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Mercutio · 11th September 2007, 07:44 PM

Just listened.

Maybe it's just me, and too many years of psych research, but for me this is just about the perfect interview, with the perfect questions being answered in damn near the perfect way.

So...

If you want to hear a fascinating, enlightening and entertaining interview, go ahead and hie thee hence to skepticality. If you want to sit and sulk with me, that these other people get to have all the fun talking about all the cool stuff, I'll be... somewhere.

Excellent job, both Athon and Richard Wiseman!

athon · 11th September 2007, 08:13 PM

Thanks Merc. It was seriously a great experience. Unfortunately there was more we chatted about than we managed to record, simply because after we stopped we continued to discuss some points. He's one hell of an entertaining guy.

Wiseman has certainly become one of my personal heroes of science and skepticism.

Athon

a_unique_person · 12th September 2007, 02:43 AM

Whooa, an Australian accent, and he sounds a lot like a friend of mine. Good to hear, and a great interview.

Zep · 12th September 2007, 04:14 AM

Athon, do you have a doctorate?

Excellent interview, btw!

Ducky · 12th September 2007, 11:40 AM

I enjoyed listening to it, all 60-70 times.

Really well done Athon.

athon · 12th September 2007, 03:43 PM

And thanks be to you, Ducky, for fixing up what was a rather unprofessional recording job. In the future I'll pick your brains for how to get the best sound.

Also thanks to Noblecaboose for technical assistance, who manned (er, womanned) the laptop while it recorded. And who can be heard laughing in the background at Wiseman's jokes.

Athon

(ETA: Sadly Zep, no I don't. I emailed Derek to let him know it was an error. I wondered why I suddenly felt so intelligent)

Zep · 12th September 2007, 04:06 PM

Originally Posted by athon

And thanks be to you, Ducky, for fixing up what was a rather unprofessional recording job. In the future I'll pick your brains for how to get the best sound.

Also thanks to Noblecaboose for technical assistance, who manned (er, womanned) the laptop while it recorded. And who can be heard laughing in the background at Wiseman's jokes.

Athon

(ETA: Sadly Zep, no I don't. I emailed Derek to let him know it was an error. I wondered why I suddenly felt so intelligent)

You might consider working on it!

Only negative comment: You need a more anechoic(?) recording location. It sounded like it was being recorded in a subway.

Another suggestion: Speak slower when interviewing, as you do have a quick speech pace. There is a tendency for interviewers to speak at "conversation speed" normally, and the interviewee will speed up correspondingly to a pace that they both find comfortable. However that may be too fast for others listening in.

athon · 12th September 2007, 04:57 PM

Originally Posted by Zep

You might consider working on it!

Only negative comment: You need a more anechoic(?) recording location. It sounded like it was being recorded in a subway.

I know, but that was the only room made available. I originally had the boardroom upstairs in mind, but even though I worked for Questacon last year, as I'm no longer an employee there that was out of bounds.

I'm aware of the poor sound quality.

Quote:

Another suggestion: Speak slower when interviewing, as you do have a quick speech pace. There is a tendency for interviewers to speak at "conversation speed" normally, and the interviewee will speed up correspondingly to a pace that they both find comfortable. However that may be too fast for others listening in.

Yeah, that's an old habit of mine. Oddly, when in front of a visible audience, I have it beat.

Athon

Zep · 12th September 2007, 07:12 PM

Originally Posted by athon

I know, but that was the only room made available. I originally had the boardroom upstairs in mind, but even though I worked for Questacon last year, as I'm no longer an employee there that was out of bounds.

I'm aware of the poor sound quality.

Ah, Questacon! Yes, that would explain it. So it's a wonder you didn't have the earthquake machine and the Jacob's Ladder playing in the background! (Nice to hear NC too!)

The recording quality was fine - more than clear enough for a podcast. You just happened to record the echoing in hi-fi as well!

Maybe the audio-nerds here can do something about that??

