Tremors 5: Bloodlines

There are very few film franchises that can go for 25 years, spanning 5 movies and a tv series, all while remaining fresh. Tremors is one of the few that has accomplished this. Their secret formula = Burt Gummer.

If you don't know who Burt Gummer is, he is the incarnation of what the rest of the world thinks Americans are. Gun toting, survivalist, right wing, nut jobs. But somehow, it's impossible not to love Burt. Just in case you're new to the franchise, I have included essential viewing from the first Tremors film to illustrate this point.

It seems like more and more movies are losing their sense of humor and are beginning to take themselves too seriously. That is what makes Tremors 5 a breath of fresh air. It is balls to the wall, tongue in cheek fun... just like the original. This film doesn't try to recreate the original film, it just takes the absurd backdrop and tells a slightly different story. There's even something for us a film nerds in the form of allusions to films like Jurassic Park, Die Hard and Alien 3. If we boil it down to one idea, this is what action films in 80's would have been if they had CGI from 2015.

This is a super short Friday Night Action Movie Book Club, but the part that I want to dive deeper into would be a spoiler, and I don't want to do that. So I'll leave it there. You can find this movie on netflix, and I highly recommend it if you've watched and enjoyed any previous tremors films. I should also note that other than the film Scream, this is my favorite Jamie Kennedy role. 

Yuker Mic-001 Condenser Microphone Review / Test

Today I am reviewing the Yuker Mic-001. This mic is pretty cheap (approximately $27 US Dollars) and it comes with almost everything you will need to get started recording, sans microphone stand and audio interface.

This microphone bears an uncanny resemblance to the BM-700 and NW-700, so much so that I'm going to guess that it's manufactured by the same company. In the video I do a brief comparison and there are some minor audio differences. I also pulled apart these microphones below and took some pictures of the inner workings, and it is safe to say that they are not exact copies of one another.

What's In the Box

In this box you get everything you need to start recording other than a microphone stand and a USB audio adapter. You are going to get the actual microphone, a ball pop filter, a shock mount, and a cable (XLR to 3.5mm). The last thing you get in the box is a specifications sheet.

The box was missing 5/8" to 3/8" microphone stand adapter. However, if you buy a neewer microphone boom arm to use with this microphone, you will get an adapter with the stand.

Performance / Features

I have a problem. The spec sheet that I received had an image of a random microphone on it. The specifications on the specs sheet, and specifications on the amazon page were different as well. On top of this, the amazon page listed features that were not present on this microphone.

The frequency response of this microphone is either 20Hz - 20KHz, or 20Hz - 16KHz, I'm going to assume it is 20Hz to 20KHz because that is what the BM-700's frequency response is. The polar pattern is uni-directional (approximately 180-degrees at 1KHz) as well.

Comparison of inner working of Yuker Mic 001 & the BM-700

The amazon page states that this microphone has two switches: (1) Bass-Reduction switch to reduce room noise, and (2) -10dB overload protection switch to protect against clipping. I did not see either of these options on the microphone, I even unscrewed the whole thing, to make sure they were not internal options. 

There is the possibility that they mean "electronic switches", as in electronic components on the computer chips within the microphone, but I cannot be certain. I have included an image of the MIC-001 and the BM-700's inner electronics for reference. However, when I look at the spec sheet provided, it shows a the option to roll off the frequency response at around 100hz. This leads me to believe that there should be two physical switches on this microphone. one to activate the bass reduction and one to activate -10db pad. 

The build quality of this microphone is decent, but it is definitely a stay at home microphone. This is not the microphone you want if you are going to be traveling and want to record on the road. The shock mount does it's job perfectly, and the cable seems to be a high quality cable that will last for a while.

Pros

  • Cheap

  • Decent Sound Quality

  • Comes with Almost Everything you Need

  • XLR Microphone (can use different preamps, interfaces, etc.)

Cons

  • Unclear specifications

  • Features listed on Amazon, are not on the microphone

Conclusion

I think that this is a decent option for a microphone if you are on a budget. You can get everything you need to start for about $40-50. Because the audio quality of the Mic-001, the BM-700, BM-800, and NW-700 are all very similar, I would recommend shopping around and checking to see which is the cheapest.

I should note that I hook this microphone up using a $6 USB Audio adapter (linked below) which provides 5 volts of power, improving the audio quality. If you have any questions about the microphone, leave them in the comments down below or on youtube and I will get back to you ASAP. Thanks for watching & reading. 

Yuker Mic-001: http://amzn.to/1Qxn4C1
USB Audio Adapter: http://amzn.to/1X1asBV

Behringer C-1 Condenser Mic Review / Test

For today's podcastage, I will be reviewing the Behringer C-1 Condenser Microphone. If you are interested in this microphone, it can be purchased on Amazon for $50, or for $10 more ($60), you can purchase the USB version of this microphone.

