Well, JD and I have been toying with the idea for well over 5 years, and we have decided to go forward with it. We will be filming a 20-minute segment every month (maybe more than once a month if the demand is there) on anything pinball and videogame related. Basically, you PM JD or me on the subject you want discussed, and we do it.

The name of the show?

2 FAT BASTARDS AND A PINBALL!

We will probably do the first show in 2-3 weeks. so go ahead and name your subject, like:

- restoring a game
- metal polishing
- touching up a playfield
- just talk about a specific machine or brand
- history of a game
- rules
... whatever you want! It's your forum... and it's your show!

And no... this is not a competition with what Clay is doing, which is awesome. Clay is the man. This is just a more interactive approach to complement what is out there right now. if you guys enjoy it, we will do more.

Absolutely good idea!!! It will be fun to watch.
But don't forget to produce segments for beginners like me, such as: how to change a lightbulb without electrocuting yourself, the best way to polish a playfield for the best result and without breaking any plastics, etc.

You need a shtick like "Shaggy".    I would suggest avoiding using "Candy" though.

Any "Great White North" spoofs - like stubbies, beavertails, toques?   Or Slapshot "Hansen Brother" taped up glasses....

Coin Door - mechanics / maintenance - getting them to work - adjusting for Canadian quarters....
Cabinet repair - removing isolation transformer - which one is the isolation transformer
....


Great idea...

Quoted from scribec

Absolutely good idea!!! It will be fun to watch.
But don't forget to produce segments for beginners like me, such as: how to change a lightbulb without electrocuting yourself, the best way to polish a playfield for the best result and without breaking any plastics, etc.

That is the whole point. We know that the long-time collectors know lots of stuff, but lots of new guys and gals don't and are also afraid to ask...

Quoted from Tuborg

You need a shtick like "Shaggy".    I would suggest avoiding using "Candy" though.

Any "Great White North" spoofs - like stubbies, beavertails, toques?   Or Slapshot "Hansen Brother" taped up glasses....

Coin Door - mechanics / maintenance - getting them to work - adjusting for Canadian quarters....
Cabinet repair - removing isolation transformer - which one is the isolation transformer
....


Great idea...

Well, people that know me well know that I can't spend more than 2 minutes without being a goof. But yeah... I do plan on the occasionnal angle... JD does look like Dr.Evil, so I guess I could pass as Fat Bastard...

[quote=469]I would suggest avoiding using "Candy" though...quote]

Dude... I am married. I don't think that bringing a hooker home and polishing a shooter rod between her breasts and telling my wife that it is for a documentary's sake would fly well with her.

I can change locks on a cabinet... but I don't want my wife changing the locks on the house!

Chances are that the only female you will see on the show is either a guest spot by Dos.Reboot or Medvet, or most probably one of my dogs. Sorry guys... no x-rated stuff.

How bout a segmeant on how to properly ground a machine so your not allways electrucuting yourself on the siderails/lockdown bar.

That always drives me insane and I've never foudn any good information on how to fix it.  

I would be interested in seeing the best method to strip down a playfield for full cleaning or getting it ready to send to you for CC.  I have never stripped a PF completely clean for fear that I would never be able to put it back together again.  

If you need advice on how to publish and host a (video) podcast let me know. It's a lot cheaper and easier than you might think. The last thing you want to do is host videos yourself. Of course, you could just slap it up on youtube, but with a podcast feed it makes it easier for fans to get the latest episode, and for you to see stats. You can do both too.

Quoted from Vengeance

How bout a segmeant on how to properly ground a machine so your not allways electrucuting yourself on the siderails/lockdown bar.

That always drives me insane and I've never foudn any good information on how to fix it.  

Change the plug with the removed ground prong with a proper replacement, yo.

Quoted from cooke

Change the plug with the removed ground prong with a proper replacement, yo.

I think there's also double-checking the ground braid goes to all the spaces it should go - I've had one where it was missing from the cabinet to the head.   The veterans know this stuff, but not the new guys.

Quoted from sensfreak

I would be interested in seeing the best method to strip down a playfield for full cleaning or getting it ready to send to you for CC.  I have never stripped a PF completely clean for fear that I would never be able to put it back together again.  

I can do it for you if you are worried... I just charge extra for it, but it is done right.

