My appeal to have my Community Guidelines Strike related to the replica firearm video has been successful and the video has been reinstated. However for the mental anguish and anxiety the Strikes cause I stand by my advice below. Gun videos are not worth it.
++++++++++++++++++
For the second time in six months my youtube channel teeters on the brink of extinction thanks to me following advice from youtube's creator academy.
Currently I am banned from uploading. Let me explain here.
Firstly I respect I am playing in youtube's garden and will be compliant with their rules or face mandatory ejection. However, lately, even the eternal optimist in me is not feeling any respect back from youtube because my content seems to be regarded as a turd on their sole. A sole worn increasingly by anonymous stick people who react disproportionately to public opinion.
Why the slow death. Why don't they just put my channel out of its misery and drive me to earning cryptocurrency on dtube.
Well this is where my last bit of optimism comes through - maybe if I adapt my channel it won't die. It'll still be fun, I'll still enjoy putting a show together and maybe - just maybe - the new ultra-conservative youtube will reward me for ignoring creator academy advice and not doing more of what youtube see as successful on my channel.
Ignore everybody. Be remarkable. Dramatise your differentiating idea.
Here are my 5 rules for anyone launching a youtube channel in 2018:
1. No guns. Have zero tolerance on guns. Just don't. Trust me on this. My movie prop guns have got me in so much trouble on youtube despite being my most successful videos borne from following Creator Academy advice. After over a half-million views youtube decided that unboxing a replica firearm was against Community Guidelines. Who knew.
2. No breaking up dolls. Don't be Sid from Toy Story. It'll get you a Community Guidelines Strike for rules against nudity and sexual provocation. I've had to opt my remaining doll videos into the restricted area for people over 18 from whence they can never return. I'm hoping legal adults won't get turned on by dolls. And to be clear this is Barbie type dolls, nothing more.
3. Create your content like everyone is five years old with a watchful momsnet parent with their finger on the flag-video button and just wanting to be triggered. Society has created a class of stick-people that the schwa cannot hold.
4. Always have an exit strategy from youtube. Always. Get some canaries out there too.
5. Subscribe to my channel. This is no sub-for-sub, you'll subscribe to my channel because it's awesome. Also you won't find my channel. It's not the 'miker' channel I'm talking about.
That's it, simple as that. I have to get out of the house and sweat the next few weeks waiting for my Community Guideline Strikes to expire.
As a new financial year approaches I've been assessing my needs for producing my YouTube videos using the AirNinja Movie Method with the added parameter of vlog style production.
With Sony releasing the Xperia XZ2 and XZ2 Compact (and currently shooting using the XZ1 Compact) I was pretty disappointed to see Sony drop the headphone jack and downgrade the front-facing selfie camera in the new releases. So they are scratched off the shortlist :(
The front-facing camera has become more important to me as often my videos are created with it and using the selfie camera for video allows a one-man-band to monitor the framing easily.
Losing the headphone jack means also losing the ability to plug in mics, including binaural mics from Sony themselves.
I noticed that the Samsung Galaxy S9 kept the headphone jack still, but no way my budget stretches to £700+ for an unknown binaural performer. Obviously the Sony binaural mics won't be compatible, but my Røde smartphone mics will be.
After reviewing a bunch of sample videos on YouTube I came to the conclusion that the S8 is as good as the S9 for my purposes.
Read on to see what attracted me to the S8 and other phones I would still consider top quality for creating ASMR content on a lesser budget. All these phones record decent stereo-audio video using either back- or front- camera. Many many phones only record mono including every single iPhone ever produced to date, yes even the X.
1. Samsung Galaxy S8 (£500-ish)
THE GOOD
Decent front camera with autofocus and binaural-video recording.
Amazingly fast and reliable autofocus in 1080P.
Great 'Pro' mode to selectively lock ISO and White Balance.
Looks good with minimal bezels. 64GB onboard storage (which tends to be my sweetspot shooting 1080P as I do).
MicroSD card slot.
Price has been cut with the release of the S9 and it's pretty much the same phone :)
THE BAD - This thing is gonna crack into a million pieces when it's dropped on-set or even just casually falling out of your pocket day-to-day; best buy a case too.
Touchwiz and duplicate Samsung branded apps kinda annoying for your soul.
THE UGLY - wtf is that dedicated Bixby button lol
2. Sony Xperia XZS (£250-ish)
THE GOOD
Really low noise mics, great audio engineering all around, can plug in a set of Sony binaural mics. 64GB internal storage is worry-free for me when shooting 1080P although can be expanded using the microSD too.
Doesn't overheat (honestly on older Xperia this really was a major concern when shooting long video takes, the camera app would just shut down d'oh - not on this one though and not on the XZ below either).
Dedicated camera button is sweet. Really fast autofocus though maybe a tad slower and less reliable than the Galaxy S8 above.
THE BAD
The 960fps is a bit of a gimmick and doesn't record any sound anyway.
THE UGLY
Whilst the phone itself is not particularly ugly looking I did always find it a bit annoying to hold one handed. I have long fingers but small-ish-to-average hand size what ya gonna do.
