Here's your chance to make this a better forum!

[Remoteness]

Believe it or not October 1st, 2007 marks the fifth anniversary of the "Remote Possibilities" forum.

I want to thank each and every one of you that has contributed to this awesome forum.

IMHO, we have a very good thing going on here and I want to make it even better if you think it's essential.

Here’s our chance to improve and advance the forum.

If it’s applicable to you, please post your advice, enlightenment and observations in this thread.

All suggestions and comments are welcomed.

If you like how it's presented and don't want anything changed, let us know.

Let’s take this to another level or keep it unaffected. The choice is ours to make!

I trust every regular contributor will chime in -- We need your thoughts posted!!!

Thank you for your time and consideration.

[tnjazz]

Please change the name to Remote Possibilities & Location Recording

(you already mention "acoustic music" in the subheader anyway; having it in the main title makes the forum seem like it's limited to acoustic recording and that has caused confusion on more than one occasion in the past)

[Jim vanBergen]

More gear porn! More racks! More consoles! MORE MICROPHONES!

More pics of hot chicks using microphones!

Seriously, I like this forum a LOT, but I'm sure we can improve. The vibe here is the BEST anywhere, three cheers for STEVE! STEVE! STEVE!

Maybe more Remote lunches? I wish we could do one at AES, but the schedule is GODAWFUL already!

Happy birthday, forum!

Thanks JULES!!! Thanks STEVE!!!

[Remoteness]

Originally Posted by tnjazz

Please change the name to Remote Possibilities & Location Recording

(you already mention "acoustic music" in the subheader anyway; having it in the main title makes the forum seem like it's limited to acoustic recording and that has caused confusion on more than one occasion in the past)

I feel you on this one...

I plan to discuss this with Jules next week sometime.

It seems like a lot of folks don't realize this is an open forum about mobile and location recording.
This forum includes live performances, remote broadcasting and location recording of all styles of music, but people don't always read the fine print.

This is a strong point that shall be addressed very soon.

In any event, is that it from your side of things?

[Remoteness]

Originally Posted by Jim vanBergen

More gear porn! More racks! More consoles! MORE MICROPHONES!

More pics of hot chicks using microphones!

Seriously, I like this forum a LOT, but I'm sure we can improve. The vibe here is the BEST anywhere, three cheers for STEVE! STEVE! STEVE!

Maybe more Remote lunches?

Happy birthday, forum!

Thanks JULES!!! Thanks STEVE!!!

JvB,


On behalf of Jules and myself, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!

And, yes -- we must have another luncheon real soon!

[marty lester]

just another big thanks and don't go changin' vote...
i feel like this is one of the more "stable" forums - always
filled w/ great info and useful and entertaining war stories.

marty in Austin.

[Remoteness]

Originally Posted by marty lester

just another big thanks and don't go changin' vote...
i feel like this is one of the more "stable" forums - always
filled w/ great info and useful and entertaining war stories.

marty in Austin.

Thanks Marty, but it's a slow moving forum.
I feel this forum can be much more valuable with additional (quality) Q&A dialog.

I wonder -- is it the title or... What?

Does anyone have an idea about it? Should we even care?
I'm not sure about it and that's why I'm putting it out there.

IMO, when it comes to quality, we have that goin' on. The quantity part is another story completely.

I believe the quality of the forum is strong, but I feel it can be a bit livelier with the same value.
Am I making any sense here?

If so, how do we accomplish this mission?

[nathanvacha]

no real complaints, this forum has helped me a lot just the way it is.

and i have to say steve, it's organized already probably better than the other sections of g.s. so thumbsup to you for that.

[Recording David]

Originally Posted by tnjazz

Please change the name to Remote Possibilities & Location Recording

I would even say just change the name to LOCATION RECORDING.

The term 'remote possibilities' is a nice play on words but personally I don't think it's really necessary in the main title. Although a few different styles of music get discussed here I would say it's mostly classical/jazz and the techniques used to record them, and the thing that links these styles is that they are mostly recorded on location, hence my opinion on the name change of the forum!

[Remoteness]

Originally Posted by nathanvacha

no real complaints, this forum has helped me a lot just the way it is.

and i have to say steve, it's organized already probably better than the other sections of g.s. so thumbsup to you for that.

Thanks,

I must say, organization (and coordination) is my bag and true calling for sure.
I could not do it any other way.

Originally Posted by Recording David

I would even say just change the name to LOCATION RECORDING.

The term 'remote possibilities' is a nice play on words but personally I don't think it's really necessary in the main title. Although a few different styles of music get discussed here I would say it's mostly classical/jazz and the techniques used to record them, and the thing that links these styles is that they are mostly recorded on location, hence my opinion on the name change of the forum!

