tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22014490664878250352009-07-03T10:56:13.787+01:00Blog for Mary Milton, Sound Recordist - BristolMarynoreply@blogger.comBlogger76125MaryMilton-SoundRecordisthttp://feedburner.google.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2201449066487825035.post-4771029827470839662009-07-01T17:17:00.003+01:002009-07-01T17:33:44.861+01:00

On 30th June Ofcom made it's latest statement on the future of the channel 69 radio mic band.The Clearing the 800 MHz band statement confirms that channel 69 will be cleared and replaced by channel 38.Ch38 (606 - 614 MHz) will become available on a UK wide basis from 1 January 2012, as a replacement for Ch69 (854 - 862 MHz);Ch38 will be available on the same terms as Ch69, you will need to be

Marynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2201449066487825035.post-64371591622776701702009-06-26T00:52:00.000+01:002009-06-26T00:53:45.914+01:00

A lively debate can be heard on You and Yours (via Radio 4 listen again) discussing the switch to digital radio.That section of the programme starts at around 34 minutes in but the rest of the programme is also very interesting, discussing other digital issues.I think the government have this completely the wrong way round. National stations need FM, cheap for people to listen to wherever they

Marynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2201449066487825035.post-1988572304460553272009-06-17T23:23:00.004+01:002009-06-17T23:45:39.901+01:00

I've already commented on the transfer of the UKs radio stations to digital only by 2015 announced in the "Digital Britain" report yesterday. Also in the report, buried on p78 was an interesting comment on the channel 69 radio mic spectrum. It reads as follows;"The Government is committed to the timely release of 800 spectrum and will work with Ofcom to understand and meet the technical

Marynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2201449066487825035.post-31532619851626047912009-06-17T10:06:00.005+01:002009-06-17T11:25:08.819+01:00

The End of an EraNot radio mics this time but something that is going to directly affect way more people. The Government has announced that all radio stations in the UK will be digital only by 2015. Most radios in the UK by far are analogue and they will all become pretty useless (in this country) in 2015 when the signal is switched off.Just think how much junk that is going to generate. I don't

Marynoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2201449066487825035.post-23327231829576511672009-06-03T23:05:00.004+01:002009-06-03T23:13:39.326+01:00

By Liz ThomasViewers are turning off modern television shows because background noise and music are drowning out voices.Hit programmes including Panorama, Ashes to Ashes, Newsnight, Waking the Dead and Mistresses have all come under fire from viewers unable to hear what is being said.Now the BBC is backing a major study into the problem of 'ambient sound' after pressure from influential lobby

Marynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2201449066487825035.post-39305063706663528912009-05-28T14:34:00.000+01:002009-05-28T14:35:44.134+01:00

Read the full article at http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/05/28/ofcom_olympic_spectrum_plan/Ofcom sets out Olympic spectrum planGovernment asked to pay for it allBy Bill RayPosted in Wireless, 28th May 2009 07:33 GMTUK regulator Ofcom has laid out a consultation plan for radio spectrum use during the London Olympics in 2012, ensuring that even if the games fail to be spectacular, at least the

Marynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2201449066487825035.post-20156006813508719812009-05-26T15:07:00.005+01:002009-05-28T14:36:47.580+01:00

The Channel 69, radio mic saga continues with this report published on the website for the department for culture, media and sport."Report from the Independent Spectrum Broker: findings and policy proposals The Interim Digital Britain Report set out a Spectrum Modernisation Programme to address

Marynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2201449066487825035.post-42472483241092219132009-05-20T08:04:00.002+01:002009-05-20T08:10:33.695+01:00

For decades people in Bristol have reported hearing a persistent low frequency hum, it made headlines in the 70's with one newspaper asking "Have you heard the Hum?" Almost 800 people said they had. Various sources have been blamed but now Dr David Baguley, Head of Audiology at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge says over-sensitive hearing may be to blame.Read more about the hum on the BBC

Marynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2201449066487825035.post-61848039388807915902009-05-20T07:43:00.004+01:002009-05-20T08:01:08.891+01:00

Lock-it boxes are a very useful way of locking sound recorder and video timecode together, allowing sound to be recorded separately and / or several sound or video sources to be locked together.The set up of the boxes depends on the device they are linked to, the frame rate and other variables.Peter Gray, a US based Director of Photography, includes on his website a very useful list of settings

Marynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2201449066487825035.post-39863367502232837582009-05-19T00:02:00.000+01:002009-05-19T00:09:52.563+01:00

Things to look out for with this camera:This is one of a new breed of DVC Pro HD/SD cameras that can record onto cards as well as tape.Most of these little cameras have some way of putting the sound from input one onto both channels, so make sure to check for this if you are using more than one sound source and want to keep them separate.The brochure for this camera is available online.If you

Marynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2201449066487825035.post-29260841623295666872009-05-19T00:01:00.000+01:002009-05-19T00:09:05.564+01:00

This is the sound of a Mosquito Ultrasonic Teen Deterrent designed to be played in areas teenagers are gathering and causing a nuisance. It's pitched at 17Khz which won't be heard by most adults but can be heard by teenagers and children. If you couldn't hear that, you might be able to hear this version at a slightly lower 15Khz it will give you an idea of how annoying it would be to remain in an

Marynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2201449066487825035.post-48993678688694415272009-05-18T10:55:00.006+01:002009-05-18T11:09:12.250+01:00

I thought this was a brilliant example of using live sound loops in music performance. The first time I saw something like this was at the Women in Tune festival in Wales where Heather Summers was performing using voice, violin, percussion and audio loops. It sounds great, the process is very engaging to watch and I love the way the layers of sound gradually build and then thin and fade away.

Marynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2201449066487825035.post-38816100000156655242009-05-18T10:41:00.002+01:002009-05-18T10:46:58.189+01:00

This made a few sound recordists laugh this morning on IBSNet (email group of the Institute of Broadcast Sound). If you have never found tractors entertaining before then try out this clip!

Marynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2201449066487825035.post-66928352836950966502009-05-18T00:53:00.001+01:002009-05-18T00:55:03.824+01:00

Here's something that I worked on a while ago. BBC Countryfile's special report filmed in Romania.

Marynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2201449066487825035.post-32960421891598578042009-05-14T22:30:00.004+01:002009-05-14T22:48:21.729+01:00

BECTU the broadcasting and entertainment union have launched their new website. You can now even join the union instantly online.The new site includes sub-sites for each branch so members will be able to keep in touch and find out what is going on in their area.

Marynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2201449066487825035.post-36241077872137529532009-05-03T22:44:00.006+01:002009-05-18T16:10:11.485+01:00

I've just completed a website for a colleague who has made a docu-drama called Hard Road West about the "Donner Party".April 1846. The United States are just 69 years old and 2 families, with no experience of exploration, embark on a marathon journey into the unknown. California, at that time Mexican territory, is 2,400 miles away

Marynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2201449066487825035.post-70285967708426517642009-04-22T12:11:00.005+01:002009-05-12T23:58:08.234+01:00

If you, like me bought an Edirol R-09 some time ago it might be worth checking you have the most up to date software installed on it. The current version is 1.31 and is well worth it as it allows you to record to 16 Gig flash cards rather than the previous 2 Gig. When you turn your machine on the current software version flashes up in the lower left of the screen.The latest software can be

Marynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2201449066487825035.post-8811118117439778602009-04-20T12:17:00.004+01:002009-05-28T14:37:13.129+01:00

Today is the closing date for responses to OFCOMs proposals to move channel 69 radio mic users to a new channel. So if you want your views to count respond online now!The response form can be reached at: http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/800mhz/howtorespond/The Consultation document is downloadable from http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/800mhz/

Marynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2201449066487825035.post-68798130099756652052009-04-20T11:29:00.000+01:002009-04-20T12:33:28.317+01:00

Keith Rodgerson has written a very comprehensive review of the Sound Devices 788T Which can be seen at http://www.keithrodgerson.com/keithrodgerson.com/Sound_Devices_788T.html

Marynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2201449066487825035.post-80061952730235631132009-04-08T09:40:00.003+01:002009-05-28T14:37:38.819+01:00

You can now download a very non-techie letter which is intended to explain the withdrawal of channel 69 to production companies and other interested parties. Please feel free to distribute it. Responses to OFCOM need to be received by 20th April 2009.

Marynoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2201449066487825035.post-38025313805377858352009-04-03T09:16:00.002+01:002009-04-03T09:19:07.889+01:00

New new ratecard for television factual has been published, it's available to download at:http://www.bectu.org.uk/advice-resources/rates/television-factual-rates

Marynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2201449066487825035.post-10719716082514396242009-04-02T17:09:00.005+01:002009-04-08T15:05:22.854+01:00

Today a student writing a dissertation sent me a list of questions about my job. I found answering them quite thought provoking so I thought I'd post the questions along with my answers here.She asked a lot about being a woman in the industry and I have to say it's not something I often have cause to think about. I hope it's a debate that is becoming irrelevant. Anyway, if you want to know about

Marynoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2201449066487825035.post-63617498875602094682009-03-31T20:24:00.004+01:002009-03-31T21:13:18.359+01:00

Just been looking round the OFCOM website and there is an online response form to the "clearing the 800 MHz band" consultation document.If you are a licensed user of channel 69 it's in your interests to respond - especially to questions 14 and 15 - which are:Question 14: Do you agree with our approach to determining eligibility for, and our assessment of the level of, funding to move PMSE from

Marynoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2201449066487825035.post-43645829370079484442009-03-26T18:47:00.005Z2009-05-28T14:38:08.296+01:00

Below is the full text of a letter from OFCOM which was received today by licensed radio mic users in the UK. It informs us that the radio mic frequencies we use will no longer be available after "late 2012" but that they hope "funding" will be in place to help us move to another frequency.The letter:20 March 2009The Digital Dividend and availability of channel 69 for wireless microphonesThis

Marynoreply@blogger.com0