Before we get into the actual review, I need to make an IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER. This microphone requires a minimum of 36v phantom power. That means that a USB audio adapter, or USB mixer will not provide sufficient power. You will need a mixer/preamp that has Phantom Power or a stand alone phantom power supply.

What's In the Box

This is a very simple box. You get a hardshell plastic carrying case and inside you get the Microphone, the Mic Mount, and a 5/8" Male to 3/8" Female Mic Stand Adapter. That's it. You're not getting cables, shock mounts, pop filters or anything else. You are paying $50 just for the mic. Don't misunderstand, that's not necessarily a bad thing.

Performance / Features

This is a Cardiod Condenser microphone that requires phantom power. The frequency response is 40Hz - 20KHz, and it provides approximately 180-degree polar pattern at 1KHz. 

The build quality on this is great. All metal construction, metal grill, metal body. It feels like you could beat someone to death with this thing (but I wouldn't recommend it). The mic mount is plastic, and doesn't feel like the most sturdy mount I've handled. You also need a screw driver to tighten/loosen the hinge on the mount. 

The carrying case is a "hard shell" plastic case. The reason I put hard shell in quotation marks is this case is because it is plastic, but not sturdy plastic. The locking mechanism on the case is a cheap plastic hinge that will break if you use it too much, and the case doesn't seem like it will protect the mic from too much. HOWEVER, most mics I have tested out, only come with a carrying pouch, so this does offer more protection than most.

Pros

  • Sturdy Construction 
  • Good Sound Quality
  • Carrying Case
  • XLR Microphone (can use different preamps, interfaces, etc.)

Cons

  • Frequency Response rolls off at 40hz. Doesn't provide full audible frequency range.
  • Requires 36v of Phantom Power (not necessarily a con, but for some people this means an additional investment which could be a bad thing).
  • No cables included.

Conclusion

Overall, I really like this microphone. It is a great sound for the cost, and it is one of my favorites that I have tested out to date. As I mentioned before, it does require a minimum of 36v of phantom power, so if you are planning on plugging this directly into your USB adapter, it will not work. You will also need to purchase cables if you are going to be purchasing this mic.

If you are just doing gaming videos, I don't think you need to invest in a $50 microphone like this that requires phantom power and a bunch of other stuff, I think you will be fine with a $30 mic that works with a $5 adapter. The people that will get the most benefit out of this higher quality are musicians who are recording vocals, or acoustic instruments. This will give you that little bit of an edge. It is also an XLR microphone so you will be able to upgrade to better preamps, or interfaces.

If you have any questions about the microphone, leave them in the comments down below or on youtube and I will get back to you ASAP. Thanks for watching & reading. 

Behringer C-1: http://amzn.to/1X1aj1w
Behringer C-1u: http://amzn.to/1NV8jYf
Phantom Power Supply: http://amzn.to/1lqCFGV
USB Audio Adapter: http://amzn.to/1X1asBV

Superhero Sunday: Venom

Dress in black and let's get weird its Superhero Sunday Venom edition.

The History

Venom has only been around since 1984 but has a very dense/clunky history. I want start from the beginning but then focus on the main points and provide some reading material for you all. The idea of a new Spiderman costume was what inspired venom and the idea was bought for $220.00 by Marvel. Mike Zeck and David Michilinie created the alien host with Spiderman and it was Todd McFarlane that drew first appearance of Venom.

The Character

First what we refer to as venom is actually an alien symbiote that combines with a human host. The alien race of parasites would travel to planets and attach to host, they would provide the host with enhance abilities while draining there life. Venom was different and wanted to commit to its host rather than killing it. The alien race decided that the venom symbiote was insane and was imprisoned on Battleworld.

Battleworld is a planet that the Marvel heroes and villains fought on during secret wars and where Spiderman would become attached to the symbiote becoming the first host of Venom. Once off Battleworld Spiderman could feel the enhanced alien suit corrupting him.  To rid himself of the suit Spiderman crashed himself into a bell tower creating sound waves that disrupt and damage the symbiote. Spiderman thought the venom alien to be dead.

Flash forward to Eddie Brock heading home on the subway after being fired from the Daily Planet. He blamed Spiderman for getting him fired and hates him. During this time it only gets worse for Eddie as he learns he has cancer. Eddie becomes desperate and goes to a church to pray. It is the same church with the bell that the symbiote was destroyed with. The symbiote being a banded and left for dead hates Spiderman. It can sense Eddie’s hatred as well and attaches to him. This fuels both of them and makes Venom proper. Eddie Brock as Venom wants to destroy Spiderman and they do many battles over the years. Venom uses the same abilities of Spiderman because that was the first host and it imprinted the web slinging/ wall crawling abilities into the alien.  Eddie Brock is the most popular Venom and villain for Spiderman but there have been several other hosts so let’s find out where Venom goes.

