XAP Episode 1 discussion

[SliceOfDog]

The thread to discuss episode 1 of XAP;
http://www.scififur.net/forum/showth...3026#post13026

With this being the first episode of the podcast I'd really appreciate as detailed feedback as possible. But you can also discuss things in a non-feedback way here, so if you have any questions about our interviewee (Kurrel) or the drama segment feel free to ask. Questions about the comic section should be directed to Odin.

Thanks guys!

[Brome Teks]

You pronounced my name right! Yay!

[Daryn]

The Kurrel Interview is quite interesting. I like how borg-dog sent him off ona tangeant with discordianism. I have read the Illuminatus Trilogy, which was brilliant and bizarre.

[Brome Teks]

I sincerely hope the next one doesn't take until 2015. =P I would hope that now you'll be able to iron out the issues you had with the production of the podcast and are able to make them faster in the future.

[Daryn]

So now that I've listened to the whole thing, here's some feedback that I hope will be helpful.

First in the Kurrel interview, and it's kind of an obvious one, is the difference in audio levels between you and him. I also note you have yourself and Kurrel in seperate stereo channels. That's cool for keeping things straight, although it isn't entirely necessary. Mixing that down to Mono could save quite a bit of space.

Second was the news/weather report. I like the concept, but I don't know whether having a weather report on every show will work in the long run. I suspect the idea here is for a comedy bit to insert between sections, so if I'm right news/weather wouldn't be the only kind of content in it.

Next we had Odin's wonderful comic/movie/pop culture report. This was good stuff all around, although if I am to make one suggestion it'd be to keep it to no more than 20 minutes. This edition was pretty much spot on time wise. I'm also guessing that we'll maybe see the Fedora wearing wolf come back around more often? Maybe? *hopeful blink*

Then the drama skit. Okay, where do I start here? Normally when someone says that it's bad news, but not in this case. This was considerably more than I thought it was going to be going in. It felt a lot like an old radio play, with sound effects and everything. The only real problems I can see with it are purely technical. It was pretty clear that different actors were using different mics and the voice quality was all over the place.

And finally just a quick note about inserting outtakes. Leave a few seconds of space between the end of the show and the outtake. Maybe about 5 or 10 seconds so it's more of an easter egg. The way you have it in there now sort of hijacks the clean end of the show.

Well, I think that's it. I hope I wasn't too harsh. I really did enjoy the show.

[tzj]

i liked it...

[SliceOfDog]

The Kurrel Interview is quite interesting. I like how borg-dog sent him off ona tangeant with discordianism.

Hah, yeah, that took me by surprise. Of course I had no idea what he was talking about, but I'm glad it was interesting ^_^

I would hope that now you'll be able to iron out the issues you had with the production of the podcast and are able to make them faster in the future.

I would hope so too. Certainly I've noticed a lot of things that could have been done better (Mostly by myself) and I realise there are certain things to avoid in the future. The next episodes will probably be a fair bit shorter so we'll see how that goes. Plus, now we have it out there, we can get feedback and improve that way.

First in the Kurrel interview ... is the difference in audio levels between you and him. I also note you have yourself and Kurrel in seperate stereo channels. That's cool for keeping things straight, although it isn't entirely necessary. Mixing that down to Mono could save quite a bit of space.

Yeah, I realise that, but partly that's because of the way we recorded it. Because I was the call leader, when I spoke it faded Kurrel down, so if I chuckled or something when he spoke, randomly his voice would fade for a moment, so I found it difficult to balance out the volumes. I did do a lot of work on it, but I must have spent well over 20 hours editing that thing, so eventually I kind of thought "ok, it's good enough" ^_^

As for the stereo track, it was integral I kept it like that for editing purposes, and then once I'd finished it never crossed my mind to merge them. In the future I'll try and remember that

if I'm right news/weather wouldn't be the only kind of content in it.

You are right indeed. The weather report was a one-off, the news reporter might come back, but the basic idea was to break up longer segments with short skits. Now that I have the episode out to show people, I'll try a couple more recruiting drives, and I'll offer people to make or write short skits for that purpose.

Odin's wonderful comic/movie/pop culture report. This was good stuff all around, although if I am to make one suggestion it'd be to keep it to no more than 20 minutes

Glad to hear that, and actually I'm afraid I've got to shoulder some of the blame for the length. I might be wrong, but I think he did that many bits to it in case I took way too long to finish it (Which I sorta did anyway) and some of them became old news, so they'd need to be taken out. But yeah, I agree, good stuff :3

This was considerably more than I thought it was going to be going in. It felt a lot like an old radio play, with sound effects and everything. The only real problems I can see with it are purely technical. It was pretty clear that different actors were using different mics and the voice quality was all over the place.

Well thank you very much. After all this time you didn't think I'd expose you to anything but an instant classic did you?

But certainly I agree with the voice quality comment. The problem is that on their own all of the clips I used sounded absolutely fine. It's only when you put a worse quality one (ie Mine) against a better quality one (ie Most of the other ones) that you started to notice a difference. Also, I've gotta say I think Slate's was probably the best quality technical-wise. What equipment d'ya use Slate?

