Home Brewing Beer.

[rabidbadger]

Few years ago my friends and I made a video podcast about making beer at home. I put them up on archive.org, seeing as we stopped when the host who's place we filmed in got a total kitchen makeover, and then he had a baby. We wanna restart it up. But need advice on how to improve it for "season two" this winter. Let me know.

Linkages: www.archive.org/details/SwillburgBreweryTwo

Watch in this order:
BasicBrewing One
BasicBrewing Two
Basic Bottling (even though that was the first one filmed, and shows)
Fausto Brews, one, two, three.

[danhauk]

Downloading now. Will get back to you

[rabidbadger]

Did you ever watch, Dan?

[danhauk]

Originally Posted by rabidbadger

Did you ever watch, Dan?

I did indeed, sir. Sorry I didn't reply.

I dig it. It was very educational into the brewing process because I had no idea how it was made before I watched it. I liked watching them pretty much experiment with their recipe by following a traditional recipe and then just tweaking it at random (at your random suggestions). More of that would be interesting to see, experimenting and seeing what works, what doesn't, etc. and then give a review of what they brewed and what they think could make it better.

As far as production quality goes, mics would be good if you can get them. Sometimes it's a little harder to hear over some of the background noise of water running, etc.

I also liked the steady, wide shots that were incorporated. Maybe, if possible, you could have one camera set up as a steady camera to get wide shots if they're explaining things at the counter, and another camera to get closeups, alternate angles, or anything else. But I also like the less formal, chatting format, so it's not necessary.

The ask Fausto thing at the end is a good idea too. He seems like a huge knowledge base of information about home brewing.

[rabidbadger]

Thanks for the feedback, Dan.

It's hard to believe that I started that almost four years ago. Back then I was inspired by what was the top vidpodcasts of the time. Diggnation, crashtestkitchen, and other home made casts. Back then that was when podcasts were supposed to be by and for the regular guy. Not networks recycling tv bits, npr just repackaging their shows, etc.

Rev3 was an inspiration, two guys on a couch and a mediochre camera/mic. They upped the game, and now the expectations of "network" style quality has sadly become the norm. Now "regular" folks making fun stuff is seen as "not good enough"

Of course, I always tried to do the best job I could with the stuff I had, but unless it was making money somehow, i wasn't gonna blow cash on expensive cameras, lights, etc.

We did do a trial Spin-off, called "eating beer" (cooking with our homemade beer) and used two cameras, one of which was high def. It did look better, but editing two defs, two vids, two sounds, soundtrack, and the fact that it was a full half hour, was a bitch. (especially in iMovie, I really pushed iMovie to it's limits with that one.)

To be honest though, when we start "season 2" soon, I'll be using the exact same equiptment I used back then, unless I come into a bunch of money first.

You can get "Eating Beer" here.

[someaudioguy]

Are you kidding!
This is a GREAT idea!

I really like the static camera. I'm getting kind of tired of shows that cut around too much. I like "getting to know" my hosts, so allowing the shot to play out wide gets me into the vibe of the relationships on camera easier.

My complaints are really small things. I think better sound would help A LOT even if it's just having some kind of off camera recorder like a zoom. My name is "SomeAudioGuy" though, so please feel free to take that with a grain of salt.

I also think the show could benefit from a little more light. Even if it's just a couple extra lamps, could really help spruce up the look of the video. Often people and equipment are back or side lit, and it can be hard to see what's happening for a sec as the camera adjusts.

Lastly. While I don't think there's anything about the show that I'd need to see it in HD, I really would like to see it in at least 640x360.

I really hope you proceed on season 2. My pals and I failed to brew our own beer a couple times. Would be nice to see how it's really done LOL.

It's really too bad Rev3 doesn't support it any more, but this would've been PERFECT for Revision 3 Beta...

[rabidbadger]

Thank you soooooo much for your feedback. I agree with everything you said. I'll take everything you said into concideration. The hosts are getting psyched to start up again, now that their external lives have settled down a bit, (babies, job changes, etc) So I seriously think we will do this again soon.

I really don't know enough about audio to improve that aspect much. And there is no way I can afford new equiptment right now. I do have one lavalier, but that don't help with two hosts, (and guests)

Really glad you liked the show, though. Thanks for taking the time to watch and reply. Stay in touch.

also: I also wish rev3beta still existed. I do believe it was Martin Sargent who spearheaded that, and it died with him leaving Rev3. I really wish he, (considering he's short on work right now) would pick up the gauntlet again, and do it on his own. (maybe with tacit encouragement and occasional hype from his old friends at rev3 and techTV, etc).

I found several good shows on rev3beta that I still download on a regular basis. Shame it was dropped. Lost opportunity on Rev3's part, if you ask me. (Yes, I still LOVE rev3).

[someaudioguy]

Hey! I tried sending you a Private Message, but your inbox is full...

I don't check in here very often (the Rev3 forums seem kinda quiet AND snarky these days), but I really would like to know when your show is up and running.
Is there a site I can bookmark, or can you put my email on a notification list?

[rabidbadger]

Originally Posted by SomeAudioGuy

Hey! I tried sending you a Private Message, but your inbox is full...

I don't check in here very often (the Rev3 forums seem kinda quiet AND snarky these days), but I really would like to know when your show is up and running.
Is there a site I can bookmark, or can you put my email on a notification list?

Hi, right now your best bet is to just check this post. I'll post here when I get a site up and running. And then I'll know. The buds still haven't decided when a good time is to start making brews again.

[someaudioguy]

Coolcool.

Subscribed to this thread.
Keep us posted!