In box (page 3)

Question: which way is the better way for preventing future loose connector problems: When hooking up or removing the RCA wire into an RCA input, is it better to twist while pushing in, or just push it in?
Ed Targonski

Whichever makes you feel better is the best way to plug in RCA cables, as long as it doesn't damage the cord or terminal. Neither pushing in nor twisting in will hurt. The best solution for anything such as this, however, is to minimize the number of times you need to plug them in. We say plug 'em in once and leave 'em there as long as possible. Excessive plugging and unplugging will give a fair amount of wear on the terminals.

If you haven't joined our online community, now is the time to do it and get all your technical questions answered.Your questions answered by the Videomaker Community, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at www.videomaker.com/forums.
- The Editors

Regarding a question in Matthew York's Viewfinder column about what we, the video producers, will call ourselves some day as we no longer shoot on film, so are not photographers. I've got an idea, how ‘bout calling a person who shoots on the video format a Vidtog. When I was in the Navy, I was a still photographer, I was known as a photog. Then when I starting working in news, I was call a videographer, which I hated. I considered myself a cameraman because I used many different formats of cameras. Then I started thinking about the terminology and it would make sense that Vidtog would work because, after all, we are shooting on a video format and we are also photographers.
Ramon Hernandez, Vidtog

Your May 2008 Test Bench article mentions a "shock mount" as part of the Azden smx-10 mic, but every website vendor that I have visited to purchase it, the mount doesn't appear to be listed or shown. All they mention is a "shoe mount." Did I miss something in the article? I also contacted Azden as well asking the same question.
Greg Michael

Although it doesn't look like what you traditionally think of, the device that the mic is attached to in our review is a shoe mount AND a flexible shock mount.
- The Editors

I cast my vote in favor of the paper magazine! I keep Videomakeron the front seat of my car or secured to my bicycle so that it's always available. Sometimes I think of your magazine as my portable classroom. By the time I've finished studying each edition, it's dog-eared and covered with notes. I can look up any references and view tutorials, then pass it on to a friend who is starting to seriously improve his skills.

I find that the webzine is occasionally useful as a searchable archive, but reading text on a computer screen doesn't reproduce the tactile learning experience I get from the paper magazine. However, it is obvious that web-based media offer a valuable adjunct to printed materials. Tutorials and podcasts can add a lot of value; perhaps Videomaker will one day publish some how-to articles on the subject of "Narrated Screencasts."
George Henderson

• Digg This!
• del.icio.us
• Technorati
• StumbleUpon
• Reddit