Ducky · 13th September 2007, 02:07 AM

In athon's defense, getting quality recording of something outside of a sound-treated studio is very tricky. Even the interviews for TAM4 I did had lots of background noise. I was lucky in that the hallways of the Stardust did not echo noticeably, but it seems there wasn't an area of that nature available to Athon. The muted noise in the background you heard in the treated version was me using a gaussian filter to attempt to remove noise that was constant throughout the recording, however due to the changing nature of reverberations, not all of it could be removed. All in all, even the original recording Athon gave me wasn't the worst I have ever heard. In the future, simple tricks like microphone placement close to source (get that mic right in their face) can go a long way to putting enough db difference between the source and the noise that other tricks can be used before the dynamic compression of mastering is done.

All in all Athon, don't sweat the noise quality. I was very impressed with the interview, and didn't think you spoke too quickly at all, but then I am one of those fast talking yanks no one can understand outside the US anyway.

Zep · 13th September 2007, 03:33 AM

I agree, Ducky. It was an excellent effort given what they had to work with, technically, content-wise, and in how it was conducted. My points hardly damn the result; they are merely (I hope) constructive and helpful criticism from the listener's POV! I give it a solid A!

brodski · 13th September 2007, 03:34 AM

Originally Posted by athon

Thanks Merc. It was seriously a great experience. Unfortunately there was more we chatted about than we managed to record, simply because after we stopped we continued to discuss some points. He's one hell of an entertaining guy.

Wiseman has certainly become one of my personal heroes of science and skepticism.

Athon

So, don’t hold us in suspense, did you offer him the job or not?

athon · 13th September 2007, 03:45 PM

Originally Posted by brodski

So, don’t hold us in suspense, did you offer him the job or not?

He had everything we needed in the firm, except he didn't look nice in a skirt. I went with the brunette with big jugs instead.

Athon

Ducky · 13th September 2007, 03:49 PM

Originally Posted by athon

He had everything we needed in the firm, except he didn't look nice in a skirt. I went with the brunette with big jugs instead.

Athon

I approve. The brunette with the big jugs is always the right choice.

...unless there was a redhead.

Zep · 13th September 2007, 06:33 PM

Indeed!

http://img.timeinc.net/time/europe/2006/wcup/images/448_stein.jpg

Ducky · 14th September 2007, 02:52 AM

Mmmmm m Beeer.

Zep you and athon and I should have a few next TAM.

skepticality · 26th October 2007, 04:30 AM

athon,

Trust me, for that reason I try to remember anymore when I talk to new guests or get inteviews... I just hit record before I get there to not miss the best parts!

athon · 26th October 2007, 07:55 PM

Yeah, it's a learning curve. Next time I aim to start recording as soon as they enter and stop only when they leave.

Athon

Mercutio · 26th October 2007, 08:49 PM

Hell, hit "record" in the cab on the way over. Tapes are cheap.

skepticality · 28th October 2007, 11:59 AM

Ya Athon,

You completely get the hang of it once you do it 5 or 100 times!

At least it feels like I've done it that many times!!

11th September 2007, 07:44 PM	#1
Mercutio Shakespeare's Sock Puppet Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Live Free Or Die Posts: 16,325	Athon interviews Richard Wiseman Just listened. Maybe it's just me, and too many years of psych research, but for me this is just about the perfect interview, with the perfect questions being answered in damn near the perfect way. So... If you want to hear a fascinating, enlightening and entertaining interview, go ahead and hie thee hence to skepticality. If you want to sit and sulk with me, that these other people get to have all the fun talking about all the cool stuff, I'll be... somewhere. Excellent job, both Athon and Richard Wiseman!
	__________________ "But to see her was to love her Love but her, and love forever."

