Located in southeast Michigan, Community Media Network is one of the largest and most prestigious public access organizations in the United States. Since its inception in 1983, CMN has supported Public Access and residents, organizations, schools and agencies of the consortium, with free or low cost access to television production, training and cablecast on a nondiscriminatory basis. CMN currently serves 11 cities in southeastern Oakland County with nearly 140,000 subscribers.

NewTek received the out-of-box experience from Jay Wiencko, CMN General Manager, on the networks’ initial use of TriCaster, and how it fits the success of CMN to its philosophy of being “All about the people”

DAY ONE
TriCaster arrives on Friday afternoon. Staff unpacks and connects, power is on in minutes. First impressions: TriCaster is very sexy. Staff resists fairness in taking turns at the wheel. Each mouse click generates “oohs.” Closing time comes, yet no one leaves.

FIRST PRODUCTION:
It’s a public forum held in a small historic church. We arrive on location at 7AM. Set up 3 cameras with S-video connections, wireless headsets for the camera operators and two microphones. We plug in TriCaster, and wait 15 minutes for the speaker to arrive. We start shooting at 8AM. Stop tape—oops, no tape—stop recording (to TriCaster’s internal hard drive) at 8:45AM. Tear down. Leave 30 minutes later. Show is on the channel by 3PM, on our website by 5PM.

IMPRESSIONS: Small production “footprint” was needed for this tiny venue. Our lightweight camera gear was unobtrusive, and the TriCaster with director actually fit in a closet! No big cables to run, no parking concerns for the van.

SECOND PRODUCTION:
Inside the office of the Mayor of Rochester Hills, MI. Mayor’s office is deep within the City Hall building, lower level. No need to run cables through doors and downstairs — simply set up TriCaster and three cameras in his office! The set-up time was approximately 30 minutes (which includes lighting set-up). Our technical director uses hand signals to the camera operators--who stand just feet away—for pulls, zooms and over-the-shoulder shots. Recording concluded after 28 minutes. Tear down took just 15 minutes; the Mayor actually carries gear out the door with us, and the show is on the channel (and website, www.cmntv.org ) the next day.

Observations:
1. TriCaster’s interface is obviously sexy, but it is not complicated or excessive. To the contrary, each time I use it, the TriCaster simply feels more perfectly suited for PEG applications.
2. TriCaster’s editing speed is embarrassingly fast (to a buyer of 3 new FCP systems).
3. Captures without a hitch—no surprises in the interface or performance.
4. The right piece of equipment for indoor on-location shoots, or anytime a quick turnaround is required.
5. TriCaster is just fun to use!

You can lean more about Community Media Network at http://www.cmntv.org
Jay Wiencko can be reached at jay@cmntv.org