Slug & Lede

The Deaf Kid Who Played Rock ‘N Roll is a very influential and inspirational piece. This is just another example that anything is truly possible. I think this piece is truly remarkable. The video clips of Derek singing and playing his guitar and the narration was well-put together.

The transition at 1:12 worked really well with his father, Dan, talking about Derek’s diseases and struggles. The music slowly started to fade and then Dan began to discuss Derek’s music, which then transitioned Derek’s music back into the video. Another strong clip was placed a little before three-minutes. The clip is zoomed in onto Dan’s mouth, where he is singing along with Derek and I could feel that connection that Dan had with his son.

The ending really set the mood for this video. The comparison clip between Derek and his father singing to the same lyrics really made this video that much more powerful. That part was definitely one of my favorites to watch.

I feel like some of the audio clips could have drifted a little longer so it doesn’t sound like the voice is just randomly cut off. For example, at 4:11, after Dan says, “…I do feel it,” the “it” is immediately cut off – I didn’t hear the full word. Also, when you narrate afterwards, I think the background music could dim down a little. It seems like at some parts of the voice-over is almost at the same volume as the music playing in the background.

This could also be done through an audio clip. Since it deals with music, listening to the music, the tone of the narration, and the tone of Dan’s voice would give away the sentimental feeling as it is. The advantage of the video is that it shows what Derek looks like, but just by closing my eyes and listening to the video clip still gives me the same meaning as if I were to watch it on video, as well.

If I were to do this video again, I would work on the background music. I think you did a great job on the background, but the volume could’ve faded at some parts instead of just increasing the volume as soon as you or Dan would stop speaking. But overall, I think you did a great job with this video. It seemed like you put a lot of work into and it definitely shows.

The audio profile of Steve Heller, entitled “Rocket Man”, featured on The New York Times website was an interesting look and a man who loves what he does and does what he loves.  In the world of stressful lifestyles and on-the-go careers, it is refreshing to see a man who can sit back and enjoy his life and work.

I felt that this audio piece had much going for it.  For starters, the audio itself was well edited and mostly free of ups and downs in volume that can often plauge audio works.  It transitioned nicely, and for the most part the listener is unaware of any braeks from one audio clip to another.  Also, Heller’s voice lends itself well to the audio, making the piece compelling and interesting, as well as easy on the ears.  I liked how the piece started with his story about first seeing the ‘59 Caddy when he was 15, which gave a good base for the story. 

The pictures featured in the piece kept it from being over saturated with audio only elements, and this keeps the audience interested in the work.  As Heller’s work is significantly based on the looks of his cars, it was essential to get the pictures to accent the audio.  The audio would not have worked as well without the visuals of the cars. 

A few things did detract from the piece, however.  Particularly the story of how the Dagmar bumpers were named.  He goes into a rather insignificant rant about how they were named after some “blond bombshell” from an old TV show.  I thought all the pictures were useful, but a few shots of parts and models may be hard to understand if the audience is not sure what it is looking at.  Also, at three minutes it may have run a little long for an internet production. 

All in all it was a well done audio work, that may be a little lenghty but a solid piece all together.

The Year of the River is an audio clip that shows various pictures of the Cedar River during the 2008 flood.  The audio is a collection of various comments regarding the flood and the river.  The commenters appear to be local residents living near the Cedar River that witnessed the flood first hand. 

I found this audio clip to be very interesting.  One particular reason is that I, like many other Iowans, witnessed the flood first hand.  I lived 100 yards from a river and our house recieved substantial flooding last summer.  I am now living in Iowa City and repairs from the flood are still underway.  The collections of audio and pictures reminded me of the general feelings of Iowans during the flood.

I believe the audio collections are one pro in this clip.  The samples of audio are not experts or scientists from california or New York.  They are the local everyday people from Iowa that gave a first hand account of the flood.  I also thought that the background sound of a running river was a good touch.

One con in my opinion was the choice of pictures.  I think the picture selection could have been better.  The flood of 2008 devastated towns and cities, reshaped river banks, and forced hundreds of people from their homes.  Instead of pictures of these things, we are provided with calm, tranquil pictures of a river.  It is hard in some pictures to tell if there is even a flood going on.

Overall I liked this clip and thought it was well put together.  One difference that I would make if I were to do it differently would be to ass some more dramatic pictures of the flood.  Other than the picture selection, the audio clips were good, and the background sound was fitting. 

http://gazetteonline.com/section/yearoftheriver01

Indy Star’s Colts’ Fans in Houston piece seems to capture the spirit of Colts fans everywhere.

