Blog Assignment

I thoroughly enjoyed my internship experience, I have learnt a lot of industry information that I would not have gained in class room. I received a lot of training at my internship, most of it being taught how to use Pro Tools, the industry standard audio editing software. Also I received training around working around an office and specifically an audio production business. I wasn’t expected to teach myself much as all of the technical stuff is complicated to a newcomer as most employees started as an intern and worked their way up, they new what position I was in. I believe I made good networking connections on my internship, even know BMP Audio is a small company, the manager of the company is well known in the field of audio production and had given me a list of production companies back in London that I should have a look at. I am putting less time in to my internship compared to the amount of time you spend on school as I have three other courses as well as the Media Internship class. I also spent less time on my internship than I would on paid employment as I had to fit my internship around my university timetable. I was not eventually offered payment in my internship but I do not mind as I have learnt a significant amount of training which I wouldn't normally of received at school or at university. I felt valued at my internship as I felt respected like any other employee working at BMP Audio, I was doing the same kind of work at the other employees with the same roles, duties and responsibilities 

References

• The Unpaid Intern, Legal or Not by Steve Greenhouse
• Do Unpaid Internships Exploit College Students? (http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2012/02/04/do-unpaid-internships-exploit-college-students)

Bruce Iglauer Tribute to Michael "Iron Man" Burks

Bruce Iglauer Tribute to Michael "Iron Man" Burks

This is a small piece I solely produced

Ninth Week @ BMP Audio (12.11 - 18.11)

Since starting my internship, I have learned a heap loads about Pro Tools, an industry level software program. Pro Tools is a digital audio workstation platform for Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X operating systems, which means where ever I may go in the future, most companies would use this platform to edit and produce radio programs. It is widely used by professionals throughout the audio industries for recording and editing in music production, film scoring, film and television post production, musical notation and MIDI sequencing. Pro Tools can run as standalone software, or operate using a range of external A/D converters and internal PCI or PCIe audio cards with onboard DSP. Pro Tools, like all Digital Audio Workstation software, is similar to a multi-track tape recorder and mixer, with additional features that can only be performed in the digital domain.

I fun fact that I have learnt is that Ricky Martin’s "Livin La Vida Loca" was the first No. 1 single to be recorded, edited, and mixed completely within the Pro Tools environment

Pro Tools can be a wonderful tool but some artists are now making a point of recording without Pro Tools. Jack White of The White Stripes argues that "I think Pro Tools is highly inappropriate to record music... It's too easy to correct mistakes, it's too easy to fix things. We hear this sort of clean, plastic perfection that's been applied to all the tracks. That is not the kind of music we grew up loving and listening to and wanting to be a part of."

I worked my usual hours on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday which added up to 13 hours.

Total: 106 hours

Eight Week @ BMP Audio (5.11 - 11.11)

(A rack of compressors in a recording studio)

This week I have been learning about compression and compression techniques. Dynamic range compression reduces the volume of loud sounds or amplifies quiet sounds by narrowing or "compressing" an audio signal's dynamic range. Compression is commonly used in sound recording and reproduction and broadcasting. A compressor reduces the level of an audio signal if its amplitude exceeds a certain threshold. 

When producing a program at BMP Audio, they use a Pro Tools template for 2 hour programs which normally have four tracks in the Pro Tool sessions. One track is for the presenter’s (Elwood Blues) audio, another track for the artist/interviewees and the other two are tracks for music. The two music tracks do not need to compressed in any way as they have been ripped from CDs or downloaded from iTunes and therefor have already been mastered. 
The two tracks that need the most compression are the two vocal tracks, Compression is often used in music production to make performances more consistent in dynamic range so that they "sit" in the mix of other instruments better and maintain consistent attention from the listener. Vocal performances in rock music or pop music are usually compressed in order to make them stand out from the surrounding instruments and to add to the clarity of the vocal performance.

Serial compression is what I use the most on live audio, it is a technique used in sound recording and mixing. Serial compression is achieved by using two fairly different compressors in a signal chain. One compressor will generally stabilize the dynamic range while the other will more aggressively compress stronger peaks. Done properly, even heavy serial compression can sound very natural in a way not possible with a single compressor. It is most often used to even out erratic vocals and guitars.

I worked on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, adding up to 13 hours

Total: 93 hours

Seventh Week @ BMP Audio (29.10 - 4.11)

My supervisor gave me the week off as my parents were in town from London.

