View Full Version : Digital Press Webcast Episode 1
digitalpress
07-21-2011, 04:45 PM
Well, we've been talking about doing this for years and finally the planets align, we have the right mix of people and equipment so here goes.
The chatty gang at Digital Press chat in front of some cameras. Topics include E3 highlights and lowlights, thoughts on Nintendo's next Wii console, the effects of hacking high-profile sites like Sony on the gaming community, and "Tales From the Store" where recent interesting trade-ins are shared.
http://youtu.be/uLAjii2T-7o
An MP3 audio-only version can be downloaded here (http://www.digitpress.com/dpsoundz/podcasts/ep01.mp3).
Audio podcast RSS feed (http://www.digitpress.com/forum/external.php?type=RSS2&forumids=48)
Video podcast RSS feed (http://www.digitpress.com/forum/external.php?type=RSS2&forumids=49)
Feedback welcome but constructive criticism please, thank you kindly :)
Kid Ice
07-21-2011, 06:04 PM
Your format seems to be between webcast and a podcast, and it doesn't do either justice. I think you have a good podcast team there, but you need to get around a table and some decent microphones.
Dangerboy
07-21-2011, 06:11 PM
As far as I can tell...
Nifty Idea...as for the criticisms...
a. No need for an almost full minute opening, but it was cute. Quicker intros and cuts to reduce it and you'd be okay. I do like the sit-com approach to the opening credits. Get it down to about to 20 - 25 seconds and you're good. I loved the "at the camera" throw by you. Maybe make each person's on-screen antic relevant to the next person's. You could make it your own version of the random Simpon's opening, where one thing is different each time. Which person is different would be different each time too. Oh, variant ideas...
b. This may just be because it's the first episode, but no need to introduce everyone after we just sat through everyone's comical entrance. A quick "The DP Gang here with the new episode..." and it'll be perfect. You would only need to introduce a guest or someone who hasn't been on in a while.
c. A boom mic, or at least multiple mics closer to the speakers are badly needed. Their voices are too faint to hear, especially with white noise on in the viewers house (air conditioning, other people, etc). Perhaps a mini-table in front of them would help.
d. Absolute mini-itty-bitty-complaint - perhaps the arcade machines were not the best spot for the discussions; the on-screen movement and constant 'garble' that the monitors produced when recorded were more entertaining at times than whatever was being said.
This was because everyone was too monotone due to the lack of inflection caused by not having the mic's close enough. Part of the e3 discussion I was almost dosing off due to the monotonic 'drone'.
Perhaps if you had the mics plugged into a pc so it was recording the dialogue as the show was being done, you could have the edited-down-to-fit-the-show be the broadcast, and the raw, unedited, uncensored audio feed could be the podcast.
e. Lastly, I have no idea if it was scripted or not, but something seemed off in the discussions, like it was a turn based dialogue. I think it would be more interesting if the cast did not know the subject matter of the broadcast prior to it. The banter , interjections, and abrupt cut-offs would allow a more natural flow and conversations. A robust discussion could then be easily edited down, with more cuts and focuses thanks to what looks like multiple cameras already being on set.
This is actually a fun idea, it's essentially giving face to the store and forums and would allow local shoppers to realize who they are most like when visiting the shop, which would help with sales and customer service. Overall a nice rough draft (start?) but with a few minor changes and corrections, this could work well.
I've been wanting to do a game rave type thing for a while. Perhaps this will inspire me to get off my ass, too. XD
Frankie_Says_Relax
07-21-2011, 06:38 PM
Thanks for the feedback! (and thanks in advance for more)
Microphones are a major issue for us, and good ones are very cost prohibitive.
Does anybody have a set of remote clip-ons that we can utilize?
The Shawn
07-21-2011, 06:42 PM
Dude in the middle has groovy Herb Tarlek shorts.
Actually I found the whole thing entertaining.
