PROJECTION OR PLASMA OR LCD

It's been several months.  I'm now a total fan of the projection system (see photo of my cave.)  This is not only huge at 90-inches, but this Optoma 2000 lumen projector is compact, "sufficiently" bright, and admittedly my first step into high-def TV (Olympics were awesome).  Ok, it's not great in a bright room.  For that, it's either a pricy plasma or LSD screen, or I use the old-fashioned floor model TV set (for the grandkids or when I want to save on lamp time). For less than a grand (Best Buy), this thing is perfect for a 2 or 3 year bridge to 'the next big thing' in home electronics -- which appears to be Sony's light emitting diode displays.  Further, this works great for many on-site video jobs, where the room is dark, and the audience is 50 or less.  Set up my Yamaha 'loud' speakers, and we have a pretty impressive video display and sound system. 

Test Posting Using Net2Phone

This is a test audio feed, originating from a voice call using Net2Phone, fee-based at 2 cents a minute ... maximum of 5 minutes per posting. The option is a cell or landline call to the blog service in California, thus a higher fee option. Both seem to have acceptable quality, and differ only in price and the communications equipment available at the moment -- phone or laptop.

Donna Finishes Disney Marathon

End of the Disney marathon for Donna ! Great accomplishment! Book your own trip to Disney with Donna, who has some great travel deals ... check out her webpage, title above.

Camcorders for 2006

The videocamera improvements in 2006 are designed to shake up this lethargic business which has dropped off in consumer spending since the iPod. Here are "Camcorder's" pick of new or desired features:

1) Wider LCD screens to 3.5 in. diagonal for older eyes and touch controls... plus 16x9 ratio on SD cameras.

2) enhanced sound with Dolby 5.1 for home surround systems.

3) better DVD camcorders (all Sony) ... hope for 3 chip cameras to improve this segment, widescreen and price.

4) More MPEG-4 storage flash cards with high qualit images, better lenses.

5) better combo cams with still photos up to 4 MP and maybe higher. Capture stills simultaneously with video.

6) better HDV cameras up to 3 chips, lower pricing.

7) improved disk drive cams, record many hours on MPEG-2 format ... no tape, improved ergonomics.

8) more featurs ... from larger screens and touch screens to manual audio controls, ie the Canon GL2

9) Integrate MPEG-4 or WMV video capture into portable media players ... already lots of storage at 20Mb ... up to 50 hours of video, or 200,000 1mp photos, or 10,000 mp3 songs. See Gemini 402 by Archos.

10) phase out of analog ...VHS and Hi-8

MP3 Players

You might find this of interest, if you have ever thought of getting an iPod for your workouts, etc. BUT also want an audio RECORDER in the same unit, AND at low cost. This is particularly attractive to event videographers.

For recreation listening, I own a small $100 MP3 player ... an economy version of the iPod, but made by Sanyo. Only a gig of memory for about 300 songs, but I don't need more as I only store my favorites... the rest are on CDs or my computer. Many MP3 players like this Sanyo have FM radio and can record voice too with a built-in mic, BUT they usually can't record with a lapel mic as they don't have a recording LINE IN connector -- until you reach the higher end ... ie $300 - $500.

Event videographers have many occassions to record multiple sources of audio only -- voice, instruments or just background ... later synch'd to the video. This requires a multi track camera or multiple mics and mixer.... or separate audio recorder. That's not always convenient when shooting on the fly. A pocket recorder is soooo much more convenient.

In the past videographers used digital mini-disk recorders from Sony. It was standard equipment for about $300, until flash memory replaced these disk units. Instead, I bought a multi-track digital audio recorder from Korg ... but its comparitively large and much more complex ... but has great recording quality and mixing features ... I'd like to sell it. Just not right for my needs.

Recently, I recorded a piano player at a reception for background music in a video, but had to use track 2 on my camera, and keep it rolling, as I forgot my Korg audio recorder. Well, an MP3 recorder would have been more convenient. Turn it on and forget it, separated from the camera... synch it up later as background music. Good for audio interviews too. Easy to use. Great digital quality, especially voice interviews for voice-overs.