Total: 80 hours

Sixth Week @ BMP Audio (22.10 - 28.10)

I have categorized the jobs I have been given at my internship in to three different types; manual jobs, audio manual jobs and production jobs. Manual jobs are opening mail, sending emails and organizing the music library. Audio manual jobs ripping audio tracks into sessions, entering new compilations CDs in to the BMP Music database and entering acts in to the BMP Acts database. I would consider production jobs as editing raw material into acts and editing acts into a finalized program.

One audio manual jobs I had was to created acts from the raw interview and the from that create the cue sheets for the acts. I create acts by listening through the audio interview and split it in to parts which I think would be good for the radio program. There are technical skills needed to finalize the audio acts so they can be used in Pro Tools which I have been taught to do.

Later on in the week I carried on with the Burns bonus material which after my first draft, my supervisor and his boss viewed my work. They were both impressed in my skills but there was many ways that I can improve, the tips they gave me will help me create better production pieces. 

I worked my usual hours on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday which added up to 13 hours.

Total: 80 hour

Fifth week @ BMP Audio (15.10 - 21.10)

I had my usual Tuesday manual duties of opening the mail and filing the CDs that were used in the previous week, I also had to find contact information for Sun Records as the company would to get some promotional CDs from them. One audio manual jobs I had this week was that I had to check the songs that were being used in this weeks program for FCC regulations. It is a violation of federal law to air obscene programming at any time. It is also a violation of federal law to air indecent programming or profane language during certain hours so this is an important job and if I miss something the company could be fined. All songs followed the FCC regulations so they could be played in the program. I did not know about these regulations and this will be good to know in the future with any career around radio productions.

This week I was given my first major production work, I was told to make a small piece on Michael Burks, who passed away this year, for the companies online website. I was shown previous pieces around the same topic and I was told I would need produce something similar to them. I was first given a ten minutes raw interview with Bruce Iglauer, who was a producer and label head who worked with Michael Burks. I had to cut down the interview to three minutes with leaving the interviewers questions and only leaving the important information to be rearranged in a suitable order. The piece also needed backing tracks behind Iglauer’s interview, I needed to find music from Michael Burks that matched what Iglauer was saying. There was three topics that he spoke about, one was growing up and living around his musical family and I found a song called ‘Little Juke Joint’ which Burks sung about growing up with his dad. The second theme was about his unique style and the song I used included a big guitar solo, which he is known for, called ‘Count On You’. The last topic was about Burns performing and touring and ‘24 Hour Blues’ fit perfectly. Next I plan to finish this piece by arranging all the audio tracks in the right places and should be finalized when I complete some basic engineering edits to the audio so that all the sounds sound richer and more polished.

This week I worked Tuesday and Thursday as normal but I was not avliable to work Wednesday. Erik and I came to an agreement and I came in on Friday and worked the hours I was meant to on Wednesday, which totaled 13 hours.

Total: 67 hours

Fourth week @ BMP Audio (8.10 - 14.10)

I had few manual jobs I completed this week which included repackaging the box of CDs and walking to Fed Ex shipping place to send off package which was a few blocks away. Like the previous mailing job, I didn’t mind doing it as I get to see more of the city while I am here and it also gets me out of the office for a while. The box needed repackaging as there was a few more CDs that were going to be put in it. I also opened up mail including promotional CDs, as BMP Audio produce a music program, they get CDs in the post of artists and bands that would like to get their music to be played to an audience. Another job included was to fax letters to another company, I haven’t used a fax machine before so Erik went through all the steps and seems rather easy to use. Learning little things in the office like using the fax machine or learning how to file checks are easily transferrable into any future career that I may have.

I was not asked to complete any audio manual jobs this week but I had a few main production jobs I completed were that I researched Donna Summer and her song I Feel Love and edited and consolidated Elwood liners. Each year, the National Recording Registry at the Library of Congress chooses 25 recordings to be preserved for all time. Inside the National Recording Registry, produced by Ben Manilla Productions, highlights some of those selections, our series receives production support from the Library of Congress. One of the selections is ‘I Feel Love’ by Donna Summer, so BMP Audio will produce at 10 minute program on this song and I started today by researching the basics and see what points we could add in the program.

This week I worked Tuesday and Thursday as normal but I was not avliable to work Wednesday. Erik and I came to an agreement and I came in on Friday and worked the hours I was meant to on Wednesday, which totaled 13 hours.

