Hi,
Since plan A relied on all cameras having power, and that transpired
to be a bad assumption, plan B......
On Monday 5th July, Richard Taylor wrote:
> Have you progressed your plans for the video any further?
>
> It would be good to draft some instructions for the session chairs.
[fx: me utterly swamped ]
On Friday 9th July, Richard Taylor wrote:
> Sorry to chase...
>
> Just wondering what the plan is for video. I have had offers of memory
> sticks and people that would be willing to help but I need to know if you
> can coordinate during the conference because I do not have a handle on what
> the plan is.
[fx: me utterly swamped ]
Sorry not to reply earlier, I've been completely swamped. This is the first
chance I've had to think about it and reply, and I've written a long reply
with detailed reasons, which is probably too long.
As a result, I'll try and write something smaller and more focussed.
(edit: It ended up long again, but probably clearer)
If there's questions on specific points I can also post the longer version.
Summary of help needed
======================
1 - 7 Volunteers needed. (preferably 1 or 2 dedicated ones)
3 x 8GB ***CLASS 6*** SD Cards required [1]
1 x tripod required
[1] If necessary I can buy these myself, but I'm concerned about
delivery before europython.
Note
====
No plan is perfect, this one is aiming to be practical.
Volunteers needed
=================
Due to the characteristics of the cameras I am seeking between 1 and 7
volunteers to record sessions covering the following time periods:
M:AM: MONDAY MORNING
M:PM: MONDAY AFTERNOON
T:AM: TUESDAY MORNING
T:PM: TUESDAY AFTERNOON
W:AM: WEDNESDAY MORNING
W:PM: WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON
Thur: THURSDAY (MORNING)
Clearly it is better if the volunteer for morning & afternoon is the same.
Also, it should be clear that 1 person could do all of the above.
To be clear:
* I would prefer 1 or 2 dedicated volunteers who are prepared
to do a day or two each.
* What's required from a volunteer is to simply record the sessions
they attend and to make sure all 3 cameras get back.
See below as to what a volunteer needs to do.
Required Equipment
==================
Either:
* 6 x 4GB SD card, class 2 , 4 or 6
* 3 x 4GB SD card, class 6
Prefer:
* 3 x 8GB SD card, class 6 (removes need for swapping cards, makes life
less hectic)
I think the most cost effective & practical option here is 3x8GB SD cards.
I'm prepared to order 3 x 8GB SD cards if necessary. (I find them
useful anyway) I'm concerned about them getting here before I leave
for Europython though.
(Note: The class matters, it affects how fast we can get the data off)
1 x Tripod for the europython cameras
Planned amount to be recorded
=============================
Total amount to be recorded is 26.5 hours (or so) using the camera I'll be
borrowing. Total amount to be record in total using the 3 Europython cameras
is about 19 hours. The limiting factor really is power. (see key forces
below) Swapping batteries may mitigate this, but would definitely make things
harder.
This will mean upto 45 hours out of the 100+ hours can be recorded.
(Minimum of about 26 hours though, which will still be higher than last
year I think)
(This is better than last year, which is the point really)
Key forces
==========
* I have 1 camera I can borrow which records at 4GB/hour, 10x optical
zoom, which can be powered by an external PSU. This means that I can
record 1 entire tracks' worth using that.
Maximum session period is 10GB in length.
* There are 3 cameras owned by the europython crew which can each record
about 1 hour each, before their batteries give out. They cannot
practically be powered by an external PSU. Same brand as the other so
can assume 4GB/hour, but only 5x optical zoom. Therefore not suitable
for recording the Adrian Boult room. Assumed recharge time of around
60 minutes. (based on conversations and looking at specs)
* 4GB/hour has to be assumed in order to capture speaker & slides. If we
could change GOP length we could reduce this. Typically these cameras
do not support that sort of tweaking.
* Class 6 SD cards appear to have a good balance factor of "speed of
copying stuff off" vs "compatibility with devices" vs cost. You can
copy 4GB off a class 6 SD card in 5 minutes. On cheaper cards (class 1
or 2, the time can be MUCH closer to an hour - this is a variable)
Plan for the camera I'll be borrowing from colleague at work
============================================================
I'll use this for recording the sessions I attend. I will generally move to
a room at the end of a break and stay there until the next break. (Shifting
rooms last year was a pain point)
I'll use this to record all keynotes & all lightning talks.
I've not decided which sessions I'll be attending and recording yet, and
that's something I'll plan with volunteers for videoing stuff. (ie Calls
for specific stuff to be recorded, but without volunteering to help with
recording will be met with tumbleweed :-) (noted perhaps, but won't be the
deciding factor)
Suggested Plan for the 3 Europython cameras
===========================================
Each day:
Morning:
Give the 3 cameras to one person in the morning.
They record 1 session per camera. They do NOT record the keynote.
Lunch - take the camera to the organisational area/room (assuming we have
that this year).
Hand in the cameras.
Their memory cards are removed, and swapped for 3 empty cards.
They are plugged in to be charged.
Afternoon:
The 3 cameras are again given to one person.
