My friend Ethan Winer, who lives almost literally across the road from me (actually across the state route, on the opposite mountain) told me about WhatsBestForums and thought that I might be able to provide some useful expertise here, given my broad practical knowledge of things electronic, audio and video.
I spent some time lurking on these forums last night and found them fascinating, with a nice variety of topics and a good bunch of folks here. I spoke with Steve, one of the founders here, and decided to join.
I look forward to interesting and enjoyable banter with the folks here. Oh, BTW, my nickname was given to me by a new friend I met in 1989: he first heard my sound system and immediately referred to me as a "bass pig". It's sounds a bit derogatory, but it's his way of saying "over the top". I do like to feel the earth shake when I listen to certain types of music.
A little about my background:
Worked in and had a strong interest in audio since the 1960s. I've designed and built several valve amplifiers and my stereo system was valve-based until 1978, when I found the first 'decent' transistorized amplifier.
I have a career background in optical physics and I worked with various types of lasers in the 1970s at a company called Intec Corp. The applications were automatic inspection of web product, such as steel, magnetic tape, film, paper, even semiconductor substrates.
I worked in data communications for a while, and also worked as a Technical Writer for that same company, General DataComm.
Since the late 1970s, I was working on the design of AM & FM broadcast transmitters, stereo multiplexers and audio processing hardware that was effective, but relatively transparent, compared to the industry standards of that time. I picked up an extraordinary intimate knowledge of audio signals and what's happening in the electrical domain while searching for the "Holy Grail" of broadcast audio processing through design and engineering efforts.
In the late 1980s, I started my first business, as a typesetter. By 1990, I expanded to color prepress/graphic design and worked on several international video titles, designing the packaging and sell sheets for an importer/licensor of Japanese animation. (Did I mention that I am a huge fan of Japanese anime, particularly the works of Hayao Miyazaki?)
In the late 1980s, I bought my first color Newvicon video camera and eventually a second camera. I bought an effects switcher and, put off by the cost of gen-locked cameras, decided to modify my two cameras and clock them from a synchronous external timebase. That saved thousands of dollars and enabled me to do nice 2-camera live switching productions.
In the early 2000s, DV cameras became affordable and I dipped into more serious video production. Since 2005, I've been doing video production professionally. In 2007, I dabbled in HDV, was disappointed in its limitations and moved on to professional XDCam HD in 2008.
Audio has been my first love and filmmaking has been something that fascinated me since the 1960s. I was also interested in typesetting back then. Both were expensive and impractical for me so I pursued audio, which was more financially within reach. I had access to a vast collection of WWII electronics surplus parts, so my early projects were valve-based.
Today, my video productions feature top-notch audio. I recently completed a fireworks shoot (on invitation by Zambelli Fireworks to shoot their show from the launch zone) in which the dynamic range exceeded 85dB. I had to modify the power supply on my preamp, upgrade my cables and get a better Blu-ray player in order to take advantage of the dynamic range with acceptable levels of hum and hiss. I had to solve technical challenges of preserving the best of the audio while converting my 24-bit master tracks to 16-bit Dolby AC3 for the Blu-ray (the only multichannel format that Adobe Encore supports). I think I pulled it off well, as the folks that have experienced the screenings on my 60 sq ft screen with 16,500 watts of audio and industrial sound reinforcement drivers in custom built baffles were all impressed utterly.
Other projects I worked on were recording symphony orchestras. One such recording got a very favorable comment from Peter Aczel of THE AUDIO CRITIC.
I have a production studio, screening room (see www.basspig.com for a few more photos) and MIDI setup with Kurzweil samplers and ROMplers, some additional modules from Yamaha and Roland and an 88-key weighted keyboard. I love to listen and I love to arrange music.
I do video production and some 3D animation work too. I author DVDs and Blu-ray discs. I have to wear many hats, being I do all the functions of a full staff at a production house. Just takes me longer as I can only do 1-2 things at a time here.