Total: 54 hours

Third Week @ BMP Audio (1.10 - 7.10)

I have been asked to do a couple different manual tasks this week which have helped me experience different parts of an office lifestyle. I was asked to package a box of CDs that are given to a different company, just to say thanks for there hard work, the CDs we give to them are doubles and we already have a copy of so we are not losing out and helping out the other company at the same time. I was then asked to mail this box, I walked to the post office a couple blocks away and mailed it. Mailing boxes in the US is different from the UK so this was a new experience to me which will be helpful in the future. On Tuesday my supervisor Erik wasn’t in so I couldn’t do much production work so I was given another manual job by the manager and that was to file cheques and stamp the envelopes, while doing this I listen to the radio program that BMP Audio produce, this gave me an insight to what the program is like as well as the style and editing. 

The main task I was given this week was to edit the Dr. John acts for show 12/43. This was the task that I have most enjoyed since being at the internship. Talking to Erik, he said that this is one of the most important roles of the entire production and he let me have a go this week. I started with the raw interview of an artist called Dr. John, who tends to go off topic and babble on about different stories. I was asked to take the audio material and cut it down to the basic script, this took some time as I had to separate the material mid sentence. I then had to cut this editing material even more as the program is only an hour including the interview, music tracks and announcements by the speaker and DJ. It is a difficult when having to cut down the audio as there might be a specific time limit for the act so Erik gave me advice, if there a two sentences to pick to cut away and one is informational and one is humorous, pick the funny one to keep. The aim of the interview is to make the interviewee look good and likable, if a listener wanted to find more information on the interviewee they can look online on their wikipedia page and other places. I had a lot of fun editing the acts into smaller pieces that could be used in the final program. 

I worked my hours on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday which added up to 13 hours. I arrived 30 minutes on Wednesday as I knew that I would be editing the Dr. John interview but did not count as my contracted hours.

Total: 41 hours

Second Week @ BMP Audio (24.9 - 30.9)

I am starting to learn the exact times when the buses arrive which is easier for me to plan my journeys to and from my internship. A positive that comes with taking long bus journeys is that I can catch up with any reading that I need to do for the rest of the week.

I have been asked to do some audio manual tasks like entering new compilations CDs in to the BMP Music database, entering acts in to the BMP Acts database, ripping tracks and other audio into different sessions. I have also been asked to do some more general manual but useful tasks like creating spine labels for compilation CDs and other miscellaneous CDs, also I filed CDs back on to the shelves and opened mail with CDs inside. I would like to develop my knowledge and history of popular music and I believe this one of the ways I can do so, as I go through many CDs that have been popular or are still popular. Each CD has a card in the case giving details on the record such as popular tracks and history of the album, I am starting to learn about individual artists and albums from different eras and genres.

I have been taught by Erik how to complete more tasks on Pro Tools like splitting a raw recording in to acts, finishing cleaning up edits for radio programs. I watched Erik producing different parts of this weeks program while he talked through the tasks he was completing as I would given these opportunities later during my internship, these

I worked my usual hours on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday which added up to 13 hours. I occasionally do not have my late classes on Tuesday and Wednesday and have said to Erik that I can stay later when the opportunity arises.

Total hours: 28

Make My Own Opportunities

I was told to choose one piece of advice or observation from Forrest Pound or Dave Binegar and write 300 words on how I could apply it to my own work life or career plans. The piece of advice I would like to use is to 'Make My Own Opportunities'

I can make my own opportunities by identifying and pursuing a niche that is either underserved or an emerging trend. I could look at it objectively from all angles and use my creativity about how I could best serve that need. I may have an idea about how to do something better, faster, cheaper or at a higher quality. This niche could be linked with new medias or social media. I have to make sure that my niche plays with what I do well and my passion. Once I define I niche, make it my business to know more than my peers about this area. One of my passions is popular music and this is what I would like to integrate in to my career plans of having a career in radio production.

I should devise a strategy that helps me stand out from the crowd and get noticed, one of these ways is that I could develop, promote and produce a web site, blog, or online discussion forum about music or media production. I could write articles on a niche or my passion and submit them to magazines, newspapers, related web sites and email newsletters. What I am doing is deepening my knowledge and sharing it with the world. If I do this effectively, then I will get noticed among the people who matter in my field. I may become the person people go to for information and would put me in a wonderful position. I'll be no longer one of the many, but one of the few.

First Week @ BMP Audio (17.9 - 23.9)

I take two buses to get to my intern which can take between 30 and 45 minutes, I am really interested in to going into Radio production or something similar so I didn’t mind traveling a long distance to somewhere where I would get an experience and feel of what this kind of career is like.

