Parkervision/Ignite Install information

[Inquiring Minds]

Been thinking about installing Parkervision-now Ignite-can anyone share any information?

[Fargin Icehole]

Yes, I can. No, I won't.

What shop is this for so word can spread to avoid it like the plague?

Your profile says "Executive Assistant" so I can pretty much assume your motivation for getting the system.

Sorry if I seem harsh, but this system has absolutely NO place in news.

[Union Label]

Producing a newscast with Parkervision is akin to making love while wearing four condoms at one time and being more concerned about whether or not the condoms are staying in place rather than how you or your partner are enjoying the sex.

[Just Hvs10trk and the Xmas Lights]

I don't think I have heard one good thing about it to date.

[TXPhotog]

Originally posted by Inquiring Minds:
Been thinking about installing Parkervision-now Ignite-can anyone share any information?Yea, don't do it. They had it at my first station and it was HORRIBLE. If you forgot to add one line to the commands a camera will pan away from the anchors to an empty green screen, or if a Parkervision rep comes and installs an update but neglects to tell you (like happened once to us) your whole newscast that night will be in the sh!tter. Also trying to add a breaking news update or something not originally in the newscast is a royal pain in the ass.

[Shot A Load]

You will burn in NEWS HELL!!!!!!! :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

[The Mockingbird]

Many of the crappier news companies have tried automation and computerization as a way to drop the bottom line. (*cough* Sinclair *cough*)

Keep this in mind: Nothing depreciates or becomes obsolete faster than computers.
That being said, let's look at the pros and cons.

Pro: Automated cameras can do some really neat slow pans and zooms that only the best camera ops can duplicate.

Con: Automated cameras can also go haywire and start coming after your talent on the news desk. I've had this happen on a show, it was hysterical, but looked like amateur hour.

Pro: Automated cameras don't refuse to do breaking news cut-ins because their union contract says they get an hour lunch, and there's 4 minutes left in it. Automated cameras also never oversleep for the morning shift because they were out until 2 a.m. drinking on a Tuesday.

Con: The software in automated cameras can go haywire, and rest assured the tech guy gets a three hour lunch, there's 2 hours and 4 minutes left in it, and he was out until 3 a.m. playing Half-Life 2 at a LAN party.

That's just my 2 cents. Personally, I wouldn't mind having one computer controlled camera, but it shouldn't replace a good camera crew.

[outta nowhere]

Originally posted by Inquiring Minds:
Been thinking about installing Parkervision-now Ignite-can anyone share any information?I hope I never meet you in person! To even think about installing that **** ass system in a station is a f'ing crime. Please tell me where you work so I can avoid you like the plague!!

[Poo(h)]

Originally posted by Inquiring Minds:
Been thinking about installing Parkervision-now Ignite-can anyone share any information?I FART IN YOUR GENERAL DIRECTION!

[AutoTranz]

Originally posted by Inquiring Minds:
Been thinking about installing Parkervision-now Ignite-can anyone share any information?Why would you want to do that??

[Fargin Icehole]

Glad I wasn't the only one totally fuming when this hit Open Line. It got me so friggin' pissed off!

F'n bean counters. Won't give a damn about their people. I challenge the original poster to chime back in and justify this purchase!

C'mon! Pistols at dawn!!!

[DoneThatToo]

We go on line later this summer. Ask me then.

BTW, wasn't my decision. graemlins/face_banghead.gif

What I plan to do. graemlins/icon_pidu.gif

After launch, I can do this on the beach. :cool:

[HookEcho]

ParkerVision f'ing sucks...plain and simple.

[oldandintheway]

We went on line with IGNITE in the last few months. I think if ownership had to do it all over again they would have just upgraded the switcher and kept doing news in a conventional matter. I liked the four condom analogy because it really dumbs down the newscast. The biggest problem on our end has been the audio component crashing time and again. I fear this is the wave of the future.

[Spike]

Given Parkervision's less than stellar reputation, why in the hell would they rename it "Ignite" and thus beg for references to newscasts going down in flames?

[KROG-TV]

Originally posted by Spike:
Given Parkervision's less than stellar reputation, why in the hell would they rename it "Ignite" and thus beg for references to newscasts going down in flames?They (Parkervision)didn't rename it...Grass Valley bought the company, and re-branded the product.

Whatever you call it, it's still a disaster.