The next main player to dawn the mantle of Venom was Mac Gargan aka Scorpion. This happens during the Sinister 12 story line where the Venom approaches Mac offering additional strength in hopes to taking down Spiderman. Mac wears the suit for a few years through the Dark Reign until ultimately being defeated by Spiderman and the Avengers.

Alas my favorite Venom, Flash Thompson. Once the Dark Avengers are defeated the military captures the symbiote in order to study it. They want to start a new super solider project where the suit would be worn by a host and sedated/controlled by the government. Flash Thompson is a war vet and lost his legs in the war. He went to fight because he looked up to Spiderman and wanted to be a hero too. Flash now back home has an alcohol abuse problem and PTSD. He becomes a prime candidate the suit would restore his legs and provide purpose. But the struggle of becoming corrupted and evil from the suit is a hard battle. Ultimately Flash runs away with the suit and in 2015 is Venom Space Knight.

Why this hero (villian)?

I love this history of Venom from starting as a villain to Spiderman to become a rich story filled hero. The symbiotes have far for history and there is an excellent site you should all check out. TheVenomSite.com

 

Recommended Reading:

I also  did a little flow chart to follow Venom enjoy:




Deep Impact

In the late 90's, there was a very special year. That special year was 1998. During this culmination of doomsday paranoia and visual effects gold rush, the same movie was released twice in the same year. This controversy split the world in to two camps; 1) Armageddon, or 2) Deep Impact.

If you have not seen either of these films, let me explain. An asteroid (armageddon) / comet (deep impact) is hurtling towards Earth. America sends astronauts to blow up the asteroid/comet. People sacrifice themselves for the good of the world. World saved. The end. Seriously. Both these films have that exact same story and they came out within 2 months of each other. 

I had always considered myself an Armageddon guy, but that's because I saw Armageddon in the theatre, and Bruce Willis sort of scares you into appreciating everything he does. But after watching Deep Impact again, I think I may be a Deep Impact guy. This is due to two main things. 1) Morgan Freeman is the president in Deep Impact, and 2) Neil Degrasse Tyson prefers Deep Impact.

In all honesty though, the acting is only decent in this film, the visual effects are dated, and the story is the same as every other apocalypse movie. It's nothing worth seeing. On top of all this, the film seems to have schizophrenia. They jump between 10 different stories, and do not focus on any of them long enough to develop any real empathy with the characters.

As I watched this movie, I was just desperately trying to find some deeper meaning. There is one scene that stuck out. After President Morgan Freeman tells the world that everything has failed, and the world will be destroyed, he walks out of the room. After he leaves the room, everyone is just left standing there. In my eyes this could be a parallel to two things:

  1. People are too focussed on careers. They allow their occupation define who they are and what they are. They do not have a personal identity, so the moment that their job position is deemed irrelevant, they are like a computer with no programming. They don't know what to do, and they don't know who they are.
  2. It could just be a knod to actions of a film crew following the wrap of a shoot. Everyone is in a state of shock because 6-12 months of work has culminated and finally come to an end. And it's bittersweet.

Okay, let's be honest. Those definitely are not what the film maker was trying to say, but it's fine to try and find meaning where there is none.

Overall, I wouldn't recommend buying this film, but if you have 2 hours to kill, and you want to see the end of the world; it's on netflix. And as I said, Morgan Freeman is the president and that can save almost any film. 

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TCCC: Podcast Advice from Tucson Comic Con

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During our Panel(Left to Right): Zach, Micah, Bandrew, & Logan

During our Panel
(Left to Right): Zach, Micah, Bandrew, & Logan

As you can probably tell by the coverage over the last few days, Tucson Comic Con happened this past weekend. At this convention Logan & I did our first Podcast Panel. The panelists from left to right are: Zack from Culture Popped Podcast, Micah from The Paper Robots Podcast, Myself, & Logan from The Paper Robots Podcast.

We initially had planned on this panel being nothing more than a discussion of what a podcast is, why we do it, the statistics behind podcast growth and where we see it going. However, after about 10 minutes of background, Logan (who was moderating) decided to go to the crowd for questions. We had a few very active audience members who asked great questions. I will go ahead and share that information with you now. I do want to note that these are all opinion based answers and are not absolutes. 

What's a Good Starting Setup?

There are lots of different setups you can start with, and it's hard to summarize into a single starting set up. First, I will say: you can use your iPhone or iPad to podcast. Just use the voice memos app and record. If you want slightly better sound, here's what I would recommend for a single person format:

You could have more than one person talking into this microphone, but you will lose some audio fidelity as each person will need to be further away from the microphone, allowing more ambient noise to be picked up. For software, you can use Audacity, a free music recording/editing software. It will not provide the most powerful production options, but it will be a good starting point.

