Week 4 is in the can. Lots of special effects this week...which means a lot of guide tracks for me. All in all, very good stuff. Let's see...the DAT recorder went down this week, got it repaired...the DEVA is acting weird, it's going out next week...I've blown up two power supplies for my cart, they're back at their maker. Kind of a tough show on equipment, and I can't really figure out why. I guess it's just my turn, as I rarely have these issues. Thankfully I'm real paranoid and I have backups for just about everything.

We've got 1 more week to go, then I'm off for a few days. I am jumping on to the last week and a half of Hostage for Peter Devlin so that he may go and start another show. After that...who knows.

I think I may be testing some new gear as well...we'll see.

Just finished week 3 of Species III. All in all I'm quite happy with the sound we have recorded on this project to date. The locations have been a nightmare for ambiance, but that's somewhat normal these days. Even on stage we have so much noise from fans, SFX, crew, and above everything...the cameras. I'll keep from that rant this time around.

I have to say, I've got a great sound crew. The Jeffs...Jeff Norton and Jeff Zimmerman are doing a great job. It is very comforting to know that all I really have to do is mix...everything else is taken care of.

We've got 2 weeks to go. The hardest location is coming up this week...we are shooting at the old power plant in Rodondo Beach. The final week is on stage.

Hopefully we'll know more about She Spies in the next week.

Beginning week 2 of Species III. These F900 cameras are the loudest video cameras I've ever worked with. In the words of another sound mixer, when these things spin up...it sounds like the DP is making daiquiris. I can't get a clean close up without fan, tape transport and servo noise. We are working on a barney type glove...hopefully the KATA product will work.

The show is good, the actors are good, and the crew is great.

Lots of multi track on this project. I'm trying to use the DEVA to it's fullest. I'm really enjoying the machine, I hope we can get a couple of bugs worked out.

We start splits and nights today...

We've had a week of tests with the new 24P format. Things went poorly in the beginning but got better as we realized the deck was bad at the post house. All if our stuff was fine. It caused a lot of anxiety, but all is good now. For those that may want a detailed list of the testing procedure and the results by the step...contact me via email and I'll get you the info. Email - phil@palmeraudio.net

We start shooting on Monday bright and early. There are an enormous amount of visual effects in this production for such a short schedule...we'll see how it goes.

Many thanks to all the people I've called this past week for guidance and help...Dave F., Wolf S., Bill H.,Chris S., the techs at Plus 8, and all the guys over at Westwind. I really appreciate all the help.

I'll report the progress of the show as regularly as I can.

Thanks to all...

Sorry it's been a while. We finished up Desert Greed...very dusty. I'll be cleaning my gear all weekend. Jason London finished up the show with a fine perfomance.

The next project is much more intensive...an HD 24/P shoot for MGM. We are continuing the Species series of movies with Species 3. Jeff Norton and Jeff Zimmerman will be booming for me. I have no idea who is cast for this movie, but will very soon. We start shooting February 23 with camera tests next week.

Happy Valentine's Day everyone.

Well, we're a week into Desert Greed. Very dusty and cold...not what I hoped. The DEVA is performing flawlessly. Now I wished I had never waited...

Rob's doing a fine job, Noah as well. Good to have them aboard. We're already a day behind, but I'm onto something else right after, so I'm not hangin'.

It took all week to get over the cold, but I feel pretty good today.

It's Patrick Marten's birthday...Happy Birthday buddy!

More later...

Friday before we start Desert Greed. I've gotten sick...go figure. I hope it's a quick one, but it feels like a cold.

Bought the DEVA 2 yesterday. I can't wait for that company to deliver the next generation of recorders, so I had to bail and buy the older tech. At least it's time tested and working. It will work well for the next year, then I'll upgrade.

Man I feel horrible.

Load the truck today, that will be a bit of a relief...I think. Looks like I'm on for Species 3 as well. Nice to know I've got some work lined up.

I was right...now we are pushed to the 26th of January. Working title now is Desert Greed. Luckily my crew has decided to stay with me on this one.

Things are starting to get busy around town, so I feel okay about things, today. That could change of course. :)

Still waiting on the new DEVA...my hope is to have it in time to play with it for a while before my show in February. They have a history of delays, so I'm trying not to get my hopes up.

Worked on Angel this past week. Real nice crew over there. Funny episode...

First work week of the new year...and I'm not working, yet. The small show got pushed some more...as was expected. We scout on Thursday and production meeting Friday. I actually bet this gets slammed again as well. Now we are trying for January 20 as a start.

