Check out our list of New Media jobs (and others) available via SimplyHired.com.
Enter your location for jobs close to you. You can also search on other keywords.
Check out our list of New Media jobs (and others) available via SimplyHired.com.
Enter your location for jobs close to you. You can also search on other keywords.
Cognitive Surplus: Creativity and Generosity in a Connected Age by Clay Shirkey
I am in the midst of reading this book and enjoying it a lot Shirley seeks to provide some background as to why people volunteer their time and energy on various Internet-conncected pursuits as varied as online communities, sharing Instagram photos and raising money for charities online. I am finding that I am highlighting quite a few sections to consider later, as I read.
From Amazon.com…
“The author of the breakout hit Here Comes Everybody reveals how new technology is changing us for the better.
In his bestselling Here Comes Everybody, Internet guru Clay Shirky provided readers with a much-needed primer for the digital age. Now, with Cognitive Surplus, he reveals how new digital technology is unleashing a torrent of creative production that will transform our world. For the first time, people are embracing new media that allow them to pool their efforts at vanishingly low cost. The results of this aggregated effort range from mind-expanding reference tools like Wikipedia, which allows Kenyans to report acts of violence in real time. Cognitive Surplus explores what’s possible when people unite to use their intellect, energy, and time for the greater good.”
More 2012 Gift Guide Items: Continue reading
The latest version of WordPress press, 3.5, has just been released. Following my usual WordPress Wednesday, it’s time to look at your blogs, update your plugins and try out the new 3.5.
For a complete list of new features and other changes, visit the WordPress Codex.
A few of the changes…
New Media Manager
New Default Theme – Twenty Twelve
Admin Enhancements
…and much more!
Arriba Cases Gear Transport Bags
Most podcasters have a reason to move their gear around on occasion and you want to make sure it is protected while in-transit. Arriba Cases has a wide selection of padded gear bags available for almost any purpose. These bags were originally designed for musicians and their amplifiers, but they would also come in handy for any podcaster moving mixer, microphones, cables and stands from one location to another.
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Behringer 302USB Premium 5-Input Mixer
This small, portable mixer might be just the thing for a beginning podcaster or musician who wants to quickly record some tracks. The USB interface means you can easily connect it to Windows or Mac computers and use Garageband or Audacity to record. If you are working “on the road” a small mixer like this can be wonderful as it packs easily and still provides most of the features you might need.
If you think you might require recording with multiple microphones or added inputs, this might not be the mixer for you, but if, like myself, you are recording a 1 person podcast, it could be an excellent addition to your podcasting kit.
More 2012 Gift Guide Items: Continue reading
This is the second installment of a new series here on Careers in New Media/New Media Interchange — New Media Gear. I started collecting information for this series by posting a question in the Facebook Podcasting Community Group — “What equipment to you use?” I know that I like to know what others are using — and finding useful — in their New Media work and ways that it might make my work a bit easier. Over the next several weeks I will highlight a podcaster in each post and let your know what equipment they find useful and provide links to where you can pick it up yourself. — Douglas
New Media Gear 002: Richard Cleveland of Naked Ape Productions
Richard produces a number of shows including Popcorn Lobby: The Real Movie Discussion Show, Between the Pages: A weekly comic book and geek culture review show and a new show, PodcastU, just for podcasters like you.
Here is some of the equipment that Richard is using to produce his shows. He passed along this information via the Facebook Podcast Community Group. You can ask your questions and find lots of podcasting discussion there.
If you have any questions about Richard’s podcasting equipment, please drop them in the comments.
New Media Equipment:
Previously on New Media Gear:
Blue Microphones Icicle XLR to USB Mic Converter/Mic Preamp
This is another piece of podcasting and audio recording gear that was mentioned during the PodcastU episode I was part of last Thursday. The Blue Icicle allows you to convert any standard XLR connected microphone into a USB microphone that can be plugged directly into your computer. This a great way of providing some flexibility in where and how you use your microphones. It also allows you to start off with the more standard XLR mics so that you don’t have to upgrade from a USB only mic as your podcasting work grows.