Do You Set a Recording Schedule

Hanging out With the Awesome Panel Staff after our Panel.(Left to Right): Bandrew, OB, Jenny, Logan

Hanging out With the Awesome Panel Staff after our Panel.(Left to Right): Bandrew, OB, Jenny, Logan

For a single person podcast, like mine, it is very easy to schedule a podcast, which is what I do. I know that each week, I have videos to produce, articles to write, and a podcast to record, so I set aside a few hours each week to research and prepare the episode. Then I make sure that on Tuesday (a day before release) that I have about an hour to record the episode. I take another hour or two editing & doing post work on the episode, and finally about 30 minutes to an hour writing the supplemental article/show notes, and scheduling the release in Libsyn.

For a multi-person podcast, setting a weekly schedule for recording & editing gets a lot more difficult. Logan & Micah can attest to this. The way to compensate for the difficulty of scheduling multiple people is to create a back log of episodes. Prior to launching your podcast, record a few extra episodes so you have an episode ready if you have a week where not everyone can record. Or if you have an easy week where everyone can record multiple times, do that, create a back log and store those episodes. The key here is to not miss an episode. Once you miss a single episode, it gets a lot easier to justify skipping future episodes. Don't give yourself an excuse to give up.

How Do You Stick Out Among the Noise?

The first thing that is necessary as a podcaster is to develop and understand your voice. When there are 100 people talking about the same thing, you need to let your listener know who you are as a person and why they should care what you have to say. This is very difficult to do. The way that I did this was by recording a LOT before releasing anything. You shouldn't be afraid to talk into a microphone and record, listen back to it, and critique yourself. Ask yourself, "Do I want to listen to this?", "Is this interesting?" "Would I tell my friends to listen to this?". This technique will not only get you comfortable on microphone, but it can also help find your voice.

Backing up a bit, when you want to talk about something that has been discussed 100 times, you need to come up with a unique take on the topic. Rather than talking about how Empire Strikes Back is the best Star Wars movie, maybe try something along the lines of "Parallels between Star Wars and the Ballets of Stravinsky", or something like that. Mix your knowledge, and bring your own personality and views to the podcast.

When it comes down to it, the most important thing is having your own voice and to not just repeat what everyone else says. However, don't let this discourage you from getting started, it is sometimes cool to hear a podcast from the beginning and witness them grow as an artist as they become more comfortable and confident on the microphone.

I hope the answers to these questions help you get your podcast started. Thanks to Logan for moderating the panel, and the other awesome panelists, Zack & Micah. Also thanks to the Audience who asked such AMAZING questions, and finally thanks to Tucson Comic Con for Having us. Hope to see y'all next year. 

A Brief History of Youtube

If you are anything like me, you rely heavily, and I mean heavily, on YouTube. This is the site you go to for your entertainment and enjoyment. It's has successfully replaced the need for cable because not only is there more content, but it's exactly what you want!

The thing I love about youtube most is the fact that you can find whatever it is you want on there. Whether it be a Let's Play video or a Mic Review or a Critical Analysis of Moby Dick! It's all there, and it's all pretty dang cool. Thought I would pay homage to the site by compiling a brief history of their site and sharing it with everyone. 

PS: I missed my 10 year YouTube anniversary, and I'm bummed about it!

TCCC: Cosplay at Tucson Comic Con

The 2015 Tucson Comic Con just happened November 6th - 8th, 2015 and the Cosplay was great. I have included a few photographs of cosplayers that I saw at the convention. 

If you are any of the cosplayers in this slide show, please don't hesitate to get in touch with me if you would like high quality versions of the images. For everyone else, make sure you make it out to next years Tucson Comic Con for awesome cosplay, panels, and artists!

Samson Meteor USB Mic Review / Test

Today I tested out my most requested mic to date, the Samson Meteor USB Microphone.  This mic can cost from $50-$70 on amazon depending on the finish you get. I went with chrome because cosmetics don't matter and it was the cheapest. Now let's look more at this device.

What's In the Box

The packaging is nice, unlike most microphones I get, so it already stands out. The contents are very straight forward. You get the Microphone, USB Cable, Users Manual, and Carrying Pouch (I forgot to mention this in the video).

 

Performance / Features

The construction of this thing is awesome. All metal. Hefty. Sturdy feeling. I love it. There are two ports on this mic, the USB port (to hook up the mic to your computer), and a headphone jack (to plug in headphones, for 0 latency monitoring and computer playback).

On the front of the microphone there is a knob which controls the headphone volume. In the center of that is a button that can be used to mute the microphone. This would be useful if you are using this microphone for live streaming a game, or chatting on skype.

 

Pros

  • Sturdy Construction & Portable
  • Good Sound Quality
  • Headphone Jack on Microphone
  • Built in Stand / Compatible with Microphone Stand

Cons

  • No microphone gain control on microphone
  • Does not isolate sound that well
  • It's a USB Microphone (i.e. cannot use with different preamps to get different tones / or run through mixer to process sound prior to being recorded).

