I just wanted to let you all know about an upcoming event that you might be interested in. Please read the details below; if you're in the Portland Metro area, we'd love to have you there as part of the live audience.
What: Oregon Conference Communication Forum “Video in My Ministry”
When: Thursday December 2, 2010, 6:30pm
Where: Sunnyside Seventh-day Adventist Church, 10501 SE Market St, Portland OR 97216-2951 Map It >>
Who: Anyone involved, or interested in becoming involved, in a communication ministry in their church, school, or local community.
This Communication Forum will be a round table discussion on video systems. If your church is looking to start or increase your video ministry this will give you some insight into 3 possible HD video systems. Cameras, video switchers, storage devices... and costs. The roundtable participants will be Joe Christensen, Richard Crowley and Tim Adams (see below).
Come connect with people who share the same interests.
Learn about new communication methods.
Give us input on how we can help you communicate better.This event will be streamed live right here on this page: www.orgccommunication.adventistnw.org/communication-forum
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Respect Yourself
I have lost track of the number of times that I have been approached at the last second by a program coordinator or leader and asked to provide something that I am not prepared for and have to disappoint them by saying no. They don't seem to understand that I can't just pull a miracle out of my hat and that creates a rift.
As a leader and/or coordinator, it's important to realize that unless all of your wishes are expressed ahead of time, there is no way that we can be ready for what you want. I, for one, try to be proactive in my communication and coordination with leaders, but when you ask for something that we never discussed, you may or may not get it. I will not bend over backwards to make it happen. We, as techs, need to be strong enough to be firm on boundaries and reasonable requests and expectations without worrying about people "not liking us" or "thinking less of us."
If people think we are unreasonable because we can't read their thoughts ahead of time, that's on them, not us. We are there to support, yes, but not at the expense of making someone who can't plan and think ahead look good.
Thoughts?
As a leader and/or coordinator, it's important to realize that unless all of your wishes are expressed ahead of time, there is no way that we can be ready for what you want. I, for one, try to be proactive in my communication and coordination with leaders, but when you ask for something that we never discussed, you may or may not get it. I will not bend over backwards to make it happen. We, as techs, need to be strong enough to be firm on boundaries and reasonable requests and expectations without worrying about people "not liking us" or "thinking less of us."
If people think we are unreasonable because we can't read their thoughts ahead of time, that's on them, not us. We are there to support, yes, but not at the expense of making someone who can't plan and think ahead look good.
Thoughts?
Friday, October 22, 2010
Presentation Software
What are you using to display your graphics on a projection screen during service? My hope is that most of you have grown past PowerPoint, but if you haven't, just know that there are MUCH more powerful software options available that will take you to a whole new level!
My personal favorite right now is Renewed Vision's ProPresenter software. Understandably, it's a toolbox and you should use what you're comfortable with, but allow me to fill you in a little bit on what maybe you should consider when evaluating a new presentation software product.
The most important question is what do you want it to do for you that your current software doesn't? If it's not that much, it may not be time to upgrade yet.
Next would be to do your homework; make sure that the software WILL actually do what you need it to do. Do you need to integrate live video into your slides for IMAG? How about motion backgrounds behind lyrics? Full-screen Scripture references? Multi-screen output capability? Editing on the fly with a built-in Bible passage finder? Know what you need and don't be afraid to ask the software developer if you have questions; they are happy to answer your questions.
That brings up another point; what kind of support can you expect once you purchase the product? If you have trouble getting responses even before you purchase, you can probably expect the same treatment. Make that part of your evaluation.
Ask LOTS and LOTS of questions-some of this software is quite expensive (compared to PowerPoint and Apple's Keynote) and you don't want to make a bad investment so make sure you know everything you can about the software.
Finally, have a very firm understanding of how the software will integrate into your current system. Before we purchased ProPresenter, I made sure I knew what external hardware we needed and how we could utilize the layering capabilities of the software to multi-task on the fly (powering full-screen projection, lower thirds for live video, and full-screen image for video, as well as a Stage Display).
I'd love to know what software you guys are using and why-comment away!
My personal favorite right now is Renewed Vision's ProPresenter software. Understandably, it's a toolbox and you should use what you're comfortable with, but allow me to fill you in a little bit on what maybe you should consider when evaluating a new presentation software product.