:)
Dangerboy
07-21-2011, 06:52 PM
No way to just use the $20 PC mics you find at Office Depot and have them all feed into a box into the camera? :/
Frankie_Says_Relax
07-21-2011, 07:03 PM
No way to just use the $20 PC mics you find at Office Depot and have them all feed into a box into the camera? :/
Not unless you want it to sound ultra tinny on 1st pass and then 100x worse when it's down-sampled for MP3 audio.
Again, if there are any audiophiles that can help up out we'd appreciate it, if not, we'll figure out how to make what we have work better in future episodes.
Kid Ice
07-21-2011, 07:49 PM
If you guys haven't listened to the Mech Taco podcast, try it. Their sound is acceptable and I'm sure they didn't splurge on their mics. Nick and Andrew usually sound pretty good. Maybe you can ask Nick (Drexel923) what his setup is.
Or you can start a kickstarter event to raise funds for mics, hachachacha.
Dangerboy mentioned feeding the mics into the camera, but the point of my first post was why have a camera for a podcast (unless you're planning to go full-on webcast)?
Kitsune Sniper
07-21-2011, 07:51 PM
Not unless you want it to sound ultra tinny on 1st pass and then 100x worse when it's down-sampled for MP3 audio.
Again, if there are any audiophiles that can help up out we'd appreciate it, if not, we'll figure out how to make what we have work better in future episodes.
I've heard good things about Logitech desktop microphones.
TonyTheTiger
07-21-2011, 08:29 PM
We will definitely be thinking more about the overall organization/format. And refining the overall quality is a high priority. It's all a learning process. And we're definitely open to any advice with respect to improving the sound quality, be it specific hardware, microphone placement, etc. Glad to see there's interest.
Frankie_Says_Relax
07-21-2011, 08:46 PM
If you guys haven't listened to the Mech Taco podcast, try it. Their sound is acceptable and I'm sure they didn't splurge on their mics. Nick and Andrew usually sound pretty good. Maybe you can ask Nick (Drexel923) what his setup is.
Or you can start a kickstarter event to raise funds for mics, hachachacha.
Dangerboy mentioned feeding the mics into the camera, but the point of my first post was why have a camera for a podcast (unless you're planning to go full-on webcast)?
I think there's intended segments that will always need visuals. It's easier to format the show for video 1st with an MP3 optional than it is to go the other way around.
Kid Ice
07-21-2011, 09:20 PM
I think there's intended segments that will always need visuals. It's easier to format the show for video 1st with an MP3 optional than it is to go the other way around.
Then I think you should call it a webcast instead of a podcast, put something in it to generate more visual interest (super rare items or babes, take your pick), and embed it on the DP site. If the podcast is just going to be the by-product that will probably be okay of the audio is good enough.
digitalpress
07-21-2011, 09:34 PM
Then I think you should call it a webcast instead of a podcast, put something in it to generate more visual interest (super rare items or babes, take your pick), and embed it on the DP site. If the podcast is just going to be the by-product that will probably be okay of the audio is good enough.
I'm too new at "cast" of any kind to know the difference. This whole time I thought "podcast" meant that it was somehow broadcast onto an iPod. The rest of the gang set me straight about that. So it's a webcast then. It absolutely has to have a video element to it because we're planning on doing much more than chatting behind a mic and a table in the future.
Awesome feedback, folks. Very much appreciated by this rookie team.
kafa111
07-21-2011, 09:45 PM
seemed to be a bit long. You should make a short 5 minute long cast with the best moments of it i guess :D
killersquirel
07-21-2011, 09:58 PM
Not sure why it cut off about 35 minutes of show, but for those that want to watch the whole episode including the "tales from the store" segment, you can watch it all from my vimeo page.
http://vimeo.com/26509717
Thanks for the feedback. I have been thinking of the mic problem, and it will be worked out in future episodes.
-mike
Boltorano
07-21-2011, 10:11 PM
I think you need to decide if you want to be a video-centric or an audio-centric show, middle ground doesn't really work too well. Having too much content that relies on the video aspect will frustrate the audio-only listeners who aren't interested in watching 5 people sit around and chat for 40 minutes, but are still interested in what you have to say.
