An Old Coot Writes.....

Nick Flowers · August 4th, 2008, 03:16 AM

Hello DVi. Someone asked me how long I'd been recording sound and to my horror, after some head scratching, I had to say "over 40 years." Started in the BBC, went freelance to do commercials, doccos and features, joined ITV as staff, made redundant thanks to Thatcher and have been freelance again for 15 years or so. The great thing about this line of work is you never know it all and there is always some new problem to exercise your ingenuity. The other great thing is the travel...how else could I have got to places like Russia, Iceland, the Azores, most of Europe and the USA as well as some of the strangest parts of home, the UK?
Another good thing is that while the poor camera guys have to pay a king's ransom for a camera that will be out-dated by the time he takes delivery, we just plug in the XLRs from our old faithful mixer and say "Sound's ready!"

Chris Hurd · August 4th, 2008, 06:51 AM

Ha ha -- a great introductory post. Welcome aboard, Nick!

Richard Alvarez · August 4th, 2008, 09:07 AM

Welcome aboard Nick.

"Old Guys Rule"

'nuff said.

Nick Flowers · August 4th, 2008, 12:11 PM

Many thanks for the welcome. Don't know how relevant my contributions can be, but I certainly hope to pick up some tips on new gear as it comes out. And to find out some answers to old questions....like what is the story behind the NTSC frame rate, which is something like 29.??? I believe. Why did it change from 30? It's faster than our PAL 25, so the flicker must be reduced and I suppose that machines don't care about exact numbers, but I'd be interested to know.

August 4th, 2008, 03:16 AM	#1
Nick Flowers Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Chichester UK Posts: 157	An Old Coot Writes..... Hello DVi. Someone asked me how long I'd been recording sound and to my horror, after some head scratching, I had to say "over 40 years." Started in the BBC, went freelance to do commercials, doccos and features, joined ITV as staff, made redundant thanks to Thatcher and have been freelance again for 15 years or so. The great thing about this line of work is you never know it all and there is always some new problem to exercise your ingenuity. The other great thing is the travel...how else could I have got to places like Russia, Iceland, the Azores, most of Europe and the USA as well as some of the strangest parts of home, the UK? Another good thing is that while the poor camera guys have to pay a king's ransom for a camera that will be out-dated by the time he takes delivery, we just plug in the XLRs from our old faithful mixer and say "Sound's ready!"

August 4th, 2008, 06:51 AM	#2
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 21,310 Images: 535	Ha ha -- a great introductory post. Welcome aboard, Nick! __________________ CH Search DV Info Net for quick answers \| The best in the business: DV Info Net Sponsors \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

August 4th, 2008, 12:11 PM	#4
Nick Flowers Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Chichester UK Posts: 157	Thanks guys Many thanks for the welcome. Don't know how relevant my contributions can be, but I certainly hope to pick up some tips on new gear as it comes out. And to find out some answers to old questions....like what is the story behind the NTSC frame rate, which is something like 29.??? I believe. Why did it change from 30? It's faster than our PAL 25, so the flicker must be reduced and I suppose that machines don't care about exact numbers, but I'd be interested to know.

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August 4th, 2008, 09:07 AM	#3
Richard Alvarez Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: San Mateo, CA Posts: 3,495	Welcome aboard Nick. "Old Guys Rule" 'nuff said.