• Registered: 2010-10-06
  • Posts: 12

Topic: Collaborations

Fan commentators sometimes get together over Skype for commentary collaborations. I've done the same with my commentary podcast a few times with other commentators I've found on Zarban. It's quite enjoyable. Have any members of DIF ever thought of doing a collaboration in this fashion?

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  • Teague
  • Teague
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Re: Collaborations

I myself have a pretty strong "no Skype, ever" rule for podcasts, unless Skype is absolutely necessary. We played around with it a lot on Geekza, and it just...it's like the uncanny valley for a real conversation. If you're having an opinion-based, declarative conversation - "I feel this way." "I feel this way." - it's fine, but if the conversation is supposed to sound natural and flow quickly and ideally achieve a snappy back-and-forth, the delay just doesn't work. It's like trying to be witty over a satellite connection on CNN.

Costello: Are you the manager?

*pause*

Abbott: Yes.

*pause*

Costello: You gonna be the coach too?

*pause*

Costello: I asked are you-

Abbott: Yes.

Costello: And you don't know-

Abbot: Sorry.

Costello: -the fellows' names?

*pause*

Abbott: Well I should.

Costello: Well then who's on first?

*pause*

Costello: Who's on first?

Abbott: Yes. Yes.

Teague Chrystie

I have a tendency to fix your typos.

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  • Registered: 2010-08-30
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Re: Collaborations

Huh. Most of the currently 217 episodes of Sofa Dogs were done using Skype voice chat. I've NEVER had delay issues. The only time I HAVE, is the rare occasions I've had to use Skype Out, where you call a person's phone, using Skype on your computer.

Were it not for Skype, a ton of episodes would just be me, by myself, and no one wants that. As a result, I am ALWAYS looking for and welcoming of guests. If they also make fan commentaries, the better.

I guess this means I can cross Teague off my wishlist of future guests. smile

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  • From: Seattle, WA
  • Registered: 2009-11-19
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Re: Collaborations

Yeah, this is one of those opinions Teague has in spite of and possibly because of mounting evidence to the contrary.

Posted from my iPad
http://trek.fm

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  • Registered: 2010-08-30
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Re: Collaborations

LOL! Is that a thing? Does it happen enough to be common? Poor Teague. smile

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  • Teague
  • Teague
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Re: Collaborations

I'm not aware of the mounting, is the thing.

Teague Chrystie

I have a tendency to fix your typos.

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  • Dave
  • Dave
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Re: Collaborations

Teague wrote:

I'm not aware of the mounting, is the thing.

If you knew how many of my relationships ended with a lady telling me something along these lines ...

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  • From: Gardena, California
  • Registered: 2009-11-26
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Re: Collaborations

Just about every podcast I listen to these days has a Skype component. The FXGuide/phd/RedCentre guys are all over the world and interview people spread about likewise, The Skeptics Gude to the Universe is all done over Skype... There was a time when Skype was ganky and unreliable, but that was years ago.

That being said, we can barely manage to keep any given episode from imploding technologically with everyone present in one room, so I can understand the reticence toward trying to add a remote contributor to DIF. But maybe we could experiment for the Intermission.

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  • From: Indiana, USA
  • Registered: 2009-11-23
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Re: Collaborations

I think DIF works best as an in-room discussion, but I've certainly enjoyed plenty of commentaries that used Skype's high-quality audio. TalkShoe still sucks balls, tho.

John Pavlich with Tysto over Skype, with Pavlich's side using the Skype recording (via Call Graph)...
http://www.tysto.com/podpress_trac/web/ … -Tysto.mp3

John Pavlich with Tysto over Skype, with the local recordings composited together...
http://www.tysto.com/podpress_trac/web/ … -Tysto.mp3

The differences in John's voice are noticeable but minimal. The microphone makes a substantial difference, of course. Pavlich uses a Blue Snoball. Tysto uses a Samson CO3U. PotterFicWeekly uses Skype with a variety of headsets and desk mikes of varying quality.

Cultdom Collective uses TalkShoe with, I believe, headsets...
http://recordings.talkshoe.com/TC-54821/TS-544382.mp3

But nothing beats the Down in Front pro-style mixing board setup. Smooth like butter.

Last edited by Zarban (2011-10-18 17:15:54)

Warning: I'm probably rewriting this post as you read it.

Zarban's House of Commentaries

Zarban's Website

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  • Dave
  • Dave
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Re: Collaborations

In-room is good. If it isn't broken...

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  • From: Norway
  • Registered: 2009-12-01
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Re: Collaborations

I think skype works well enough, if the collaborators don't have much other choice. Also, I've never really suffered any delay there, so I can't comment on that. But yeah, in-room is definitely best, but should _I_, for instance, join in, skype would be cheaper than flying in tongue

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