Quoted from cooke

Change the plug with the removed ground prong with a proper replacement, yo.

All my games have ground plugs.  

Quoted from Vengeance

All my games have ground plugs.  

But have you used your DMM to test for continuity from the ground plug on the cord to the side rails?  That is the ultimate test.  And if you confirm there is a break, then it's just using your DMM to isolate where the break is.  Simple.

D

I knew this widescreen monitor would come in handy at some point.

Quoted from Menace

But have you used your DMM to test for continuity from the ground plug on the cord to the side rails?  That is the ultimate test.  And if you confirm there is a break, then it's just using your DMM to isolate where the break is.  Simple.

D

About as simple as trying to get my dad to "Press any key to continue" 20 years ago.   Just the above would be a good video as a few folks I know don't know how to replace the plug, or use a DMM to test continuity.   Maybe its too pinball 101'ish - but these questions have been asked on this forum, .... (Hey I'm about to post a new thread of "Is this the isolation transformer"     )

Quoted from Tuborg

a few folks I know don't know how to replace the plug, or use a DMM to test continuity.

that would be me.. I can't use a DMM to save my life.     But if you need a fancy shooter rod made for your pin, I'm your guy.  

wow... all great ideas. I like the Multimeter-101 class idea. Besides, back-to-basics is good for everyone. No shame in that.

If this is for entertainment value alone.... I would like to see you decode the WPC95 A/V ASIC.

Quoted from machine.slave

that would be me.. I can't use a DMM to save my life.     But if you need a fancy shooter rod made for your pin, I'm your guy.  

I blew the 20amp fuse on mine trying to measure current in parallel  

OK... multimeter will be discussed on the first episode...

If you decide on youtube for distribution (can't beat the price!), don't forget the 10 minute limitation.

Quoted from The Loafer

If you decide on youtube for distribution (can't beat the price!), don't forget the 10 minute limitation.

It would be 2 x 10 minute segments if we go youtube...

I'd be down for a podcast version....

maaca tv is great idea, guys..

even better idea: come shoot an episode at my place.. You can take  footage of my neices begging me "are you ever gonna put all the peices back in the games or even turn them on this year. you promised last year and the year before."
the second half of the show can be a tour of other's members garages and basements.. Should make for entertaining TV as their wives  point out all the  project games gathering dust  and clogging up the space .

If you're gonna go the podcast route (I'd recommend it) then I suggest you get libsyn.com to host it. You pay a monthly fee, upload your stuff, and it generates an RSS feed for you that can then be submitted to itunes. The cool thing with it is that you don't pay for bandwidth, it's a flat fee!

Quoted from takochef

maaca tv is great idea, guys..

even better idea: come shoot an episode at my place.. You can take  footage of my neices begging me "are you ever gonna put all the peices back in the games or even turn them on this year. you promised last year and the year before."
the second half of the show can be a tour of other's members garages and basements.. Should make for entertaining TV as their wives  point out all the  project games gathering dust  and clogging up the space .

Actually not a bad idea!!!

I can see it now... Episode 5... ''Pinball Widows!''

I have run Personal Touch Productions (www.personaltouchpro.com) here in Calgaryfor the past 15 years producing online and DVD video.  I think the MAACA TV is a great idea!  Multimeter 101 is a perfect first topic.  My advice would be to make sure you do significant editing to keep it very quick and to the point.  Too much banter often ruins these types of video.  Blah blah blah, information, blah, blah, blah, information is the wrong formula.  Edit it down so you end up with information, information, information, blah, information, information, information, blah.  Less is definately more when it comes to this style of video.

I would also suggest doing a quick time-line (script) containing the information you want to portray in each episode.  It can be as simple as single word headers with expanded info under each one. This will help keep your video moving and on-track.  

You have probably considered all this already and if so, sorry to point out the obvious.  

Spend the time editing the video and cutting it tight.  Take close ups of the machines, parts, equipment, etc that you are talking about and use them as cutaways for your edits.  Editing the same shot/angle to the same shot/angle looks really bad.  Use a 2-3 second cutaway to a close up and it will look sweeeet!!  You can keep the audio running underneath and just cutaway the video to keep the transition smooth.

OK - that's all for now.  If you need anything, please ask.  I would be more than happy to help out with any technical/creative questions you have.  If I can be of any assistance please let me know.  