I think the piece is really uplifting and is a great way to bring fans together. It started with video of different fans and how they acted, and it just brought you into the spirit of a football game. Then afterward I love how it flashes to the team running out in an away stadium. You hear a lot of “boo’s” but you definitely hear the cheers for the team, which shows the Colts fans’ dedication to go all the way to Houston to cheer their team on. Another effective aspect of the piece was the announcer in the background. His voice really helped set up the context and make you feel like you were at the game.

However, something that I think the piece could have done better is audio editing.  I would have lowered the sounds of the “boo’s” because when the team first comes out it’s overwhelming. For the sake of the type of piece it is– one that is supposed to capture the essence of Colts fans– the listeners do not need to hear the “boo’s” so loudly.

Another thing that I think could have been done better is the transition of videos at the beginning. It seemed a little bit choppy, and I think it should have been transitioned more smoothly. The video it started with (with the guys hitting a pinata) was a little silly to me, and I would’ve liked to see this piece begin with the team running out when the announcer introduces them. If the author had made the cheers louder that would’ve been a great beginning. It would’ve set the mood for the piece a lot better.

Although I liked when the slide show transitioned into photographs from video (along with the sound of cheering in the background) I think the video aspect of the piece needs to go. It is not transitioned very well, and when it goes from photo to video the first time, it cuts off the announcer and the music a little abruptly and goes into a completely different sound.

Another thing that I would have done is instead of having music in the background when the photo slide show starts the second time, I would have then included the voices of the fans we see in the beginning of the piece in the background.

Although this piece has its flaws, I found it entertaining to watch because I like the Colts, and I love the spirit of football fans.

Rocket Man’s audio slide show is the epitome of loving your job and your hobby.  Not only did the pictures help put a face and personality to Heller’s voice, they also allowed us to see the masterpiece cars he talks so passionately about.  The piece was also very well edited.  Heller’s voice was never cut short, and there weren’t any extremely long or noticeably short breaths, and the breaks in between his speaking parts were just right.

One thing the piece was lacking was some background noise to liven things up.  Although Heller’s voice is very warm and soothing, I think the sound of a car would have been good, especially since the story focuses on them so much.  I also think he may have been a little too close to the microphone, because throughout the interview, there is a lot of white noise static in the background.  Lastly, I felt that at times it was hard to pinpoint what the main topic was.  I think some parts could have been cut out to make the interview more about one specific topic.

One thing I would have done differently with this piece would be adding background noise, especially car sounds.  I think it really helps to keep the audience’s attention, and it also makes the piece a little more advanced.  I might also try making it into a video so Heller could literally show what he does with his cars in a hands on fashion, instead of just having pictures.

Rather than using a slideshow with only pictures and narration, I think the Colts’ fans in Houston piece featured on Indystar.com did a nice job of utilizing additional components. For example, the music and the two clips outside the stadium before the game began did a nice job of combining various aspects of the game. Other multimedia resources can be considered, but ultimately, I think this was the proper and most effective medium. Attending a game as a fan of the visiting team is a unique experience, far different than it is going to a game cheering on the home team. As a longtime sports fan myself, I’ve attended a few games in support of a Chicago team on the road, and as a result can relate to the atmosphere and experience. This piece did a nice job of depicting the atmosphere in Texas, and effectively demonstrated the experience of going on the road to support your team.

The two areas of this slideshow that in my opinion could be edited differently are the second clip shown of the Colts’ fans outside the stadium, and in the middle of the piece there was a brief moment of silence where the music was faded out. As I stated above, the two clips outside the stadium before kick-off do a nice job of setting the tone for the experience, and definitely were effective, but the audio editing needs additional work. The background noise in the second clip where the two Colts’ fans are cheering is extremely loud and almost distracting. I’m not sure if it was taken in a different spot outside the stadium than the first outdoor clip, but it was noticeably louder. I really enjoyed the music that was inserted, and I liked that the stadium noise was still faint in the background. The only issue I had with the music insert was the brief moment about halfway through the piece when Reggie Wayne caught the ball and the music stopped. Whether it was paused intentionally, or the song was in the process of restarting, it was inconsistent from the rest of the piece and slightly awkward. If the music was continuous I think it would feel smoother and more natural. Overall, the piece was compiled well, good job!

Rocket Man is a nytimes.com audio slide show interview from February 2009. It refers to Steve Heller, a classic car enthusiast and furniture shop owner who uses parts from various classic cars to create one of a kind rocket themed automobiles. The interview centers around Heller’s original Marquis de Soto, which was named nytimes.com’s  2008 Collectible Car of the Year.