Conclusion

Overall, I think this is a pretty good little microphone. The samson line of mics seems to be created for portability and durability and the two that I have tested out so far (Samson GO & Samson Meteor) excel in those two categories. The sound on both of them is slightly lacking and won't provide the highest quality audio, but for a podcast, meeting, or class, this microphone will work great. If you are interested, I have included a link to the microphone down below.

If you have any questions about the microphone, leave them in the comments down below or on youtube and I will get back to you ASAP. Thanks for watching & reading. 

Buy it on Amazon: http://amzn.to/20Iu7LR

The Shrieker Podcast 002: Jeff Dee

Jeff Dee talks to us about his legal battle over the rights to Villains and Vigilantes and the speculates on the where the strengths of RPGs will take the hobby in the future.

Jeff Dee entered the RPG industry as a teen, illustrating for TSR in 1979. Along with Jack Herman, he developed the first complete superhero RPG, Villains and Vigilantes. 1st and 2nd edition V&V were published by Fantasy Games Unlimited Incorporated in 1979 and 1982. In 1991 FGU unincorporated, effectively ending their publishing contract. FGU president, Scott Bizar, retained the name to the company and began selling the V&V rulebook and supplements electronically in 2010. Since then Jeff Dee and Jack Herman have fought Scott Bizar in court, winning back the copyright for the V&V text but, currently not the trademark for the name. You can help Jeff fight for creator’s right on his Go Fund Me page.

Having been a part of the RPG hobby since nearly its inception, Jeff Dee has a good perspective on where the industry is going. He marvels at the increased availability of games, and resources. There are free random generators for pretty much anything a player might need online. There are ample cheap printable paper miniatures at drivethruRPG.com. There are even customizable 3D printed miniatures, such as at heroforge.com, though the technology is still very expensive. Online virtual tabletops, such as Roll20, are allowing players around the globe to play together, though they will need to become easier to use.

Rate and review our show on itunes, comment on our website, or email me. We'd love to hear from you.

Downloadable Character Sheet (Sky Hunter Man)

Behringer Xenyx 302USB Review / Explained / Test

This is a fairly thorough walkthrough of all the features of the Behringer Xenyx 302USB Mixer.

Things to Know

  1. This is a USB mixer meaning you can hook it up to your computer. HOWEVER, it does not provide the option to record audio to separate tracks at the same time. All audio going through the mixer is sent to the computer as a SINGLE audio track. 
  2. This mixer provides Phantom Power to your microphone, however, I was unable to find a switch, so I assume it is always on. Therefore, I want to include the disclaimer BE CAREFUL IF YOU'RE USING A RIBBON MIC WITH THIS!

Performance / Featrures

The first thing that I really like about this mixer is that it provides latency free monitoring. It has a single XLR input with a 2 band eq and pan fader. It also has preamp gain and mic volume. I did notice that there was a bit of noise when I got the preamp above 50%. 

The second channel consists of 2 options. 1) RCA Line in or 2) USB Input. The first option is fairly self explanatory, but with the click of the red button, the second one allows you to hear your computer is playing. Directly next to the red button, this option allows you to send channel 2's audio to the mix, or just to your headphones. This is perfect for recording. If you are recording vocals or guitar in a DAW, you just want your previously recorded tracks to go just to your headphones, you don't want that stuff re-recorded onto every track.

In the upper right hand side of the mixer are (2) 3.5mm jacks. One is for your headphones, and the other is for a microphone input. If you have a gaming headset that splits into (2) 3.5mm jacks, this will work. I do want to know that, this microphone input is controlled by the channel one faders & knobs. Therefore, I would only recommend using one or the other. 

Lastly, it has an RCA main mix output, so you can send the audio to an amplifier and hear your mix/recording on bigger speakers.

Conclusion

I think this is a pretty cool little device. I wish I had it when I was just getting into recording. It sounds good. It makes recording very easy, and it provides more control over your sound than if you were to just plug into a USB audio adapter (like I do for all my videos).  The one main issue I have with this device is that it is not easy to expand from. Basically, it's a great starters unit, but if you have a few extra bucks, I would recommend springing a more powerful version like the Q802USB or Q1202USB. These more powerful versions will provide you more room to expand and you won't have to upgrade too much.

If you have any questions about this Mixer, leave them in the comments down below or on youtube and I'll try to get to them ASAP. Thanks for reading & watching.

Office Space

This movie is an instant classic. A movie that you will come back to over and over again. Even if you cannot relate 100% to the office environment, the over arching themes and characters are relatable to any work environment. 

When I first saw this film, I was in high school and did not fully understand the genius of it. However, once I got an office job in college, this film took on a whole new life. I was witnessing in real time, characters from this movie taking part in scenes from this movie. I dealt with a real life Milton, and a real life "Corporate Accounts Nina Speaking". It truly is eerie, how well this movie mirrors the real world.

The acting is good. The story is good. But that's not what makes this film. The subtle jokes and mannerisms throughout the entire movie are what make it gem. Every single character including the background extras are relatable to someone you have dealt with in a professional capacity.

