Extreme Renovation!

Recently worked on this taster video about this amazing renovation of a listed building near Bristol.

Sound Devices 442 FOR SALE £1200 + VAT ono

FOR SALE Sound Devices 442 mixer. Excellent condition, just some scraped paint on the underside due to me stupidly putting a clipboard next to it in my mixer bag. £1200 + VAT (20%) inc free shipping within mainland UK. You can also collect from Bristol. Instruction manual included.
This is a fantastic mixer with a really good selection of inputs and outputs which makes it very flexible for many types of location use. It is in full working order and was my everyday mixer until a few weeks ago. 
Contact me

Developed with input from the industry's top audio engineers, Sound Devices 442 encompasses the audio performance, feature set, and mechanical construction demanded by those who rely on audio gear for their livelihood. The 442 contains four microphone preamplifiers that re-define portable audio performance. With its comprehensive inputs and extensive outputs, including direct outputs per channel, the 442 is at home in small run-and-gun applications as well as large, multiple-input productions.
The 442 incorporates a complete feature-set into a compact, functional design. All controls are accessible on its three main surfaces; no hidden controls. The high-efficiency power circuitry runs the mixer from either four internal AA batteries or external 5–18 VDC.
The 442 like all Sound Devices professional audio products, are designed to withstand the physical and environmental extremes of field production. Its compact mechanic construction strikes the perfect balance between access to all functions, uncluttered design, and durability.

Key Features:

• Lundahl transformer-balanced mic or line-level inputs on XLR connectors
• Transformer-balanced line/tape/mic level output on XLR connectors
• Continuously adjustable input trim
• Variable high-pass filter
• Continuously variable pan control
• Phantom (48-volt or 15-volt) or "T" microphone powering selected per channel
• Solo (PFL) channel monitoring in headphones
• Peak limiters per channel
• Direct outputs on TA3 locking connectors
• Transformer-balanced line/tape/mic level output on Hirose connector
• Balanced line or tape level output on TA3 locking connectors
• Un-balanced TRS-stereo tape level output on 1/8-inch connector
• Un-balanced TS-mono mic level output on 1/8-inch connector
• Sunlight-viewable LED meters with proprietary software-selected ballistics
• On-board MS stereo matrix, channels 1 and 2
• Two independent monitor return inputs for monitoring two-camera productions
• Push pots for setup features keep front panel clutter-free
• Compact 6061 aluminum chassis
• Powered by four AA batteries or external 5 - 18 VDC

Boot Camp - how to right click on a laptop

This one has been driving me mad! I run bootcamp on an aging but faithful MacBook - only really because Zara radio requires windows and won't otherwise run on an apple mac. The question came up - how do you "right click" on a laptop with a track pad and only one mouse button?

Well you can add an external mouse, and there is some software around that will make ctl+click work BUT the simple solution is the "2 finger click". Two fingers on the touch pad and then click gives you the same result as the right click. It took a stupid amount of time to find that out, so that's why I thought I'd reproduce the tip here!

Sound Devices 552 and timecode

Look at all those pretty lights! The timecode input on the 552 sound mixer really is a fantastic addition to a location mixer. Set it up in the menu and the solid blue light lets you know that timecode is being received, the light flashes if timecode is not present. The built in recorder can be set to turn when running timecode is detected and stamps the start of the file with the appropriate time code. This makes it the perfect system for backing up when using wireless links to camera, making it possible to use record run timecode where previously you might have used time of day, a separate recorder and lock-it boxes. If you only need two tracks of audio this is perfect. 

I'm currently trying out a timecode radio link system which seems to be working very well, turning the recorder every time the camera runs. It's a back up to for sound going to camera on a VHF radio link so we will see how it goes. An update to the system is due in the new year. However there are various systems around that do a similar thing. Check the frequencies they use though as they are notorious for jamming the signal from nearby car key fobs!

Check out this week's Country Tracks

Recent Sound Recording work - Check out Country Tracks - broadcast last Sunday, available on iplayer
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b017lv04/Country_Tracks_Bristol_Channel/

Rechargeable batteries for radio mics

I'm guessing that by now most sound recordists will be using rechargeable batteries in their radio mics. If you use your mics regularly using rechargeables really cuts down on the cost and waste of standard batteries - gone are the days of buying 50 at a time for a job. I always hated the amount that I was putting into the recycling every month too.

So how many hours use do you get out of your batteries? Well I tested this out yesterday with an ipower 9v 520mAh Lithium in an Audio Ltd 2040 radio mic. I was very impressed to get over 7 hours out of a fairly new battery. I'd been playing save and changing them after 5 hours which now seems quite conservative. I have to say they have been very reliable and I highly recommend them.

