Hollywood Station, by Joseph Wambaugh is a wild ride through Holly-weird. This story is perfectly paced and draws you in through a series of vignettes that are alternately heart-breaking and comical. Here’s my video review:
This is the first book by Wambaugh that I’ve read. I look forward to several more in the same location and with many of the same characters. If you like you’re cop stories with heart, this is the book for you. Not all of it is pretty, but it is certainly realistic.
The Zoom H4n is an excellent digital audio recorder that is absolutely packed with features. In fact, the H4n has so much within it that I recommend checking out the Zoom company website for the details. Suffice it to say, this audio recorder far exceeds my expectations. I’m using it every week to improve my video productions by recording sound on location, especially sound effects that can be added later. Here’s a video review of it, including audio recorded at the Strasburg Railroad in Lancaster County, PA, USA.
Now you saw one of the tricks of the trade, gathering sound separately and then using it with another video take for a specific reason. In a movie production, this happens all the time, allowing for dialog to be heard over top the sound of machinery or traffic or something else that would otherwise mask it. Whether you making videos like me, or a singer/songwriter, or a band looking to make a demo, the H4n will serve you well at a price all of us can afford.
Dominic Condo’s blog, domskitchen.com, is one you should check out and check out frequently. Dom blogs about cooking his favorite Italian-American dishes. He’s a regular guy with extraordinary talent in the kitchen. Here’s my interview with Dom, which includes his version of a typical Sunday dinner.
That was a great meal! Both Dom and his wife are employed full-time plus they have two children. Using his creative skills in the kitchen, he manages to maintain family traditions while serving up some fine food all the while keeping his family tight. I have only one question. How do you stay so thin, Dom?
Here’s another gadget review, actually a triple. Rode is a brand I’ve come to appreciate for their good quality at reasonable prices. Hence , I put together a rig for recording sound on location that includes the NTG-2 microphone, Blimp Suspension and Windscreen, and the boom pole. Check it all out.
High quality sound definitely improves the moving image, so don’t neglect it in your videos or movies. You don’t have to spend a huge amount of money. Rode will get you the sound you need at a number you can afford. Enjoy the process!