This film is just a perfect storm of awesome. I know that this film will not work for everyone, but here's what I recommend. Next time you have a crappy day at work, and your coworkers are driving you nuts, rent this film. Throw it on. And feel the wave of calm wash over you. That's when this film really shines, after a really crappy, stressful day at work. That's how I watch it, and every time, it makes me feel better. 

Real Life Soylent Green

That's it. I am too busy. I am sick and tired of spending time and energy trying to find food to eat. Lucky for me, someone else already had this thought. That person was Rob Rhinehart and he developed Soylent. A complete meal replacement.

I just received my first shipment of Soylent 2.0, and I just ordered some Soylent 1.5. Once I receive my second order, I will go ahead and drink nothing but Soylent for a week and see how it affects me. I have a strong feeling that it will provide a significant improvement to my life because my current diet is shit.

Stay tuned for a video documenting my Soylent Plunge.

Floureon BM-100FX Condenser Microphone Review / Test

Today I tested out the Floureon BM-100FX and it is ridiculous. It will run you about $32 on amazon, and it has built in effects. When I say built-in effects, I mean built in EFFECT. One effect. Lets look at this some more.

What's In the Box

This microphone came in the same box as pretty much every other mass produced chinese microphone that I have purchased. Inside you will get the Microphone, Pop Filter, Mic Stand, Mic Clip, Microphone Cable, & Specifications Sheet.

The mic stand feels very cheap and I don't think it will last very long, and the mic clip can barely fit the microphone. If you have some extra money after purchasing the microphone, I would definitely recommend picking up a different mic stand and shock mount. 

Performance / Features

The frequency response on this mic is 30Hz - 20KHz which is pretty comparable to other microphones in the same price range.

The polar pattern is 180-degrees. In front of the mic you will get good sound and behind the microphone you will only get low-mid frequencies being picked up. This is good if you are recording in a loud room or if you are recording while you are typing on a keyboard. (Just make sure to place anything you don't want to be heard, behind the microphone).

As I mentioned the BM-100x also has an onboard effect (echo). This allows you to add a delay effect to your audio. Regardless of how cool the idea is, I don't see any practical applications of this feature.

Lastly, the cable is XLR to 3.5mm/USB. This allows you to plug into your computers microphone input (which records the audio) and the USB port (which provides power to the microphone).

Pros

  • The microphone cable has USB jack to provide power to microphone
  • There is a microphone gain knob on the microphone
  • 180-degree polar pattern (it does not pick up noise all the way around the microphone)

Cons

  • The cable is XLR to 3.5mm/USB, this is too specialized of a cable, and will make it difficult to replace.
  • The knobs on the microphone feel flimsy.
  • The effect does not provide enough control
  • It is only one effect that I don't think has any practical applications
  • The microphone stand is cheap / Mic Clip hardly fits microphone
  • Slightly more expensive than similar sounding microphones that do not have effect

Conclusion

Overall, I think this mic falls short. It has some cool features that I think can be applied to microphones in the future more successfully, but they don't succeed here. The echo does not allow for enough control to make it a useful effect, the cable is too specialized, and the accessories feel like an afterthought. However, if you are interested, I have included a link to the microphone down below.

If you have any questions about the microphone, leave them in the comments down below or on youtube and I will get back to you ASAP. Thanks for watching & reading. 

Buy it on Amazon: http://amzn.to/1Mu2Ods

What's In Your Bag: Santa Fe Comic Con Edition

I just got back from Covering Santa Fe Comic Con, and I figured I would do a video of "What's in Your Bag?". I will link each item and let you know how it functioned in the convention setting.

  • Timbuk2 TSA Messenger Bag - This bag has yet to let me down once. Highly recommend it.
  • Zojirushi Water Bottle - Another item that has yet to let me down. It is a bit expensive but it will keep you hydrated and not ruin your computer/camera gear. 
  • Field Notes - Even if you are not going to a con, you need to have one of these in your pocket. You never know when you need to take notes, or write a to-do list, or have a brilliant Idea. I always have one in my back pocket.
  • Fisher Space Pen - This is my favorite pen and it always goes with me. Super small and reliable. And this is a custom version to commemorate hitting 100 subs on my youtube channel.
  • Google Acer Chromebook - I am a big fan of this laptop, and I use it more than my Macbook Pro, however, you do not need to take a computer to a convention unless you know you're going to be doing writing throughout the day. This was unnecessary. 
  • Neewer Lav Mic - These things cost about $7, and you get three of them for that cost. HOWEVER, this mic shorted out and yielded almost all my footage from the convention useless. If you are going to get these, be careful, and make sure to check the recordings and make sure they are working before recording anything important.
  • Zoom H1 - I love Zoom's recorders and this is no exception. I got so much use out of this thing. I set it on autogain, tossed it on the table at panels and hit record. It worked like a charm and it's small and portable. One of the most useful things I brought with me.
  • Emergency Battery - Lucky for me, I did not have to use this. But, I always keep it in my bag with an extra iPhone cable. 
  • Go Pro Hero 3 - This is another one of those devices that you just can't go wrong with. I love this thing and I filmed almost all my footage with this thing, however, the lav mic caused all of it to be useless. Not the GoPro's fault though. I do with there was a way to monitor microphone levels though.
  • Samsung NX1000 - This camera worked alright. In lowlight, it struggled, and I started to get some noise when I was in low ISO's, so I'm not sure if this is a great option for conventions. I didn't use the kit lens either. I did take a lot of photos, but many of them didn't turn out well. I blame my amateur photography skills for that, and not the camera.
  • Samsung NX 16mm Lens - This is a great lens, but just not for my needs. This is a lens designed for beautiful landscapes, and I'm sure it can kick butt at those. I will have to test that out and get back to you. 
  • Samsung NX 45mm Lens - This lens is the sex. That's what the kids are saying, right? Well I love this lens. It is beautiful, provides great DOF, and a big aperture and just all around great! I took the majority of my photos with this lens, and some of them look spectacular. When there was enough light, the photos turned out great. I have included an image taken with this camera, above. 