On my first day I was given a brief tour of the offices and studios I’ll be working in for my time as an Intern and met other people that work at BMP Audio. I have been given a mix of manual and skilled tasks to fulfill each week which I am happy with, I think I prefer this way so that I can ease my way in to the technical parts of the production side. Some of the manual tasks include opening letters which include promotional CDs and organizing the music library which has thousands of CDs, records and tapes. I do not mind either job as both expose me to music genres and artists I haven’t previously heard or known about, Erik has also mentioned that if there is any CD’s catch my eye I can rip the music on to my laptop which is an added perk. Erik, my supervisor, has taught me basic Pro Tools which are essential in his work as he produces a radio program on a weekly basis. More time I spend at BMP Audio, the more I will help in the process of completing his radio program, this could be from script writing, recording, sound editing to mixing and mastering. All these skills are transferable to future workplaces if I decide I want to purse a career in this part of the Media.

So far I haven’t come across any dilemmas or issues which I am pleased with, BMP Audio seems to be a great workplace as it is friendly and laid back, also helps that Ben’s dog wanders around the place too.

On Tuesday I worked four hours, Wednesday I worked five hours and also on Thursday I worked four hours. These have been my agreed hours to work unless something educational comes up where I cannot turn up to the internship. This week I have worked thirteen hours and now have a total of fifteen hours.

Total hours worked: 15 hours

My Cover Letter for Ben Manilla Productions

Subject: Internship – Jodan Lavigne

Dear Ben,

As a 2nd year student attending The University of San Francisco (USF) this fall, reading media productions. Ben Manilla Productions has come very highly recommended by Lydia Fedulow at the media studies Department as a great place to obtain an internship to learn more about the business end of radio productions to earn University credits, after looking at your web site, I would certainly agree with her. During my time attending St Mary’s Twickenham University in the UK I have gain great experience in the disciplines of radio, TV and film production. I have an understanding of the varied practises relating to audio and image; this includes asset gathering and management, scriptwriting, multimedia editing and web production.

At USF I will be studying music technology, digital journalism and studies of popular music which I hope can be put to good use and practice within Ben Manilla Productions. From high school, through to sixth form and now at university I have created a range of my own products; these include documentaries, music videos, video podcasts, audio podcasts magazine covers and double page spreads and also the soundtracks for the video productions. I have cross platform expertise in Windows and Mac. I am familiar with MS Office Suite and can use a range of mac software programmes such as iWork, iMovie, Garageband and Photoshop CS5.1

During my time at university, I have worked part time mainly long and unsociable hours with an events management company called Eve Trakway. I have earned a reputation for consistently exceeding company and customer expectations working as part of a dynamic team under pressure to meet crucial deadlines and often within short timescales. I am very impressed by BMPs innovation and success, and I would very much like to be part of such a winning company.
 The enclosed resume provides more detail of my skills and achievement track record. Thank you for your time as I know you are very busy and for any consideration. I would be pleased if I am provided with an opportunity to gain this experience and shall be in San Francisco from mid-August and would like to meet up with to discuss the possibility of an internship.

Sincerely Jodan Lavigne

Joe_lavigne@hotmail.co.uk
+447962120789

My Resume

Jodan Lavigne
2 Sheen Way, Wallington, Surrey, SM6 8NR, England
UK Phone: +447962120789
Email: joe_lavigne@hotmail.co.uk

University of San Francisco Student seeking internship opportunities Highly motivated to secure an internship to earn university credits in the media industry. Fast learner and hard worker with a keen eye for detail. Ability to think outside of the box and great collaborative worker. 

Work and Media Experience:
Since the age of 13 I have had several part time jobs while studying full time at High School, Sixth Form and University. I have been known throughout my part time career as hard working and always committed to the job.

