next month or so / Wild Show on Phonic FM this Thursday 10-12

This is a day off in the UK. So I'm trying to sort out a rough idea of what happens over the next few weeks that could fit with the Wild Show. This week Chris is definitely away for a performance with the Isca Wheelchair Dancers. But I think he will be back more after that. I may do the first half hour or so while he settles in. Around the first two weeks of June I will be away.

Topics over the month include quality and learning through sustainability and innovation. But the next week has a focus on the print industry or communication. drupa continues but by Thursday more will be clear on what this one is about. Dialogue Marketing is featured in the drupa cube

This might connect with the #likeminds event in Exeter at the end of May. The drupa cube agenda still seems to have a hard copy priority. From a distance I'm not sure the discussion at drupa has moved on that much so far. But there has not been much news from the dip.

Print City host a day conference on the environment on Thursday also.

I am not going to cover much of drupa in two hours, well talk is only supposed to be less than 20% . Mostly it is a music show. But I can put links in this blog and link also through the Wild Show Facebook page.

I hope there will be a guest who works with photography. We may cover how images contribute to social situations. How has digital technology changed things?

What we don't find time for will be continued later. Chris Norton thinks of the show as a never ending biscuit tin. Some of it is consumed each time, but more is put into stock. 
Info
Comment
Written by Will Pollard On

Backing dancers and Hannah Berney : Max Milner to busk in Sidmouth?

It seems to me ok for anyone to offer an opinion. I have got more into this since I happened to video Hannah Berney during the Queen's visit to Exeter and the analytics tell me it was one of the more interesting things that happened.

I thought her performance on the Voice was quite ok, just a bit too much happening for the Saturday night audience. I think just a straight version of At Last might have gone over better. This is a possible model from Natalie Cole

It is not in a studio but I notice how slowly the cameras move. There are closeups and she walks around a bit but it is fairly relaxed. The BBC cameras currently zoom in and out and cut to another one so fast that what Hannah Berney was doing was at least designed to fit in. 

The camera style did not suit Max Milner at all. He did do a straight song presentation but they kept switching to some other view.

Apparently he is going to stay clear of dancers. but he still has the production assumptions to worry about. He may consider a visit to Sidmouth in the summer time where buskers may be recorded using simple cameras that just hold the performance. Here in Exeter we are trying to work out how to edit two video sources together. So there may be more of a range of styles later. But Sidmouth in August is still very important as only outside recording can provide reasonable lighting.
Info
Comment
Written by Will Pollard On

Exeter TV, edit style prepared for local cable model

Thinking about previous styles of edit I have checked out the youTube posts from Director Jo, once known as Exeter TV now as JG Productions aka Jo Gedrych. His idea I think was for local TV in the UK on the model of USA cable. It is a mystery why this never happened. So around five years ago he was editing to establish a possibility of a standard that could be gradually upgraded to broadcast. Examples below. I contributed to some of the Sidmouth ones. The Sidmouth Gospel Choir was the most advanced I think. Two cameras, one on a tripod. ( if you look closely one shows the clothing as green, one blue but you might miss this on normal YouTube scale). The edit is very considered and works well.

But this all takes time and some resource. Contrast with what I've done recently. But YouTube is working ok, not as a preparation for broadcast but on its own terms. The audience can do an edit if enough searching is relevant. ( still possible to do an edit later but I'm less and less convinced this is likely ever to happen)

a bit more after the examples

At the moment the possibility of rough mixes on a Creative Commons basis seems possible. Not quite sure where this is going but more links will follow probably.

Jo, we don't need another TV extravaganza in Edinburgh. But why not late summer conversation quietly on the coast for a sensible conversation? Or through Facebook.
Info
Comment
Written by Will Pollard On

more on #A2DMusicExpo mobile tech and performance video

See previous posts for video links from the DJ performances in the Phoenix bar during #A2DMusicExpo and Phonic benefit

The approach of loading quickly without much editing is getting an interesting result. A bit patchy at the moment but seems ok. There can be corrections through the YouTube editor and also there could be another edit later.

Some issues from the #A2DMusicExpo are a bit clearer now. Progress on consumer electronics kit is such that studios need to adjust what they offer. The talk about the iPad from Mindlobster and Yamaha shows that kit has not got to be expensive. There are still benefits from the professional level but a lot can be done with kit from the high street. Or at least it is worth a look.

For example the video was done with a Kodak Zi8 and the recent ones not edited at all except through YouTube editor. Earlier ones edited with Premiere Elements on Windows from Aldi. Those from Phonic benefit had sound feed from desk to external mike input. So the desk obviously helps.

I still think that Sound on Sound could come back to video as a feature. It just seems odd to me that sound can be a technical issues of interest but video not. And if a camera phone is ok for video, is there an equivalent shift possible in the role of the studio? I notice there are still loads of videos from Sound on Sound available on YouTube that deal with video. Well worth a look.

More on this are in a few weeks when things settle down a bit. Comment welcome.