I felt the slide show of pictures paired with Heller’s interview strengthened the story. Captions below the pictures give information that Heller does not. Also, Heller has a relaxed and inviting voice throughout the piece; he sounds very relatable and not boring at all, something that might hinder an audio interview. 

The editing was well done as there are no noticeable long breaths taken by Heller or missed by the editor. Heller’s words are complete and the sound structure is not lost on the last syllables. In addition, the interview contains fade ins and outs for both the picture slide show and Heller’s voice; both of  which are well timed and affective for the story. 

The story overall is well told in audio form, but in the absence of any natural sounds, some of the possible effects of Heller’s story is lost. If the editor of the piece had added in the sound of a car’s engine starting or even rocket sounds when Heller mentioned that trend in car restoration, the interview would have been stronger. Also, though Heller’s voice is clear and his words are unmistakeable, there is a great amount of microphone static throughout the interview. If the interviewer had distanced himself slightly from Heller, than perhaps the static would not be as noticeable.  

If I were to re-edit this piece, I would definitely add in some car sounds, such as the engine starting or even a door opening and closing. WIthout them, I feel that the interviewer missed out on something a target audience could relate to and moreover enjoy. 

In addition to car sounds, I would consider cutting the end of the interview where Heller talks about his shop. It is interesting to know that he is just a regular guy with a hobby for cars, but after Heller describes how he put together his Marquis de Soto, its off setting to discuss an almost unrelated subject. I might consider asking him if he is working on any new custom cars or how he feels about winning the contest. 

While this interview worked well as an audio slide show, I think it might have faired better as live action. Cars move and are driven and look best when in action. It would have been affective to see Heller’s winning car as a moving object as well as actually watching as he takes unrelated car pairs and joins them together.

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/02/22/automobiles/collectibles/20090222-desoto/index.html?ref=multimedia

This audio piece is effective at keeping the listener’s attention, but I think that the lack of concrete direction makes it a little hard to follow as it goes on. Without the context surrounding the piece it’s a little bit difficult to determine what is it supposed to be about. Is it a profile piece on this person? Something about the custom car he has built? A pitch toward past car styling? Because there are no questions, or other sort of “setup” to the piece, it is hard to pinpoint its purpose. Adding to that, the side stories told by the speaker can become a little bit too much and only further distract the listener from the point, whatever it may be.

I think this piece would work much more effectively as a video; it would give the viewer much more of an opportunity to relate to all of information and the specific car details referred to in the audio. The quality of the audio is good, but the transitions are empty, there isn’t any natural sound used in this piece. If I were to redo this as an audio piece, I would add transitional sounds. The ending segment is really good, and the last words in the piece make for a great ending, “the whole world needs more fun,” is a powerful statement that does a lot to summarize the speaker’s philosophy.

Overall the technical aspects of the piece are good, well edited and put together, but the substance and direction are lacking. I would again suggest use of natural sound, as we are dealing with cars and engine sounds would only seem natural. Additionally, utilization of interviewer questions or more contextual elements would allow the audience more of an opportunity to fully understand the direction of the piece.

University of Iowa demands local business change name and color scheme.

Joe Smith, owner of The Hawkeye Hideaway, says he plans to continue to use the name and colors anyway. To require licensure, the trademarked name and colors would need to be used with an implied association to the university, which Smith says nobody would assume of his bar.

Illegal Immigrants detained indefinitey in Johnson County.

20 illegal immigrants were found in a van traveling over 80 mph on Interstate 80 between Dubuque street and Prarie du Chien road. The nationality of the men, women, and children are unknown.

Iowa City shelters have too many animals.

When the Iowa City area flooded last spring, not only were many families were forced to give up their pets or abandon them, but the Iowa City Animal Care and Adoption Center was also under water. The shelter has worked out of the county fairgrounds and now seeks a new permanent location and more volunteers.

Van Contains More Than a Family

A van pulled over on Interstate 80 between Dubuque Street and Prairie du Chien Road contained more than just a family. 20 illegal immigrants being men, women and children, were found in the vehicle after being pulled over for speeding.

Iowa City Animal Shelter Having Hard Time Keeping Up

Abandoned pets are overflowing the Iowa City Animal Care and Adoption Center. Last spring’s flood forced the animal shelter to relocate until a new permanent location could be established. Now, minimal staff is finding the numbers of animal issues to be overwhelming.

Bar May Need New Name, Colors

Hawkeye Hideaway may have to change it’s name and colors. Formal licensing is needed when using the University of Iowa’s trademark name and colors, something Hawkeye Hideway lacks.