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Where to post about Demonstrations and Live Remotes

CindyDrozda

CindyDrozda

Joined
Jun 25, 2010
Messages
34
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Location
Boulder, Colorado
Which forum is the appropriate place to have discussions about clubs and demonstrators doing Live Remote Demonstrations? I didn't see discussion about demonstrations anywhere, so I wonder if it is considered inappropriate.

Perhaps a forum on demonstrations needs to be started?

It would/could be a place for discussion on what clubs like to see in a demonstration, how the clubs can get set up for Live Remotes, what a club's A/V setup looks like, etc.
 
Cindy,

I did a search on Google for "Live Remotes For Dummies" and nothing shows up. The corporation I work for uses Skype to do remote conference calls and video conferencing which is pretty easy to use after you have used it a few times. There are a number of other "Apps" that you can use on your phone or computer that have more advanced features. This topic could make a good book to author, but with todays technology changing so fast it would be outdated in a year or two. I would also assume that most operating systems will incorporate this function into the communication apps in the future releases of most corporate/commercial/retail software operating systems as a standard feature in the near future.
 
I am moving this thread to the Woodturning Discussion Forum which is probably the best place to discuss the subject and, hopefully, get input from more forum members. The purpose of the technical support forum is to report software bugs or get help on using forum features.

Currently, we have the AAW Chapter Forum which was created for the purpose of discussing basically anything related to chapter activities and the AAW Chapter - Demonstrator Scheduling forum which is intended to facilitate discussions between demonstrators and AAW Chapter officers who may want to commission demonstrations. Neither of these two forums seem to be a hotbed of activity although the latter one has a few posts about live remote demonstrations.

Currently only AAW members are able to view and post in these two forums. I believe that the rationale was that chapter officers and demonstrators had to be AAW members. I can do whatever you guys would like whether it is adding new forums or rebranding and revising the purpose of existing forums.One caution is that creating too many pigeonholes can cause the opposite of the desired result of viable user participation. Something else to mull over is should we allow forum members who aren't AAW members to view threads related to AAW chapter activities? What about visitors who aren't forum members? How about allowing all forum members to post in this area? Pro's and con's? The AAW is interested in anything that can be implemented on the forum to help attract new members to the AAW. About a year ago the AAW Information forum was made visible to all. It is mainly used by the AAW staff (usually Kim Rymer) to post information.

Anyway, I'm glad to hear any and all suggestions. Your wish is my command.
 
Bill, it's clear as mud to me. I'm sure that there are other, better minds here that can offer insight. But I do think that if this forum is able to bring non-members into membership status, that would be good for everyone by expanding membership. Rising tides lifting boats, etc....

(or was that goats? No, I'm pretty sure it's boats. For sure it's not groats. That I do know.) :rolleyes:
 
As a board member of Nor-Cal Woodturners I am interested in what equipment a club needs to receive remote demos. Tips on how to have a successful remote demo. A list that is updated with names, contact info, content of the demos the presenter offers.
I think we should allow all forum members view and comment.
 
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Six of one and half a dozen of another....

I agree that there should be a place for such discussions, but creating another sub forum may not be the answer for the reason that Bill mentioned above.

This sub-forum seems to get most of the activity, but threads on remote demos and equipment would probably get lost rather quickly. Nobody likes using search functions on a forum (and they seldom work as well as one would like), so how about creating a sticky on the subject? Not a sticky that would be open for posting, but one that just listed/ linked the threads that have already occurred. That way, one looking for that type of info could find it quickly, add to an existing thread, or create a new one as needed.

Would of course take some time and effort by one of the mods/ admins, but not too much once the sticky is set up. Just the occasional update when a new thread is started.
 
I'm very interested in trying to do remote demos but scared to death of the computer. I can't even download software on my phone without running into problems. Alan Zenriech has a forum on how to do this and has been helping people. I can't remember what it is and apparently isn't in my bookmarks. I may take the jump after the Raleigh Symposium. I still don't have my shop up and running yet. I'm just real leary of spending the money on a new computer that will handle the remote demos and then buying all the other cameras, cables etc to make it work. Even more worried about actually getting all of it to work together and working. That's a lot of money to put out if I'm not successful and can't make that money back.
I think Cindy has a good point. I'm guessing a discussion here would probably work.
 
john lucas said:
I'm very interested in trying to do remote demos but scared to death of the computer. I can't even download software on my phone without running into problems. Alan Zenriech has a forum on how to do this and has been helping people. I can't remember what it is and apparently isn't in my bookmarks. I may take the jump after the Raleigh Symposium. I still don't have my shop up and running yet. I'm just real leary of spending the money on a new computer that will handle the remote demos and then buying all the other cameras, cables etc to make it work. Even more worried about actually getting all of it to work together and working. That's a lot of money to put out if I'm not successful and can't make that money back.
I think Cindy has a good point. I'm guessing a discussion here would probably work.
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John, the community at Lucid Woodturners would love to have your input. Alan Z would be willing to help you with the computer stuff, as he has helped me and others. I hope you'll join Lucid! https://www.lucidwoodturners.com/content.aspx?page_id=2153&club_id=106660
 
Bill Boehme said:
I am moving this thread to the Woodturning Discussion Forum which is probably the best place to discuss the subject and, hopefully, get input from more forum members. The purpose of the technical support forum is to report software bugs or get help on using forum features.

