technologyconnections

A long rambly update

Greetings and salutations,

I have for you one amazing, fantastical, and absolutely riveting update. It talks about what's happening this month, as well as a very impromptu trip I just returned from that was made almost entirely to gather some footage for a future video(s)! I don't know when that video might be released, but I have all the parts to make it great!

I've got some second-channel stuff coming in the next day or two, and I'll post it here, but the next main chan...

It's time for thermostats!

Final update, I swear! I botched the last one and forgot to change the actual video link in the Patreon embedded part, so if you found that the video didn't work in the last email you got... that was me! Ta-da!

Use this here link to be super sure you get to the right place:

https://youtu.be/ZZC0SP02PqY

Why did I update this in the first place? Well, a new render fixed three typos and a goof in the Twitter s...

The most common interruption at HQ

Here's something silly for you.

There are a lot of turkeys. A LOT. And they hang around HQ. And they make noises. I honestly don't know if they could be heard in the basement, but nearly every day now, one of them starts gobbling and wandering around. And you can definitely hear them upstairs.

They're goofy birds

Flexplay: The DVD that self-destructs

https://youtu.be/ccneE_gkSAs

OK. So I thought this video was gonna be just sorta meh. And to be honest, there's much more talking head than usual so I hope people don't get upset about it. But, I'm really pleased with how this came together! The story of Flexplay is so... absurd and I had a lot of fun making this!

I am planning to make this public tomorrow. I'd like to see how a Sunday upload goes. So get your ea...

Second channel: Audio equipment

Although I don't plan to put 2nd channel videos here for you early, it was suggested that I at least post that I've made them here for those of you who have disabled YouTube notifications.

So--here's a quick (ha!) discussion on the Zoom H1n vs. the Tascam DR-05 and why I really can't stand one of them.

The follow-up is live!

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vcdbtAca0Y

Here's part 2. It's a lot longer than I anticipated but hopefully entertaining!

Speaking of videos that are a lot longer than anticipated, I'm currently editing my rant about car dealerships! Yay! I'll probably just post that to the second channel. I have a feeling that none of you really care for early access on that sort of video, but if you do le...

The Antique Toaster that's Better than Yours

Alright, here it is! The audio is... well it's not too great, if I'm honest. I tried a new audio recorder and am not super happy with its interface. It led me to believe I had the recording level much closer to optimum, when in fact it was quite low.

The stupid thing is that It didn't sound any different at first--it was a Premiere setting that improved the sound. So it might be that my Tascam DR-05 is perfectly alright. I need to do some experiments, and assuming that's the case, I'm r...

Upcoming changes to credits

I wanted to give you all an update on the credit situation. I have finally decided to start using an automated service to generate my list of credits, which means the order of them has almost certainly changed significantly. If you're used to seeing your name in a certain spot, don't be too shocked if it's not there. But please do look for it! I'd like to know how reliably this works.

On that note--I'm considering splitting the "Your Name In Lights" category in two. Mea...

This time it's two videos in one!

It's finally time to unveil HQ! Here's the quick introductory video I shot; it also serves as an introduction for the video I'll talk about in the next sentence:

https://youtu.be/ytpRnRke6I0

I decided to buy an Onyx Boox Max2 to test my theory that an E-Ink display would help me sleep. Who knows if it will turn out to be true, but it's worth a shot. I'll be chronicling the experience on the second channel, and at...

Hi there!

Happy April, everyone! Well, a slightly belated happy April but a very happy April nonetheless.

I wanted to give you an update in regards to my plans for the next month. I have many great video topics lined up, starting with an exploration of the Sunbeam toaster. That will likely be my next full-on video, but before that one is out, I'll be doing a quick announcement video with the goal of introducing a new project (which will mainly be on the second channel) as well as finally unveilin...

Let's look at E-Ink

This is officially the first video made entirely at HQ! And, thanks to my AT&T box not cooperating, this took far too long to upload. I wanted to have this up for you last night around 9:00 PM, alas it took until the wee hours of the morning to finish uploading.

https://youtu.be/dhRgw0HfrYU

I haven't committed to that thumbnail yet. I like the concept but it's difficult to make the text stand out unl...

It's Official: The First Video at HQ is Filmed!

I forgot one thing! It's the candle that sits to the left of the cassettes (in the cell directly to the left of my head). Everything else, though? I think I might have pulled this off.

For this, the first video at HQ, I used the old lights and even rigged the hair light like it was so that the reflection in the CRT isn't that different from what it is normally. I'm really going crazy over this, aren't I? Oh well. I'll deal with permanent light rigging (with the new lights and ceiling-mo...

Let's Build the Set Together! (and learn a bit about it!)

This turned out to be far more explanatory than I first I imagined. For the video where I go through everything in the set, what it is, where I found it, etc., I plan on putting that up publicly on TC2 so it will still happen.

However, I was able to film pretty much the entire reconstruction. I'm back home and found all of the missing things, so when I'm next there, I'll be able to put everything back in order!

Automatic Beyond Belief! An early preview of the Sunbeam Radiant Control Toaster

This thing is the best.

Honestly, I was flabbergasted by this when I first used it. To know how old it is, and yet how futuristic it seems, is a little mind-boggling.

Now for sure a full-on video is coming about these toasters.

Deconstruction

Now I just gotta tear this apart without messing up any of the wiring or shelves and whatnot. Should be fine. It'll be fine. It's fine.

I'm fine.