Getting the gear up and in order. Enjoying that actually.

Went to the LA Auto Show today. Very cool.

Want to get back to work.

It's the Holiday lull...in between Christmas and New Years. I've been working on gear, as per usual. Got my follow cart all cleaned up and upgraded. New drawers and such.

Kathy's working at her new job and happy. Oliver's feeling lonesome. Things are going okay.

New pictures soon of the new cart and truck modifications.

Christmas Day here in rainy southern California. It's REALLY raining today, not just damp or misty. The mountains are getting a lot of snow, Mammoth got 2 feet yesterday.

Tomorrow is the day to really tackle the cleaning of my sound rig. I need to get it ready for the next project...Axeman. We begin shooting the second week of January. Rob Cunningham will be joining me as boom operator. No new toys for this one, as it is a low budget production. I hope to find out something soon about some future projects.

Still hoping that the DEVA 4 comes in on time. Though I am really unhappy about the way the company slams the other manufacturers at every opportunity. Their competitors seem to welcome the new products on the market, while all Zaxcom does is talk badly about every other thing out there. Bad business practice in my opinion. Almost enough to make me go elsewhere for my equipment. Really good gear, bad PR.

I look forward to the new year and all that it may bring.

Merry Christmas. It's Christmas eve and raining in Los Angeles. Yes...it does rain here, just not too often. Perhaps I can get up to the mountains for some snow...

I managed to get all my Christmas shopping done early this year, not too sure how I did that.

I wish everyone a happy new year...may it be the best yet.

Wrap party last night for SS2...very cool. The gag reel was a highlight in the evening. Food, music, casino, drinks, and the crew made for a great party. Cheers to Chris Zavala for putting it together.

Now on to the holidays and a new year. Hopefully it will be even better than the last.

I start it off with a small, low budget movie in January. It will be with the same people I worked with on Dahmer and Monster Man.

The Christmas break is now upon all of us. Kathy and I have done most, if not all the shopping...so it's smooth sailing from here to Christmas. I have to say, I don't think we've ever done this before.

Happy Holidays to everyone...

We've finished season 2 of She Spies. I've loaded out all my gear and will begin the cleaning tomorrow. We shot 20 episodes in 6 months... Now for a little break. Hopefully not too long.

I decided to go with the DEVA 4. I've got money down so that I may get one from the 1st production run, which is kind of scary in its own way. I am hoping for delivery the end of January.

Kathy has started her job over at the Motion Picture Hospital. She likes it a lot...very happy about that...

More later...

Yo...here we go. This will be the last full week of She Spies production for Season 2. I'm ready for a bit of a break. It's snowing in the mountains, and I'm ready for some skiing.

Looks like I've got something brewing for early January, so the heat has turned to a simmer. Another horror/thriller movie...whatever.

I'm starting to put the pennies together for a DEVA...gotta have it sooner than later. I'll end up with a DEVA 2 and upgrade later. If the beta process of their wireless is any clue as to how the new units will be delivered, it will be a while.

Mr. Devlin is back in town, after some 6 months in Ireland on King Arthur. It sounded like quite an experience. Welcome back Peter...

All for now...2 beeps...

Greetings and Happy Thanksgiving. It's the holiday so we have a 4 day weekend! We wind up the show in a couple of weeks so I am making plans for the next upgrade to the "real" sound cart.

The new DEVA recorder will be the first on the top shelf. I have spent the last two TV seasons using a Fostex DV-40. Though we have had little problems with the Fostex, the jump to the portable (PD6) will be a tough sell. There is no hard drive on board, and this troubles me. That with the smaller format DVD-RAM drive (8cm) will make it a "no go" for me. The new DEVA seems to fit the bill for my needs, though the field tests have yet to be done.

I've had great performance from my 2 new Lectrosonic 411's this past season, so the upgrade to 6 units will happen in short order.

The new Sanken CS-1, short shotgun mic will also be on the test bench for me. I'll let you know how that turns out.

The new sound cart looks great, though a bit heavy. It was unavoidable with the new case system and magliner...we just need more space these days. With the added comfort of going completely wireless, I can stay a little farther away from the set. It allows me to have a bigger cart, and still stay out of the way.

Just rambling now so...have a Happy Holiday, and I'll write more later....

This is my first entry at the Sound Cart. We are in the final weeks of She Spies, Season 2. Episode 17 to be exact. Heading into Thanksgiving weekend.

Not too much to report, except that it's time to look for another show!

Wrap date for this season is set for December 15th!