More 2012 Gift Guide Items:
Audio-Technica ATR2100-USB Microphone
I was part of a PodcastU Roundtable last night and the audio techies in the group sang the praises of this microphone for beginning podcasters. The ATR2100USB is an interesting hybrid of new and old. Beginning podcasters can use it as a USB mic, connecting it directly to their computer for recording, but the mic also functions as a traditional XLR mic for connecting to a mixing board. The other members of the Roundtable complimented it audio quality while also praising its ability to switch between standards.
The ATR2100 is a dynamic microphone, so if you are struggling with an environment with a bit of background noise, this might serve you better than a larger condenser mic like the Blue Snowball and Yeti I featured earlier in the gift guide.
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Olloclip 3-in-1 Lens for iPhone 4/4s/5
If you use you iPhone for your New Media and Podcasting project, the Olloclip can give you more flexibility in the type of photos and video you shoot. This snap-on lens includes a Fish Eye, Wide Angle and Macro lens in one package. Simply clip it onto your iPhone and start shooting.
You can find example photos and video on the Olloclip web site.
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RAM Vehicle Mounts for iPhone (and nearly any other device)
Over the years I have owned several RAM Mounts and I highly recommend them. I have had mounts for my old Garmin GPS, my iPhone 3G and my iPhone 4. These are both suction cup units which hold the phone to the windshield. I also have a mount on my bicycle which can also use the car mounting arm.
RAM has mounts for nearly any cell phone, GPS, iPad, computer and any situation including cars, motorcycles, bikes, boats, aviation, kayaks and much more. If you need to use your devices no matter where you might be, check out RAM Mounts.
New Media folks will find a wide selection of camera mounts from RAM for all their “action footage” needs. Timelapse photographers can also benefit from sturdy mounts that can be attached in less-than-hospitable places.
The RAM Mounts web site includes an online “RAM Mount Wizard” that can step you through assembling the appropriate mount for your device and situation.
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Behringer XENYX X1622USB Premium 16-Input 2/2-Bus Mixer
Wow! This would be a significant upgrade from my current podcasting equipment, as I laid out in the first New Media Gear post yesterday. This seems to have everything I want in a mixer. First, it is USB connected, so it plugs right into my computer. Second, it has a ton of inputs for a variety of external devices and microphones. Finally, it has a built-in compressor so I wouldn’t need my current outboard compressor i.e. less STUPH on my desk. (LAUGH)
If you are looking for a new mixer — or know a podcaster who is — this could be a great upgrade for them.
I found out about this mixer from Richard Cleveland, a member of the Facebook Podcasting Community. I will be highlighting all of Richard’s podcasting gear in an upcoming New Media Gear post.
More 2012 Gift Guide Items:
This is the beginning of a new series here on Careers in New Media/New Media Interchange — New Media Gear. I started collecting information for this series by posting a question in the Facebook Podcasting Community Group — “What equipment to you use?” I know that I like to know what others are using — and finding useful — in their New Media work and ways that it might make my work a bit easier. Over the next several weeks I will highlight a podcaster in each post and let your know what equipment they find useful and provide links to where you can pick it up yourself. — Douglas
New Media Gear 001: Douglas E. Welch – Career Opportunities Podcast
I figured I might as well start out with my own equipment in this series, as old as it might be. As a wise person once said, “if it isn’t’ broke, don’t fix it!” My equipment works well for what I do and while I might be looking for an upgrade here and there, my gear is adequate for now.
If you have any questions about my equipment, please drop them in the comments.