3. Sony Xperia XZ (£150-ish)
THE GOOD
Great value for the results you will get from it, shares many features with the XZS above including the low noise mics and ability to plug in Sony binaural mics to the minijack.
THE BAD
It 'only' has 32GB internal storage which whilst usually enough if you dump your rushes every day, I would start to stress if I was shooting over several days without a rushes dump. Thankfully it does have a microSD expansion but, y'know, it's extra admin and another thing to remember.
THE UGLY
Whilst the XZ never crapped out on me it can still tend to get on the warm side and it's not a great choice if you want to film long takes at 4K resolution.
Now here's a twisted leftfield deeply disturbing absurdist collection of short films if I ever saw one. From the Trash Arts production stable and currently streaming on VersusMedia this macabre anthology explores themes from the masked corners of the human mind and will put cracks in the thin veneer of our outdated industrialised society.
Running at just over an hour it demonstrates just what is possible with a camera, a co-operative, and unbound imagination. This is not your multiplex 12A spandex CGI fest, obviously; rather grass roots risk taking fringe filmmakers with a self to express unhindered and (quite possibly) unhinged.
First up is Angel of Decay - essentially a vlog by a Ted Bundy fangirl documenting her slide into mimicry of her hero and beyond. If you ever want to know what to pack in your murder kit, this is the one to watch. Certainly lives up to the Killers moniker, plural.
Angel of Decay
After a brief insert of a plastic doll autopsy (which continues to be intercut throughout the first few shorts) we have Court of Conscience. If you've ever wondered if the soapbox loons foretelling end-times and apocalypse should be respected then this film has your answer. A simple idea, well, executed.
Court of Conscience
Then we have Arrows with a one-shot slow-cinema opening scene and an implied botched heist before we see our protagonist casual and confident strolling through the woods licking revolvers as you do. We find ourselves a masked antagonist and after a quick chase sequence the score is settled with a game of chance - namely Russian roulette. There's probably a deep multi-layered metaphor in there somewhere.
Arrows
Moving on to Here's Johnny we are left to imagine the circumstances and context of any storyline as this short jumps straight into the staple horror shower scene. Next time you're in the shower you might want to keep your wits about you and your clothes on.
Here's Johnny
Submitting to Desire we are presented with what is probably the most visually striking film of the bunch. Its abstract narrative arc is left to your own interpretation and anything unsettling is down to your own cognitive biases. Featuring blue steak, squished fruit, bondage, and music steadily building to a thrashing climax there's clues and cues to tie it all together into a coherent study of that suggested by the title.
Desire
Making you even more wary of the landline telephone, The Call sets a scene of a big local news story - so why does our protagonist keep getting calls from a double-glazing salesman questioning her sanity? A tale of ratcheting guilt until pushed over the edge.
The Call
A great use of available light in Southbank which documents the last minutes of life of the main character with a cameo from none other than Death - well this is Trash Arts Killers after all. With an emotive use of music we are in the moment with the lead with disregard for whatever came before and for whatever may come.
Southbank
Rounding up we have Attraction which explores a couple's relationship anniversary and psychological fallout when the relationship is not all you want it to be. Do you continue with the relationship or do you break up with unknown consequences.
Attraction
All in all an entertainment filled hour that should help keep you awake at night! Trash Arts Killers Volume 1 is streaming on VersusMedia from 26th January 2018.
Full disclosure: the ASMR Dolls sections are submissions from my own productions at ASMR.Show
What follows is a brief summary of what I saw happening in 2007. (for reference my cable provider today in 2017 offers me the capability to download ~37,500K a second at up to 300Mbps - and video streaming services proliferate - heck I've even got myself a couple of distribution deals across platforms and manage a very small YouTube multi channel network). Will What's Happened to Music Happen To Movies?
First, you must believe the postulation that picture follows audio. What do I mean by that? I mean that audio workflows digitised long before movies, just as the audio CD predates the DVD, audio tape predates video tape, etc
In 1997 I was downloading about 3K a second. Today in 2007 I'm doing up to 500K a second. So in ten years, that's 166 times faster. But still not fast enough to watch "digital 35mm" in realtime, nor particularly practical to download. But it will happen. When it does, what incentive will there be to watch movies at the cinema, or buy a physical disk of the movie? Like music today, will people be satisfied with high quality device-readable files?
So the movies future is probably in your front room, what today is called home cinema. The cinemas themselves will no doubt continue to exist, just as theatre, radio and books do today. Is the AppleTV perhaps a precursor to that day, albeit in laughably low-resolution to keep file download sizes sane for today's broadband connections.
How does an indie moviemaker survive in that climate, yet alone see success coming anywhere near to an eighties blockbuster?
But workflows of the future will be all digital, including delivery. That is an advantage to the indie on the longtail - the price of admission is lower, although you'll still need great craftsmen to get close to your original vision for the movie, just as any moviemaker knows today.
Apple may become a movie distributor. Typically today big movies are not made without an assured distribution deal or completion bond. Self publishing will remain an option, but will remain niche, hobbyist and vanity as it does today. Distributors understand marketing. Apple understand marketing.
So content creation is available to all. So what.
Distribution is available to all. So what.
Marketing is available to all. Is it?