They record the 3 sessions after lunch.
Afternoon break: take the camera to the organisational area/room
Hand in the cameras.
Their memory cards are removed.
They are plugged in to be charged.
Evening:
Contents of their cards copied off.
As you'll see below, with 3 x 8GB cards, this would mean that the cards would
not need swapping at lunchtime - just their batteries recharging or swapping.
Detailed Schedule for the 3 Europython Cameras
==============================================
Monday:
MORNING - VOLUNTEER M:AM NEEDED
Volunteer will attend 3 sessions and record as follows:
09:45 - 10:30
* 0.75 hours - 3GB - Camera 1 (then assume battery & card exhausted)
11:00 - 12:30
* 0.75 hours - 3GB - Camera 2 (then assume battery & card exhausted)
* 0.75 hours - 3GB - Camera 3 (then assume battery & card exhausted)
LUNCH
M:AM takes all 3 camera back to the tech area/crew area for recharge,
and card swapping.
AFTERNOON - VOLUNTEER M:PM NEEDED
Volunteer will attend 3 sessions and record as follows:
14:00 - 16:30
* 1 hour - 4GB - Camera 1 (then assume battery & card exhausted)
* 0.75 hours - 3GB - Camera 2 (then assume battery & card exhausted)
* 0.75 hours - 3GB - Camera 3 (then assume battery & card exhausted)
BREAK
M:PM then takes all 3 camera back to the tech area/crew area for
recharge, and card swapping.
Tuesday:
MORNING - VOLUNTEER T:AM NEEDED
Volunteer will attend 3 sessions and record as follows:
09:45 - 10:30
* 0.75 hours - 3GB - Camera 1 (then assume battery & card exhausted)
11:00 - 12:30
* 0.75 hours - 3GB - Camera 2 (then assume battery & card exhausted)
* 0.75 hours - 3GB - Camera 3 (then assume battery & card exhausted)
LUNCH
T:AM takes all 3 camera back to the tech area/crew area for recharge,
and card swapping.
AFTERNOON - VOLUNTEER T:PM NEEDED
14:00 - 16:30
Volunteer will attend 3 sessions and record as follows:
* 1 hour - 4GB - Camera 1 (then assume battery & card exhausted)
* 0.75 hours - 3GB - Camera 2 (then assume battery & card exhausted)
* 0.75 hours - 3GB - Camera 3 (then assume battery & card exhausted)
BREAK
T:PM then takes all 3 camera back to the tech area/crew area for
recharge, and card swapping.
Wednesday:
MORNING - VOLUNTEER W:AM NEEDED
Volunteer will attend 3 sessions and record as follows:
09:45 - 10:30
* 0.75 hours - 3GB - Camera 1 (then assume battery & card exhausted)
11:00 - 12:30
* 0.75 hours - 3GB - Camera 2 (then assume battery & card exhausted)
* 0.75 hours - 3GB - Camera 3 (then assume battery & card exhausted)
LUNCH
T:AM takes all 3 camera back to the tech area/crew area for recharge,
and card swapping.
AFTERNOON - VOLUNTEER W:PM NEEDED
Volunteer will attend 3 sessions and record as follows:
14:00 - 16:30
* 1 hour - 4GB - Camera 1 (then assume battery & card exhausted)
* 0.75 hours - 3GB - Camera 2 (then assume battery & card exhausted)
* 0.75 hours - 3GB - Camera 3 (then assume battery & card exhausted)
BREAK
T:PM then takes all 3 camera back to the tech area/crew area for
recharge, and card swapping.
Thursday:
MORNING - VOLUNTEER Thur NEEDED
Volunteer will attend 3 sessions and record as follows:
09:45 - 10:30
* 0.75 hours - 3GB - Camera 1 (then assume battery & card exhausted)
11:00 - 12:30
* 0.75 hours - 3GB - Camera 2 (then assume battery & card exhausted)
* 0.75 hours - 3GB - Camera 3 (then assume battery & card exhausted)
LUNCH
Thur takes all 3 camera back to the tech area/crew area for recharge,
and card swapping.
(remaining talks that day are lightning talks to be recorded by
the other camera which has power)
Transcode & Upload
==================
Like last year, I plan to transcode the talks during the conference
overnight, where possible. (The transcode is to drop below blip.tv's 1GB
file limit, and in particular by changing GOP values, checking that
slides & command lines are still readable)
However upload of talks will NOT happen during the conference. The reason
for this is to avoid hammering the uplink. Upload of talks will start the
following week, specifically from Monday 26th July onwards. This is because
I'll be able to do that from work, which has plenty of bandwidth available.
Finally
=======
Please do volunteer to help. Last year I'd not recorded a single thing, and
learnt a lot.
In this case, all you're really volunteering to do is:
* Turn up, borrow 3 cameras.
* Go to your favourite session, put tripod down, point camera at speaker
and screen.
* Hit record. When the session stops, hit stop.
* Do the same for the next 2 sessions, but each time _a new camera_.
* Return the cameras to the tech area at the break.
It's fun, and a worthwhile contribution.
Regards,
Michael.
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