.. still up in the air though.