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Hello all,<br>
<br>
It's time to spend our Grant money!! I'd like to do a mumble session
tomorrow to work through some of the items we're after that the
grant covers. In essence, we need to decide once and for all:<br>
<br>
* 3 "Ingest" laptops (firewire capture).<br>
* 1 "DVswitch" laptop (vision mixing, and encoding).<br>
* 1 Audio mixing desk<br>
* Various microphones, including a good wireless one<br>
* XLR leads (possibly an XLR snake with 2 returns so we could do PA
with this?)<br>
* Two tripods and cameras<br>
<br>
<br>
I've spoken on the phone to Pauline at Lottery West - as this is our
first grant, we must pay for this from PLUG funds up front, and then
seek reimbursement. This means we can do this in multiple
transactions up to around $2,000 (PLUG's balance), then get
reimbursed over about 2 - 3 weeks, and then repeat. For our laptop
purchase, it may mean splitting this into two transactions, unless
we can find some other form of credit! But lets keep this simple...<br>
<br>
We are free to purchase from anywhere so long as have have an
invoice/receipt. This include online, and Amazon. Amazon is a lot
cheaper that a lot of local retailers, but Amazon won't ship many
electrical items directly to us, and those that do arrive may need
different power supplies.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<b>Laptops</b><br>
We've been looking at Laptops with both ExpressCard and USB3, and
that's lead us to the Dell Vostro 3550. I've had a slew of issues
with Dell's I've used before, and other comments about ExpressCards
"popping out" unexpectedly may be an issue. DO we want to keep the
USB3 requirement for future expansion, or do we want to drop back to
a laptop with on-board firewire? What about another vendor?<br>
<br>
<br>
<b>Cameras</b><br>
We had looked at the Canon HV40 HD at $888 from Camerapro.com.au.
These had firewire, and were also full HD capable. I think one of
the core items we need to look at is low light capability - looking
at the Moodle talk the image quality is rather low on the cameras we
had. The cameras we used at PyCon US 2012 were Panasonic AG-DVX100
(NTSC, 3CCD); a current model Panasonic AG-AC120EN is around $2,999,
so that's a bit out of our budget. Jason - were you mentioning an
alternate?<br>
<br>
<br>
<b>Tripods</b><br>
PyCon had a full height Davis & Stanford Provista 18 with an
FM18 ball head (on Amazon for US$189.95, includes carry case). This
had two operator handles, and was full height (well, to my shoulder)
with legs fully extended (and centre lift at lowest) and had a
centre spreader so it was very stable. Compared to "my" tripod we've
been using, this was much more stable, and this price seems OK. I
note Amazon is suggesting the Tiffen W3 universal dolly for $40 as
an accessory (to put it on wheels).<br>
<br>
<br>
<b>Mixing desk</b><br>
The one I purchased (and have been loaning into the pool) is a
Behringer 1202FX, 12 input 2 bus at $97.95. I think the only
complaint we've had with it was the blue LED on it is very bright!
Do we want to get something different for PLUG?<br>
<br>
<br>
<b>Microphones</b><br>
The boundary mics I purchased (and have been loaning) are MXL FR402
at US$92.22 each. I have two of these, and I think that works well
in a panel session like we have been doing with three people - Euan
can comment on the sound pick up of this approach. I think having
one is perhaps a little low, but I doubt we need more than 2. We
probably need a wired podium mic as well - Euan - what's your mic,
and how does that compare to the Shure PG48 that I have? As to the
wireless mic(s) - we need one GOOD wireless transmitter body-pack
and receiver, a good lavalier or head mounted boom mic, PLUS I think
its worth getting a wireless handheld audience mic (no more having a
thick XLR trailing around). Models?<br>
<br>
<br>
<b>XLR Leads</b><br>
I have lent a bunch of these into the project, but I think its clear
we should probably get an XLR snake with 4 "sends", and I think it
would be useful to have two "returns" for any future PA that may be
incorporated, such as <span id="btAsinTitle">Hosa Cable Little Bro
6x2 Audio Snake (50 Foot)</span> at $100.45 with 6 send and 2
jacks for PA (which will slot into the Room Out on the mixer above).
With the 15 metre snake covering the majority of the distance fromt
he audio/videodesk at the rear of the room, we only need short XLR
leads fromt he box-end of the snake at the 'stage' to whatever mics
are there - and the Boundaries come with 3 metres of cable to start
with, so it would only be for a wired mic on the podium, and then a
short one from the wireless receiver(s) to the desk.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
I'd like to organise the laptops first, as the current desktops +
screens + keyboards are taking up a lot of room in my garage. So,
lets meet on Mumble tomorrow (Wed 21st) at 7:30pm (install the
Mumble client on any platform except Android, and connect to
mumble.plug.org.au), and we can compare notes and hopefully place an
order. We may be able to squeeze three capture machines into one
order and cover the bill. All welcome - come and say hello and
listen in if you like! I'll put this in the PLUG calendar....<br>
<br>
<br>
James<br>
<br>
<div class="moz-signature">-- <br>
<em>Mobile:</em> +61 422 166 708, <em>Email:</em>
james_AT_rcpt.to<br>
PLUG President 2012: <a href="http//www.plug.org.au">http://www.plug.org.au</a></div>
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