Just running a test… nothing to see here people, move along.

If you receive my podcasts via iToons or some other podcatcher, and never visit my site, then this won’t affect you.
But if you do regularly come to audio2u.com, I’d like to make you aware of a major structural change that has just been implemented by myself and Phil Massyn (thanks, mate!). Truth be told, Phil has done about 90% of it… maybe even more!

But here’s what it means to you.

If you want to see the show notes for Building the Pod, you will now need to go here.
If you want to see the show notes for Sine Language, you will now need to go here.
If you want to see the show notes for Shutters Inc, you will now need to go here.

At the moment, all 3 sites look very similar.
That will change.
I will be developing a new look for each site over the coming weeks.
The major benefit to you, dear listener, is this.
In the past, people would ask me, “How can I just see the podcast entries for BTP?” and unfortunately because of the way the site was structured, you couldn’t.
You could see all entries for Building the Pod, and exclude Sine Language and Shutters Inc, but you couldn’t separate the standard blog posts from the podcasts.
Or, you could get just the podcasts without the blog posts, but you then got all 3 podcasts!
Wasn’t particularly helpful for those who wanted just the podcast entries of one podcast only.
This new arrangement addresses that.
It also allows me to customise the sites, which will hopefully result in a better all-round user experience for you, the listener.
Any/all feedback is welcome. Just add your voice to the comments below.
Cheers.

This week, Bruce is excited about having potentially sold his first large format canvas print,
which led to a bit of a discussion about marketing ideas for limited edition fine art works,
tales of woe over how our listeners killed the server after the Joe McNally epiosde was released,
Joe’s video confession,
Bruce’s lens dilemma,
and getting together for a photowalk with your local fellow photographers.

si145.mp3 [ 49:28 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This week, a very quick look at the Automatic Click Remover,
followed by a slightly more lengthy look at the Automatic Phase Correction tool,
plus a couple of listener e-mails answered regarding splittting a multi-song multitrack project into individual song projects, and how to capture the sound of scrubbing the CTI across a waveform.

btp139.mp3 [ 33:12 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

And what a rip-snorter of a start to the year!
One week in, and already, I’m letting you down.
Sorry gang.
Shelton and I had plans to record, but something came up at his end.
And I did plan on recording a BTP, but hit a bit of a brick wall.
Grrr.

Hi all,
There seems to be some issues with manual downloading of mp3 files at the moment.
I am aware of the issue, and will get it resolved asap.
Sorry for the inconvenience, folks.

Happy new year!
A quick mention of our holiday cruise (blog and pictures start here),
an e-mail from Steve Filmer regarding a couple of articles on NPR;
this one on the loudness wars, inluding this great pdf,
and this on one the average level of TV commercials,
a quick mention of James Cameron’s epic, Avatar,
and the final segment (I guess?) on vocal recording, including hung mics and signal structure. I know I’ve covered signal structure in the past, but am having issues finding which episode that was in. If anyone knows off the top of their head, drop me an e-mail, would ya, please? Cheers!

sl122.mp3 [ 19:23 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Happy new year!
In the first ep for 2010, we talk about our cruise to New Caledonia and Vanuatu,
the new Creative Photo Workshops website,
My new Sony alpha 850,
the Sydney photographers are getting together monthly,
the 5MP/SI party in Melbourne,
and finally, our special guest interview.

si144.mp3 [ 1:36:09 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

A quick note to congratulate the winners of the David Honl lighting accessories giveaway.
There were some VERY good entries received, particularly given the short time frame allowed for creation of said literary masterpieces.
So, drum roll if you please…
The winners are:

Jeni Nagy, who wrote this little ditty:

I wanna Honl filter kit
Love it more than a little bit
Many things to pose and shoot
With Honl filters, strap and snoot
How I’d use them, couldn’t say
Beginner, me in every way
Give me a chance to try and see
Santa (Bruce) pick me, pick me

and Nathan Chilton wrote:

I wanna win the Honl photo accessory pack so that I can coin a new phrase: “Find the light and… put these on it!”
Because I’m trying to build my wedding/portrait business and I’ve received a message from beyond, saying that “If you gobo it, they will come”.

