The award winning “Nuit Blanche” Check out the making of video below as well.
Nuit Blanche from Spy Films on Vimeo.
Making of the award winning “Nuit Blanche” – Green screen is amazing.
Making Of Nuit Blanche from Spy Films on Vimeo.
Archive for the 'Tech' Category
You are a VO professional who travels light. You walk up to counters at airports and say: “Where would you like to go this weekend little lady?” to unimpressed ticketing agents everywhere. It rarely works – but when it does! Boy, did you have a good time in Oklahoma. Until Beverly (formerly Bill), introduced you as her (formerly his) – new boyfriend! Ah the trials of the jet setting VO performer. You’re suave, stylish and basically not allowed to go anywhere longer than Saturday to Sunday because you’re under contract and have to be in town all week – in case they need you to say the word “and” in that slightly different way, that only YOU can.
Yeah the good life. Golden handcuffs. You’re living the dream! But what if they need that little something on the weekend? You could stay by your phone every weekend; but where’s the fun in that? And isn’t that really a dis service to all the trans-gender ticketing agents out there? Waiting…for you? Of course it is. So you’re going! Re records be damned! But hold on. How on earth will you fund the Dom Perignon fueled lifestyle to which you have become accustomed? Well, you’ll just have to take your little travel rig and be on your way. Oh no! You are that VO professional who travels light. A netbook, usb audio adaptor and XLR mic is just too much! It’ll cramp your style! You want something that fits in your discrete man purse. Nothing says: “I have arrived”, like your murse.
I travel light. If I need something I’ll buy it when I get there. Because I can.
Well then O’ murse toting VO God I humbly offer this little How to:
Disclaimer:
I am not responsible for anything I suggest breaking your set up. You purchased it, you installed it, ergo you broke your own shit. These opinions are mine and your mileage may vary. That said…
1. Get your iPhone. You do have an iPhone don’t you? Of course you do! What was I thinking.
2. Buy Monle. It works on the iPhone or iPod touch (latest generation only) or the iPad. But remember that iPad won’t fit in your murse. If you want to bring that you’ll have to get your satchel.
3. Buy a 3.5mm to XLR adapter, I recommend this one.
4. Buy a Rode M3 microphone.
5. Get a 9V battery for the Rode M3 microphone. You can use the one you carry in your personal massager, but make sure it’s charged.
Connect the 3.5mm to XLR adapter to the iPhone. Connect the Mic to the XLR adapter. Connect your headphones to the adapter as well (you won’t be able to hear your voice while you record, but you will hear it while editing – audio monitoring while recording should be coming in future updates of Monle)
Launch Monle. Select your audio source. Record your tracks – Monle only records in WAV files currently. Edit them in a true multi track environment. Save often, crashes sometimes happen – even to you. Mix it down and Export.
Export your finished mix WAV file to your FTP site, and email the client the address to the FTP link, as Monle can’t email WAV files only FTP uploads.
Well, that’s it – the client is happy and so are you – you’re finished! Now you can sit back and relax and get back to Patrice (formerly Paul), the personal massager and that bottle of Dom - you player you!
I loved Blackberry. I even rocked a 7100t. Suretype sucked, but as far as smart-phones went it was much better than carrying a Nokia and a Palm Pilot (Phone + Organization!). Because unless you were living in Silicon Valley in the late 90′s it just wasn’t cool to carry all those devices. And in retrospect, it probably wasn’t cool there either.
BB was the ultimate smartphone. My pockets were happy. And because I was carrying less gizmos - I was more attractive to the ladies – in my mind. (NOTE: I have never, NEVER attached anything to my belt. That’s just not right. If you do. Stop now, or die single and alone.)
Fast forward, it’s 2009, and I’m carrying a BB Bold 9700 & and iPod Touch (Smartphone + Entertainment!). That’s right. I went from carrying 2 devices in 1999 to carrying 2 devices in 2009. What the hell? A decade later and I go backwards? Well, I’m in NYC again and no longer drive to get around. In NYC, music helps. It helps drown out the deafening roar of the subway. It helps drown out the crazy proselytizing homeless people on the subways. It helps drown out those street marketers with their loaded questions “Do you care about the environment / starving children / baby seals that get clubbed to death?” – No, I’m a seal clubbing, childless, BP exec who just wants to get where I’m going.
So I decide I need to do something about this 2 device thing. Again. It was cumbersome then, even more so now – skinny pants with 2 devices? Yeah, don’t think so. To be fair, BB does have a media player. And it sucks. And I can’t watch videos on it (easily) and it’s got CRAP Apps. Aye, there’s the rub – Apps.