I have a wife and daughter and a pet cat, and a cockatiel, who spends most of his time on my shoulder. He's watching me type this now.
Looking forward to chatting with y'all!
I spent some time lurking on these forums last night and found them fascinating, with a nice variety of topics and a good bunch of folks here. I spoke with Steve, one of the founders here, and decided to join.
I look forward to interesting and enjoyable banter with the folks here. Oh, BTW, my nickname was given to me by a new friend I met in 1989: he first heard my sound system and immediately referred to me as a "bass pig". It's sounds a bit derogatory, but it's his way of saying "over the top". I do like to feel the earth shake when I listen to certain types of music.
A little about my background:
Worked in and had a strong interest in audio since the 1960s. I've designed and built several valve amplifiers and my stereo system was valve-based until 1978, when I found the first 'decent' transistorized amplifier.
I have a career background in optical physics and I worked with various types of lasers in the 1970s at a company called Intec Corp. The applications were automatic inspection of web product, such as steel, magnetic tape, film, paper, even semiconductor substrates.
I worked in data communications for a while, and also worked as a Technical Writer for that same company, General DataComm.
Since the late 1970s, I was working on the design of AM & FM broadcast transmitters, stereo multiplexers and audio processing hardware that was effective, but relatively transparent, compared to the industry standards of that time. I picked up an extraordinary intimate knowledge of audio signals and what's happening in the electrical domain while searching for the "Holy Grail" of broadcast audio processing through design and engineering efforts.
In the late 1980s, I started my first business, as a typesetter. By 1990, I expanded to color prepress/graphic design and worked on several international video titles, designing the packaging and sell sheets for an importer/licensor of Japanese animation. (Did I mention that I am a huge fan of Japanese anime, particularly the works of Hayao Miyazaki?)
In the late 1980s, I bought my first color Newvicon video camera and eventually a second camera. I bought an effects switcher and, put off by the cost of gen-locked cameras, decided to modify my two cameras and clock them from a synchronous external timebase. That saved thousands of dollars and enabled me to do nice 2-camera live switching productions.
In the early 2000s, DV cameras became affordable and I dipped into more serious video production. Since 2005, I've been doing video production professionally. In 2007, I dabbled in HDV, was disappointed in its limitations and moved on to professional XDCam HD in 2008.
Audio has been my first love and filmmaking has been something that fascinated me since the 1960s. I was also interested in typesetting back then. Both were expensive and impractical for me so I pursued audio, which was more financially within reach. I had access to a vast collection of WWII electronics surplus parts, so my early projects were valve-based.
Today, my video productions feature top-notch audio. I recently completed a fireworks shoot (on invitation by Zambelli Fireworks to shoot their show from the launch zone) in which the dynamic range exceeded 85dB. I had to modify the power supply on my preamp, upgrade my cables and get a better Blu-ray player in order to take advantage of the dynamic range with acceptable levels of hum and hiss. I had to solve technical challenges of preserving the best of the audio while converting my 24-bit master tracks to 16-bit Dolby AC3 for the Blu-ray (the only multichannel format that Adobe Encore supports). I think I pulled it off well, as the folks that have experienced the screenings on my 60 sq ft screen with 16,500 watts of audio and industrial sound reinforcement drivers in custom built baffles were all impressed utterly.
Other projects I worked on were recording symphony orchestras. One such recording got a very favorable comment from Peter Aczel of THE AUDIO CRITIC.
I have a production studio, screening room (see www.basspig.com for a few more photos) and MIDI setup with Kurzweil samplers and ROMplers, some additional modules from Yamaha and Roland and an 88-key weighted keyboard. I love to listen and I love to arrange music.
I do video production and some 3D animation work too. I author DVDs and Blu-ray discs. I have to wear many hats, being I do all the functions of a full staff at a production house. Just takes me longer as I can only do 1-2 things at a time here.
I have a wife and daughter and a pet cat, and a cockatiel, who spends most of his time on my shoulder. He's watching me type this now.
Looking forward to chatting with y'all!