Can't Hardly Wait

Can't Hardly Wait is your typical coming of age story a la American Pie, but this movie came out a year prior. However, this film is more than a coming of age story of just one person. It is a multi-main-character coming of age story. You have your artistic writer, feminist, nerd, jock, pretty girl, and someone desperate to fit in. You have the whole cast of the breakfast club modernized for the late 1990's.

There is not much that I can say about this film, other than the fact that it is very relatable, very honest, and very dated. Just like The Breakfast Club, there are main characters that everyone can relate to. But unfortunately while watching this film it's impossible to not burst into fits of uncontrollable laughter at some of the clothes that people are wearing. Other than the wardrobe, this film definitely holds up 15+ years after it's release. 

I'm not happy with my top level summary thus far, so I'm going to pretentiously find meaning where there is none. Towards the end of the film, the nerd and the jock get drunk, make amends, and then get arrested. In the morning, the jock tells the cops that he beat up the nerd and forced him to drink alcohol in order to save the nerd from repercussions. Later, the nerd attempts to thank the jock in public, and the jock ridicules him. Finally, the film has a text layover saying that the Jock, gets kicked out of school, fired from his job, becomes unhealthy, and becomes an alcoholic. Here's what I propose...

This is not a story about a boy who falls in love, or a group of kids coming to terms with impending adult hood. This is the classic tale of redemption mixed with the classic heroes tale. From the beginning of the film, we are made to think of the jock as a jerk. He consistently confirms this idea throughout the film. Then towards the end of the film, we see him realize the error in his ways, and make a change. He sacrifices himself for the greater good, knowing that the nerd will go on to do great things in this world. He does not acknowledge his good deed in public because real heroes do not do good for the sake of glory. Lastly, he deals with the consequences of his actions, falling into a seemingly sad life, sacrificing himself so the nerd can continue on his current trajectory to improve the world. As I said, this is not a coming of age story, this is a hero's redemption story! 

If the story I propose is in fact the theme, then this film is not a comedy, it is a drama, and it is a huge, huge bummer. I highly recommend it.

Buy it on Amazon: http://amzn.to/1XD8wSh

GeeksRising at Tucson Comic Con

Announcement time! GeeksRising will be at Tucson Comic Con November 6-8th. We will cover parts of the show as we have been for other conventions. I am very excited to announce that we (Bandrew and Logan) are hosting a panel on podcasting. 

The panel will include everything from tips and trick to starting a podcast to why podcasts are amazing! Tucson Comic Con is a wonderful show and we are so happy to be apart of it. This panel brings both of us hosting our own podcasts and Bandrews Channel about reviewing tech, Podcastage. 

If you in Tucon, AZ and able to make it come stop by the panel on Sunday at 2pm.Tucson Convention Center.



SFCCC: How to Publish Comics w/ Brian Pulido

One of the most common questions among comic book creators is: "how do I get my comic book published?". I sat in on Brian Pulido's panel at the Santa Fe Comic Con to try and get those answers for you.

If you don't know who Brian Pulido is, he is a comic book creator who has been in the game since 1991. Over his nearly 2 and a half decades as a professional comic creator, he has published books for Megadeth, WWF, ICP, Halloween, The Mummy and Static X.

The ideas from his panel, "How to Publish Comics", can be summarized into three categories.

Be Realistic

When you're starting to write a story, it is essential that you understand the marketplace that you are entering. You don't necessarily need to allow the market place to alter your course, but you should enter into it with realistic expectations.

It is definitely more fun to write about something that you are completely passionate about. However, if what you are passionate about is a very specific and unique story, before entering the marketplace, know how your book will fit into the grand scheme of things. Basically just have realistic expectations.

