For years I thought the word "prosaic" meant something that approached the quality of good poetry. The true definition is more mundane, as in factual, dull, unimaginative, everyday, ordinary. But I for one don’t consider "everyday" to be pejorative. Herewith is a collection of everyday tools that make my job easier... »
Camera manufacturers are getting so close to delivering what most of us would consider to be the ideal camcorder. But what would that camera consist of? In my opinion, the perfect camera would be light and... »
When Sony officially discontinued the venerable and cheap DSR-11 DVCAM VTR earlier this year, I shed a small tear. The DSR-11 doesn’t offer everything I want in a DV VTR, but it has everything I need. I’d love to find an HDV deck that provides the same.... »
As you may recall, a lab test indicated that cyclist Floyd Landis had synthetic testosterone in his body during his victorious 2006 Tour de France ride. since I’m both writing a book and working on a TV doc about doping in sport, I had to be there to collect words and video... »
We waste too much time talking about acquisition formats. How DVCPRO HD compares to HDV and HDCAM. The benefits and drawbacks of 1080p, 1080i and 720p. The supremacy (or idolatry) of 24fps. The quintessence of... »
Last year at this time, I listed 13 products and technologies I wanted to see at NAB 2006. I built my wish list on existing technologies and user needs. I’ll follow up on my’06 list at NAB 2007, but I do have some additional, or at least restated, needs.... »
The answer is a resounding yes... and right now! Open any technology magazine and you’ll see the words "high definition" just about everywhere, with experts proclaiming the superiority of HD in... »
At least once a week I’m asked, "what hard drive should I buy?" A bewildering number of options make choosing dedicated storage for media files seem like a tough question.... »
No matter how you slice it, audio is 70 percent of the visual experience. You can easily argue that good audio can make a mediocre image "look" better, while poor audio can make the best picture... »
As 2006 draws to a close, many of us will sit down to watch our expensive new HDTV sets, or will plan to save up to buy one in 2007. So this seems like a good time to discuss some products I’ve found that solve real-world problems at down-to-earth prices. ... »
For every ethical question a documentary or news producer may face, there’s a standard answer. The problem is that the standard answers are often wanting. Heck, some of them are even unethical. Or so it seems to me. ... »
Last weekend my town offered free recycling of electronic equipment. I wondered how much the equipment I’d recycled was worth when new. The total reached $40,000. But last week it was worthless. These days, everything is an expendable. ... »
Every year I leave the NAB convention thinking I’ve lost weight. Miles of walking the Convention Center isles and Las Vegas streets, combined with missed meals, give me a little definition. Or so I think. ... »
Ever get a piece of popcorn stuck between two teeth? Your world stops as you struggle to fix this minor dental problem. You frantically search for a toothpick, find one, get that pericarp out of your mouth and... »
