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VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!
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Bruce
Boardmeister
Joined: 06 Jun 2005
Posts: 7977
Location: Portland, OR
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 Posted: Thu Sep 19, 2013 10:52 am Post subject: Luci Live update |
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I just got this newsletter from Dave Immer at digifon.com :
| Quote: | Luci Live: A Hand-Held Codec
Notwithstanding my “tether” post of a few months back suggesting you consider leaving your mobile device behind once in a while, here is another look at this great iPhone/iPad a .
Luci Live by Technica Del Arte fits in our production toolbox as an enabler of one more tributary of content flowing into the daily river of commercials, narrations, news gathering, interviews, etc. Basically, it is a software IP codec intended to connect via Wi-Fi and cellular networks to hardware IP codecs in studios. While having been developed with news-gathering field reporters and broadcasters in mind, it is easily adaptable to the work flow of a voice actor and production facility. This is not ISDN, but instead Broadband Internet.
To me, Luci Live falls into the same general class of brilliant software IP codecs as Source-Connect and AudioTX. The defining difference being that LL connection protocols are standards-based and are able to connect with a variety of current studio hardware IP codecs from brands such as Comrex, Digigram, Mayah, Musicam, Telos, Tieline and Worldnet, whereas SC and ATX are designed to only connect with their own brand.
Luci Live has found wide acceptance in the broadcast world. All the studios that use current standards-based hardware IP codecs are compatible to some degree (either MP2, AAC, G722 or all.)
Luci Live works well on my iPhone5 and iPad Mini and is available for $349 from the A Store, $329 from DIGIFON. Remember, it needs to connect with a standards-based hardware IP codec such as the brands mentioned above. Ask if the far-end studio has this type of box.
The target user group for Luci Live is talent; with a good IP connection, latency can be kept low. And when coupled with a pro-quality iOS interface like iAudioInterface2, a condensor mic and headphones, an iPhone is a hand-held professional codec/recorder.
-Dave Complete library of newsletters: www.digifon.com/blog.html |
Last I heard the audio quality was fine for news reporting but not commercial type recording, but I've got a question into Dave about that. The "iAudioInterface2" he mentions is $499. There are a couple of cables you need especially if you have a newer Mac device, but it sounds like you can get a remote (even home) setup (not counting mic) for under $1K. Hmmm.
B
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I'm not a Zoo, but over the years I've played one on radio/TV. . |
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Frank F
Fat, Old, and Sassy
Joined: 10 Nov 2004
Posts: 4421
Location: Park City, Utah
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| Posted: Thu Sep 19, 2013 11:14 am Post subject: |
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Using Luci at a home studio can result in a very good quality connection. On the road with your iPhone or other mobile device the quality is less than stellar as Luci cannot access the upper echelon of the included codecs - not even .mp3 (MPEG 2 Layer 3). Latency on wireless device is also a major consideration with Luci in it's several variations.
Luci has a growing class of radio and TV reporters using it for pre-recorded audio bites, but "live: Luci while mobile is a failure in my book. (I will add this: "as of the date of this post".)
Bruce it also correct in that Luci requires a lot of extras to make it usable - average cost for the cables and other toys: around another $600.00 to $800.00 USD.
As you can tell from my post I am not yet a fan of Luci for voiceover talent. I am very supportive of Google hangouts as it has released the new Opus codec as part of it's "Talk" feature. With the codec, fast wired internet (not wireless), and a good quality mic and interface near studio quality audio will be available for mobile voiceoverists.
Frank F
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Be thankful for the bad things in life. They opened your eyes to the good things you weren't paying attention to before. email: thevoice@usa.com |
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Bruce
Boardmeister
Joined: 06 Jun 2005
Posts: 7977
Location: Portland, OR
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| Posted: Thu Sep 19, 2013 11:28 am Post subject: |
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Here's Dave's response to my question about quality:
| Quote: | | It all depends on the speed and reliability of your connection. With a good condenser mic and the iAudioInterface2 you can deliver the same quality as a Zephyr assuming your connection is up to the task. Certainly your chances are better with an ethernet connected hardware IP codec. But Wi-Fi and 4G LTE cellular are capable under good conditions. |
Many thanks Dave.
B
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I'm not a Zoo, but over the years I've played one on radio/TV. . |
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georgethetech
The Gates of Troy
Joined: 18 Mar 2007
Posts: 1878
Location: Topanga, CA
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| Posted: Thu Sep 19, 2013 6:01 pm Post subject: |
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Frank, isn't that new Google Hangouts audio feature called "STUDIO" mode?
We've played with it a bit on EWABS and the audio quality is amazingly good, indeed. Nice to see they are using OPUS in there.
That newsletter from Dave Immer rattled the trees, indeed. Once of my clients asked me to set him up as a self-bridge arrangement for when he travels.
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If it sounds good, it is good.
George Whittam
GeorgeThe.Tech
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heyguido
MMD
Joined: 31 Aug 2011
Posts: 2507
Location: RDU, the Geek Capitol of the South
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| Posted: Thu Sep 19, 2013 11:13 pm Post subject: |
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Actually.... Last I heard, Google was still testing Opus in Hangouts. Though Studio mode is a significant improvement, it relies on the CELT audio codec.
Keep watching Google Hangouts.... According to my sources, next up is an enterprise product that not only incorporates Opus, it could also address latency and packet loss.
If they're right, it could be just what we're looking for. 
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Don Brookshire
"Wait.... They wanna PAY me for this?" |
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Frank F
Fat, Old, and Sassy
Joined: 10 Nov 2004
Posts: 4421
Location: Park City, Utah
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| Posted: Tue Sep 24, 2013 12:52 pm Post subject: |
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Celt technically no longer is an active codec, it has been replaced with Opus. Google Studio is using Opus today!
Yes this new toy address many of the issues we as VOists have requested; although a little quirky yet and there are some bugs with Hangouts Studio it is getting there quickly.
Frank F
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Be thankful for the bad things in life. They opened your eyes to the good things you weren't paying attention to before. email: thevoice@usa.com |
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heyguido
MMD
Joined: 31 Aug 2011
Posts: 2507
Location: RDU, the Geek Capitol of the South
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| Posted: Tue Sep 24, 2013 12:59 pm Post subject: |
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That's good news.... The nice thing about Studio Hangouts is that you can use your interface and mic in place of your computer's sound card and mic, significantly improving the quality of the audio you can stream.
With Opus in place, that's a competitive signal.
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Don Brookshire
"Wait.... They wanna PAY me for this?" |
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Rob Ellis
M&M
Joined: 01 Aug 2006
Posts: 2385
Location: Detroit
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| Posted: Tue Sep 24, 2013 1:41 pm Post subject: |
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okay you audio tech geeks my brain is hurting now
(point of clarity: audio tech geek ≠ gearhead)  |
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heyguido
MMD
Joined: 31 Aug 2011
Posts: 2507
Location: RDU, the Geek Capitol of the South
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| Posted: Tue Sep 24, 2013 2:21 pm Post subject: |
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Sorry, Rob. 
To paraphrase.... It sounds pretty damn good. 
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Don Brookshire
"Wait.... They wanna PAY me for this?" |
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Frank F
Fat, Old, and Sassy
Joined: 10 Nov 2004
Posts: 4421
Location: Park City, Utah
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| Posted: Tue Sep 24, 2013 3:54 pm Post subject: |
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 and a +1 to Don!
Frank F
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Be thankful for the bad things in life. They opened your eyes to the good things you weren't paying attention to before. email: thevoice@usa.com |
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