Nice one, Nathan!
Let me tell ya, peoples, it was very hard picking 2 winners.
There were some really good entires.
I’ll include a couple of ‘honourable mentions’ because they deserved it!

Jan Polland from Germany sent in this (which I REALLY liked, but it exceeded the 50 word limit. Rules is rules. Sorry Jan!)

Bruce: Why should you win one of the Honl prizes?
Jan: Wanna do more flash photography.
Bruce: Flash photography?
Jan: Snap snap, win win, flash flash, wink wink, nudge nugde, send to me, say no more?
Bruce: I’m afraid we don’t have enough sets to give away.
Jan: Oh….still. meeeeee ay? wihihihihiiiin, ay?
Bruce: Look…are you insinuating something?
Jan: Oh, no, no, no……..Yes!
Bruce: Well?
Jan: You’re a man of the world and….this is my address

Richard Annable got creative with his text layout which I thought was cool:

1 I
2 want
3 to
4 win
5 because
6 Shelton
7 doesn’t
8 pay
9 me
10 when
11 I
12 help
13 him
14 and
15 I
16 can’t
17 afford
18 to
19 buy
20 cool
21 stuff
22 like
23 this.
34 The
35 (expletive
36 deleted)
37 brings
38 me
39 along
40 to
41 flash
42 workshops
43 so
44 he
45 can
46 use
47 my
48 pocket
49 wizards!

Jim Rockwell certainly blew his 50 word limit, but got a chuckle none the less!

Good morning from Pennsylvania USA!  I know I should be more supportive
of the Shutters Inc listeners and be more of a team player. After all
there is no “I” in team, but there is one in wInner. Not to be selfish
but Jim Rockwell is the I in wInner (Well . . . maybe)!  Surely you can
agree with me (Oops, I should stop calling you Shirley).  I figure since
I did not get any of the fancy pins Richard was giving away, I should
have this instead. Right?

If that does not win it (cue violin music here),  I have been a loyal
listener for may years.  Each week I sell junk I find along the road to
support my photography habit and pay for electricity to download your
valuable podcast.  I have been considering selling an organ so I can
have enough money to join the 5MP group and just “fit in” with the other
more capable photographers.

If not that, how about this, if I do not win, I will fly to the west
coast in Feb and detain Shelton until I am awarded the prize.  Well,
that is a little drastic.  Maybe I will just report him to Homeland
Security and suggest that he be placed on the national watch list.

If none of that works, I will fly to Australia while you are on your
cruise and throw toilet paper in your trees.  I may even hide your trash
cans.  Then what will you do on trash day when you return home.

Besides, about a year ago I built a light tent out of pvc tubing and a
sheet with plans I found on the internet.  Sounds like this would help
greatly with that and other photography hobby projects.

William Ng from Canada played on the “12 days of Christmas” idea:

On the first day of Xmas, my true love will help me put on the Speed Strap (on my flash of course)
Second day, put on the Speed Snoot to take pics of turtle doves
Third day, switch to Speed Grid to take pics of chickens (no French hens around)
Fourth day, try the Autumn filters to take pics of any birds I can find outside
Fifth day, use color correction filters to take pics of five different gold rings
Sixth and seventh day, use color filters to take pics of sea gulls since all the geese and swans went hiding
Eighth and ninth day, use Hollywood filters to take pics of any ladies I can find (try not to get beaten up…)
Ninth day, use sampler filters on my kids playing legos (..sorry no pipers)
Tenth day, time to pack all the stuff back into the carrying bag

and finally, Mark Popish had this to say:

Sometimes people get a little blue around the holidays.  A couple of CTO filters could really warm things up.  In the states, it is winter.  Lastly, I saved some words to include my address as time is of the essence.

Thanks everyone for your prompt responses.
My only regret is that I couldn’t give you all a prize for your efforts!
Congratulations to Jeni and Nathan!