spoken for

It has been a long time a-coming, but our is finally getting that upgrade, aka make-over!

We are so excited! We have been doing linear editing for the last 24 years. Of course, I haven’t been there for 24 years, but a lot of the editing equipment has! Some of it was even used when they got it 24 years ago! So, you can see how what we were doing was an outdated way of editing and the equipment has started dying on us, etc. If you take a look at that photo, you’ll see the old editing equipment. Basically, “linear” means that we edit, how I like to think of it, live on tape. You take the block of video/audio you want from the machine on the left and put it to the machine on the right in the order you want, blah, blah, blah. Of course, this also results in a slight loss of quality. Evenmoreso when you take into account that we air on two stations and were then making a copy of our final product for the other station. By that time, the loss in quality is noticeable (at least to us), but what can you do?

Now, non-linear? It’s all digital, baby! We are going to be running an Avid now! Of course, we still have to have the final product on those icky 3/4″ tapes, but the finished product will be better and as soon as the tv stations get their acts together, we’ll be using a digital format for the air.

Change-out started yesterday morning, before I even was able to check-in at 10am, they already had the old stuff ripped out and off to the sides. I was also impressed that the tech was vacuuming. :) You see, sometimes they forget we’re up there and we don’t get as much attention as other rooms as far as janitorial work goes. It’s okay… except for when we run out of toilet paper. :P Then I get to go raid the janitor’s closets. You have to admit, also, that it’s quite hard to vacuum and clean around all that equipment and wiring, so… give us a break. Haha. But, I do believe we owe the tech a tip. ;-)

Then today, while that same tech was working in that area, the other one set-up the Avid. And then, and then, and then (!!!!!!), I got to play with it. :) I hope she wasn’t just flattering me, but she said several times something to the effect of, “wow you are picking this up quick!” I guess because of my computer and now linear editing background, some of it just comes naturally. The rest, I feel like, is just going to be me messing around… which is how I learn every computer program. (My mom used to holler at me when we got our first Windows computer, “read the manual!!!!” It made her so nervous that I learn by trial and error, haha.)

But ohhhhh, it’s so nice. :)

I am in loooooooove.

I messed around a bit, making some of the most gawdawful video that you will never see, but I think that I got a pretty good grasp on it all. Friday is our “real” training day, so… whoohoo!

Now, for a letter:

Dear Modern Communications,

I love you.

xoxoxoxoxo,

Valerie