--
What I take away from this decade old short brain-dump, what I still see all around me, is that indie filmmakers still do not understand the importance of intelligent marketing - if you want to be an indie filmmaker today and haven't got lucky yet I'd recommend delving into psychology which segues nicely with marketing. Or partner with someone who does understand marketing and the absolute slog behind it.
Everyone shoots photos and videos with their phone nowadays right? Who wants to carry a tripod around everywhere? If you do need a tripod which is best for you?
Here's one airninja's take on specific tripod requirements:
For as long as I can remember I've enjoyed experiencing hi-fi stereo sound - many an hour spent sitting in that sweet spot listening to an album.
Later I became interested in capturing authentic stereo sounds, experimenting with binaural and mid-side (M/S) stereo recording techniques to create interesting sound experiences for picture. Sound design with minimal design (because all the best design is as little design as possible).
With a surge in interest in ASMR (experiencing head tingles from certain sounds usually through headphones) and the Airninja Movie Method preference for stereo recording it was time for me to rationalise my gear to see what works best for capturing great stereo sound with decent video. It's 2017 after a decade of UK austerity and on-going Brexit uncertainties, I just want a versatile device that easily fits in my regular pocket and won't break the bank (or, er, scorch my credit card). Here's my top three devices: BRONZE - Sony Xperia X Compact optionally with STM10 XY plug-in mic (£229 plus £35 option) This is the most versatile combo on the list, but you do need the additional STM10 mic to really utilise that versatility. The Xperia X Compact shares next generation SNR results from its onboard MEMS mics with its bigger brother the XZ as well as an amazingly quick and capable autofocus system.
KILLER: The size, the potential, the astounding visual autofocus to support your aural. This is the smallest phone here and when accessorised with the STM10 is currently unbeatable for versatility (note: versatility at the sacrifice of some purist accuracy, the horror!) - the killer feature here is the sum of the parts and the adventures you'll have creating. PROS: Sony know their audio and that knowledge seeps into every atom of this phone - clear decisions have been made for recording and playback. I've used the X Compact with Rode's Smartlav+ and Sony's Audio Recorder app (there's that versatility again) to record voice artist work and the client gave feedback saying the quality was amazing. So it's a capable professional tool - but I'll keep it my secret, thanks. This is also the only phone on this list that (with the STM10) can record vertical video with a natural horizontal stereo sound-stage. Think about that for a moment. This phone is also unofficially IP58 water resistant so don't be afraid of that thunderstorm. CONS: My biggest disappointment with this phone is the onboard mic placement. It's not enough to be totally ugly since an untrained ear would never know. But I know. My soul feels it. This is why I would recommend partnering this phone up with the STM10. Instead of a mic on each end like the XZ or even the Galaxy A3 the X Compact has a mic on one end and another mic ... in the mouthpiece area (so far as I can tell). Not ideal, but workable. I've revisited recordings I've made with the onboard mic as a viewer and didn't realise until I switched to critical listening mode. UGLY: This phone would be Gold if only the mics were positioned optimally for stereo recording and the damned camera didn't still overheat here in 2017. It's kind of unforgiveable but as a long time Xperia user I've kind of learnt to live with it by thinking of what else this device brings to my table. I also remember those tales of the RED overheating and that is not a cheap camera. If Sony can fix these two things on a sub-5" form factor then they have a winner once it hits the used phone market. Will that day ever some? Judging from the release of the Xperia XZ Premium, Sony are going large with the herd for the forseeable future. SILVER - Samsung Galaxy A3 2017 (£220) Make no mistake this is a slick looking phone and gets the job done in pretty much any weather condition.
KILLER: This is the only IP68 certified phone on the list. That alone means that with zero other accessories you can get a great binaural recording without worrying about the phone failing in adverse weather conditions or falling in your pint. PROS: Um, fingerprint sensor? I suppose the SNR is decent too, certainly next gen SNR on par with the Xperia. Decent onboard mic placement for stereo recording. Headphone jack can be useful with Rode products. CONS: Camera and video recording is pedestrian at 30fps FHD tops (so no 60fps, and none of the phones on this list do 4K). Autofocus hunts and can be inaccurate often.
UGLY: Samsung. I just can't place it but I find it difficult to get excited about Samsung products. Especially ones that are neglected and suffer from an annoying touchscreen lag. It remains a capable device it just --- has no soul. GOLD - Samsung Galaxy A3 2016 (£130) A great looking phone even against latest iPhone designs but ... how much?! KILLER: Simply the price of "good enough". Make no mistake you can get decent results out of this device and your viewership won't know or care and nor should they. PROS: Have you seen the price? It's a lovely built phone for the price. It will meet pedestrian needs no question and also delivers binuaral recording from decently placed onboard mics. CONS: It's just not exciting (outside of looks-to-cost ratio) and "good enough" extends to performance. Nothing stellar but do you care. Well you might care in the wet because this phone has no official water resistance, no, not even rumoured. UGLY: Let's face it, Samsung are never going to update this device with future Android upgrades that might otherwise make the phone more efficient. The paltry onboard RAM is pretty ugly too and the refurb unit I used had a defective GPS so no turn-by-turn navigation. WRAP UP It seems strange that my favourite device is Bronze and of the uglies has the ugliest. That must be testament to Sony's UX which has a focus on audio/DSP and increasingly aligns with stock Android as Sony perhaps wind down development completely, d'oh. Samsung will obviously be around forever to pick up the slack, but what a shame to swim with the bottom-feeders at this price-bracket. Perhaps in another year we won't even have compact devices available and a new Lumia will be sporting 360 audio capture ... who knows!