The most important question is what do you want it to do for you that your current software doesn't? If it's not that much, it may not be time to upgrade yet.
Next would be to do your homework; make sure that the software WILL actually do what you need it to do. Do you need to integrate live video into your slides for IMAG? How about motion backgrounds behind lyrics? Full-screen Scripture references? Multi-screen output capability? Editing on the fly with a built-in Bible passage finder? Know what you need and don't be afraid to ask the software developer if you have questions; they are happy to answer your questions.
That brings up another point; what kind of support can you expect once you purchase the product? If you have trouble getting responses even before you purchase, you can probably expect the same treatment. Make that part of your evaluation.
Ask LOTS and LOTS of questions-some of this software is quite expensive (compared to PowerPoint and Apple's Keynote) and you don't want to make a bad investment so make sure you know everything you can about the software.
Finally, have a very firm understanding of how the software will integrate into your current system. Before we purchased ProPresenter, I made sure I knew what external hardware we needed and how we could utilize the layering capabilities of the software to multi-task on the fly (powering full-screen projection, lower thirds for live video, and full-screen image for video, as well as a Stage Display).
I'd love to know what software you guys are using and why-comment away!
Friday, October 15, 2010
Update from the FCC
Finally, it appears that the FCC is showing some brains and setting aside two TV channels' worth of spectrum for all of us wireless microphone, IEM, and intercom users!
To find out what this is all about, please visit: http://www.shure.com/americas/news-events/press-releases/shure-applauds-fcc-decision-white-spaces
It would appear that we will be able to operate anywhere from 14-16 wireless systems concurrently and be protected; venues with a need for more wireless systems than that can apply for additional protection with the FCC. However, I think that most churches should be able to make the 14-16 numbers work; after all, as a tech, if I can have a wired mic vs. a wireless mic, I will. Unless, of course, all of my wired lines have inherent noise in them as I have experienced at a particular church in the Portland area. :)
Anyway, praise God that we are now going to be protected in the wireless spectrum! It's still important to read the details and make sure that you are going to be safe with your current wireless microphone systems, but at least there is protected spectrum for us now! Or at least there WILL be!
To find out what this is all about, please visit: http://www.shure.com/americas/news-events/press-releases/shure-applauds-fcc-decision-white-spaces
It would appear that we will be able to operate anywhere from 14-16 wireless systems concurrently and be protected; venues with a need for more wireless systems than that can apply for additional protection with the FCC. However, I think that most churches should be able to make the 14-16 numbers work; after all, as a tech, if I can have a wired mic vs. a wireless mic, I will. Unless, of course, all of my wired lines have inherent noise in them as I have experienced at a particular church in the Portland area. :)
Anyway, praise God that we are now going to be protected in the wireless spectrum! It's still important to read the details and make sure that you are going to be safe with your current wireless microphone systems, but at least there is protected spectrum for us now! Or at least there WILL be!
Monday, August 2, 2010
Question Time!
Ok, guys, let's see how many participants we can get!
I've told you how I go about researching equipment, making proposals and equipment recommendations, installs, etc.
What criteria do YOU use when you are trying to solve an equipment problem, looking at upgrading equipment, etc.?
I've told you how I go about researching equipment, making proposals and equipment recommendations, installs, etc.
What criteria do YOU use when you are trying to solve an equipment problem, looking at upgrading equipment, etc.?
Thursday, June 10, 2010
FCC Deadline Approaches!
Just a quick reminder to everyone that the FCC deadline of June 12, 2010 is quickly approaching, so if you still have any 700MHz band wireless microphones, you'll want to get those traded-in using the manufacturer trade-in programs ASAP.
That's not to say that the FCC will be knocking on your door on June 13, but you could face pretty hefty fines and even imprisonment by using your legacy equipment past June 12.
For those of you who have been living under a rock the past two years, or just don't know anything about it, visit the following website for more information: http://broadcastengineering.com/eng/fcc-deadline-looms-700mhz-wireless-mic-users-20100526/
I know the economic climate does not make it conducive to change out your expensive wireless components that will be illegal in 3 days, but should you get fined, that cost will be much, much higher!