So I tried it out. The experiment: 10 days in Berlin with only an iPhone – no hard keyboard. Berlin + unlocked iPhone (I have T-mobile – cheap, works well in the states and b/c they’re German it’s one of the cheapest ways to use your own number in Europe) And you know what? On edge speeds, on an original iPhone. It was great. Google Maps (Just like the BB), Email (Not as good as BB but functional), iPod (BB can’t compete here at all – 3 movies on the plane) and finally: Apps.
I used Apps constantly: Berlin Guides (location awareness – you’re on this street; the nearest museums are here, here and here – try that paper guide book) and a German phrase book – with audio samples. Amazing. Can’t order Currywurst? Click a button and hold up your phone.
Since then I’ve been using and iPhone exclusively. On T-mobile with a legally unlocked iPhone. I won’t pay ATT blood money. Apple blood money, fine. BUT NOT THE DEATH STAR. I’m on still on Edge not 3G (thanks Tmobile for not using the same 3G everyone else does!), but on a 3GS iPhone it all works fine. When I spell things wrong I miss the BB’s keyboard – but only until I hit send – then the music starts up, and I’m happy again. And the ladies love me - in my mind.
Ok here it is. Quick and dirty. You’re an international VO of mystery. Or you just like to travel light. Either way you need a portable studio that will audition solid – and book in a pinch, FTP only mind you, unless you have source connect – but if you have that, you’re probably not reading this anyway as you have a gulfstream jet with a whole recording studio in the back in case Coca-Cola needs new takes while you’re on your way to Gstaad.
Disclaimer:
I am not responsible for anything I suggest breaking your set up. You purchased it, you installed it, ergo you broke your own shit. These opinions are mine and your mileage may vary. That said…
Equipment you’ll need:
Computer:
Netbook – we’re going for fast and light! You may want to make it a hackintosh it if you’re game - I am partial to linux – free as in beer! But then again, if you have no idea what I’m talking about you may want to get any XP or Window 7 Starter Netbook. They are all basically the same BUT the kind you’ll need for recording preferably has a SSD – or you can always buy an SSD and install it yourself.
Microphone
:
Space saving is key. This is a fast and light kit. Think James Bond (see the pic above – that’s you). So I suggest the Rode NTG-2.
Audio Interface:
Blue Icicle. Nuff said. You won’t be able to hear yourself through this set up while recording but c’mon you don’t need more than one take anyway right?
External Hard Drive:
Hey, if you’re looking for doing bookings on the go, in-between massages at the pool bar, with this set up NO external drive is needed – IF you sprung for the Netbook with an SSD – or bought your own and installed it yourself – don’t you feel cool (again that picture above). If you didn’t get one with an SSD, you’re gonna be in trouble. The little spinning HD in that cheaper Netbook won’t record fast enough. That means it won’t work for longer than 30 sec. Not cool. Get the SSD cheapskate.
Software
:
The best kind of software for this type of recording is free. Audacity – it has a simple interface, great quality and easy export – you’ll be sending off your MP3′s in no time. Works on mac and pc.
Just hook it all up – learn the program – and start auditioning from the road, or from the “swim up” pool bar, or from wherever. Listen, you’re the one with the jetset lifestyle. Gotta run. I’m meeting P-diddy for dinner @ Restaurant Chesery -what you’ve never been? Oh you must see Gstaad. Yeah douchey.
For those of you that are interested in VO, lots of people were asking me this question all the time, so I’m posting the answer below:
Want to record auditions from home? On a budget? It can be done! To get a basic setup – perfect for email mp3 auditions, it’s easier than you might think. Read on to find out how…
Disclaimer
I am not responsible for anything I suggest breaking your set up. You purchased it, you installed it, ergo you broke your own shit. These opinions are mine and your mileage may vary. That said…
Equipment you’ll need:
Computer
You’ll need one purchased with in the last year or two. An older machine might do the job but for best results with these instructions, a Mac running OS X (10.5 or 10.6), or a PC running Windows XP (SP2 or SP3) or later will be fine. Either machine must have at least one USB and one Firewire port for additional equipment connection.
Microphone
On a budget, for auditions, you’ll want something with a microphone and audio interface combined. That way you can plug the Microphone directly into the computer. Many choices are available but right now the best on a budget (IMO) is the Samson Audio G-Track it’s a high quality mic WITH audio input monitoring, meaning you can hear your voice in your headphones while you record unlike the Blue Snowball Microphone. The G-track is my top pick right now and you can find them for about $130-$150, at Amazon, Sweetwater, and B&H. It works with Mac or PC so it doesn’t matter where you buy it.