So my journey has continued from iPhone through Sony offerings and I thought I'd settled on the ZTE Axon 7 (because Dolby Atmos and playback dynamic compression). However the size and weight of the Axon made it somewhat klunky in the pocket which was bugging my airninja-ness.
So I started looked for smaller, lighter phones that weren't the Sony Xperia X Compact (because the binaural mics on that phone are sub-optimally positioned). I happened across the Samsung Galaxy A3 2016 - a refurb at just £129, so I thought I'd take a punt after some critical listening to example video footage.
Bear in mind the A3 2016 does not have any optical stabilisation and is somewhat "stripped down" compared to more current smartphones - no fingerprint scanner, no water resistance, 16GB internal RAM - yes just 16GB internal RAM (ah but expandable by 128GB using microSD so perfect for my video needs!)
The camera is "only" 13MP but it is f1.9 which is great, but "only" records at 1080P @30fps (and does display some minor minor uglies in 50Hz lighting). The camera is however better than the camera in the ZTE Axon 7 (richer colours, snappier autofocus - though nowhere near Sony Xperia XZ snappy).
So for a phone that was released to the world in December 2015 it aint looking too shabby even now almost half way through 2017 - and it's "cheap", I mean £129, I've bought pairs of shoes that cost more than that! (Yes I'm an idiot).
I've been so pleased with the A3 2016 that I have now taken a punt on the A3 2017 model (released January 2017 IIRC) which also includes a fingerprint scanner and is IP68 dustproof/waterproof (can be in a metre of water for 30 minutes). Internal RAM can be expanded to 256GB and it's a USB-C connector.
Using relatively low cost equipment has been a goal of airninja for quite some time and it looks like I can finally put a tick in that box :)
Here's a couple of binaural stereo video recordings I made to test the Samsung Galaxy A3 2016 phone that cost me just £129 -
As always I'm happy to hear your own opinions in the comments so don't be shy!
Nowadays it seems a new smartphone release must be a controversial affair for anyone to pay attention and it's against this landscape of headphone jack removal and exploding batteries that Sony have released the Xperia XZ into the world.
Sony Xperia XZ (platinum)
What to say.
There's nothing very controversial about the XZ. It's elegant. Understated. Solid. Tasteful. Minimal. Designful.
Whilst other companies shave off everyday interfaces and leave an empty space with the excuse it helps the acoustics of its product's speakers (and co-incidentally drives sales for its brand of wireless headphones) and call this courageous, Sony has none of it. Instead Sony present (yet another!) iteration of its smartphone design know-how.
The days of being delighted by a smartphone - any smartphone - are long past to anyone who has owned more than a couple of handsets over the last decade. Dare I say the user experience is at a plateau and the land-grab is in full swing. Humans are irrational beings and it's our emotions that are appealed to and right now Sony is the brand that appeals to me - but let me rationalise :)
I'd barely owned my Xperia X Performance (XP) a few weeks when Sony announced the XZ. If you're not interested in videography improvements than I'd say get a deal on the XP now.
The Sony Xperia XZ back camera sensor augmentation
The XZ introduces some new sensors for the videographer, whilst keeping the superior Electronic Image Stabilisation (EIS) which produces much better results with the moving image than any current smartphone Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS) - especially in environments with high frequency vibrations (for example the dashboard of a car).
I won't bore you with the marketing speak, but basically the XZ camera is augmented with a couple of extra sensors. Once deals with white balance, one with focus. This results in incrementally better video results than the XP (which to my eye is already very good).
The XZ keeps the f2.0 wide lens but still produces very acceptable results in low light compared to any other contemporary smartphone, including those with f1.8 lenses (such as HTC 10 and new iPhone).
The binaural sound recording has been a staple with Xperia since at least the Z2 (my first Xperia purchase) and here again it appears incrementally refined, certainly a better signal-to-noise ratio than the entire Z series by around 3dB.
I still love the fact that the face of the Xperia is uncluttered with any physical button, and I regard the placement of the volume rocker as a distinct advantage in everyday use (I have never accidently changed the volume on an Xperia device, ever - the same cannot be said of the other Androids and iPhones I have owned with more traditional placement of those buttons).
The dedicated camera button on the XZ remains welcome, and is by far the most responsive including versus the XP.
The fingerprint sensor is another button placement that I find perfectly acceptable, and it's very quick to recognise my prints.
Sony Xperia XZ front facing camera records 1080P video
I'm not much of a vlogger but it's good to see that the XZ front-facing camera keeps a wide field of view and records 1080P and looks decent.
No SIM tool is needed to change the SIM or access the microSD slot. Storage expandability is another plus to the Xperia line in my book.
Finally, the XZ brings USB-C to the Xperia X line which is just a much more convenient and potentially more versatile connector than either microUSB or Lightning.