Well, there is one brand still with a cheap price that has the LINE IN plug for external mics, but its being replaced by new models without this feature, so buy em' now is my advice. Its available new on eBay, and I just bought one for $69 ... (watch out for high shipping costs) ... its the iRiver model T30, but any of the 700 or 800 series will do the same thing. iRiver is a major competitor to iPod.

I really love my little Sanyo MP3 player, and will still use it for recreational listening replacing bulky CD players. Neither have LINE IN recording. So, I'll dedicate the new iRiver MP3 to audio recordings for video productions, and sell my larger Korg digital pro audio recording equipment. A nice, compact, low-cost, digital recording solution.

COPING WITH CRISIS

Storms just seem inevitable. Some close to home, like this week's high winds and two tornados ... which felled some trees, including one down the road that split a house (left). And the snow and cold are coming, soon. Meanwhile, the Gulf Coast lives in the wake of hurricanes, year after year, and California's existence is threatened by earthquakes, even volcanoes. Nature is awesome.

How we deal with such crisis, not to mention the day to day disasters of wrecks and illness, seems to be a question we and our children must meet head-on, from a very young age. I've seen the range of emotions involved and realize each of us has a unique composure and threshold for pain, stress and aggravation. But I've also seen where two purpose-driven, intentional approaches helps: 1) advance preparations, both physical and mental, and 2) faith in God. How miuch simpler and clear can it be?

You'll notice I did't say self-confidence, which seems like a worthy candidate for coping with crisis. But in my experience, confidence just seems to be a by-product when people exercise the other two steps, and it grows on us without any extra effort. Prepared and spiritual believers tend to spew forth allot of confidence.

I was impressed with what I heard of the pilot's reaction to his faulty front wheel on the JetBlue plane that landed safely at LAX. It was said that he calmly executed the procedures amidst the storm of havoc and mechanical failure surrounding him. It was said that this crew had been well trained for such a crisis, and rehearsed every response again and again in the plane before the final approach. It was also reported that many people on the plane helped that pilot with prayer. What a powerful combination. And ultimately, it was God's will that saved them. And that is my point ...

I heard a jockular monolgue on TV addressed to GOD, following years of natural disasters: "What is it about 'God Bless America" that you don't understand? From sea to shining sea!" Well, it appears this commedian missed the fundamental concept of "...thy will be done." It is a mystery, but it is apparently not God's will to make earth predictable or perfect or even palatable for some. That is a heaven thing, we can look forward to, with faith and preparation.

Grab Shot

Periodically I see a photograph in the newspaper or a magazine that is just arresting! I clip it out and save it as an example of good lighting, or an emotional moment ... well conceived and executed, or just a great grab shot. Sometimes, I record a frame that qualifies too as one of those favorites, although I don't shoot enough stills to accumulate many candidates for a gallery. A small collection is currently at this web address. Here's an example, of a church cross that was otherwise rather mundane in the noon-day sun -- even hard to see atop the church sanctuary. But when the sun began to set, the light changed and the cross picked up a nice glow and reflections. Just one of those shots we might miss ... or see at the right time of day.

Web video Tech Tips

Some tech tips for producing flash video for the web to minimize bandwidth, improve quality.

From .... EventDV.Net

1.) limit camera movement
2.) limit background movement
3.) reduce saturation
4.) Crush the blacks and increase the lumiuence
5.) avoid stereo audio
6.) roll off the low frequencies
7.) use stills if possible
8.) Keep it short
9.) use hard cuts us dissolves, no slo-mo or soft focus effects.
10.) tight head shots vs head and shoulders.
11.) For Youtube and Myspace encode in native Flash 5 if possible.

HOPELESS GEEK

My wife might be right. I could be a hopeless techie. Well, 'hopeless' might be a bit strong. I have plenty of hope ... hope for more and better technology that will improve and satisfy our life. And 'techie' might be a bit strong as well, since I never really took a techie class, or was paid by a techie employer. I was a marketer, who simply took a shine to certain tech applications, and made a hobby, then a career out of a few focused apps. But, my ability to write code (assuming that is a definition for the tech) is next to zero ... a smattering of basic, java and html, networking fundamentals and digital studio skills that pass for amateur visual animator-illustrator.

