DSE

I like my Optima because it connects to my HypEye giving me a visual cue as well as the audible. My wingsuit helmet has the NeoXS (no HypEye on that helmet) and it's perfect too. Both have three freefall alerts and three canopy alerts, different volume levels for the alerts, and both are easy to set up. The NeoXS is bulletproof, the Optima is not. The NeoXS is very heavy compared to the Optima.

I'm a fan of both. I have a couple of Altitracks, one on a mud-flap mount for wingsuiting and one on my wrist. I use the electronic side for data logging, and I prefer the analog face. In freefall, I don't want to mistake the digital reading ie; is that 6 an 8? It's pretty hard to misread a needle. Digital wasn't around when I learned to tell time; perhaps that's why I prefer the analog face.

-OP has nearly 2K jumps; I'd expect he's comfortable with experimenting. Big gap between 1800 jumps and 87 jumps. In my OP, I suggested that "experienced" skydivers might experiment. Is 87 skydives/3 years experienced? -experiments can easily be done on the ground prior to the jump. If you're going to try a different stow band and wrap, I'd recommend tying down the legstraps of the rig and deploying on the packing table to see how things may work. Bigger band AND single wrap is two new things, rather than one-step-at-a-time...I don't imagine you'd go bigger band AND single wrap? -Same for Dbag deployment experiments, try it on the ground before taking it up in the air; see what works and learn what it looks like it's going to do. Minimize the mistake on the ground first. You'll still make mistakes, but they're informed mistakes. I think we both agree that intentionality should be to learn as much as possible regardless of the methods used. So it's OK to suggest an instructor you don't know is going to die, but it's not OK for an instructor to caution a new jumper....? Yesterday, we did a photo shoot with an odd prop that was hard to manage in the air. A very experienced jumper was absolutely sure, 110%positive that he knew what was going to happen with the prop. I had a pretty good idea of what I thought might happen with it too. We debated it but at the end of the day, it was my jump and my shoot. As things turned out, he was incorrect in his thinking. To a small degree, so was I. And now we both are more knowlegeable.

yep, I have, and with a big mouse, it works reasonably well. I'd like to try a throat mic one of these days.

Tandem was turning towards me, the later pix have better right light etc. Chris Warnock/Parachutist shot it. This the worst of the series, don't want to publically share the good ones (yet).

meh...it's there, you can hear something, but it's not like it's terribly useful. It's more of a stunt/gag thing than real world. She can't hear anything I'm saying anyway. So, everything she said was pre-staged. Blink, your answer is found about three posts up.

While this appears to be a joke, some people reading may not know that a few years ago, a fatal incident resulted from somebody waiting too long to unstow their toggles. As did someone who waited too long just a few months ago, too. A camera flyer at Elsinore.

Actually, you can.

For greatest compatibility, streams (whether PCM or AC3) are separate from each other. It's not Sony, it's standard. However, some apps make this process invisible. This is one of the features that (as Phree suggests) allows for multiple audio streams such as director commentaries or other languages to be added. in the Pro version, you can direct the app to render both to the same name, same folder with one button. The consumer version doesn't offer this option.

Yes, it's there for deployment. I exited with the blimp in my hand. Tying it off to my chest strap is first choice, but when it's -20 at altitude and I'm bare-handed, I'd like options.

Ever wanted to do an in-air interview?

This is exactly how I recommend you use manual focus with the CX100. Point the camera at a highly contrasted image (somewhere here I posted a focus chart you can print) and press the Spot Focus button while holding the camera still, at a distance of approx 8'. that's all you need to do. It locks in and will work fine through the skydive, assuming you're not using the zoom. The Century is a single element/non-zoom through lens.

it's the best work of yours I've seen yet, Matt. Captures the experience nicely. wish I'd been there.

This is the context from which I've made my discussion point. In my original post, the comment is made that if you're an experienced skydiver...vs being a new skydiver, the answer is a different answer. Here, we differ. I submit the most common mistakes are the mistakes we read about in the "Stupid things I have done" threads, and it's the less common mistakes that find themselves in the Incidents forum. I suppose it's all about the context of the discussion. In this discussion of Dbags, the OP has over 1000 jumps and is asking about Dbag orientation. IMO, considering the potentials and then trying various concepts is not a dangerous thing, although it may well lead to a cutaway/mistake, and result in a more informed skydiver.