I've noticed the popular press has been kinder to the XZ after pretty much universally slating the XP - which is funny and cements my opinion that if you want a smartphone for a specific purpose you should do your own research; if not it's pretty difficult to find a truly awful smartphone in 2016. Which shows just how far the category has progressed and is an indicator of that plateau.
Did I mention the XZ carries forward the ingress protection (IP68) 'waterproofing' of the top end Xperia line. Although Sony seem to be keen to play this down, and it seems the camera app has had Touch Block removed - it remains to be seen how recording video performs underwater! But it does mean accidental dips should be nothing to worry about.
The Good
Well placed microphones for binaural recording.
Around 3dB (estimated) improvement recording SNR over recent Z5 handsets.
Elegant design.
Improved sensors including addition of laser assisted focusing.
Expandable storage via microSD.
USB-C.
f2.0 / 24mm lens.
Front facing stereo speakers.
Ingress Protection IP68 waterproof.
The Bad
It's quite big and relatively conspicuous.
I've often thought the intimacy of ASMR lends itself to a potentially fantastic horror film experience - watching a creepy film, alone, in headphones, can be truly scary. Especially if you are in the house alone too.
Here we have a short film that appears to explore the horrors of aquaphobia, although plot details are rather thin and the trailer gives nothing away. Really, nothing.
So turn out the lights, strap on your headphones, and see what sort of goosebumps the trailer for 'Waterfright' might give you.
There's a saying in the film industry: "nobody gives a f5ck about sound". Although that's not strictly true, it is one of the first areas to be compromised in a tight spot during production.
Apple does give a f5ck about sound having employed the likes of Tom Holman to consult on audio direction.
Whilst I believe the iPhone 7 lack of headphone jack is no big deal considering a wired connection remains possible with an adapter, and everything else like dual lenses, stereo speakers, and fast f1.8 lenses is playing catch-up with Android and Windows 10 Mobile Lumia, there remains a glaring omission in the contemporary iPhone spec sheet.
After nearly 10 years the iPhone does not record binaural video (I say binaural video because saying stereo video could mean a stereoscopic 3D effect, but I mean the two-channel sound with video).
The iPhone certainly has enough microphones to have a binaural recording capability. From what I've seen of mic positioning there has been no major changes with iPhone 7 - it has three - one on the front, one on the back, and one on the bottom edge.
This is precisely the same mic positioning as the HTC 10 which does record binaural video. So this is a choice being made by Apple to not record binaural video, not a technical limitation.
Now it might be that Apple are waiting for another design iteration to "do it right" (the HTC mic positioning records mildly biased stereo because left and right channels are not capturing vibrating air molecules equally and it is applying algorithmic compensation and noise cancellation DSP which increases the noise floor with digital uglies in certain scenarios).
Tom Holman's initials form THX (Tom Holman Crossover).
But when? It's been almost 10 years since iPhone dropped and we are in a vibrantly sounding 21st century that would be lovely to capture binaurally with all that hosing of iPhone video.
Clearly, binaural video recording is not important to corporate Apple since Sony Xperia have been offering high end models with binaural video recording for years, and very good it is too. Again it is clearly a choice by Apple not to offer the function because they see it as not important enough to make their list of priorities.
But here's the thing. If you're someone who appreciates sound and making your own recordings, once you've experienced the depth and breadth of decent binaural recording you just don't want to go back to monaural.
There are third party mics that record stereo (the Shure MV88 comes to mind - very good it is too but ultimately creates a biased stage due to it being on the other end to the lens) but the Airninja Movie Method is about less - less to carry, less to remember, less technicalities, just record your damned movie and be assured of decent results by default with a device straight out-of-the-box.
I appreciate that the telephone is a monaural device but an iPhone is so much more than that. It's a pity that out-of-the-box iPhone only creates monaural content. Proof, if any were needed, that binaural sound remains a niche interest - and therefore, opportunity.
The iPhone 7 is also 'water resistant'. The top end Sony Xperia are essentially waterproof in freshwater shallows (IP68) as demonstrated in the following binaural video which ends up fully submerged underwater.
There's just zero reasons for current iPhone to be the airninja's first choice.
Lime Gold Sony Xperia X Performance - Dual SIM / F8132 / 64GB
Why would anyone buy this phone?
That was the consensus I kept reading at the Android pop sites. Indie reviews are thin on the ground so you'd be forgiven for thinking this phone is a turkey.
So why would I buy the Sony Xperia X Performance (XP) when so many websites are saying it's a very disappointing phone and there are better alternatives out there in 2016.
I've thought about this, and, ultimately, it's consistency.
I have come to value consistency and relative predictability in my pocket computing devices for these are the staples of reliability.
Sony TRRRS jack present
Sony has rocketed through iterations from the Z1 to XP and arrived at the current evolution through continual improvement.
That's the first thing professional reviewers remark on - the relatively unchanged look of the Xperia line. Well personally, why mess too much with perfection?
There's a reason the Sony Xperia phone line has earned the nickname 'Kubrick' and it's not just because of a monolithic black slab that can project the cinema screen.
Sony Xperia omni-balance earns nickname 'Kubrick'
Kubrick is renowned for balanced perspective framing in his films and the Xperia line strives for a similar omni-balance.
