Finally had a couple days off, then right back to it. This coming week will be the busiest I’ve had in a long while. Nonstop work feels good. I love what I do, so it never feels too much like work. Stress comes from unhappiness so that’s not really the right word. Pressure, sure. Deadlines and the energy from live production feels like a shot of adrenaline in the soul.
I have been refining my mullticam and live streaming rig with every gig, trying to get this to the perfect combination of everything I need and still be portable. On every one of the Johnny DiLoretto gigs, I have been taking less and less stuff. I downgraded from a 40″ TV down to a 32″ monitor for the multicam screen.
The new BlackMagic ATEM is SDI only for the “program out”, meaning the live switched, edited show. My recorder is the Atomos Ninja 2, an HDMI only recorder. After trying 2 or 3 different adapters, I finally relented and ended but buying the BlackMagic 4K Video Assist after an online deal offered it brand new for $300 off. The BlackMagic Video Assist is a better 7″ HD monitor and it has HDMI and SDI inputs/outputs making it incredibly versatile. Being 4K future proofs this purchase for a while too. Can’t wait for it to arrive this week.
Organization is key. I say this a lot. I have my cables all sorted by length, put in separate bags in the tub by use, IE video, audio, and power. Now I have a nice light stand carrying case for all my stands with room for other gripology. I have to use 2 laptops. One is a not really a laptop anymore because it’s dual purpose is to be a media player of stills, video and powerpoint and it also controls the higher functions of the switcher. The other laptop does the actual streaming.
Overall, I can handle pretty much most types of live streaming gigs like concerts, speakers, events, etc. I am still learning as I go. I can get better the more I do things. Adding more graphics, lower 3rds, and greenscreen live are on deck to learn next.
That’s the key for me. Evolution and learning. As long as I keep my brain active with new information and acquiring new skills, life will never be bad. Life is treating me very good lately. I have no desire to be rich. Money never brought me happiness. I am comfortable and that is all I could ever ask for.
Back to the grind! Got finish these edits, then go over the gear for this coming week’s shoot with my camera operators today.
“When your legs don’t work like they used to before
And I can’t sweep you off of your feet
Will your mouth still remember the taste of my love
Will your eyes still smile from your cheeks
And darling I will be loving you ’til we’re 70
And baby my heart could still fall as hard at 23
And I’m thinking ’bout how people fall in love in mysterious ways
Maybe just the touch of a hand
Oh me I fall in love with you every single day
And I just wanna tell you I am”
– Ed Sheeran
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