You can hear and see this equipment at work in my podcasts My Word, A Gardener’s Notebook, Career Opportunities, Careers in New Media and TechnologyIQ at DouglasEWelch.com
New Media Equipment:
Joby GP1-A1EN GorillaPod Flexible Tripod
These versatile, flexible tripods are in the kits of many photographers and new media creators. Using a tripod is one way to make all your photos and video look tremendously better, so it only makes since to take one with you when you go out to shoot. The GoriallaPod series has flexible legs that can be used like a traditional tripod, but also wrapped around other surfaces, like handrails, seatbacks and more to put your camera where you need it most.
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Sennheiser HD-280 PRO Headphones
Podcasters and other New Media folk spend long hours with headphones on, so quality and comfort are import. Fellow podcaster, Tee Morris, pointed these out in a recent Facebook thread on podcasting equipment. Tee is a novelist, co-writer of Podcasting for Dummies and a pioneer podcaster, so I tend to take his advice whenever it is given. I am looking for a new, decent set of headphones myself and these might fit the bill.
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Most podcasters need some sort of desktop microphone stand for their work. Full-sized mic stands don’t work really well if you are recording at your desk, like I do. I highlighted some microphone boom arms earlier in the gift guide, but I wanted to link to a couple of desktop stands for those that are looking for a different setup.
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Sterling Audio ST51 Large Diaphragm FET Condenser Microphone
I started a podcasting equipment discussion on the Facebook Podcast Community Group so that I could start highlighting people’s equipment choices here. This led to a couple of recommendations from my fellow podcasters.
Jack “BoomgoestheDynamite” Heikle gives a good recommendation for these Sterling Audio ST51 microphones as an inexpensive but good sounding microphone for podcasters.
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Microphones from Giant Squid Audio Labs
Small independent microphone manufacturer, Giant Squid Audio Labs is well known to most podcasters. They were one of the first companies to recognize the podcasting market and provide inexpensive, quality microphones to be used with a variety of equipment. Giant Squid specializes in small, lavaliere microphones used for recording interviews and off camera audio for your video productions.
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Today on “Subscribed” I focus on another blog. My blog subscriptions are my lifeline to the world and have easily taken the place of all the print magazines I used to read each week. — Douglas
TUAW: The Unofficial Apple Weblog
Looking through my Google Reader stats, it looks like TUAW is one of my most favorited subscriptions. Even when I don’t have time to write an entire blog post on a topic, I can favorite it in Reader and it will automatically be Twittered out, posted to my Facebook page and stored away for future reference and inclusion in my month-end “My Favorite Things” posts.
TUAW is my go-to site for Apple information of all sorts. I am a Mac user myself, so much of this information is put to immediate use, but a large part of my clientele is also Mac-based, so when an important update, bug or announcement goes out, I am sure to hear about it quickly and thoroughly via TUAW.
Like many of the blogs I mention here, TUAW also has a companion YouTube channel.
What are some of your favorite Subscriptions? Share them here in the comments!
Previously highlighted on Subscribed:
Everything you need to know about podcasting, written by fellow LA Podcaster Dan Klass and podcast pioneer, Michael Geoghegan.
More 2012 Gift Guide Items:
Olympus PEN E-P1 12 MP Micro Four Thirds Interchangeable Lens Digital Camera
I purchased this camera back in July of 2011 in preparation for a a family trip to Sicily. I knew I had made the right choice when people started commenting on the first photos I posted to my blogs. While their are more capable — and more expensive — cameras you can buy, the balance of price vs. quality in the EP-1 is great. The optics and depth of field alone dramatically improve the quality of your photos above a typical point-and-shoot camera.
The Auto mode of the camera allows anyone to pick it up and use it, but with program modes, and even full manual, settings, you can begin to experiment with all the settings of the camera to take dramatic photos. I also use the camera to shoot video for my YouTube/Podcast series. It only shoots 720p video, not 1080p, but the superior optics make it the best 720p possible.
You can see many example of the photos I have taken with the camera — and videos, too — by checking out any of my blogs at DouglasEWelch.com.
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