[Shot A Load]

Let's not talk about Grass Valley. Their editing systems and support (or lack thereof) should have it's own thread!!!

[the fixxxer]

In a nutshell, the system is rooted in a creative idea, however, the technology can't recreate the idea...and for that matter, neither can the tech support.
It's a failed system that stations use when they are looking to cut costs. Clear Channel stations across California have Parkervision or versions of it. Nowhere....and I mean nowhere, is it liked by anyone other than management.
It has to have basically a "translator" between it and a news system like ENPS. ENPS tech support can help you through their end of it, but Parkervision will always say that it's someone else's fault and will offer little if any help to you.
Directors who use Parkervision/Ignite are extremely limited by what they can do during a breaking news situation...that makes producers, who typically don't understand newsroom systems, angry and the control room goes to hell in a handbasket.
If you're in a market or station that wants to sell out the viewer for the sake of a few employees, go right ahead and install parkervision/ignite/there's also a third one that's in beta in a few stations.
Basically, keep the camera ops and the director and let your news grow...or make the automated switch and enjoy the sound of the flushing as your ratings and your station morale go down the toilet!
graemlins/icon_kidra.gif graemlins/icon_kidra.gif

[powerguy]

Our station has decided NO!!!! It would fit our newscast well at all since we move around the set so much durring the show. Our 2 camera guys/girls do real well. No computer system can handle what we do durring our show.

[McCovey Cove Returns]

If you really want a disaster, then automate. Have fun replacing the producers who quit because they'd rather get a root canal done without novacaine than add breaking news with one of these things.

[AlterEgo]

Originally posted by Inquiring Minds:
Been thinking about installing Parkervision-now Ignite-can anyone share any information?I think I just threw up in my mouth

[McCovey Cove Returns]

The only place this sort of technology belongs is in smaller markets where your only constant in the production department is the director. It would make a difference. Larger markets it is definitely suicide. I work on a show where it is common for a whole block to change during a break.

[Brookstone]

Originally posted by News Vampire:
The only place this sort of technology belongs is in smaller markets where your only constant in the production department is the director. It would make a difference. Larger markets it is definitely suicide. I work on a show where it is common for a whole block to change during a break.

[WalMartNation]

Originally posted by BBMD Mockingbird Peeps:
Con: The software in automated cameras can go haywire, and rest assured the tech guy gets a three hour lunch, there's 2 hours and 4 minutes left in it, and he was out until 3 a.m. playing Half-Life 2 at a LAN party.This maybe the best line I've ever read on a post here! Nice.

I worked in a market where our competitors tried Parkervision in the start-up newroom of an exisiting ABC affiliate... it was a disaster from the first show.. the fake backround (on green) would stay in place when the camera would go haywire while the anchors would swing back and forth or up and down... that doesn't even begin to the tell the whole story. A medialine poster I worked with named KSVIsucks could tell you more... he worked at the station.

[Roy G. Biv]

Pro: uh...

Con: Loss of Creativity
Con: Don't ever have breaking news... EVER!!!
Con: You lose one thing (ex. audio) the whole thing goes down.
Con: You must perform a sacred ritual before each show.
Con: QUOTE FROM The McKingbird : Many of the crappier news companies have tried automation and computerization as a way to drop the bottom line. (*cough* Sinclair *cough*)
ADD MEDIA GENERAL TO THIS LIST!!!
Con: Refer the the name of the system ("Ignite")

Bottom Line: I worked with Ignite for a while and now I don't. Don't let Grass Valley's folks talk it up like it's the next best thing... Listen to these people here and ask them/me how it really is!!!

[Pipestone]

Word on the street is that WKYT's going to this soon.

[Too Much Time]

Will WSAZ, WTAP and WNDU follow?

[Buck T. Trend]

Originally posted by Too Much Time:
Will WSAZ, WTAP and WNDU follow?Probably followed closely by WEAU, KOLN, KBTX, WOWT, WVLT, WIBW...

[SamG]

Originally posted by Pipestone:
Word on the street is that WKYT's going to this soon.I heard June 1. Too bad I'll be in Florida and miss it.
:D

[Pipestone]

Originally posted by SamG:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Pipestone:
Word on the street is that WKYT's going to this soon.I heard June 1. Too bad I'll be in Florida and miss it.
:D </font>[/QUOTE]For a station struggling to regain the #1 spot this seems like one of the worst moves they could possibly make. I can't wait to watch.