Eve Trakway (April 2011 – Present) I currently have a part time job at an event management company that are used around the UK for the deployment of safety control within crowded environments and events. Consistently exceeding company and customer expectations with rapid response Collaborative experienced team worker, willing to assist and help others Working on behalf and with the London Metropolitan Police force

BT - Media & Broadcast Division (Summer 2011) I had an intern at BT production facilities at their Media & Broadcast Division. I was apart of a team that created and produced the official ATP tennis programme for Sky Sports. Editing video recordings using the latest Avid software Progamme research including latest news on players and events Asset Management Run errands and respond to tasks in a quick and efficient manner

Production Highlights:
Short film screen writing portfolio Created and starred a short film that was entered in the UK national finals and was shown at the BFI cinema in London Photography work selected to be exhibited at regional Sixth Form/College competitions

Education and Qualifications:
I am currently a second year student studying at St Mary’s University in London for an undergraduate degree in Media Arts, I am preforming at 2:1 grade. I will be a student exchange with University of San Francisco from August 2012.
Greenshaw Sixth Form (September 2009 until July 2011) 4 A Levels at C grade which includes Media Studies, Information Technology, Photography and Psychology Greenshaw High School (September 2004 until July 2009) 13 GSCEs including 7 at B grade which includes English Language, English Literature, Maths, and Citizenship.

Key Skills:
I have a grounded knowledge in the disciplines of radio, TV, print and film production. I have great understanding of varied practices relating to audio and image; this includes resource gathering, asset management, scriptwriting, multimedia editing and web production.
Cameras: Digital SLRs - Handheld steady cameras - HD Scanners - Dark room development
Systems: Mac OX Lion - Windows Mac/Windows iWork programmes - iMove - Photoshop CS5.1 - Garage Band

Interests:
Television: watching intelligent drama, sport and documentaries
Journalism: reading a broad range of publications (local and national) for the latest news and criticism
New Media: researching and exploring on the Internet, interested in new technologies and gadgets Cinema: going to cinema with friends, discussing film, reading critical works
Music: listening to many different genres of music and going to gigs

Additional information:
Full range of IT skills, proficient in MS Office and Mac applications, use of internet and e-mail. Travelled to USA, Peru, Dubai, Seychelles and all around Europe.
Own Macbook Pro Full UK Driving License

Referees:
Damian O’Byrne                                                          
Technical and Learning Support Officer/Lecturer                      
St Mary's University College                                      
Waldegrave Road                                                          

Strawberry Hill                                                            
Twickenham                                                                
TW1 4SX                                                                    
020 8240 4071 (4127)                                                
damian.obyrne@googlemail.com


Daimon Dunhue
Manager
Eve Trakway

30-34 Weir Road
Wimbledon

London

SW19 8UG
+44 77388 03029
Daimon.Dunhue@evetrakway.co.uk

Ben Manilla Productions Audio

The place where I decided to have my internship was BMP Audio. BMP is a small local production studio, started up by Ben Manilla who is a pioneer of contemporary audio production, Ben has been at the vanguard of creative radio since the mid ’70s. Recognized by professionals around the world for his award-winning programming and innovative production style. I would like to go in to the radio business and I hope this placement would help me to find out what kind of roles are needed to produce radio. I hope to gain hands on experience and knowledge in specific jobs as I haven’t yet had much experience in the area yet. I believe this placement will help me out to figure what kind of career in the business I would like to pursue. I would be working with Erik as he produces his radio program and I will be helping him in anyway I can, he will teach me basic live radio techniques and skills when it comes to the technology side inside a studio. I will also be working with Devon Strolovitch and Ben Manilla in their own programs and solo projects. I will be meeting and working with people that have different ages and backgrounds who have different tastes in music and I hope this placement would also open up different types and genres that I haven’t listened to before. I hope to enjoy my time BMP and after the workshop module has finished I would like to carry on there. I think mixing this placement with the college radio station will help gain a variety of skills that can be transferred between each other and in to future work placements.

Finding a Placement

As soon as I decided to pick Media Internship as a module at the university of San Francisco, I was trying to find my placement. While still in England I created a resume and cover letter so I could email local businesses to see if I could have a work placement while I was studying in America. I sent out over 20 emails but with only a few replies, some replied with asking for a meeting when I arrived in San Francisco and others asked for Skype interviews.

Skype interviews became difficult due to the time difference as working hours in San Francisco were at night time in England so for many of the interviews I would have to stay up in to the early hours of the morning. Another frustrating part of Skype interviews were that there was a lot lagging with the connection as the interviewee would ask questions and I would not receive them and vice versa. A positive of these interviews was that it gave me an insight of what an internship interview is like as I haven't had an interview of any sort before these ones and this gave me experience when it came to face to face interviews.

I found it better when I had interviews over in San Francisco as I could meet people from the companies face to face and see what the environment I will be working in was like. This was an important part of deciding where I wanted to go as one placement I had an interview at was on the other side of San Francisco and it took me a while to travel there on many buses and I found it difficult just to get to the interview so I wouldn’t of liked going there on a weekly basis. Jodan Lavigne