12th September 2007, 02:43 AM	#3
a_unique_person Director of Hatcheries and Conditioning Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Mt Disappointment Posts: 33,463	Whooa, an Australian accent, and he sounds a lot like a friend of mine. Good to hear, and a great interview.
	__________________ *Continually pushing the boundaries of mediocrity.* Everything is possible, but not everything is probable. For if a man pretend to me that God hath spoken to him supernaturally, and immediately, and I make doubt of it, I cannot easily perceive what argument he can produce to oblige me to believe it. Hobbes

12th September 2007, 04:14 AM	#4
Zep Banned Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 26,985	Athon, do you have a doctorate? Excellent interview, btw!
Zep Banned Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 26,985

12th September 2007, 04:06 PM	#7
Zep Banned Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 26,985	Originally Posted by athon And thanks be to you, Ducky, for fixing up what was a rather unprofessional recording job. In the future I'll pick your brains for how to get the best sound. Also thanks to Noblecaboose for technical assistance, who manned (er, womanned) the laptop while it recorded. And who can be heard laughing in the background at Wiseman's jokes. Athon (ETA: Sadly Zep, no I don't. I emailed Derek to let him know it was an error. I wondered why I suddenly felt so intelligent) You might consider working on it! Only negative comment: You need a more anechoic(?) recording location. It sounded like it was being recorded in a subway. Another suggestion: Speak slower when interviewing, as you do have a quick speech pace. There is a tendency for interviewers to speak at "conversation speed" normally, and the interviewee will speed up correspondingly to a pace that they both find comfortable. However that may be too fast for others listening in.
Zep Banned Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 26,985

12th September 2007, 07:12 PM	#9
Zep Banned Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 26,985	Originally Posted by athon I know, but that was the only room made available. I originally had the boardroom upstairs in mind, but even though I worked for Questacon last year, as I'm no longer an employee there that was out of bounds. I'm aware of the poor sound quality. Ah, Questacon! Yes, that would explain it. So it's a wonder you didn't have the earthquake machine and the Jacob's Ladder playing in the background! (Nice to hear NC too!) The recording quality was fine - more than clear enough for a podcast. You just happened to record the echoing in hi-fi as well! Maybe the audio-nerds here can do something about that??
Zep Banned Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 26,985

11th September 2007, 08:13 PM	#2
athon Kowalski Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: gone Posts: 9,286	Thanks Merc. It was seriously a great experience. Unfortunately there was more we chatted about than we managed to record, simply because after we stopped we continued to discuss some points. He's one hell of an entertaining guy. Wiseman has certainly become one of my personal heroes of science and skepticism. Athon

12th September 2007, 11:40 AM	#5
Ducky Titanium Puprhero Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Mayor of your front lawn. Posts: 12,296	I enjoyed listening to it, all 60-70 times. Really well done Athon.

12th September 2007, 03:43 PM	#6
athon Kowalski Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: gone Posts: 9,286	And thanks be to you, Ducky, for fixing up what was a rather unprofessional recording job. In the future I'll pick your brains for how to get the best sound. Also thanks to Noblecaboose for technical assistance, who manned (er, womanned) the laptop while it recorded. And who can be heard laughing in the background at Wiseman's jokes. Athon (ETA: Sadly Zep, no I don't. I emailed Derek to let him know it was an error. I wondered why I suddenly felt so intelligent)

12th September 2007, 04:57 PM	#8
athon Kowalski Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: gone Posts: 9,286	Originally Posted by Zep You might consider working on it! Only negative comment: You need a more anechoic(?) recording location. It sounded like it was being recorded in a subway. I know, but that was the only room made available. I originally had the boardroom upstairs in mind, but even though I worked for Questacon last year, as I'm no longer an employee there that was out of bounds. I'm aware of the poor sound quality. Quote: Another suggestion: Speak slower when interviewing, as you do have a quick speech pace. There is a tendency for interviewers to speak at "conversation speed" normally, and the interviewee will speed up correspondingly to a pace that they both find comfortable. However that may be too fast for others listening in. Yeah, that's an old habit of mine. Oddly, when in front of a visible audience, I have it beat. Athon