Leave a few seconds of space between the end of the show and the outtake. Maybe about 5 or 10 seconds so it's more of an easter egg.

Good suggestion, duly noted.

I hope I wasn't too harsh. I really did enjoy the show

Not at all, it's good to hear

i liked it...

XD Thanks, and nice to see you on the forum Tzj.
Feel free to introduce yourself to everyone else here; http://www.scififur.net/forum/forumd...(Introductions)

[Slate]

But certainly I agree with the voice quality comment. The problem is that on their own all of the clips I used sounded absolutely fine. It's only when you put a worse quality one (ie Mine) against a better quality one (ie Most of the other ones) that you started to notice a difference. Also, I've gotta say I think Slate's was probably the best quality technical-wise. What equipment d'ya use Slate?

Just getting to the end of the Kurrel interview, BUT I used a Samson Go-Mic http://www.samsontech.com/products/p...fm?prodID=2010 And Garage Band audio editor. I got the Samson Go-Mic because of this podcast (Christmas of last year =P ) specifically because I needed a USB Mic that was of higher quality than the built in mic on my laptop. It was only $50 or $60 (USD) at Best Buy here in the states.

It also helped getting feedback from you Slice about how well the quality seemed and how I might do better on some of the lines!

Other than that, I'm bad at critiquing things like this, so I'm gonna go back to listening intently to the podcast =P

[OdinAshcroft]

Questions about the comic section should be directed to Odin.

Its as if he knew I was coming back...interesting...or is it! I'm onto you, Slice *eye narrows* I'll find your time machine...and when I do, I'm getting the Time Variance Authority on you soooooooooo fast, it'll be...it'll be...well, seeing how they're continuity/time cops, its pretty darn fast as you take into account relativity and...and...<..< *cough*

Next quote >.>

Next we had Odin's wonderful comic/movie/pop culture report. This was good stuff all around, although if I am to make one suggestion it'd be to keep it to no more than 20 minutes. This edition was pretty much spot on time wise. I'm also guessing that we'll maybe see the Fedora wearing wolf come back around more often? Maybe? *hopeful blink*

Dawwwww, I didn't know you cared, Big Bird! Oop, forgot my place *looks at Daryn's Marquis title, and bows in respect* I apologize, Superior Sir *winks to any who might get that fairly obscure sci-fi literary reference...might've made more sense with a reptile, but oooooooh well*

But yes, I'm planning on making more appearances in the forum, so...*tips hat* 'Ello ^_^

Glad to hear that, and actually I'm afraid I've got to shoulder some of the blame for the length. I might be wrong, but I think he did that many bits to it in case I took way too long to finish it (Which I sorta did anyway) and some of them became old news, so they'd need to be taken out. But yeah, I agree, good stuff :3

Well, not all of us have that time machine. Though, quicky update: One Month To Live, still a great read, highly recommend it. Aaaaaaand thats it. Quick huh? As of this writing, none of the projects I mentioned are on hold or not in progress, so they maybe coming along slowly but they're coming along nonetheless...even the Frank Miller one *shivers a bit* Why that man still makes a living, I just don't know...

Also, thanks again from all the kind words and sentiments Slice. I do think you might be giving me a bit too much credit for making this whole XAP podcast possible. You were the one who helped put it together, all I did was give you corny content >.> Which, is what I do *points to the kernals and kernals worth of editorial threads here on the forum* So, give yourself credit too! You deserve it far more than me! Thank you nonetheless for the compliments ^^; I think I might contradicted myself at one point *looks at the text above <..<;*

[Slate]

With the exception of the 'news broadcast' I did, I could really hear the fan of my laptop in the background of my lines. So next time around I'll see if I can't fix that.

[SliceOfDog]

'm onto you, Slice *eye narrows* I'll find your time machine

Hah! Fat chance! You'll never find it, it's hidden in a 1985 DeLore-... No, I've said too much >_>

Also, thanks again from all the kind words and sentiments Slice. I do think you might be giving me a bit too much credit for making this whole XAP podcast possible. You were the one who helped put it together, all I did was give you corny content >.> [...] So, give yourself credit too! You deserve it far more than me!

Perhaps I'm not giving myself enough credit, but I still don't think I'm giving you too much. I had the Kurrel interview for about 3 months, but I didn't start really going at it until you started giving me your content (Or scripts for it, or whatever it was at first :p )
I needed the extra encouragement, and in particular the idea of content becoming void if I left it too long. Next time I think you should all time me, I'll be encouraged to work faster that way

With the exception of the 'news broadcast' I did, I could really hear the fan of my laptop in the background of my lines. So next time around I'll see if I can't fix that.

Hmm, to be honest I still can't hear it, although on this computer it all sounds kinda crappy (That is to say, all of the Podcast, not all of your stuff!) so I kinda hope there's something wrong with my speakers, and that it sounds better for you lot :s