[the original buttongod]

Originally posted by Buck T. Trend:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Too Much Time:
Will WSAZ, WTAP and WNDU follow?Probably followed closely by WEAU, KOLN, KBTX, WOWT, WVLT, WIBW...</font>[/QUOTE]God, I hope not !

[DoneThatToo]

Originally posted by SamG:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Pipestone:
Word on the street is that WKYT's going to this soon.I heard June 1. Too bad I'll be in Florida and miss it.
:D </font>[/QUOTE]If this is true then they have had the equipment in house for some time now since it takes a bit of doing to install. Plus training and rehearsal two months isn't enough time to build and get to air.

[TopRamen]

I took the first job offer I received once my station bought ParkerVision. They told us in our training that no staff would be laid off. The weekend technical director asked her boss point blank about jobs because she needed to know before she bought a new place. A week or so after buying, she was laid off. Management loves ParkerVision because it allows them to lay off control room and studio staff.

That was five years ago, and the product still looks bad. The anchor shots are way too tight and there is no movement in the show. It's all incredibly static--worse than my college station newscasts. I hope the topic starter prints this thread out and shows it to management. Good people don't want to work in shops with ParkerVision.

[mr z]

If they are “thinking about it”, it’s probably a done deal. The only two reasons to install such automation are to do more shows with the same people or to run the chainsaw and $hitcan cam ops, video, audio and TD.

[Stack It]

Ignite is the devil incarnate. This thing should be banned from all news control rooms. Then again, I take pride in doing a good job, which means spending money so my vote doesn't count.

[The Mockingbird]

Originally posted by mr z:
If they are “thinking about it”, it’s probably a done deal. The only two reasons to install such automation are to do more shows with the same people or to run the chainsaw and $hitcan cam ops, video, audio and TD.That's not entirely true. There are times when a robotic camera has its uses, just not for the majority of news show camera work.

[Bartlet4America]

Ignite it! Don't install it!

[Hephaestus]

Originally posted by Mockingbird Peeps:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by mr z:
If they are “thinking about it”, it’s probably a done deal. The only two reasons to install such automation are to do more shows with the same people or to run the chainsaw and $hitcan cam ops, video, audio and TD.That's not entirely true. There are times when a robotic camera has its uses, just not for the majority of news show camera work.</font>[/QUOTE]I miss Barkie.

[Stack It]

Originally posted by Mockingbird Peeps:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by mr z:
If they are “thinking about it”, it’s probably a done deal. The only two reasons to install such automation are to do more shows with the same people or to run the chainsaw and $hitcan cam ops, video, audio and TD.That's not entirely true. There are times when a robotic camera has its uses, just not for the majority of news show camera work.</font>[/QUOTE]Guess what? Ignite can take care of the robotic cameras too.

[The Fedora]

Originally posted by Stack It:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Mockingbird Peeps:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by mr z:
If they are “thinking about it”, it’s probably a done deal. The only two reasons to install such automation are to do more shows with the same people or to run the chainsaw and $hitcan cam ops, video, audio and TD.That's not entirely true. There are times when a robotic camera has its uses, just not for the majority of news show camera work.</font>[/QUOTE]Guess what? Ignite can take care of the robotic cameras too.</font>[/QUOTE]Yeah, run them into the anchor desk when the system fritz's out.

[DoneThatToo]

You know, this thread keeps finding its way back to the top. And whenever there is a PVTV or Ignite topic the same bs is always spit out.

So I only have one question at this point.

Have any of you ever actually worked with the system?

Well make it two questions, a follow up if you will.

If so for how long?

[Stack It]

Originally posted by DoneThatToo:
You know, this thread keeps finding its way back to the top. And whenever there is a PVTV or Ignite topic the same bs is always spit out.

So I only have one question at this point.

Have any of you ever actually worked with the system?

Well make it two questions, a follow up if you will.

If so for how long?Yes. My old station went to it about 6 months ago.. my current station is about to make the switch.

[Been There]

Originally posted by DoneThatToo:
You know, this thread keeps finding its way back to the top. And whenever there is a PVTV or Ignite topic the same bs is always spit out.

So I only have one question at this point.

Have any of you ever actually worked with the system?

Well make it two questions, a follow up if you will.

If so for how long?I work at a place that has been using Ignite for well over a year now. The system does many functions, none of them well.

[Roy G. Biv]

At my last shop... It's why I left!! Used it for about 8 months.