Thanks for all the agreement that content could be on  a Creative Commons basis. There should be some remix through YouTube later.   
Info
Comment
Written by Will Pollard On

Update on video from Collision Live Phonic benefit #cl04may ( was #cl4may )

Apology that I started to use #cl04may by mistake. I have been getting a bit confused but much progress anyway.

Unfortunately the sound was awol on The True Blue. I think the desk was reset then another sub process was missed out. So I have done a bodge with two bits of video and sound from last year. At least there is some True Blue in the set. If there is a suitable occasion I will try to get another chance later.

I am hoping there will be at least one clip of the Sound of the Sirens from another angle. Not sure yet but things are working towards a quicker publishing route for video.

If you don't bother to clip the intro / outro, add titles, adjust lighting then it can be quicker. And it can be adjusted later through the cloud. Choose Creative Commons on YouTube and the Remix button shows. Once tried out, mostly obvious. Or will be sometime next week.  
Info
Comment
Written by Will Pollard On

The role of editors, back to OhmyNews please #guardian

Found this

Peter Preston on editors and journalism. Going back a bit the main message from OhmyNews was to concentrate on editors, not so much on journalists as previously defined. Sorry, no time to go into this more but please look up previous.

I think the UK is about 4 years behind bandwidth wise. It seems to have consequences.
Info
Comment
Written by Will Pollard On

situation report - YouTube and Collision Live / Phonic benefit #CL04May

I am trying things out with video this week. I am uploading to YouTube the files as saved on the Zi8. Previously I would edit so that the beginning and end was tighter and also add credits / adjust the lighting through contrast and brilliance. But this all takes time and there was so much stuff from the Forum opening that it made sense to just load it, especially the Hannah Berney performance. this needs to be this week really though of course it will still be relevant for many weeks to come.

At the Collision Live last night I had a cable from the sound desk. Yes, the Zi8 has got a socket for external mike. But alas no indication of sound levels so I'm sorry to say that because of a technical issue there is no sound on the True Blue at all. This will be put right on a future occasion. Also I will try out other sound sources and see if anything works with it.

The other three are good for sound but the distance and lighting are a challenge for the Zi8. I think there are other sources for video so  I am suggesting YouTube and Creative Commons as a way to do a rough edit. Something better might be possible later depending on what turns out to be available. When loading to YouTube if you select the Creative Commons option on rights then the remix button appears. With the online editor you get access to your own video and the Creative Commons stock on YouTube. I'm not sure how to retain the chosen sound track. Maybe you have to save it and add it on again. But you could certainly mix different camera angles of the same event.

this last one is with the YouTube editor for contrast and brilliance. not sure what else is possible or if this is better. hope the Sirens don't mind some experiments.

There could be a Phonic YouTube channel later. But meanwhile suggest #cl04may as a way to find anything from the evening. 
Info
Comment
Written by Will Pollard On

@whattheythink Andy Tribute please more about Kodak camera patents, which phone to buy?

I'm here in Exeter UK so I can't ask direct questions at drupa. But I find that if I pose a question as txt then often a few days later some sort of answer turns up. Not always from the direction expected.

Andy Tribute reports on press conferences from Rochester companies Kodak and Xerox. The section on Kodak includes-

The company he ( Chairman and CEO of Kodak, Antonio Perez) indicated was progressing well with its plan for emergence from Chapter 11 in 2013. This included preparing the non-strategic intellectual property assets for a bidding sale later in the year.

I think this means the patents on consumer cameras. I am still concerned about my Zi8, given to me at IPEX. The lighting adjustment seems to be taking just a bit longer in certain conditions. There is no wifi. So I realise I may need something else in the near future. It seems to be agreed somewhere that video cameras will become a standard port of a phone. But which one to prefer? Who is in ther bidding for Kodak patents and will there be any branding or support?

I realise there are many exclusive interviews to attend to but any brief clues would be welcome if they turn up. 
Info
Comment
Written by Will Pollard On

#cl4may suggested tag Collision Live use on video please and Creative Commons for remix

Not sure if there is something else already.

I am getting more into how to work with YouTube etc. The djs from #A2DMusicExpo have agreed to the Creative Commons choice on the YouTube clips. 

The #uoeforum is not being used much for the Queen at Exeter Uni Forum but much stuff turns up anyway. I am hoping to edit my clip of the Soul Choir with another that actually gets a good view of the royal car. Terrible sound though.

So tonight it would be great to end up with shots from many angles and excellent sound, available on Utub with Creative Commons so the Remix button shows up.

Simple plan.

Phonic Benefit. Phoenix Exeter. Some tickets still available, only £5

Info
Comment
Written by Will Pollard On

HP at drupa, what to do with a B2 sheet? Will there be much inkjet publishing near Bristol?

HP have a video that features a B2 sheet and also inkjet for publishing.

I wonder what the use would be for a short run of B2 sheets. Other presses are available ( but not yet found on YouTube with recent uploads).