I can dig that, but for me "Remote Possibilities" is a play on words; a play on who's moderating; and what we do for a living.

There are excellent jazz and classical discussions in this forum and I trust that will never change.
With the advent of all these new (mobile and such) media devices, the need for location recording and broadcasting of all styles of music content confirms that not "just" jazz/classical work will be discussed in this forum.

Let's not forget about live performances during shows and events.
Live sound; live shows; teleproductions of sports and music, et cetera, etc., etc...
All types of location production has been addressed on this forum and shall continue to be discussed here.

I feel the title keeps everyone else away.
I would love to see "Remote Possibilities in Location Recording" stick.
It says it all. As always, YMMV.

Something like the following:

Remote Possibilities in Location Recording
Live Performance, Mobile & Location Production and Broadcasting of Rock, Pop, Jazz, Classical, Choir, Acoustic Music environments & beyond.

[MichaelPatrick]

Steve, just a minor tweak to your proposed title block:

Originally Posted by Remoteness

Remote Possibilities in Location Recording
Live Performance, Mobile & Location Production and Broadcasting of Rock, Pop, Jazz, Classical, Choral, Acoustic Music & beyond.

[fifthcircle]

Just a note from one of the "classical guys" on changing the name...

If you remember it was originally Remote Possiblities and it was changed because there really wasn't a forum to discuss acoustic music recording. Since most of us work in the field, the tag was added to this forum as it made the most sense. It has also kept questions on recording acoustic music in a studio session on topic here and limited the number of posts on acoustic stuff outside this particular forum.

I agree that the name is a bit cumbersome, but I would also hate to see the content change here as this is one of the better forums for acoustic music out there. Heck, I even moderate one on another site and I spend most of my time here. I think that speaks volumes.

--Ben

[Remoteness]

Ben,

You have valid points and I hear you loud and clear.

I don't believe the number of posts on outside acoustic stuff will change since I spent an insane amount of time moving them to this forum. Many folks know where to go to post about acoustic music. The others need a bit of help from me and, I'm cool with it.

I promise you will not see the content change here, because I work (and will continue to work) at it everyday.
This forum is what it is because of the behind the scenes work I do here.

I just want to see a variety of music styles in this forum. And, that's what I'm trying to accomplish here.

I look at this forum as a "Virtual Book" that continually grows and changes.
We need also types of stories and all styles of music in this "Virtual (Note) Book."

[Remoteness]

So, besides the title is there anything else we should address?

I don't want to make this thread all about the title and such.

[boojum]

I have only been here a few month. I find the forum valuable, especially as I am new in this. I free-lance remotes and try to pick up customers for contracted work. I have been doing this for less than a year and started with an MD. It got out of control pretty quickly. Now it is an SD 722 and Schoeps CMC64's and I am shopping for another 722 and some good omnis. That will hold me for the near future.

The help I get from listening what to what the folks who know are doing helps me a lot. I am too old to make a lot of mistakes so I am willing to learn from yours.

[pkautzsch]

Well, Steve, I don't think there *is* anything that should be changed except for the title. Great community here, no flames (well, almost - and if there are, they are being handled very well by Our Moderator), and a fantastic source of inspiration.

I could imagine "Remote Possibilities in Location Recording and Acoustic Music", this way not suggesting it was about acoustic music only..

[Rick Sutton]

Originally Posted by Remoteness

Thanks Marty, but it's a slow moving forum.

Well some of us don't move as fast as we used to, but we try harder!
Seriously, I think the forum is an oasis in a desert of internet chatter. The signal to noise is so high here that it is always going to be "slow moving". Of course more high quality traffic is welcome but if it affects the quality it really isn't worth it. Don't go changin' just to pick up traffic. Name change..cool. No big deal.
My 2 cents.

[XLR2XLR]

I have found the forum very useful as it is and don't find it's name a big problem, one thing that is great is the moderator comes across as expert, friendly, non condescending to the budget/beginner operation and most of all very open with responses, I like the way the openness comes across even when their could be potential competitors. This takes a strong person to do.

So pat yourself on the back Mod !

Barry (London) I was not actually christened Mr XLR !

[Han]

OMG Steve, time flies doesn't it? I remember Jules being a mod at recording.org, is that really more than five years ago already?

This must be the busiest (recording) forum of the www.

Keep up the good work!

[studjo]

congrats Steve

the slow moving forum has its advantages too: even Swiss people can follow it


keep up the good work


Jo

[fifthcircle]

Originally Posted by Remoteness

So, besides the title is there anything else we should address?

I don't want to make this thread all about the title and such.