23MP camera for excellent EIS 1080P video
No camera bump on the Xperia line of phones. Stereo speakers. Stereo (binaural) recording. Expandable storage. Ingress Protection (limited waterproof capability). Buttonless face. Volume rockers tucked out of the way. Dedicated camera button. ClearAudio+. Best EIS in class. Well positioned microphones. No SIM tool required to open the tray.
No 4K. Not a loss to me. On a 5" screen what possible good does pixel density that high do that a FHD 1080P display can't do? Just like the lacking 4K video recording which is currently a gimmick and most cinemas you've been to project at 2K and you haven't even noticed.
1080P display, why would you need 4K at 5" size
In short, the Xperia X Performance brings a lot to an Airninja table and jettisons a lot of faddy fluff that is mere distraction and bandwidth hogging. I am primarily concerned with the quality of binaural recording with video.
Sony invented the Walkman. Even the company name is partly derived from Sonus.
Sony, having had it's ups and downs for sure, has movies in its DNA from the mutation with Columbia Pictures. Sony sensors helped capture Star Wars films digitally before it was cool.
Sony consistently delivers a functional form factor that helps me get binaural AV work done with minimal fuss (I have previously owned the Z2, Z3+, and Z5C amongst other brands of smartphones).
Here's a video recorded with my Z5C unboxing the new XP underwater:
THE GOOD
A great all-rounder with well thought out design and engineering that adds value to audio-visual recording in the form of consistent quality of binaural video coupled with excellent standard of electronic image stabilisation (EIS).
THE BAD
Populist specifications such as QHD display and 4K video recording are not implemented. Retail price isn't worth paying once you know the street price, so hunt out a cost saving.
THE UGLY
Long video takes can run with a temperature warning in mild ambient conditions especially if something like Google Photos is uploading the previous video you just took in the background over WiFi.
AIRNINJA OVERVIEW
Definitely a pocketable device capable of running with the Airninja Move Method, though the stereo recording crown still belongs to larger Microsoft Lumia 950XL. Beware of recording video with a lot of WiFi background activity since this will lead to heat; remember to put the Xperia into Airplane mode before filming to avoid the problem.
The world's first narrative ASMR feature length movie is entering production and it promises to bring fans of the aural sensation a passionate story of love mixed with the dangers of gambling in gang controlled regions of the coastal city of Portsmouth.
Not much else is known about the story other than the director describing it as "a road movie and a homage to the Wizard of Oz, created with modern techniques for modern audiences".
Part of these modern production techniques include recording the film at 60fps, also known as HFR (High Frame Rate); this is a frame rate even higher than Peter Jackson used in The Hobbit which was just 48fps. Also recording live sounds with an array of microphones to maximise chances of reproducing ASMR trigger moments with viewers (especially if they are listening to playback in headphones).
When asked about these choices (HFR and ASMR) the director tells us, "science shows humans have a great reaction to 60fps film, thrills are more thrilling. This was proven when they were designing the first Star Tours ride but unfortunately technical limitations meant they could not implement [such a high frame rate] at the time [in the 80s]. If you've not heard of ASMR then keep an eye out for this movie's release and be sure to listen to it, really listen to the textures, as well as watch and respond to the visual aesthetic."
Aren't you worried at the reception 48fps screenings of The Hobbit received? "Not at all. The main criticism of The Hobbit screened with HFR was that it seemed too real and exposed the limitations of presenting Hollywood production values in anything but the same old mould. Kubrick once said 'a truly original person with a truly original mind will not be able to function in the old form and will simply do something different' - welcome to my world."
At time of writing confirmed headline cast members include Suzy Weatherall, Patrick Olliver, Phil Lyndon, Simon Berry, Chris Mills, and Michel du Vagin.
Release date for P.A.I.N. is expected to be early 2017.
For as long as I can remember I've enjoyed experiencing hi-fi stereo sound - many an hour spent sitting in that sweet spot listening to an album.
Later I became interested in capturing authentic stereo sounds, experimenting with binaural and mid-side (M/S) stereo recording techniques to create interesting sound experiences for picture. Sound design with minimal design (because all the best design is as little design as possible).
With a surge in interest in ASMR (experiencing head tingles from certain sounds usually through headphones) and the Airninja Movie Method preference for stereo recording it was time for me to rationalise my gear to see what works best for capturing great stereo sound with decent video.
BRONZE - Shure Motiv MV88 and Apple iPhone SE
Shure Motiv MV88 attached to Apple iPhone SE.
This is a great combo, the mic has an excellent SNR and user configurable dynamic compression and limiter which is saved on the mic itself.
KILLER: The killer feature on the iPhone SE is its speed of autofocus utilising 'focus pixel' technology. Its very rare for autofocus to hunt on this device.
PROS: The iPhone SE is a true Airninja device with it's 4 inch screen and unassuming appearance. It's a very powerful device with a f2.2 lens and has a pretty amazing software ecosystem. User configurable dynamic compression and limiter on the MV88 accessory microphone remains persistent, stored in onboard memory.
Because the MV88 does not employ noise cancellation DSP it has no susceptibility to digital artefacts.