It should also be noted that it is impossible to forecast the marketplace. If you see that one year vampires are really popular, and you decide to write a vampire book to cash in on the trend, by the time you get to market with the story, the trend will have passed. That is no way to succeed in the comic industry. What it comes down to is: be true to yourself, be realistic about your books place in the market, and don't try to cash in on trends. 

Finding the Right Team

Another hugely important aspect of publishing your first book is finding the right team. If you are just starting out in comics, chances are you will not be working with well established writers or authors right off the bat. Therefore, it's incredibly important to vet the potential partners. One of the hardest parts of starting out will be finding artists that are true to their word who will produce work in a timely fashion. You should not be afraid to try multiple people.

Make sure that you understand your Writer's/Artist's personality, commitments, hobbies, etc. Do they have a full time job? Are they a full time student? How committed will this person be to the project? All of these are important questions to ask prior to entering into a comic with someone. Let me share a story of Brian's with you.

For Brian's first book "Evil Ernie", he received submissions from 71 artists. He ended up trying out 12 of those artists, and ultimately all 12 failed in regards to quality or professionalism. When Brian says professionalism, he means (1) doing what you say you will do in the time that is agreed upon, (2) being honest about the time you will be available to work on the material, and (3) being in communication when things change. To simplify, it is finding like minded people to work with. 

Publishing Methodology

It is now completely doable to publish your own book. The way that Brian does this is by hosting the world premier on Kickstarter, and going directly to the readers. After the close of the kickstarter project, Pulido & Team are able to deliver the product within 5-6 weeks. The way that this team accomplishes this is by completing all the creative work prior to the launch, meaning they are only going to kickstarter to cover printing costs.

Currently Brian has a kickstarter for a book Zack the Zombie Exterminator, and will be launching another Kickstarter on November 2nd for a book titled La Muerta. Make sure to check out Brian Pulido's work.

Follow Brian Pulido on Twitter @TheBrianPulido
Check out SFCC: www.santafecomiccon.com

SFCCC: Robert Mukes

When you see Robert Mukes, you automatically think Rufus, from House of 1000 Corpses. He has accomplished a lot more than this one film, but regardless, lets start with the 2003 horror classic.

After House of 1000 Corpses was completed, it sat on the shelf for 3 years. Universal didn't want to release it and MGM didn't want to release it. They simply did not understand the energy. Ultimately, Rob Zombie had to purchase the film back and find Lions Gate who was willing to Release it. 

Robert says that he's Incredibly fortunate to have been a part of House of 1000 Corpses. A film that very few studios believed in initially, but once someone gave it a chance, it became a cult classic.

Through Robert's experiences, he is able to bring a unique perspective to his roles. As a child, he was a little kid who was picked on by bigger kids from the rough crowd. This provided him a lot of fuel for his roles. Now that he is, to say the least, a much larger man, he is able to channel those experiences that most people his size do not have. This leads to more authentic portrayals on the big screen. This ability mixed with his stature makes for a very unique and memorable actor.

When it comes down to it. Robert Mukes is just a guy who loves his work, and is ready and willing to do a lot more of it. He is a lot like House of 1000 Corpses. The film is done, and ready to be seen, full of raw energy, he just needs the right people to place in him the same faith that Lions Gate put in to House of 1000 Corpses, and they will get their very own classic Actor.

Follow Robert Mukes on Twitter @RobertMukes
Check out SFCC: www.santafecomiccon.com

SFCCC: Michael Welch

If you are not familiar with the name Mike Welch, that doesn't matter. Chances are you have seen him acting in something; I can almost guarantee it. He has been acting for nearly 20 years on shows ranging from Star Trek, to Frasier, to Walker, Texas Ranger, to Stargate, to The X-Files. This guy is all over the place. 

Some of his work may not be for you, but I don't think anyone can deny that this guy's got talent. After all, he's been working for 20 years and that's something you can't accomplish if you're bad at your job. 

However, his work is not what I want to talk about. I want to talk about rejection. Michael Welch is a talented actor. But all actors, no matter how talented, will face rejection...a lot of it. At the recent Santa Fe Comic Con, I sat in on his Panel and asked how he dealt with the rejection, and here is what he said:

I realize that this is an actor talking about rejection during the audition process. However, think about how many times you have been rejected from something that you love to do. How often does that push you into a state of depression, or self doubt? Probably quite often. It's easy, it's familiar, and every single artist that I know, myself included, has gone down this road.

I have a challenge for you. Next time you are rejected, instead of feeling sorry for yourself, try to apply Mike's approach to your situation. Look at that rejection as just another opportunity to showcase your work to a new person. Another opportunity to hone your craft. Another opportunity to do what you love. Take pride in the fact that you did the absolute best that you could, and know that what you're doing is worth doing. Now go kick some ass!

Follow Michael Welch on Twitter @MichaelWelchAct
Check out SFCC: www.santafecomiccon.com/