I've also had good results using rechargeable NiMh AAs in the Sennheiser radio mic G4 system. I just got the highest mAh I could from Maplin which was 2500. They had some quite good deals on batteries with a fast charger at the time. I only use them for headphone feeds so it's less critical, but the life seems good so far.

Sound Devices 552 location mixer

This is my latest "essential" bit of sound recording kit. The Sound Devices 552 is the "mixer with a record button" I've been wanting for a long time. No bigger than a standard location mixer it adds a recorder which records stereo files to an SD card. Files can also be timecode stamped and the recorder can be set to run automatically on seeing turning code. In addition to this there are 5 microphone inputs and a very useful amount of outputs. Wireless links to camera, plus a wired feed elsewhere, timecoded back up files, iso outputs to another recorder and headphone feed for the director - all no problem for this mixer.

New Firmware for the Sound Devices 552 mixer is now available from http://www.sounddevices.com/download/552-firmware.htm

The Sound Devices 552 Mixer firmware revision 1.4 provides the following new features and changes:

• fix - Improved transport control preventing semi-lockup conditions with some SD cards.
• new - Save and load user settings to internal memory.

The firmware is updated by downloading the update, putting it on an SD card and loading this into the mixer. Several previous updates have been made since the mixer was first released so it may be worth checking to see how up to date you are. Previous updates fixed problems using certain types of SD cards as well as adding some new functions.

Outrage as OFCOM contractor sells taxpayer funded equipment into ‘cleared’ spectrum

Company appointed by Ofcom to make way for new 4G services in the 800MHz band are selling equipment into the spectrum which taxpayers paid them to clear.

In 2009 Ofcom announced that wireless microphone users would be evicted from the 800MHz band to make way for new mobile broadband services.  Following an industry campaign, Save Our Sound UK, which pointed out the damage being done to the British entertainment industry, the UK Government agreed to fund part of the clearance of the band.  To qualify for taxpayer funding, Channel 69 equipment had to be surrendered.

This equipment is now being resold back into the band which taxpayers paid to remove it from, by the scheme’s administrator - Equiniti.  A significant amount of equipment has already been sold, and Equiniti are now gearing up their operations to release up to 80,000 channels for use in UK spectrum.  Only a fraction of the profit from the sale is going to the taxpayer who financed the scheme – the rest goes directly to Equiniti.

The British Entertainment Industry Radio Group (BEIRG) has repeatedly warned Ofcom about the damage that resale of this equipment could cause to manufacturers, wireless microphone users, and taxpayers.  An influx of under-priced equipment, which will not be licensable in just over a year, will grossly distort the UK microphone sale and hire market – and will go against the very purpose of the taxpayer funded scheme.

BEIRG is also concerned that Equiniti’s actions may ultimately affect the attractiveness of the 800MHz band to mobile broadband companies.  The price they are willing to pay in next year’s 4G auctions could be considerably reduced. 

If this resale continues UK taxpayers will end up paying for this scheme twice over:

-          Once in the original funding scheme (including the fee paid by Ofcom to Equiniti)

-          Second, in the reduced price mobile companies pay for 4G spectrum auction

Following a meeting with Equiniti today (Wednesday 14^th September) Ron Bonner, from PLASA and the BEIRG Steering Committee, stated:

“Equiniti has been paid from our taxes, through Ofcom, to administer the PMSE funding scheme.  Equiniti have not paid for the equipment themselves – the public paid for it.  Equiniti now want to sell the equipment on for profit, whilst damaging microphone manufacturers’ and the taxpayers’ chance of getting the highest price for the 800MHz band when it is auctioned next year.  Ofcom need to step in now to stop this sale, and ensure that the original purpose of the scheme is not undermined by the re-release of surrendered equipment into UK spectrum.”

Taken from BEIRG website

For further information, contact:

Fiona Graham

On behalf of the BEIRG Steering Committee

fiona@ranelagh.info

Tel: 0207 828 1603

The Merits of Ferrets

Channel 4 - Friday 26th August 2011 - 7.35pm

Many people think ferrets are smelly, vicious animals, but best friends Maria, Kelly and David love them and have dedicated their lives to rescuing and rehabilitating Britain's most mistreated ferrets.
Ferrets mean more to Kelly than just pets; they are her best friends, therapy and a lifeline. They have been there for Kelly during the emotional ups and downs of her gender reassignment surgery and have helped her cope with the post-traumatic stress she suffers as a result of serving in the Falklands as a young man.
In return, Kelly is dedicating her life to helping these outsiders of the animal world. Kelly, Maria and David run 2nd Chance Ferret Rescue in Bristol, and this film joins them at one of their busiest times: ferret show season.
First Cut is the critically acclaimed, eclectic documentary strand that showcases distinctive new films by up and coming directors.

more info

MICROLIGHTS - FINAL CALL FOR FILM TRAINEES!