Frankie_Says_Relax
07-22-2011, 12:00 AM
I think you need to decide if you want to be a video-centric or an audio-centric show, middle ground doesn't really work too well. Having too much content that relies on the video aspect will frustrate the audio-only listeners who aren't interested in watching 5 people sit around and chat for 40 minutes, but are still interested in what you have to say.
While we appreciate the feedback regarding the use of video, again, it's not a matter of having too much video, it's that we do intend to have visual elements as a part of the production (rare items, trade ins, hands-ons, etc.) so we'll need video for those.
It's easier and more consistent to produce on video and make a supplemental MP3 version to go along with it than it is to do it the other way around.
I suspect that at it's core it will always be an audio-centric, conversational podcast so MP3 listeners should never have to worry about missing much.
And as far as watchers getting frustrated over just watching us all talk ... I've watched all 180+ episodes of the weekly MEGA64 podcast which rarely ever deviates from the format of the MEGA64 gang sitting around talking on their podcast set. It may not be everybody's cup of tea, but I see no problem with a roundtable discussion being the core of a video podcast.
Though, who knows what the future will bring for the DP podcast. Keep watching and/or listening.
RPG_Fanatic
07-22-2011, 09:44 AM
It now says the video has been removed :( I wanted to watch it.
RPG_Fanatic
07-22-2011, 09:47 AM
Sorry I didn't see killersquirel's link to the video.
digitalpress
07-22-2011, 10:03 AM
For some reason the original webcast was cut off, knocking out the "Tales From the Store" segment which I think will be of the most interest to collectors here. Fixed and link updated above.
boatofcar
07-22-2011, 05:53 PM
Is there an RSS feed set up for the audio podcast?
Frankie_Says_Relax
07-22-2011, 05:56 PM
Is there an RSS feed set up for the audio podcast?
Not yet, but it will.
When the podcast has a dedicated home page here on digitpress.com we'll set one up.
There's technically only one episode up for now, so, not much to broadcast to the feed.
boatofcar
07-22-2011, 06:28 PM
Not yet, but it will.
When the podcast has a dedicated home page here on digitpress.com we'll set one up.
There's technically only one episode up for now, so, not much to broadcast to the feed.
But if you set one up now, it will make it easier for people who listen to podcasts through iTunes to download and transfer to the right place, and will automatically download episode two when it becomes available. Just trying to help :)
Frankie_Says_Relax
07-22-2011, 06:58 PM
But if you set one up now, it will make it easier for people who listen to podcasts through iTunes to download and transfer to the right place, and will automatically download episode two when it becomes available. Just trying to help :)
Fair enough.
We'll look into setting it up as soon as we can.
boatofcar
07-22-2011, 07:28 PM
Fair enough.
We'll look into setting it up as soon as we can.
Cool! I look forward to listening. I'm especially interested in hearing all the crazy stories about trade-ins and stuff.
BenG76
07-22-2011, 08:19 PM
I thought it was great. Keep them coming.
chrisballer
07-22-2011, 10:13 PM
Great job guys and gal! I look forward to more in the future. That was one heck of a trade in Joe. It is nice to see that kind of a collection go to someone who can really appreciate it.
Webcast: A live audiovisual stream of data, typically just a simple video feed with no enhancements, broadcast over the Internet. Example: UStream
Podcast: A pre-recorded audio program, typically encoded as MP3, broadcast through the use of RSS feeds. Example: TWiT (This Week in Tech)
Vodcast: A pre-recorded video program, typically encoded as MP4, broadcast through the use of RSS feeds. Example: Rocketboom
The idea of transmitting media through RSS was created and standardized at Harvard during 1999. RSS 2.0 which added namespaces was created in 2003. Apple added podcasting to iTunes in 2005.