13th September 2007, 02:07 AM	#10
Ducky Titanium Puprhero Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Mayor of your front lawn. Posts: 12,296	In athon's defense, getting quality recording of something outside of a sound-treated studio is very tricky. Even the interviews for TAM4 I did had lots of background noise. I was lucky in that the hallways of the Stardust did not echo noticeably, but it seems there wasn't an area of that nature available to Athon. The muted noise in the background you heard in the treated version was me using a gaussian filter to attempt to remove noise that was constant throughout the recording, however due to the changing nature of reverberations, not all of it could be removed. All in all, even the original recording Athon gave me wasn't the worst I have ever heard. In the future, simple tricks like microphone placement close to source (get that mic right in their face) can go a long way to putting enough db difference between the source and the noise that other tricks can be used before the dynamic compression of mastering is done. All in all Athon, don't sweat the noise quality. I was very impressed with the interview, and didn't think you spoke too quickly at all, but then I am one of those fast talking yanks no one can understand outside the US anyway.

13th September 2007, 03:33 AM	#11
Zep Banned Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 26,985	I agree, Ducky. It was an excellent effort given what they had to work with, technically, content-wise, and in how it was conducted. My points hardly damn the result; they are merely (I hope) constructive and helpful criticism from the listener's POV! I give it a solid A!
Zep Banned Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 26,985

13th September 2007, 03:34 AM	#12
brodski Tea-Time toad Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 15,159	Originally Posted by athon Thanks Merc. It was seriously a great experience. Unfortunately there was more we chatted about than we managed to record, simply because after we stopped we continued to discuss some points. He's one hell of an entertaining guy. Wiseman has certainly become one of my personal heroes of science and skepticism. Athon So, don’t hold us in suspense, did you offer him the job or not?
brodski Tea-Time toad Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 15,159

13th September 2007, 03:45 PM	#13
athon Kowalski Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: gone Posts: 9,286	Originally Posted by brodski So, don’t hold us in suspense, did you offer him the job or not? He had everything we needed in the firm, except he didn't look nice in a skirt. I went with the brunette with big jugs instead. Athon

13th September 2007, 03:49 PM	#14
Ducky Titanium Puprhero Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Mayor of your front lawn. Posts: 12,296	Originally Posted by athon He had everything we needed in the firm, except he didn't look nice in a skirt. I went with the brunette with big jugs instead. Athon I approve. The brunette with the big jugs is always the right choice. ...unless there was a redhead.

13th September 2007, 06:33 PM	#15
Zep Banned Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 26,985	Indeed! http://img.timeinc.net/time/europe/2006/wcup/images/448_stein.jpg
Zep Banned Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 26,985

14th September 2007, 02:52 AM	#16
Ducky Titanium Puprhero Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Mayor of your front lawn. Posts: 12,296	Mmmmm m Beeer. Zep you and athon and I should have a few next TAM.

26th October 2007, 04:30 AM	#17
skepticality Critical Thinker Join Date: May 2005 Location: Roswell, GA Posts: 461	athon, Trust me, for that reason I try to remember anymore when I talk to new guests or get inteviews... I just hit record before I get there to not miss the best parts!
	__________________ Derek Colanduno host - skepticality! podcast http://www.skepticality.com/

26th October 2007, 07:55 PM	#18
athon Kowalski Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: gone Posts: 9,286	Yeah, it's a learning curve. Next time I aim to start recording as soon as they enter and stop only when they leave. Athon

26th October 2007, 08:49 PM	#19
Mercutio Shakespeare's Sock Puppet Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Live Free Or Die Posts: 16,325	Hell, hit "record" in the cab on the way over. Tapes are cheap.
	__________________ "But to see her was to love her Love but her, and love forever."

28th October 2007, 11:59 AM	#20
skepticality Critical Thinker Join Date: May 2005 Location: Roswell, GA Posts: 461	Ya Athon, You completely get the hang of it once you do it 5 or 100 times! At least it feels like I've done it that many times!!
	__________________ Derek Colanduno host - skepticality! podcast http://www.skepticality.com/