It’s easy to see if a wire is hooked up and transmitting but a task I’ve needed a tool for is watching Frequencies at performances. this little tool can confirm transmission and locate where, who and what freq the hits are at on wireless mics. on the back I’ve got all my mic and BTR frequencies. It’s interesting to watch everything in real time for where ever you are.
I must hand it to the frequency coordinators, it’s very well planned and well executed! 
Making a 12 channel breakout snake. I think it turned out great! The new labels are looking good, and are very nicely visible / functional
10 Lessons I’ve learned about engraving by hand:
1 – CLAMP CLAMP CLAMP
2 – Flexible material WILL FLEX WHEN CLAMPED!
3 – Start in the middle of the “A”
4 – 1:1 ratios show mistakes 1:1
5 – Don’t try to “go over” a skip
6 – One letter, one pass.
7 – WD 40 on cutting head
8 – stop are just guides, they stop nothing from moving unless there is a lock on the other side\
9 – The first two “setups” are typically throw aways
10 – don’t beat yourself up, the landing gear is down.
I’ve learned my letter set is a little worn down, thus making some skips and pits a little more noticeable (this is where lesson 4 comes into play)… A new set is a little out of my price range for now.
I’m always on the hunt for tools to speed up the work and save product. Here’s my latest find
I recently acquired a new computer and have begun the “Migration” from old to new. I know it’s not a quick process (600+ Gb from machine to machine) but by my math this estimation, using FW800, was WAY OUT. The problem turns out that the computer was going to sleep during this migration!! Why the HELL would it do such a stupid thing? There were no options for sleeping as it’s a fresh install. Shame on Apple.
After three failed attempts, I had to find a solution to me sitting at two idle computers for 8 hours.
AND HERE IT IS!
(standby for video)
I needed to be able to leave it also… so in an audio Macgyver moment of desperation I turn to my biggest fan. The cable for the Trackball is moved by an oscillating fan. The headphones are on top of an upside down trackball, this and the duct tape give the trackball some weight to push on the keyboard (for computer 1) the movement also pushes a button on a Magic Trackpad (computer 1)
so far attempt number four is going smoothly (knock on wood)
I was given a 78 to transfer. When I transfer something one of a kind I do 3 passes. The first is dry, dusted as the client delivered.
The second is wet (Ultrasonic bath if possible)
The third is in reverse. I find it cuts the pops and skips differently. EX: if you have a scratch in one direction it MAY not show up in the reversed transfer. Edit together and whadaya get… bitty bopity boo.
Quite possibly the WORST place a bobby pin could fall inside a Wurli
Practicing what I preach. Moving (14) drives into long term storage. Pulled all the backups out of the safety deposite box, and moved their contents move forward onto a 3TB hard drive.
Once it’s all checked for redundancies I will back it up to another drive off site.
For anyone nocking my non-antistatic plastic bags, I assure you they performed perfectly and will the next time I spin them up. Silica and a way for them to breath is fine.
This is client sessions, designs, pictures, documents, notes etc etc dating back to about 2001. I have Client DVD archives at home I don’t plan to move forward as it is mostly damaged and virus ridden from before I went all OSX.
Now I need to find a Hard drive shipping container from a computer store… Anyone?
I’m sure I’m not the only one to do this:
In an effort to avoid feedback and improve intelligibility, I push it back. It’s like giving the mic 2.5 feet extra away from the driver.
its un-noticeable to the audience and the poodles don’t start noticing it until 10ms (so don’t worry)