I'm the tech director for a sketch comedy group, Potato Chip Sketch
Comedy. I have been doing basic cut and past audio work on my PC for
years but now I'm getting serious. I'm working on a demo video and
cd, and need to find out where took look to learn more. Any
suggestions on websites, books, etc to teach me some basics? I'm
getting irritated at just looking up every word I don't know. Last
night I learned all about impedance when looking up high and low z,
not exciteing, but thats where I'm at. I tried just reading this news
group to pick up stuff, but I'm afraid most of it is over my head.
Thanks for any help and suggestions!

For those who will flame me, ya I know almost nothing about this.
Thats fine, and I will try not to ask dumb questions often. If there
is a better newsgroup to ask this in, just tell me and I will repost
there.

For those who care and would like to make suggestions, heres what I'm
running for equipment. Keep in mind, I basicaly have no budget.

Mics: 3 Samson R21, and 2 pices of junk I try to avoid useing
Mixer: Behringer UB802 Eurorack 8 Input Mixer
Amp and speakers: Rogue PRM806
Video Camera: Samsung SLC810

Editing computer:
Custom build, AMD 2400, 1gb PC 3200 DDR, 160gb SATA Maxtor HD,
Audigy 2 platinum ZS, ATI Radeon All in Wonder 9600, etc.

Editing softwa Adobe audition, adobe premiere pro, goldwave.

Light rigs: Sadly I'm useing 2 rite-lite dual halogen tripods I got
from wallmart. I think they are for working on cars, but I needed lot
of cheap bright, portable light. Like I said, I'm on a budget.

Cabeling: no name, often too short, asorted crap. I've been going to
a discout warehouse, buying cables with bad XLR jacs, and soldering
new ones on.

Thanks again!

-Todd Jordan
www.pcscomedy.com

I'm the tech director for a sketch comedy group, Potato Chip Sketch
Comedy. I have been doing basic cut and past audio work on my PC for
years but now I'm getting serious. I'm working on a demo video and
cd, and need to find out where took look to learn more. Any
suggestions on websites, books, etc to teach me some basics? I'm
getting irritated at just looking up every word I don't know. Last
night I learned all about impedance when looking up high and low z,
not exciteing, but thats where I'm at. I tried just reading this news
group to pick up stuff, but I'm afraid most of it is over my head.
Thanks for any help and suggestions!

For those who will flame me, ya I know almost nothing about this.
Thats fine, and I will try not to ask dumb questions often. If there
is a better newsgroup to ask this in, just tell me and I will repost
there.

For those who care and would like to make suggestions, heres what I'm
running for equipment. Keep in mind, I basicaly have no budget.

Mics: 3 Samson R21, and 2 pices of junk I try to avoid useing
Mixer: Behringer UB802 Eurorack 8 Input Mixer
Amp and speakers: Rogue PRM806
Video Camera: Samsung SLC810

Editing computer:
Custom build, AMD 2400, 1gb PC 3200 DDR, 160gb SATA Maxtor HD,
Audigy 2 platinum ZS, ATI Radeon All in Wonder 9600, etc.

Editing softwa Adobe audition, adobe premiere pro, goldwave.

Light rigs: Sadly I'm useing 2 rite-lite dual halogen tripods I got
from wallmart. I think they are for working on cars, but I needed lot
of cheap bright, portable light. Like I said, I'm on a budget.

Cabeling: no name, often too short, asorted crap. I've been going to
a discout warehouse, buying cables with bad XLR jacs, and soldering
new ones on.

Looks like you have some good gear but if you want to step up try here. There
is a posting group sort of like this one there to.
http://avid.com/index_fl.asp

On 7 Jul 2004 17:47:53 -0700, Todd Jordan wrote:
I'm the tech director for a sketch comedy group, Potato Chip Sketch
Comedy. I have been doing basic cut and past audio work on my PC for
years but now I'm getting serious. I'm working on a demo video and
cd, and need to find out where took look to learn more. Any
suggestions on websites, books, etc to teach me some basics? I'm
getting irritated at just looking up every word I don't know. Last
night I learned all about impedance when looking up high and low z,
not exciteing, but thats where I'm at. I tried just reading this news
group to pick up stuff, but I'm afraid most of it is over my head.
Thanks for any help and suggestions!

For those who will flame me, ya I know almost nothing about this.
Thats fine, and I will try not to ask dumb questions often. If there
is a better newsgroup to ask this in, just tell me and I will repost
there.


This is a fine start for audio.

There are a number of low-profile headset mics (Think Christina or the
cast of Rent) available nowadays, and they keep getting cheaper.

If this is a one-shot deal, consider renting. Or consider renting
before you buy. Some things you just don't get the feel of until you
take them out on the trail.

The Yamaha Sound Reinforcement Handbook is still in print, iirc. It's a
bit dated, but has good explanations of most of the general principles,
which don't really change much. They also have a book with "churches"
in the title, which is in a bit more accessable language.

You can solder, so cabling becomes a "time vs money" discussion. Check
places like Digikey and Newark Electronics . . .they'll happily sell you
cable and connectors. If you're buying enough pieces, it's quite a bit
cheaper.

For video using consumer-grade cameras, my experience has been MORE
LIGHT works. So long as you can see everyone's face and no one has an
unattractive shadow on his nose, it's Good Enough.

Shoot for a 45 degree angle on the light. Too low or too high looks
funny. White light is fine on a budget. For a one-off video, you might
wanna hire someone to do your makeup. Or plan a few tech rehearsals to
"get it right" with colors that work for everyone. You don't want your
talent to look like a home video.

You CAN spend a ton of money on equipment, but I wouldn't bother until
you get some gigs under your belt.

You might also want to use the quartz work lights as "part of the show"
.. . "Our set has these Walmart work lights . . " Light-wise, a
worklight is just a stage flood without barn door fittings, which you
may never need, or which you can fab fairly easily. A quartz worklight
will work just fine on a dimmer pack provided you're in the same voltage
universe.

Good luck