Currently, we have the AAW Chapter Forum which was created for the purpose of discussing basically anything related to chapter activities and the AAW Chapter - Demonstrator Scheduling forum which is intended to facilitate discussions between demonstrators and AAW Chapter officers who may want to commission demonstrations. Neither of these two forums seem to be a hotbed of activity although the latter one has a few posts about live remote demonstrations.

Currently only AAW members are able to view and post in these two forums. I believe that the rationale was that chapter officers and demonstrators had to be AAW members. I can do whatever you guys would like whether it is adding new forums or rebranding and revising the purpose of existing forums.One caution is that creating too many pigeonholes can cause the opposite of the desired result of viable user participation. Something else to mull over is should we allow forum members who aren't AAW members to view threads related to AAW chapter activities? What about visitors who aren't forum members? How about allowing all forum members to post in this area? Pro's and con's? The AAW is interested in anything that can be implemented on the forum to help attract new members to the AAW. About a year ago the AAW Information forum was made visible to all. It is mainly used by the AAW staff (usually Kim Rymer) to post information.

Anyway, I'm glad to hear any and all suggestions. Your wish is my command.
Click to expand...

I would vote for letting non members view threads related to AAW chapter activities. A lot of clubs have members who are not (yet) AAW members. It might bring them closer to becoming AAW members if they can see what's happening on the forum.
 
@Bill Boehme I think the chapters forum is a better place . This relates directly to chapters and the demos they have . Wither the demo is live or remote chapters need to know about equipment and how to use it. As Cindy said I learned a lot from Alan and at the Lucid Woodturners site. For those interested Cinds Did a great post on Lucid on how she does her setup and tips on using vMix software. Also Dave Hulett has posted a list of those doing live remote demos there which as comprehensive as you will find as the AAW list is not correct on this category. I think Dave also has a list of equipment and I know Alan has a couple videos from AAW symposia with lists of equipment he used.
 
john lucas said:
I'm very interested in trying to do remote demos but scared to death of the computer. I can't even download software on my phone without running into problems. Alan Zenriech has a forum on how to do this and has been helping people. I can't remember what it is and apparently isn't in my bookmarks. I may take the jump after the Raleigh Symposium. I still don't have my shop up and running yet. I'm just real leary of spending the money on a new computer that will handle the remote demos and then buying all the other cameras, cables etc to make it work. Even more worried about actually getting all of it to work together and working. That's a lot of money to put out if I'm not successful and can't make that money back.
I think Cindy has a good point. I'm guessing a discussion here would probably work.
Click to expand...

John, I'm sure I'm not alone when I say that your doing remote live demonstrations would be a huge benefit to the woodturning community. You excel at explaining in plain language the 'how and why' of woodturning, and already know the best camera angles. Overcoming the technology concerns is minor compared to the knowledge, skills and technique you have to share, tenfold!
 
Mike Johnson said:
Here is a basic video on Skype that shows you how to use the app.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S38e-t6rhKA
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Mike, we do not use Skype. Could be used but we are using Zoom. I use VMix software to control the cameras. Since I have the HD version of VMix I use VMix Call, I can bring in the audience as an input I can see them during the whole demo. We did use Skype with our first live remote demo with Lyle Jamieson.
 
Thanks Donna. I'm going to look into it very seriously after the AAW Symposium. Simply have too much going on right now trying to get the shop up and running. I remember struggling so hard when I first learned to turn and I want to pass on what I have learned to the new turners to speed up their enjoyment of our hobby and art form.
 
Emiliano Achaval said:
Mike, we do not use Skype. Could be used but we are using Zoom. I use VMix software to control the cameras. Since I have the HD version of VMix I use VMix Call, I can bring in the audience as an input I can see them during the whole demo. We did use Skype with our first live remote demo with Lyle Jamieson.
Click to expand...