That's not to say that the FCC will be knocking on your door on June 13, but you could face pretty hefty fines and even imprisonment by using your legacy equipment past June 12.
For those of you who have been living under a rock the past two years, or just don't know anything about it, visit the following website for more information: http://broadcastengineering.com/eng/fcc-deadline-looms-700mhz-wireless-mic-users-20100526/
I know the economic climate does not make it conducive to change out your expensive wireless components that will be illegal in 3 days, but should you get fined, that cost will be much, much higher!
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Personal Monitors
Ok, so I'm a week behind, but you'll forgive me, right?
So, last time we talked about in-ear monitors (IEMs); this week we'll look at another potential solution for "monitor terrorism," personal monitors.
These units often sit atop a mic stand and will reside somewhere in a 2-5 ft. radius around a musician. They offer a small speaker that emits a highly focused, narrow dispersion angle beam of audio energy that can really pack a wallop if you're not careful. The specific units I have experience with are the Mackie SRM150s. These are powered unit (no amp needed) that include a 3-channel mixer on-board for local inputs and mixing. They are very powerful and rarely need to be turned up much past halfway on the master volume knob, and offers a 3-channel master EQ, as well as 48V phantom power for the two XLR inputs (these also have a 1/4" input on the same connector), as well as an RCA stereo input on channel 3. Loop through capability allows for daisy-chaining multiple units together.
When we first got these units, we had been struggling with stage volume from the floor wedges for weeks as the musicians gradually kept asking for more and more volume. When we got these all hooked up and functioning, I took the house volume all the way down so I could listen to the difference. Believe me when I tell you, I was shocked as the sound reaching my ears was little more than what I would hear if the musicians were performing without any amplification at all. It was awesome!
Ok, now, to be realistic, we still occasionally have issues with these personal monitors still being too loud, but it's still light-years better than what we had with the floor wedges. This is why keeping an open line of communication with your musicians is so important. Just letting them know that the monitor volume is becoming an issue can let them know they need to dial their volumes back a little bit.
There are other options besides the Mackie unit, but I'll let you have the fun of doing that research. I would advise, however, that before committing to purchasing a particular unit of any kind, do your research on reviews, what kind of support does the company offer behind their products? Make sure you're buying from a reputable vendor-too many people have purchased hundreds, even thousands of dollars of merchandise and never saw what they bought because the company took their money and ran. So, spending a little bit more on a piece of equipment from a reputable company is worth it in the long run.
So, last time we talked about in-ear monitors (IEMs); this week we'll look at another potential solution for "monitor terrorism," personal monitors.
These units often sit atop a mic stand and will reside somewhere in a 2-5 ft. radius around a musician. They offer a small speaker that emits a highly focused, narrow dispersion angle beam of audio energy that can really pack a wallop if you're not careful. The specific units I have experience with are the Mackie SRM150s. These are powered unit (no amp needed) that include a 3-channel mixer on-board for local inputs and mixing. They are very powerful and rarely need to be turned up much past halfway on the master volume knob, and offers a 3-channel master EQ, as well as 48V phantom power for the two XLR inputs (these also have a 1/4" input on the same connector), as well as an RCA stereo input on channel 3. Loop through capability allows for daisy-chaining multiple units together.
When we first got these units, we had been struggling with stage volume from the floor wedges for weeks as the musicians gradually kept asking for more and more volume. When we got these all hooked up and functioning, I took the house volume all the way down so I could listen to the difference. Believe me when I tell you, I was shocked as the sound reaching my ears was little more than what I would hear if the musicians were performing without any amplification at all. It was awesome!
Ok, now, to be realistic, we still occasionally have issues with these personal monitors still being too loud, but it's still light-years better than what we had with the floor wedges. This is why keeping an open line of communication with your musicians is so important. Just letting them know that the monitor volume is becoming an issue can let them know they need to dial their volumes back a little bit.
There are other options besides the Mackie unit, but I'll let you have the fun of doing that research. I would advise, however, that before committing to purchasing a particular unit of any kind, do your research on reviews, what kind of support does the company offer behind their products? Make sure you're buying from a reputable vendor-too many people have purchased hundreds, even thousands of dollars of merchandise and never saw what they bought because the company took their money and ran. So, spending a little bit more on a piece of equipment from a reputable company is worth it in the long run.
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