Papal Mass Glasgow at DVinfo.net

Colin McDonald · September 16th, 2010, 06:31 PM

Just finished doing this gig as a member of the band. Did the last one in Scotland as well 28 years ago. Great gig today. The technology has come a long way but here's some comments FWIW:

• AUDIO
BIG problems with wind noise - very obvious on air. We're talking windy as in music stands blown over and carpets lifted. Mics inside the Choir/Band tent fitted with windshields - the outside ones could have used full Zepplins. Wind noise levels maybe acceptable for pop concerts but not for broadcast of this sort of event. Easy to critize, difficult to fix.
Generators seem a lot quieter these days.

• VIDEO
Some problems with stability of camera platforms/jibs in high wind - some wobbly long shots made it to air - though less obvious than on set monitors. Is there a stabilization plugin that operates in real time to steady up the camera output before recording/TX and if so can I have it please? :-)

• PRODUCTION
It always used to be obvious when events were being rehearsed and when they were being performed, whether for recording or live. Now we seem to have a continuum where have various news channels streaming rehearsals from an early hour with other channels picking it up as and when. No countdown to the main TX resulting in various problems. What happened to the old fashioned red light?

•FAQ
Yes, you can point your £80K+ HD camera directly at the late afternoon sun without frying something, though it doesn't always make for good pictures.

Yes, someone will always notice if you don't check your remote cameras are aligned to the horizon.

Colin McDonald · September 18th, 2010, 10:40 AM

A quick pic of the Choir tent with the Brass band on a break. It looks cosy enough but an icy wind blew though it all day. The 70 or so CTB lights were off when this was taken. Lost count of the number of mics used but wished I had shares in AKG. Speaker array with mics in front is for the organ. Just out of frame on the right along the whole length of the front of the tent is the track for the choir camera. Every time somebody famous appeared on stage during rehearsals ("There's SuBo!!") the choir stood all over it and it required checking and perhaps re-levelling several times. The cameraman was not happy. The second pic has it temporarily cleared again.

September 16th, 2010, 06:31 PM	#1
Colin McDonald Trustee Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Glasgow, Scotland Posts: 1,546	Papal Mass Glasgow Just finished doing this gig as a member of the band. Did the last one in Scotland as well 28 years ago. Great gig today. The technology has come a long way but here's some comments FWIW: • AUDIO BIG problems with wind noise - very obvious on air. We're talking windy as in music stands blown over and carpets lifted. Mics inside the Choir/Band tent fitted with windshields - the outside ones could have used full Zepplins. Wind noise levels maybe acceptable for pop concerts but not for broadcast of this sort of event. Easy to critize, difficult to fix. Generators seem a lot quieter these days. • VIDEO Some problems with stability of camera platforms/jibs in high wind - some wobbly long shots made it to air - though less obvious than on set monitors. Is there a stabilization plugin that operates in real time to steady up the camera output before recording/TX and if so can I have it please? :-) • PRODUCTION It always used to be obvious when events were being rehearsed and when they were being performed, whether for recording or live. Now we seem to have a continuum where have various news channels streaming rehearsals from an early hour with other channels picking it up as and when. No countdown to the main TX resulting in various problems. What happened to the old fashioned red light? •FAQ Yes, you can point your £80K+ HD camera directly at the late afternoon sun without frying something, though it doesn't always make for good pictures. Yes, someone will always notice if you don't check your remote cameras are aligned to the horizon.

September 18th, 2010, 10:40 AM	#2
Colin McDonald Trustee Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Glasgow, Scotland Posts: 1,546	What you didn't see on tv A quick pic of the Choir tent with the Brass band on a break. It looks cosy enough but an icy wind blew though it all day. The 70 or so CTB lights were off when this was taken. Lost count of the number of mics used but wished I had shares in AKG. Speaker array with mics in front is for the organ. Just out of frame on the right along the whole length of the front of the tent is the track for the choir camera. Every time somebody famous appeared on stage during rehearsals ("There's SuBo!!") the choir stood all over it and it required checking and perhaps re-levelling several times. The cameraman was not happy. The second pic has it temporarily cleared again. Attached Thumbnails