Emiliano,

It might be worthwhile to standardize on a platform that will be compatible with what everyone with a computer will have access to. I am not familiar with the Zoom program which may be compatible with other communication programs. If you have multiple presenters in several locations and your audience members are also in various locations you will want a communications program that will work across all of the computers and cell phones that you are linked to. Microsoft and Apple tend to either buy out it's competitors or make changes to their software to bring 3rd party software companies to their knees. When it comes to computers, smart devices and software you will constantly be replacing them as they become obsolete or no longer supported. Twenty years ago you could purchase a cell phone for a $100 now they want a $1000 what ever happened to technology getting cheaper over time? Third party software companies have an uphill battle against the big players, they are forced to constantly update their software to stay compatible with the main operating systems used in the industry on all of the different devices. This has been a growing market for a number of years, this will be a target for the dominant players like Microsoft and Apple.
 
Mike Johnson said:
Emiliano,

It might be worthwhile to standardize on a platform that will be compatible with what everyone with a computer will have access to. I am not familiar with the Zoom program which may be compatible with other communication programs. If you have multiple presenters in several locations and your audience members are also in t devices. This has been a growing market for a number of years, this will be a target for the dominant players like Microsoft and Apple.
Click to expand...


Mike It is not a matter of standard software. On the demonstrator end most of the Live Remote Demonstrators (LRD makes a good acronym) are using the same software to create on their end and then the clubs as I understand are now using Zoom to view the program. I started learning about this end (that is the club end with vMix) at the 2016 Atlanta Symposium from Alan Z. I have followed this closely and unfortunately at this time our club meets on State property and have no access to a wired internet so we have not but still have high hopes to to this program . Other than that our equipment is state of the art for live in club demos.

As to multiple feeds that is something that has not and may not be a possibility soon due the complexities that are beyond most of us to handle and possibly high cost of software to do so. On that note at least one club in Arkansas and I think by Dave Hulett is recording and giving club members access to that recording.
 
When you see the potential in the market place with hundreds if not thousands of bloggers doing live stream videos on a daily basis with smart phones, tablets and laptop computers you would want to target the largest market and not limit yourself to a small group. The corporation I work for we have daily video conference calls between multiple locations and many of these people attend via smart phones and tablets. The video screen can be shared between a number of users at the same time and you have the option of muting your microphone and video camera as desired. You want a platform that is easily accessed by various communication devices and multiple users in various locations. This day and age people are more mobile with their daily routines and utilize the newer technologies to allow them to multitask from any location they are at. If you have to drive an hour in each direction to attend a monthly meeting some people might opt to log onto a computer and attend a meeting remotely when it is not possible to attend in person.
 
Mike, one of the reasons many of us use Zoom instead of Skype is that Zoom generally does better in low bandwidth situations and had built in recording capabilities, and it easily orchestrates group calls. I used Skype until Zoom came along, but haven’t used it for several years. And as you mentioned Zoom is available on many platforms and devices. That’s why I generally recommend it to demonstrators. As Emiliano mentioned, some of use use vMixCall because it can be accessed directly via a web browser and does automatic mix-minus audio... it lets the participant see and hear the demonstrator and the participant (club) appears as a local camera and microphone in the video mixer program, making it much easier to do high quality recording. Each communication platform has its strengths, and many of us have accounts with multiple platforms. This generally lets us deal with firewall issues that might block one or more of the programs.
 
Here is a video review of several of the popular video meeting software programs. The one issue I see with the Zoom App is the 40 minute meeting max for the free version many people will use. The features I do like about Skype is it is usually loaded on most laptop and tablet operating systems and it integrates into the other programs used on your system so you can easily set up meetings, invite people, share files, you have control over microphones, video cameras, screen sharing and file sharing. The commercial version I am used to using most likely has additional features that the free version does not.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnmKN6A3Tf8
 
The free version of Zoom does not restrict session time for one on one calls. The 40 minute limit is only for group calls. The pro version of zoom is about $13 per month and does not have that restriction, and come with some other nice features (static session ID, cloud recording, HD in group calls, etc.)
 
What we are are doing is an ever-evolving technology. I would not be surprised to hear that Alan Z tells us in a year that Skype came up with an update and it is now better than zoom. The original list of resources that I have from a few years ago, it is a little different today...
 
Emiliano Achaval said:
What we are are doing is an ever-evolving technology. I would not be surprised to hear that Alan Z tells us in a year that Skype came up with an update and it is now better than zoom. The original list of resources that I have from a few years ago, it is a little different today...
Click to expand...

It's easy to see my computer skills.
I remember "haloograms? 3-D projections from years ago. that could be next.
 
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Dwight R Rutherford said:
As a board member of Nor-Cal Woodturners I am interested in what equipment a club needs to receive remote demos. Tips on how to have a successful remote demo. A list that is updated with names, contact info, content of the demos the presenter offers.
I think we should allow all forum members view and comment.
Click to expand...
Dwight, just saw this thread. Our club has hosted remote demo's every other month since September 2017. I maintain a list of all demonstrators currently offering remote demos. go to Remote Demonstrations. you'll also find an article I wrote detailing what a club needs to receive a demo.
 
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