Work experience week 1

Hi bloggers - mike here. I've had a hectic week with my work experience placement. Colin McGuiness head of group production and my mentor for work experience was taken ill and unfortunately will be unavailable to take me on for work experience. Luckily my connections at star radio paid off and I managed to get a placement at star radio in north somerset as a freelance production assistant.
My first task today was to work on a project called "things you didn't know about North Somerset". Using Cool Edit, a multitrack audio editor I mixed each individual piece of audio down before recording it in RCS. RCS is the play-out system used at the station. All audio, songs and commercial adverts reside on a central RCS server. To catalogue the audio into the database RCS uses a database system known as carts. Check out their website rcsworks.com

My second task of the day was to freshen up some of the production, in particular the weekend promo. This was the brief-the promo was to last no longer than 50 seconds and needed to include music demonstrators, clips from weekend shows and a voice over from Bob, the voice of E4. I was very excited about being given such creative freedom with this project! I found the most difficult part was the music demonstrator, when Choosing the song clips I needed to find music spanning 4 decades that was similar in tempo and matched in key. Its not easy to get Yazz - the only way is up to mix with the Bee Gees -tragedy! I used cool edits proprietary time and pitch plugin to match tempos and also some special effects like flange and delay. I also found that creating small repeat edits of syllables in the lyrics worked well adding some interest to the clips. When I had finished I played the promo to the production manager who offered me some feedback on the piece. He felt it was to long and offered me some tips on how and where I might shorten it. I followed his direction, replaying the audio to him which, he was then happy with.
One thing I have learnt today is that in an environment where time is critical you may not have time to plan a project in the traditional sense of pitch, planning and rough. Deadlines are tight and you are expected to come up with the goods!!

Check out the website star1077.co.uk

Advanced Video - Individual Project Log

I have spent this morning looking at ideas for my individual project. I had several different options including a quiz show , but I have decided on a "rockumentary" style program. A south bank style interview from an artist along with an informal unplugged performance. This program could include a presenter but could work equally as well without one. I feel this format has a good position with regard to 360 degree media content which is something I needed to seriously consider as part of the brief for this unit stressed the importance of multi platform content. This could include unseen footage available to download via phone or web also a web cast/message board from the artist and the opportunity for viewers to text in their views on the show. This program could also be made available on mobile phone platforms such as orange world as part of their daily content. This program could also be part of a wider series on local artists and could even work as a format series like pop idol.

"A rising soul songstress of the UK acoustic music scene..."
Bath International Music Festival 2007

Over on the acoustic stage was the soulful Katey Brooks, whose vocal chords reach low enough to qualify her for a place as a barbershop baritone. Setting her apart from the majority of female solo artists like Regina Spektor or Emiliana Torrini...There are definite similarities to the likes of Tracy Chapman, and while her lyrics are intelligent, her smile warm and radiant, and her demeanor enchanting, she may well break from folk roots into the mainstream."
Ashton Court Reveiw 2007

I have approached local artist Katey Brooks, a folk singer from bristol who expressed an interest in being involved with the project. She has a good local following having performed at many festivals including Ashton court and overseas festivals in europe to rave reviews...Dont forget to check out Katey's website. Its packed with loads more info kateybrooks.co.uk