We’ve been looking into and weighing the pros and cons of Source Elements “Source-Connect” program. The program is used for real-time recording, studio to studio, in different cities, countries and continents via a high-speed Internet connection.

A definite plus is that it’s a Pro Tools plug-in that let’s you record live through your high-speed Internet connection, between studios, virtually anywhere in the world.

Another feature we like is the ability to have integrated instant messaging during the recording that doesn’t disrupt the session.

We also like the fact that we could then offer an option to our clients alongside our existing ISDN service.

One concern we do have is that Source-Connect is an Internet-based connection. That means we’re at the mercy of the connection staying active or dropping. Obviously not a great thing to happen midway through a recording.

Another concern is that the quality of the signal may not measure up to the service that we already provide with EDnet and our Telos “Zephyr” codec.

We currently offer studio-to-studio connections using EDnet’s ISDN-based service. This system works extremely well and consistently delivers excellent quality audio. It uses two ISDN lines that are independent of the Internet, so there are no concern over dropped connections. This service’s quality and reliability have certainly been proven time and again.

As always GGRP welcomes all comments, opinions and advice on this topic.

In most cases, that’s a good thing. The only person worried if their commercial is loud enough, is the client. Everyone else is saying, “why are all the F#$*ing commercials so F&*#ing LOUD!! —while reaching for the mute button. Most television shows have dynamics—some parts are louder than others. Makes for good drama. Most TV commercials, as dictated by the ALL-KNOWING AD WIZARD, have one dynamic—as loud as freakin’ possible! Makes for good annoyance, or as previously mentioned, frantic scrambling for the mute button. This wasn’t a problem before the advent of digital TV. In the good old days of analog, there wasn’t the dynamic range there is now.

http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/publications/reports/rp110318.htm

Did you read the whole thing? I thought not. But enough to realize there are several contributing factors involved in determining what volume a commercial is played at any given time, on any given station. So next time a client calls you in the middle of the night saying, “I just heard my f*#$ing commercial on the Food Network and it wasn’t as loud as the one right f%#*ing before it—tell them, “Wow, didn’t we get lucky!”