Microphone Building begins tomorrow!

Hello, all.

Tomorrow (Monday, February 9) we meet in the Lab Rooms for the first
round of the Microphone Building sessions. Please note that Lab 4 with
Heidi Spencer has moved to B-68:

Lab 1, B-91, Emir Cakaroz
Lab 2, B-18, Sean Kafer
Lab 3, B-75, Joe Sacco
Lab 4, B-68, Heidi Spencer

You can confirm your Lab by checking the Course Directory:
http://www.glennbach.com/film_116/116_directory.html

Remember to bring these supplies you purchased at Riverwest Film and Video:

* two Rapid 35-0190 Mic Capsules
* one stereo mic cable with 1/8" stereo plug
* two alligator clips for attaching windscreens
* one pair of enclosed headphones for testing mics
* Optional: swatches of faux fur for a fancier windscreen
* Optional: soldering wand

You can review the mic building demo, if you'd like:
http://www.glennbach.com/film_116/soldering_demo.pdf

Also, if you are interested in constructing a fancier windscreen, watch
this instructional video from a former 116 student:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Rkv0P40rt8

Remember that I have extended the deadline for posting your Soundwalk
responses (including your answers to the 11 questions, overall Soundwalk
map, sound/body map, and sound log/notes) to next Sunday, February 15.

But, you should probably get started now on creating your Drift Atlas
and posting your materials. Remember to use the Drift Atlas URL that is
linked beside your name on the Course Directory. You will be copying
just this portion of the URL: flast116 (first initial, last name, 116)
and pasting it into the URL box on Blogger.

Please review the Blogger Tutorial for assistance:
http://www.glennbach.com/film_116/116_blogger.html

And the link to the Drift Atlas page:
http://www.glennbach.com/film_116/116_atlas.html

I've added links to the Course Directories from previous semesters to
the Tutorials page, so you can review the work of past students:
http://www.glennbach.com/film_116/116_tutorials.html

Also, here are specific examples of Drift 1 blogs:
http://egrycan11601.blogspot.com/
http://kprobst116drift1.blogspot.com/
http://mmorton11601.blogspot.com/
http://lsmith11601.blogspot.com/
http://bdavey11601.blogspot.com/
http://www.jamesstukenberg0711601.blogspot.com/
http://www.tobystaffanson0711601.blogspot.com/

And here is a nice treatment of Drift 1, even though his map thumbnails
link to MP3s rather than to larger versions of the maps (remember, each
field recording must be linked through a separate line of text, not by
clicking on the image thumbnail):
http://www.samkarow0711601.blogspot.com/

Okay, we will see all of you tomorrow.

Blogger Demo, Rain Delay, Class Still Meets!

Hello, all.

Yes, it's raining. Yes, we will postpone the soundwalk until Wednesday.
Yes, you still need to attend class this afternoon.

I will demo Blogger and how to get your Research Blog up and running,
and I will also go over the new and improved PantherFile and how to post
images to your blog. [We meet at 3 PM in B91.]

We will also screen some examples of previous student work, as well as
listen to some field recordings.

Because the soundwalk has been moved to Wednesday, that pushes the first
soldering session to Monday, September 15. I heard from Xav at
Riverwest Film and Video, and the audio cables should be back in stock
within the next day or two. So we should be good to go for Monday.

Audio Cables and Soundwalk Prep

Hello, all.

I've had a report that Riverwest Film & Video ran out of audio cables,
and I'm waiting to hear back when they might be in stock again. You can
get them elsewhere, but you have to be careful to buy the right kind.
They are 6 ft, stereo mini plug to RCA, and they should look like this:
https://pantherfile.uwm.edu/bachg/course_files/mini_to_RCA.jpg

If the RCA ends are not red and white, don't buy it. If the cable is
being marketed as a high-end professional audio cable, don't buy it.

These should be stocked by our UWM bookstore, and are also available at
Best Buy, Fry's, Circuit City, Sears, etc. Be careful shopping at Radio
Shack, since they tend to carry higher priced cables that may or may not
be appropriate for this project.

We will meet in B-91 at 3 PM for a Blogger Demo before we break out into
our lab sections for our soundwalks. Remember that the lab sections are
listed on the Course Directory:
http://www.glennbach.com/film_116/116_directory.html

Don't forget to wear good shoes and comfortable clothing for the
soundwalk, preferably clothes that don't make a lot of noise (avoid high
heels or hard-soled shoes, nylon sweat pants, windbreakers, anything
with big zippers, etc.). Also, remember to bring a notepad and pen.