All right, everyone, I went and suped-up the podcast. You can go here for the video version (http://www.digitpress.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=49) and here for the audio version ( http://www.digitpress.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=48). In each of those fora you'll find links for directly downloading the podcast as well as RSS feeds for subscribing to the podcast in iTunes and other podcatchers. There are two different forums and feeds so that you can subscribe to one or both of the types. New episodes will be posted in both locations.
Flack
07-23-2011, 08:30 AM
Not yet, but it will.
When the podcast has a dedicated home page here on digitpress.com we'll set one up.
There's technically only one episode up for now, so, not much to broadcast to the feed.
For what it's worth, when I first did my podcast probably 50% of my feedback was, "if it's not on iTunes, I won't listen to it." There's a HUGE listener base of people who only get their podcasts through iTunes. Getting my feeds working through there probably tripled my listener base overnight.
bunnybum
07-23-2011, 11:06 AM
I just finished watching the whole thing and I'm impressed with the amount of stuff you managed to talk about. As others have pointed out the sound was a point of critique but is easily fixed with a cheap overhead boom mic.
A suggestion regarding the format of the show (If it'll be a recurring thing, which I sincerely hope) would be to piece it out, as one hour straight is an awful lot of time to spend in one sitting. Sure I can pause it and come back later but I'd prefer having it pieced out into, say, 2 or three separate segments:
1. Intro + E3 or other current events
2. What you're currently playing and why
3. Tales from the store
With most of the forum's visitors being collectors I imagine that "Tales from the store" will be the segment having the largest following, as we (Read: I) really like to see actual STUFF! And with the segments separated you can easily pick the one you feel like watching instead of having to randomly click on the timeline to find where it starts. Of course this can also be rectified by adding time markers for the various segments in the video description.
With that being said, I salute you for embarking on this webcast journey. I hope to see much more of your pretty faces in the future!
Frankie_Says_Relax
07-23-2011, 11:27 AM
For what it's worth, when I first did my podcast probably 50% of my feedback was, "if it's not on iTunes, I won't listen to it." There's a HUGE listener base of people who only get their podcasts through iTunes. Getting my feeds working through there probably tripled my listener base overnight.
Yeah, I don't doubt it.
nz17 took the initiative to get us all hooked up with an RSS, so it looks like as we go forward we're set on that front.
Colorado Rockies
07-23-2011, 10:48 PM
Podcast was rather enjoyable and I liked all the arcades etc. in the background.
Good E3 recap as well and a lot of viewpoints hit the nail on the head.
My favorite part, though, was the ending where you showed all those games that were traded in by the late husband's spouse.
I hope you guys at least gave her a decent amount of money for all that stuff because all those sealed games together are worth thousands.
My favorite part was the intro.
killersquirel
07-24-2011, 08:35 PM
Thanks for all the feedback, I really appreciate it. I like Bunnybum's idea about splitting the webcast into parts. This will probably really help my encoding time. We have some interesting things planned for the next one. Keep an eye out for it.
A special thank you to nz17 for setting up the rss feeds and for posting the video and audio versions on Digital Press.
-mike
Apollo
08-02-2011, 02:16 AM
Dude in the middle has groovy Herb Tarlek shorts.
I'm taking that as a compliment, now that I looked up Herb Tarlek!
killersquirel
08-02-2011, 12:53 PM
I'm taking that as a compliment, now that I looked up Herb Tarlek!
I also looked up Herb Tarlek, and I would question taking that as a compliment.
Apollo
08-05-2011, 02:47 PM
I also looked up Herb Tarlek, and I would question taking that as a compliment.
You wish you could rock some plaid as well as ol' Herb Tarlek.
Frankie_Says_Relax
08-05-2011, 02:58 PM
You wish you could rock some plaid as well as ol' Herb Tarlek.
If people have any questions about Nick, Nick's shorts, Herb Tarlek or ANYTHING ELSE please submit them to our official Podcast Questions Thread!
http://www.digitpress.com/forum/showthread.php?t=155701
We'll read them on the air!
You'll be famous on teh interwebz!