Comms audio from shows like "X factor"

[david.elsbury]

Hi all

I know we don't like the "what gear was used......" posts, so I'll try not to make this like one of those.

 

What I was wondering is how one would go about getting one's hands on the comms audio from the TV side of shows like X-Factor (in my case, I was watching the Aussie version tonight). There were sequences where there were cuts almost every second.

 

Last week I pulled off a live DVD recording with (just) 4 cameras, where I called the shots for the cameras and switched them as well, I assume that in a proper OB situation there is a technical director calling the shots and then instructing the vision mixer operator?

 

Thanks- I know it's not quite what we do on the BR :-)

 

Cheers

David

[timsabre]

Not quite X-factor, did you hear this Eurovision talkback which someone posted a few months ago?

 

 

and this one of the Commonwealth games

 

 

These are both quite old, when the pacing of shots was much slower. I'm intrigued why these recordings were made as I doubt the comms even gets recorded normally, never mind making it onto youtube. I guess you'd have to know someone working on the production to get anything like that from a recent show and there would be all sorts of rights/permission issues.

[paulears]

I've got one from a broadcast live show I did last year - if you pm me I'll send a link.

P

[kitlane]

A couple from BBC F1

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/jakehumphrey/20...the_action.html

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/jakehumphrey/

[henny]

I did some work in a regional news studio some years back and it was the norm to do a record of the program with Talkback audio on one channel and pmg on the other ,

 

Do any shows still use tit? (talk back in text)

 

It was used to allow regional mcr's to hear the gallery so they could cue ads ect

[JazzAV]

Not sure Stewart Morris is the best example to work to. ** laughs out loud ** Just love that bit at the commonwealth games where he is shouting at the guys to jump out of the plane. I can imagine them thinking "yes we wont do any final checks and ensure everyone is good to go, we'll just jump as soon as some guy from the BBC tells us too" love it.

 

Seems like a very talented man though who knew exactly what he wanted.

[Bobbsy]

Last week I pulled off a live DVD recording with (just) 4 cameras, where I called the shots for the cameras and switched them as well, I assume that in a proper OB situation there is a technical director calling the shots and then instructing the vision mixer operator?

 

Actually, the crewing on big shows is typically a lot more than that;

 

It would be pretty normal for the Programme Director to be there calling shots and a vision mixer (person not board) to be executing the instructions. However, in addition to that there's probably a Production Assistant also there, readying pre-planned sequences and counting and and out of any VT inserts. Additionally, there will be a Technical director (and probably several vision operators) adjusting the levels on the cameras so they're always ready to be cut to. There will also be at least one graphics operator getting any captions/animations pre-set and ready to go. Add lighting, sound and stage management to that and the Director is in charge of a fair size crew.

 

The other thing to consider is that individual shots and sequences of shots are generally pre-planned and rehearsed. For example, the operator of the hot head crane knows that for the chorus he starts low behind the singer then, when mixed to, dollies right while craning up and over the audience--or whatever. There's generally less "winging it" on big shows than on smaller efforts.

 

I'm happily retired but I miss working on big live stuff--it was a real rush!

 

Bob

[david.elsbury]

Thanks all for your input. Paul- will PM you