The above video was shot using the iPhone SE and MV88 combo.
CONS: The iPhone SE must be accessorised in order to record any stereo sound since the onboard mic array only records mono. This adds complication and decreases spontaneous opportunity. Once an accessory such as the MV88 is plugged into the lightning port on the device it's not possible to use a battery pack and record at the same time. The biggest flaw however is that without even more gear to mount the MV88 more central to the lens it hangs off one side giving an unnatural bias to the stereo sound particularly on close subjects. The MV88 in its case is another thing to carry and potentially lose out in the field.
UGLY: no onboard stereo sound recording on the highest priced smartphone of its class.
SILVER - Sony Xperia Z5 Compact
Sony Xperia Z5 Compact has a mic on the short side edges.
Slightly smaller than an iPhone 6S the Sony Xperia Z5 Compact with all its features was a very very close contender for Gold - however these awards have a strict focus on audio recording as the deciding factor. As decent as the Z5C is, it does not capture rich bass.
KILLER: If you want to record sound in shallow water this is the only device certified to do it without requiring any special housing.
PROS: The Sony Xperia Z5 Compact uses onboard microphone array to record binaurally with video captured through f2.0 lens. Whilst it may not be true hi-fi since the low-end is lacking somewhat, it does provide decent clarity and positional audio without need for any additional accessories. It's rugged design is dust and water resistant meaning this device can confidently go pretty much anywhere on the spur of the moment where other devices may require some forethought and accessorising. It's a compact device so remains discrete and unassuming.
The video above shot was using only the Xperia Z5 Compact onboard mics.
CONS: The Sony Xperia Z5 Compact audio can regularly be susceptible to quite nasty sounding digital artefacts, likely a result of ambient noise reduction.
UGLY: The camera app shuts down after prolonged use due to overheating issues (for example you won't get an hour long take using 1080P at 60fps, the camera will overheat and shut off after ~45 minutes).
GOLD - Microsoft Lumia 950 XL
Microsoft Lumia 950XL has mics front and back.
If you're going to go large you may as well go all out Xtra Large. The Microsoft Lumia 950 XL is a 5.7 inch screen phablet equipped with astonishing binaural recording capability coupled with great video. It's a great value proposition as long as you don't think about Windows 10 Mobile future too much.
KILLER: The Microsoft Lumia 950 XL inherits Nokia's four microphone array with noise cancellation DSP and records stunning binaural sound with good rear-noise rejection.
PROS: The Microsoft Lumia 950 XL is currently the top-of-the-line Windows 10 Phone and its price has also dropped like a stone. Excellent condition used handsets can also be found for bargain prices. So for mobile recording with video it's a fantastic value proposition. It has everything you need - 'RichRecording' purports to capture true hi-fi sound from 20Hz - 20kHz with a sampling rate at 48kHz. Though it's not perfect it is the best audio recording with DSP in this class of device and captures a rich range of positional frequencies that generally sound great, particularly in headphones. The camera has a wide lens which is optically stabilised and a f1.9 aperture.
The video above was shot using the 950XL onboard mic array.
CONS: it's phablet sized so not ideal for every size of pocket. A lack of support from Apple or Google for Windows 10 Mobile means that, for example, getting video off the device is best done from a Windows PC. Even uploading directly to YouTube from the device is not officially supported and somewhat flakey. Sure you can record to micro-SD and then take the card out but that's extra faffing about too. Digital artefacts can be present in certain conditions but at levels lower than the Sony Xperia Z5 Compact.
UGLY: integration with Google services is lack-lustre to non-existent, including reliable YouTube MCN uploading.
SUMMARY
These are all great devices with their own particular strengths and weaknesses, but when it comes to the airninja movie method the Microsoft Lumia 950XL is the device to beat. It allows you to remain agile without needing any extra gear to record hi-fi sound and I've recorded an unbroken two-hour long 1080P @ 60fps video take with no issues. It's nimble, versatile, reliable in the field - and unless it's in your pocket the size is not a huge issue ;)
As I do airninja prep on PAINthemovie I am reminded that my current ASMR recording setup still involves a bunch of faff with an external microphone. Wouldn't it be great if there was a video device that could record rich stereo sound along with the picture?
Turns out, there is. And you'll find it that it's not from Apple - their devices after almost 10 years are still only capable of recording mono sound with the onboard mics (as crisp as that may be).
I've been vaguely aware of Nokia's HAAC mic arrays for a while but, well, since the phones that carried them were always out of my price range for a punt and carried a 'losing' OS, I could never bring myself to take that punt.
Until now.
Two things have happened.
Firstly, the Nokia brand has tanked, hit the ground hard, so it's now possible to get the stereo HAAC devices much cheaper - worth taking a punt. I'm not talking about the newest Microsoft branded Lumia devices but ye olde Nokia branded Lumia devices - specifically the 930 and 830.
Secondly, amongst others, the embedded video below - why was I not informed? I am amazed that this sound (as dynamically compressed as it is, natch) could be captured so articulately by a phone released in February 2014.
Oddly, on paper, the mid-range Nokia Lumia 830 offers better value to the ASMRtist than the one-time top-tier 930.