PS - 20 minutes can be a long time when it comes to web video.  How many online videos have you watched that kept your attention for 20 minutes?  Less is more - oh yeah - I already said that, sorry  

Quoted from takochef

maaca tv is great idea, guys..

even better idea: come shoot an episode at my place.. You can take  footage of my neices begging me "are you ever gonna put all the peices back in the games or even turn them on this year. you promised last year and the year before."
the second half of the show can be a tour of other's members garages and basements.. Should make for entertaining TV as their wives  point out all the  project games gathering dust  and clogging up the space .

Reality shows at their best. Would prob catch on.

Quoted from sinpin

I have run Personal Touch Productions (www.personaltouchpro.com) here in Calgaryfor the past 15 years producing online and DVD video.  I think the MAACA TV is a great idea!  Multimeter 101 is a perfect first topic.  My advice would be to make sure you do significant editing to keep it very quick and to the point.  Too much banter often ruins these types of video.  Blah blah blah, information, blah, blah, blah, information is the wrong formula.  Edit it down so you end up with information, information, information, blah, information, information, information, blah.  Less is definately more when it comes to this style of video.

I would also suggest doing a quick time-line (script) containing the information you want to portray in each episode.  It can be as simple as single word headers with expanded info under each one. This will help keep your video moving and on-track.  

You have probably considered all this already and if so, sorry to point out the obvious.  

Spend the time editing the video and cutting it tight.  Take close ups of the machines, parts, equipment, etc that you are talking about and use them as cutaways for your edits.  Editing the same shot/angle to the same shot/angle looks really bad.  Use a 2-3 second cutaway to a close up and it will look sweeeet!!  You can keep the audio running underneath and just cutaway the video to keep the transition smooth.

OK - that's all for now.  If you need anything, please ask.  I would be more than happy to help out with any technical/creative questions you have.  If I can be of any assistance please let me know.  

Hard to shoot multiple scenes of people talking/explaining with only one camera. Unless of course you do the same scene over a few times from different angles then use one audio..

Quoted from 1

Hard to shoot multiple scenes of people talking/explaining with only one camera. Unless of course you do the same scene over a few times from different angles then use one audio..

Actually you would be surprised.  It is actually easier to film the scene 3 times with one camera (wide shot for audio to begin with then a mid-shot roaming camera and then a close up shot) than it is to have three cameras going at the same time.  With the single camera you can make sure that you have the takes and retakes you need for each shot.  Plan when you want to go to a mid shot roaming or a close up and shoot for the edit.  With the three cameras you have to edit for the shoot which means much more time spent in the edit room getting it the way you want it.

I am assuming a low budget of course.  With a big budget you can shoot three times with three camera and then spend 50+ hours in the edit room.  You are right - that is the best but very time consuming.  I shot a series of home improvement videos entirely with one camera and when we were done you would swear we had a 5 camera shoot going on.  

Key to shooting one camera:  Do it over and over again in the same spaces and with the same movements.  You can use the cutaways close ups to cover up any areas where you just can't piece it together.

Quoted from 1

Reality shows at their best. Would prob catch on.

pinball reality would not be complete without a  montage of the postman dropping off packages from BAA, Pinball resource,  FAO, Mantis amusements,etc at my doorstep
and my nephews anxiously going through the packages "is this the peice.. is this the peice.. is this the peice you need to finish the game"
"no" (repeat ad  naseum)
"where does it fit on the playfield?"
"it doesn't"
"IT doesn't!?!?!"
"it can't fit because it's a peice for  a different game"
"r u hiding more machines somewhere else?"
"no, just that one day (after i finish this game) i might want that game and peices are hard to come by"
"peices for machines you don't have and can't finish what you have now!"

[fade to black as nephews storm off upset, still waiting to play their first game]

I would like to see a complete monitor adjustment process, yyou know, convergence, brightness, colour adjustments etc. as well as discharging for safety, capping etc.

Dave (No frizzy hair yet, but somehow the alligator clip and screwdriver just doesn't seem right...)

Quoted from pins only

I would like to see a complete monitor adjustment process, yyou know, convergence, brightness, colour adjustments etc. as well as discharging for safety, capping etc.

Dave (No frizzy hair yet, but somehow the alligator clip and screwdriver just doesn't seem right...)

I like that... I have some equipment, but the best is a monitor tester for that...