But as I write this using a wireless pocket OGO from the deck of a cruise ship in the midst of the Gulf of Mexico, it occurs to me that the tech tools and toys I've carried in my backpack are a far cry from the printed maps, film canisters, notebooks, and novels that once went along on trips as 'personal companions.' Let's see now ... besides the OGO, today I'm carrying a six-pack of technology including a PDA, digital still camera that slips into a shirt pocket, a palm-size digital video camera, a thin LifeBook mini-laptop PC fully-loaded with office apps and broadband communications (plus a few games), a half-gig USB thumb drive, and an umbrella. Sorry, no iPod. The pack is also filled with trade magazines, from Info Week and Wired to Videography and Church Production. I tosssed in one no-Tech book about kayaking, as I plan to buy one soon.

So, if all that crap is the definition of a techie, I plead guilty. But ... clothes don't make the man. The fact is, I'm going thru a tech withdrawal. Days at sea ... without mail. Huumpf. (This blog is a draft until we near a port with a cell node). There's not even much to videotape out here, which is my core passion.

If that doesn't define me as a techie in pain, what's left ... well, ultimately, we get back to the real core of our being, which is original thought, the spirit of relationships and some physical conditioning. In all honesty, after a little twitching and itching for my tech tools, the lack thereof doesn't bother me too much as I find some respectable options. Walked and ran eight miles yesterday. That's good. Found a little peace with the simple environment of the sea, contemplative thoughts, and casual conversations with total strangers -- more good stuff. It's what cruising is all about. At least until we get back to port.

FedEx Delivery Notices

Yesterday I am at the computer and I get an email saying that 5 minutes ago a FedEx was delivered ,,, Sure enough. It's at the door. Well, no matter how much of a techy I might be, it's still amazing that my email can be just about as timely as the door bell. That's really good logistics and delights the customer. At least this one. Confirming deliveries can be just as useful as advance shipping notices and order confirmations in the cycle of purchase online.... not to mention on-time delivery.

OUR FAVORITE CRUISE

Sailing the Caribbean has been good for us this year ... three Winter trips, with various destinations and activities at each. Since we're in the businesses of travel (and videography), each trip adds to our level of experience and knowledge, and friends from port to port. One thing we've learned along the way is that for each traveler, there is a separate set of R&R preferences and expectations. (ie, "We never thought the art tour would be so much fun!") But what's common to most is their level of satisfaction. Excluding the rare occurrence of weather and travel interruptions, most people seem to find cruising a very positive experience, and a high value for the dollar. whether it's the popular Caribbean, Panama Canal, Hawaii, Alaska, Baltic or Mediterranean. It's hard to say which is the BEST, but for my money and time it's probably the Italy / Greece cruises, only because of the cultural, historic and gastronomic delights on that itinerary. But I would return to ANY of the others in a second ... in fact, I am writing this in the midst of the Caribbean Sea. I would add a few "must haves" for any cruise. 1) First, pick a first class cruise line that offers the right amenities for you ... ship size, meals, excursions and entertainment; 2) we like a balcony. It opens your eyes to the sea; 3) go with family, friends, office group, or focus on making new acquaintances while on tour. It's more fun traveling together, and months and years later they will help you share in the memories and extend the joys of your trip. 4) Finally, try something totally NEW while cruising that might carry over to your life at home ... ie a dance class, health spa workouts, art auction or wine tasting, cooking class, kayaking or scuba, etc. It might extend that vacation for months to come. Bon Voyage.

TRENDS IN DIGITAL LIVING

Some trends in technology worth watching include: by 2006 cable subscribers with digital service will outnumber those with traditional service (Veronis Suhler Stevenson); consumers already buy more DVD players than VCRs by 25 vs 7 million units (Consumer Elec. Assn); by 2007 more people will be watching digital TVs than analog ones (Forrester); sales of home theater in a box (surround sound) systems will grow 41% over the next 4 years (Consumer Elec Assn) -- nt net, the wired home is emerging in many ways, leveraging the power of the net.