External Hard Drive
For optimal recording, with no lost audio or broken tracks, an External Hard Drive is a must! It will save space on your computer’s hard drive; plus most audio programs work best when they record to a hard drive other than the one running the program.
There are many External Hard Drives to choose from – but for quality, reliability and price I’ve have had great success with Other World Computing drives. They are professionally built from the best components, have a great warranty + support, and are generally cheaper than those of lesser quality found at big box retailers like Best Buy. I recommend the Mercury Elite-AL Pro Quad interface – many are available to fit any size or budget.
Software
The best kind of software for this type of recording is free (we are on a budget)! On the Mac, Garage Band is ok and it’s included. However, for recording, editing and exporting to MP3 – Audacity is IMO faster and easier to learn. Audacity is also free it has a simpler interface, great quality and easy export – you’ll be sending off your MP3′s in no time. On a PC Audacity is also the way to go. Download Audacity here.
Just hook it all up – learn the program – and start auditioning from home.
I’ve said many things about what I think of facebook. Just re-watched the IT Crowd in it’s entirety. This video says it all so well.
Resolume Avenue 3 Getting Started from Resolume on Vimeo.
Resolume just dropped version 3 out of beta and into the world. Massive improvements have been promised and it looks like Bart and Edwin have been busy up in The Netherlands. Every issue I posted about in the forums has been resolved! Downloading now. Can’t wait to see what they’ve done. Now if I could just get my hands on a APC 40 with which to trigger all these massive improvements…
I’ve had this netbook for about 4 months now. It’s an MSI Wind U100. Hackable: software and hardware. Basically everything you could possibly want in a fun little computer with wicked functions wrapped up in a tiny little package. I’ve had a few of these netbooks but the Wind is by far my favorite for general use and messing with.
I voided the warranty (bah – it’s for only one year anyway!) and I’ve upgraded the RAM swapped out the wireless card for one more to my liking. And just the other day I found out that the VDMX5 demo runs on this little guy with video out! Amazing! Resolume looked like someone passed the video out signal through a blender – but VDMX5 rocked a large 24 LCD with not even a hick-up and Audio out was right in sync. Next week I’ll try loading video from an SD card and see if that is fast enough for clips. MSI WIND + SDs for clips + Korg Nano Control / Pad – and presto I’ve got the smallest cheapest VJ set up in the world, could literally fit in my smallest messenger bag. Now if I could only build a set up that let me see everything on a 10 inch screen…
g-speak overview 1828121108 from john underkoffler on Vimeo.
I’ve sent many of you this video in the past but just for kicks I’ve included it here. I’m interested in many things, not the least of which is visual performance. As I sit inside on this rainy Monday my mind drifts to visions of what would be possible mixing a live visuals set with just my hands, conducting the video feeds…sweet. Also the geek in me is filled with wonder of finally being able to visually navigate large data sets with ease.
Got yourself a Blackberry? Want to Sync your iCal with your Blackberry Calendar? Without cables like an iPhone with Mobile Me? No problem – oh, and you’ll keep that $99 a year you’d spend on Mobile Me – If you have a Blackberry it’s FREE. Google Rocks. Drinks are on you.
To get wireless Snyc from your Mac to your BB (and vice versa) you’ll need 3 things:
1. Get iCal to Google Calendar.
2. Get Google Calendar to Blackberry.
3. Enter appointments on those Calendars.
1. Get iCal to Google Calendar.
You will need a Gmail account to access your Calendar.
Simple. Sign up for Gmail here:
http://www.gmail.com
Now that you have a Gmail account go to:
http://www.google.com/support/calendar/bin/answer.py?answer=99358#ical
Read the instructions, download and install yada, yada.
NOTE! If you require more features than free Google iCal syncing provides – the best cheap tool is:
http://spanningsync.com/
(does contacts too! HOT!)
Now that your Google Calendar shows all your iCal goodness proceed to step…
2. Get Google Calendar to Blackberry.
Read and follow these instructions:
http://google.com/support/mobile/bin/answer.py?answer=82619&ctx=sibling&topic=14265
Download and install yada, yada.
3. Enter appointments on those Calendars.
Automagically they are now on your computer’s iCal when you turn it on and vice versa.
FREE.
Now where’s my drink?