More Gig reports folks!!!!! Gotta drool at other's cool gigs and slutty setups in beautiful (or not so beautiful) venues.

In the next day or two, I'll put together one from this weekend's work- Outdoor Opera. A 40-50 person orchestra, opera chorus, and a dozen soloists. Fun

--Ben

[chadly]

Maybe a Meta with gig reports in it? I'd like to see more of those too, and and a Meta page might encourage it.

Otherwise, I love the signal to noise ratio on this forum.

[Remoteness]

Originally Posted by fifthcircle

More Gig reports folks!!!!! Gotta drool at other's cool gigs and slutty setups in beautiful (or not so beautiful) venues.

In the next day or two, I'll put together one from this weekend's work- Outdoor Opera. A 40-50 person orchestra, opera chorus, and a dozen soloists. Fun

--Ben

Ben, that's interesting, because I was considering not posting too many gig reports and pictures anymore.

I got the impression that no one was interested in them. Not enough Q&A for a technical gig thread like the ones I post.
There wasn't too many replies or questions and I felt like I was just wasting bandwidth.

Could you be the only person thinking we need more "Gig Reports?"

For me, I love sharing information about the stuff I'm doing, but if there's no interest, well -- why bother?

[phil.]

I also would like to see more gig reports!!
For me it's always very useful to see you guys in action and learn about the techniques you use in specific recording situations. When a good gig report is coupled with pictures and maybe an audio snippet of the final recording, I feel they make a lot of sense!!

Thank you Steve for constantly trying to make this forum a better place than it already is! You deserve a lot of credit for that, no doubt!! thumbsup

Best from Japan!

Phil.

[pkautzsch]

There is a big problem with gig reports:
So much great info in there that I normally don't have questions

So keep them coming please

[tnjazz]

Originally Posted by Remoteness

In any event, is that it from your side of things?

Yes. That's my only complaint really. I dig this forum. I've learned a LOT and in some cases I even feel qualified enough to dispense a little advice...

I agree with Jim too though. We need more of EVERYTHING (except cowbell)...

[matyas]

Originally Posted by pkautzsch

There is a big problem with gig reports:
So much great info in there that I normally don't have questions

So keep them coming please

Agreed. I enjoy gig reports as well, but usually the poster provides so much cool info that I have nothing to ask (or someone else beats me to it.)

[Remoteness]

Originally Posted by matyas

Agreed. I enjoy gig reports as well, but usually the poster provides so much cool info that I have nothing to ask (or someone else beats me to it.)

So, what I get from this statement is: if the poster wants more replies, do not provide so much information...

Hum, that's interesting, but what about a thumps up or down to let the poster know there are folks out there "gigging or gagging" about the boat loads of information?

I only can speak for myself.
There's a lot of work that goes into putting together a detailed gig report with photos and such.
It hardly makes it worth while if only a few respond.
I'm projecting here, but It makes you feel like you're wasting bandwidth.

[jabney]

You know how when you walk into a room, you can get a pretty good idea of the room sound by clapping your hands.

Something that could make this forum more useful would be a sticky topic where we could post short (a few seconds) audio samples of various venues.

To avoid copyright issues, I figure it could be applause or words from the sound check (e.g. "Check one two" or "Marsupial"). (A standardized 'cricket' (the little metal clicker) might be better, but then how to get a cricket to all interested parties?)

One issue that would generate some debate is which sample location(s) would give the most information. This would have to be via a microphone that's already being used.

Maybe some sort of simple code might be helpful to avoid too much 'apples vs. oranges.' For example:

Location = F, S, A or O (FOH mix position, Stage, Audience Microphone [i.e. aimed facing audience], or Other [with explanation]). Stage would be considered to be center downstage (closest to audience) with the mic' aimed toward the performer unless otherwise noted.

Pattern of Mic = C, H, S, A, M, O (Cardioid, Hypercardioid, Shotgun, Ambient Stereo Mic's, Mono Ambient Mic', or Omni)

Microphone Effects = W or D (Wet or Dry)

Audience = E, F (Empty, Full) (and P with + or - to indicate partial crowds?)

Recording Type = M, B, or A (Multitrack, Board-tape, or Audience Mic').

So if I use a Crown SaSS-P right in front of the mix position with my own preamps going directly to HD24 channnels 23 and 24 to record the line check, the code would be: FADEM (or FADFM if the setup is running late :-).

I'm sure the idea can be tweaked, so if anybody else thinks it would be useful, please chime in.

best,

john

[Petimar]

This may not be the forum subcategory for this request and if not, I apologize in advance.

I'd like to see a forum subcategory just for acoustic recording. The remote forum is where I see this most, but a different subcategory just for this would be great. Thanks!