Inkjet devices for newspapers are very expensive. There might be one in Bristol for a regional publication. I still find the Guide in the Saturday Guardian very annoying in the doubled up pagination. I have to rip the localised bit out to make sense of the TV films. This is the sort of thing inkjet could improve. What else? 
Info
Comment
Written by Will Pollard On

Xerox agenda at drupa makes a lot of sense #drupa #JDF #PDF/VT

Taking out one sentence from a blog post-

There are three major workflow themes this year at the show; Automation, Open Solutions, and the Cloud.

This is a very good start. Not sure what other offers there are but the Xerox idea on "open" is interesting-

We have an area discussing Freedom to Print, a solution that enables document workflows across both Xerox and non-Xerox print devices.  The next generation of Xerox Mobile Printpowered by the Cloud will demonstrate mobile printing from an array or smart devices and tablets.

 I hope to find more about this. I'm looking at drupa from a distance but I remember that at IPEX the Xerox stand was next to Heidelberg and they had complete production info on each Heidelberg device. So Freedom to Print is technically possible and should be supported. 
Info
Comment
Written by Will Pollard On

YouTube clips from Queen opening Exeter University Forum #uoeforum

There is more to edit but these four were just loaded from the card-

Overnight YouTube analytics shows that Hannah Berney is the leading search term at this time.

I saw most of Spotlight South West last night and there was none of the music. The BBC works in strange ways sometimes.

Respect just one of several songs from long ago. Over the next few months I plan to look back on music since the 50s with a focus on the Queen of Soul.

By the way, there are some books in the retail space. So the university bookshop has not gone completely. Just it is now part of a rich design mix in which supermarkets set the style..
Info
Comment
Written by Will Pollard On

Exeter and the "pop-up" bookshop #exeter #uoeforum

There is more on the website about the new Forum-

An online book retail service can also be found in the Market Place, which allows customers to order books either at a designated computer desk found in store, or by visiting a dedicated website from any PC. Temporary, pop-up book shops will also be available on campus during specified times of the academic year.

This is in the section on retail, not with the library and web resource.

"pop-up" may be a clue to the design. Learning Without Frontiers at Olympia earlier this year was described as a "pop-up university". It was mostly somewhere between a yurt and a geodesic dome. But it was meant to be temp or move somewhere else. I'm still not sure how long this sort of design can last on one site.

By the way, would it not be better to have the pop-up university on the ground floor and the cloud tech in the balcony? Or in the balcony and floating in baskets hung from balloons?

Anyway, much less speculation later today with actual photos from the Forum. The tech resource may work as inspiration. 
Info
Comment
Written by Will Pollard On

Desk Top Publishing (dtp) at drupa time #VIDEOdrupa

Checking the Wikipedia I find less than I would think about Hewlett Packard and Canon.

But they are still interested in hard copy. Both are at drupa.

So far I still think the main news is that Adobe and Apple have stopped having stands (booths).

Just checked on Google blogsearch

so there is some Adobe presence in a manner that won't muddle much with a focus on the cloud.

Can't find anything sensible on "Apple, drupa"

There is a Reuters report about TV

Apple declined to comment on what it called "speculation." 
Info
Comment
Written by Will Pollard On

Activate New York will they chronicle Guardian Talk? @jeffjarvis @arusbridger

The Activate conference looks interesting but I can't really take it on as presented while the history of Guardian Talk stays as it is.

In case you find this blog post without the previous ones what happened is like this. Quite a long time ago ( I can find my own copies from 2004) the Guardian had a talk board that readers could contribute to.

Then, a couple of years ago it was closed down without any warning or amnesty so that content could be recovered. Now there is just the option to add bits on to Comment is Free.

During the ten years or so there was no investment in new software, no contribution from Guardian staff, no mention in the print version.

So this should be explained sometime, I think.
Info
Comment
Written by Will Pollard On

eBook stats definite trend but not over enough to demolish bookshops just yet

The Bookseller has evidence of a definite trend

if digital gets towards 20% in the UK by next Christmas it will get most of the attention for promotion.

But a university without a bookshop is not obvious yet I don't think. Maybe I should think in terms of a few more years so Exeter will look more normal soon.

I have been checking out avatars from Second Life and Twinity. Previously they were mostly on Lancaster campus and Exeter High Street. Currently the cloud is such that the theory and practice of digital publishing /learning is more or less everywhere. So I can just have a look at what is local. Photos seem to still merge with the avatars as the architecture of Princesshay and the new campus Forum seems based on virtual world styles.

Tests may follow in collage form.

More considered views after tomorrow when more will be clear.
Info
Comment
Written by Will Pollard On

What is the Haymarket strategy on video? #VIDEOdrupa #drupa #Printweek

So far I can't find recent video about drupa from Printweek. There is a bit of a contrast with WhatTheyThink in this phase of things anyway.

Search of YouTube finds this

from Kodak, mention for their cameras at the end. By the way, presumably the patents on their technology are being passed on to phone companies. But which ones? I realise drupa is not a show about phones but any info would be welcome. My Zi8 is not the end of possibilities.

Anyway, back to the main point. London magazines do realise there are some issues around print. But will they do much around video? Or should it be sourced by a crowd? Something for the community pages?
Info
Comment
Written by Will Pollard On