Why?
Well for video the 830's smaller sensor is adequate, the 16GB internal storage on the 830 all but useless for video takes - however the 830 also offers expandable storage via micro SD card and a removable battery - whereas the 930 is fixed with 32GB non-expandable storage and a sealed-in battery that can't be removed.
I've found used carrier-locked 830 in the UK for as low as £50.
I've taken a punt on a £60 "excellent condition" used handset locked to EE - it could yet all go pear shaped (how annoying is it going to be to get video off the device for example?) but, man, it records sweet stereo audio to my ear - rivalling my expensive iOS gear for ASMR video recordings.
One MAJOR caveat for my with the 830 is that it cannot record 60fps video, and that does limit its appeal to zero for HFR ASMR projects I am involved in. But, did I mention, the 830 records sweet stereo audio to my ear - with no extra gear required. Sweet enough to make me consider 30fps ASMR projects.
I expect to get my 830 by early next week. If it's easy to get the videos off I think this will be a great device for ASMR recording. Microsoft's marketing department are missing a trick, I think!
Contemporaries tend to think that 'Pompey' is synonymous with Portsmouth Football Club rather than a referral to the city of Portsmouth itself.
That Portsmouth is an historical naval city cannot be denied.
This press clipping dated October 10th 1934 from the Portsmouth Evening News may shed some light on my impression that Pompey was, and always has been, a moniker for the city at large.
It reads as follows: THE ORIGIN OF "POMPEY" Sir,--The "Daily Telegraph" correspondent you refer to in your paper of the 9th inst., seems to be somewhat adrift in his version of the of the name "Pompey" as applied to Portsmouth. I am sure that many old inhabitants of the City can recall the use of the name, long before the existence of the Portsmouth Football Club. It is possible, I believe, to trace the probable origin of the name back to 1797, at the time of the famous Spithead mutiny. Some of the vessels implicated were: Terrible, Queen Charlotte, Glory, Duke, Defiance, Defence, Ramillies, Mars, Robust, Minotaur, Incendiary, Royal Sovereign, and the Pompee. Of these, the Pompee was the vessel most actively concerned in the whole proceedings. It is probable, therefore, that the entire nation came to think in terms of "Pompee" rather than of "Portsmouth," and sailors with their innate love of nicknames were disinclined to cease the practice. In this way the two names became synonymous. This is, I think, a far more probable explanation than the "les pompiers" or Parisian firemen solution of the "Telegraph" correspondent.--Yours, etc.,
CHARLES JENNINGS
100, Marmion Road, Southsea, Hants. October 10, 1934.
I think Charles is very likely correct - and I'm sure the sailors liked a bit of footie, too.
PORTSMOUTH, ENGLAND: Today Murlyn Films International, a British based independent film production company specialising in low budget movie production, announced that over 30 surviving works of late director Michael J Murphy from "Avalon" to "ZK3" are now available for free viewing online.
Upon reaching this milestone, Murphy's archivist and documentary maker Mike Peter Reed said "It's been quite a journey to pull these works together from disparate sources including old VHS recordings, broadcast beta tapes, DVD and Blu-Ray screeners. Sadly we lost Murphy in 2015 aged 64 whilst he was in preproduction of 'Pornophobia' but at least his back catalogue can now be enjoyed, entertain and inspire others for generations to come."
Murphy's archivist explained why Murlyn Films International chose to partner with YouTube:
Youtube is currently the second largest search engine on the planet. It stands to reason that anyone looking for Murphy's cult and obscure films would likely try a search on Youtube.
Ease of uploading feature length content and subsequent reliability of distribution globally. Anyone can do it without involving a middleman or aggregation company.
Longevity. It seems likely that YouTube will be around for at least as long as the internet exists meaning Murphy's work can be found and enjoyed by generations to come.
About Murlyn Films International: Murlyn Films International is a British independent film production company based in the historical naval city of Portsmouth, England. Founded in 2013 through a creative collaboration between Michael J Murphy and Philip Lyndon, Murphy's back catalogue stretches back to an acclaimed production of 'Boadicea' in the late 1960s and includes pioneering works during the VHS pre-certification "video nasties" era of the 1980s.
The spiritual successor to GAINthemovie will be shooting in summer 2016. The corridors of power in Hollywood are describing it as 'They Live' meets 'The Wizard Of Oz'.
GAINthemovie (Ghostly Apparition Investigation & Neutralisation the movie) pioneered the modern airninja movie method in 2012 and went on to win multiple awards internationally, including the esteemed Wingnut's Choice at the BUFI organised #FrugalWave Power Awards.
Whereas GAIN was directed by Evil C vs britmic, PAIN will be directed solo by britmic (does this mean we can look forward to a solo project by Evil C in future? Let's hope so).
Scant clues to the storyline exist, although rumour has it that 'PAIN' is an acronym for Personal Area Interurban Navigator', inspired by the 'PANIC' - Personal Area Network Internet Computer' - which was cut from britmic vs Evil C flick 'The Fix:'
Although the leads of PAIN have been cast, we are left to guess as to which parts they are playing. Actors include newcomer Suzy Weatherall through to industry veterans Patrick Olliver and Phil Lyndon.
