Creative Communities of the World Forums

The peer to peer support community for media production professionals.

Activity Forums Broadcasting Best Training, Courses, Textbooks for new Technical Directors

  • Best Training, Courses, Textbooks for new Technical Directors

    Posted by Zach Nass on August 16, 2017 at 5:24 am

    Hi there,

    I have a new opportunity to work as a TD on a live sports production truck after some training. The vision mixer in use is a Grass Valley Kalypso. I spent an awful lot of time searching the internet for a training course specifically designed for beginner TDs and found none. The existing material online was dedicated to experienced TDs using mostly tech jargon and assumed the viewer to be somewhat already knowledgeable in the field.

    Is there any material out there to help teach new people to the field of live production like me, the basics of a vision mixer? If there’s a training course on Kalypso even better but i won’t limit myself.

    I appreciate all your help!

    Zach

    Chuck Reti replied 8 years, 8 months ago 2 Members · 5 Replies
  • 5 Replies
  • Chuck Reti

    August 17, 2017 at 2:27 pm

    Kalypso Switcher Technical Directing
    https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0F81AB0FC2D58FA1

    It’ s important that you do learn and understand that “technical jargon” you refer to. A good TD/Vision Mixer needs to properly communicate any technical issues (problems with cameras, video, comms, playbacks/records, etc.) to the director and to the EIC, and often will need to be doing real time problem solving while still switching a show.

    Some contents or functionalities here are not available due to your cookie preferences!

    This happens because the functionality/content marked as “Google Youtube” uses cookies that you choosed to keep disabled. In order to view this content or use this functionality, please enable cookies: click here to open your cookie preferences.

  • Zach Nass

    August 17, 2017 at 8:04 pm

    Thanks Chuck for the link but I already watched that playlist. This series is more dedicated to experienced TDs switching to Kalypso rather than beginners. More like tips than a 101 on vision mixers. If i may put it in different words, what would you send a totally beginner TD just starting out?

  • Chuck Reti

    August 23, 2017 at 2:18 pm

    I did find this one, which may be helpful.
    https://youtu.be/CGwkV_tOVZA
    An operator manual for almost any switcher, if you can borrow or download one, can be useful. Best would be to find someone doing the job and see if you can “shadow” him/her for a time. A manual or text will tell you what a particular unit does, and explain its basic operations, but can’t teach you how to deal with situational issues and real-time problem spotting and solving. You’ll also find that directors have their own jargon and styles. It’s necessary to learn how a each director you work with will call a show. Is a lower third a “super” or a “key” is a graphic a “chyron” or an “aston.” Is he/she a “finger snapper”? Calm and deliberate or a frenetic “yeller?” Your crew will also look to you for necessary check out of things like tallys and intercom, and to communicate their tech issues to your engineer.
    The job does go way beyond just knowing what buttons to push. Some “101” is great for starters, but skills are developed by being in the “hot seat.”

    Some contents or functionalities here are not available due to your cookie preferences!

    This happens because the functionality/content marked as “Google Youtube” uses cookies that you choosed to keep disabled. In order to view this content or use this functionality, please enable cookies: click here to open your cookie preferences.

  • Zach Nass

    August 24, 2017 at 5:42 am

    Thanks Chuck,

    You are absolutely right about the situational issues that no training can provide. I’m a video editor and it’s the same here too. There’s much more to video editing than pressing a few buttons in FCP.

    But you gotta start somewhere, and this is where i am. I’m sure experience and time will teach me everything else i need to know.

    In fact i do have a shadowing opportunity with a local TD here in Houston, that’s why i am looking for all the material i can read now so i understand what he’s doing otherwise it’s all button pressing.

    I did in fact watch that video before. It’s weird but it seems there’s a big shortage of Kalypso specific training online i dunno why. I was hoping to find a 101 textbook on vision mixing but all i could find on Amazon were some general TV Studio operation books with just a chapter or 2 on switchers.

    Thanks for your help.

  • Chuck Reti

    August 25, 2017 at 10:16 pm

    You’ll do OK with that attitude and enthusiasm. Good Luck!

    C.

We use anonymous cookies to give you the best experience we can.
Our Privacy policy | GDPR Policy