The Final HQ Update

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HB0H731hNLI 

This was the video I was yelling into the Twitters about. I experienced a lot of difficulty with rendering this, but it's all good now. Sadly I missed publishing this on Pi day, but I'l blame that on Premiere being dumb.

I've got a lot of info and a bunch of stories packed into this video, so it's ... long. But hopefully enjoyable! I rendered ...

The Electromagnet in your Toaster

The last video required travel to Orlando and Houston. This one needed a toaster.

As the headquarters move nears (which--big video update coming very soon!) I have attempted to move forth with some of my simpler video ideas. This is one, and while perhaps you were aware of your toaster's clever modus operandi, I hope I've brought enough additional trivia to the table to singe your bread in delight!

Oh, and if you think I didn't immediately go to eBay and buy a Sunbeam toaster as f...

In other news...

I bought an actual teleprompter thingy! My home-made thing was getting far too annoying and soon I'll be able to leave this set up in a corner without constantly tearing it down all the time! And IT IS SO MUCH BETTER!

Real teleprompters use a special glass (kind of like one-way mirror glass) which reflects things just so much better. I think it's called beam-splitting glass if I'm not mistaken. I had no idea it's this much better! The image on the screen is like 5 times brighter and thi...

Tiny update

So... it turns out that there was either a miscommunication about the carpet install date or else I'm an idiot. In either case, the carpet is actually due to be installed this coming Monday. Angry face!

I will still make an update video once carpet is in... but for now here's a picture. If you can't tell, these are the same exact colors that currently lie behind the set. My goal is to move the set without it being noticed, and I'm going to go so far as to move the piece of artwork that ...

It's that time where I write an update and junk

Should I call these newsletters? Maybe? That's kinda what they are. Well, let's move on from this internal dialogue and continue.

It's been a while since the topic of HQ (the new filming location) has come up, and I have good news! Though I missed my target slightly, in just a few days the space will be ready to move the set to! I have just completed painting, the electrical work is done, and on Monday the carpet is being installed. Then, it's done! *

I will make one final video-u...

WAY MORE STUFF about the airport adventures!

Hey look, I made a thing about the thing.

https://youtu.be/Wm1fxMzGuU4

I realize I described this as "vlog-like" in the lead-out from the last video, and it is in some parts, but it's also just a ton more trivia using the bucketloads of B-roll I have lying around. So if you're into a chill video about Airports and Transit, then you should definitely watch it because it will hit those marks, I'm sure.

Behind the Scenes! An Adventure in Dubbing

I tricked you. At least I hope I did.

https://youtu.be/ZsRUkALlXeU

This video explains what dialogue replacement is, and where I used it in the latest video. I think it worked out really well, and if you didn't notice any trickery afoot... job well done!

The Story of Disney's Third Peoplemover

Well, here it is! I finally got all that I needed to make this, and it was a lot of fun. Truly, this is the most exciting video I've made yet, as it was not only fun to go and film everything, but even though this took about 3 days straight to edit, I loved every second of it!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2a9Yvo2Yyg

I hope you like this one! It's only processed to 360p but I wanted you to see i...

More nonsense

Greetings everyone,

Here's that follow-up video. I had to re-upload it due to a snafu so you'll be able to get about 23 minutes of early access (sorry about that). The videos are going live shortly!

Space Heater Nonsense

I need you to tell me if you think I'm crazy

https://youtu.be/V-jmSjy2ArM

This has bugged me forever. Now, a long long time ago, I made a video about this very topic. And it didn't go well.

I've chalked that up to "nerdy kid in bedroom rants about meaningless thing" syndrome, and I feel that with the audience I'm fortunate enough to have, this will be understood.

But I'm still not certain that I haven...

I've been up to something (updates, stories, spoilers)

Hello all, I made a thing about a thing I did to make a thing. Things!

https://youtu.be/Dpt1kEXYaA0

As many of you may know Patreon is being funny right now due to some big payment snafu. The site's been going live and into maintenance mode on and off, so I apologize if you have trouble viewing this or anything else.

I'm super excited about the video that I'm talking about here, but it won't be out until th...

The Time-Lapse VCR

Alright, spoilers are over!

This was a surprising adventure in more ways than one. Thank you for making it possible!

This won't go public until Saturday at the very earliest. It depends on how other scheduling things go, but it will likely go out to the World Wide Web on Sunday afternoon or something like that. Possible even Monday.

I still have a few things to do, like captions (which will require a lot of editing this time) but please enjoy!

Last spoilery update, I swear!

Alright, I finally found a source that outlines time-lapse VCRs well. 

It turns out that the most remarkable thing about time-lapse VCRs isn't in the heads, but in the capstan motor. It needs to have extremely precise control because when recording, the heads actually write to the tape while it's moving and they are inactive when the tape is still. So, the signals on the tape actually end up being completely normal VHS signals, with the ri...

Super extra spoilerific video of spoilers

Again. If you don't like spoilers... don't watch.

Here's a quick thing showing what I'm going on about. It's now, with the help of Jeroen Domburg, looking like this is really a 4-head VCR that just happens to have really great trick-play functionality.  So ignore the piezo-stuff (unless you know otherwise).

Also, thanks to Microfrost for pushing me to ask you about this! I may have had egg on my face and spent a needlessly long portion of the video explaining a thing that was...

Spoilery pictures for spoilery topic help

I've attached some pictures of the board.

If any ICs jump out at you, let me know. The one NEC chip that looks interesting needs some deep cleaning before I can read it.