MICROLIGHTS - FINAL CALL FOR FILM TRAINEES!

The final round of applications for MicroLights is now open.

MicroLights is a fantastic scheme for future film talent from across South West England to get hands-on experience with microbudget feature films.

We’re now looking for the scheme’s last two committed newcomers to work and learn alongside an iFeatures film crew in Bristol. Trainees will get a paid work placement, professional training, mentoring from experienced filmmakers and career development advice.

Opportunities are for:

- Production Office Trainee (eight week placement; training starts late-September)
- Camera/DIT Trainee (five week placement; training starts late-October)

Click here to find out more and to apply to MicroLights

Application deadline: 10am on Monday 5 September 2011.

Interviews will take place in Bristol in September; exact dates to be confirmed.

MicroLights is funded by Skillset Film Skills Fund, South West Screen and iFeatures.

Set the Piano Stool on Fire (recent sound recording work)

An intimate account of the relationship between young composer and pianist Kit Armstrong and the world renowned Alfred Brendel, SET THE PIANO STOOL ON FIRE captures both the creative process and champions the value of teaching and collaboration.

Featuring the only filmed footage of Brendel during his farewell tour, this is highly revealing and essential viewing for anyone interested in classical music.

SET THE PIANO STOOL ON FIRE will also be available on Curzon on Demand from Saturday 4 June, and on DVD and iTunes on Monday 11 July.

The Truth about Hospital Food (recent recording work)

 

Recent work:

The Truth about Hospital Food (49 mins)

8pm Monday 21 Feb 2011 Channel 4

With NHS figures showing that more people than ever before are leaving hospital malnourished, Dispatches reveals the shocking truth about catering in the NHS. Not only is much of the food disgusting, but some patients are suffering as a result of cost-cutting and sloppy production.

Reporter Mark Sparrow spent ten weeks in traction in hospital, forced to rely on NHS food. The quality of his meals was so bad that he set up a blog and began to record his experiences. He photographed and filmed dozens of meals.

Since being released from hospital he has set out to discover whether his experience was a one-off or symptomatic of a deeper problem.

Sparrow meets young people with cystic fibrosis, whose survival depends on getting the right diet. They tell him that the NHS is failing them and that their parents have to take them out of hospital to local pubs and restaurants to make sure that they eat properly and obtain the necessary calorie content.

Mark also meets the relatives of elderly people who have been served revolting food and then given no help eating it. They tell him that NHS staff have falsified records to show that patients have consumed meals where, in reality, the food was untouched. Mark finds that a national network of patients groups is springing up to campaign against the mistreatment of the elderly.

Mark goes in search of solutions, visiting hospitals that succeed in feeding patients on a limited budget. He explores whether introducing more competition would drive up standards.

If you want more information about the hospital food petition, go to channel4.com/dispatches

Watch it here: (available for the next 28 days) http://www.channel4.com/programmes/dispatches/4od#3164059

Flogging It! (camera & sound crew picture)

...and I don't think this was even all of us! For each valuation day there are five camera's and three sound recordists, one sound recordist for each of the two valuation tables, feeding sound to two cameras and then another roving camera and recordist to follow Paul doing pieces to camera.

Countryfile (recent recording work)

Recent work;

Sunday 20th Feb - Countryfile - Metal Detectors

Without the amateur treasure hunters who scour the countryside using metal detectors, much of our precious history would lay buried beneath our feet.
Only two years ago, the UK’s largest haul of Anglo-Saxon treasure was discovered in a field in Staffordshire – three thousand gold and silver pieces dating back some fourteen hundred years. The Staffordshire Hoard is the most valuable find on British soil – worth more than £3 million. It’s now on public display so everyone can appreciate it.

But there are real concerns that unscrupulous treasure hunters who break the rules are destroying our heritage. The government’s conservation agency, English Heritage, is calling for a crackdown on all kinds of heritage crime. It warns that although the threat to archaeological items is high from illegal metal detecting, arrest or prosecution remains low.

John Craven finds out what the discovery of the Staffordshire Hoard meant for the treasure hunter who hit the jackpot - and for the farmer who owned the land. He also meets Time Team presenter Tony Robinson who believes unscrupulous treasure hunters are literally stealing our history - and also discovers how to use a metal detector responsibly.

Available to view at http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00z0js2#synopsis

Community Voices (Oxford) (recent recording work)

Under the Community Voices project, communities around England have been making a positive difference to their lives by using creative digital media. The project was launched by Media Trust, which supported them with start up funding, volunteer mentors and training.
The stories of how digital media changed seven of these communities are told in a 50-minute documentary, Community Voices, which you can watch online on Community Channel.