Here is a link to a short video stream that shows Parachutist's workflow in action.

If you are using VMS, then all you need to do is render to a 1280 x 720 mp4, 10Mbps. That's great for YouTube or Vimeo. This is assuming the source is the TG1. If the source is SD, then deliver 640 x 360 5Mbps for YouTube/Vimeo. That's it.

No argument. Exiting an aircraft without a rig is a mistake, and will assure death. Walking into a propeller is a mistake, and likely will result in death. Isn't that what I said earlier? My words.. "Not being afraid to admit mistakes and help others learn from it is important, IMO, but equally important is learning when you screwed up and doing something about it. " Isn't that the same as "owning this stuff and resolving to improve? My original point is that I'm responsible for myself and as such, attempt to fully understand all of the components of the skydive that I'm responsible for. I have no problem with experimenting with my pack jobs for myself, with the orientation of the Dbag (for myself) how I fold the pilot chute (for myself) or how I route the bridle (for myself), and did so with great frequency until I found what I prefer. I'm not dead, haven't had any cutaways, hard openings, nasty line twists, or other issues since I've come to my personal conclusions. I made a lot of mistakes in the process. When you're coming from the argument that all mistakes=death, we can't have an intelligent discussion. By far, by large, and by any quantifier of any sort, far more mistakes are made that don't result in death than mistakes that do result in death. Far more mistakes are made that lead to an educated, more experienced outcome than mistakes that lead to a fatality. *Most* fatalities are a chain of mistakes. *Most* of us get away with one or perhaps a couple mistakes each weekend. The degree of egregiousness may vary. Either way, those that walk away (or limp away) from their mistakes are usually better for it after they've had the opportunity to consider, discuss, or revisit their mistakes. Those that have the willingness to attempt new ideas will inevitably make mistakes (including D-bag orientation) but they'll also have answers at the end of the experience vs the paperback warrior that "learns" only through what others have to say. I discovered that grommet to grommet/grommet to pin weren't beneficial in my particular case, could be due to dynamic corners, could be that the reserve tray is sewed to prevent lines from being caught beneath them, or it could be that due to the extra length I leave in the line above the risers (or a combination of all three factors) dramatically reduce the likelihood of linetwists and assist with a smooth deployment. YMMV. Hey JohnRich, lemme help fix your boggle. Just for you, I'll put it back now that the joke is over (the humor you linked to, but intentionally misrepresent as a "lie."

I'm scared of you for entirely different reasons, I've seen you fly. I'll once more stand by my statement, but change the wording for those that are comprehension-challenged. Making a mistake is a good thing as it provides the opportunity to gain more knowledge about the activity or effort in which we are engaged. Is that more clear? Making mistakes, getting it almost right, and experimenting to see what happens are all part of the process of eventual perfection. Being ignorant enough to think that "mistake=death" is overly dramatic and ridiculous. The ratio of "oh shit" mistakes vs fatal mistakes is tremendously in favor of "oh shit" mistakes. Look at your posted two-way wingsuit/smoke video. It has all sorts of mistakes, as pointed out by several wingsuiters. No one died, and hopefully you learned a thing or two. NONE of the previous post was about anyone, BTW. They're common mistakes, mistakes that can perhaps be found in dozens of posts here on dropzone.com, including my own. Perhaps Oscar Wilde wrote with greater articulation; "Experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes."

No, we do not use the vms publish feature, but we could. if you can find the thread on 'new youtube" you'll find a tutorial I wrote on the subject. im on my blackbeerry and don't want to search. :-) hth

How many PC/NLE stations do you have set up? Technically, three, although only one is in constant/consistent use. Does the DZ own PC/NLE stations (hardware+software?) No, the DZ does not own the equipment. How many people are hired to do the editing? One full time, one part time. How many vids do you think a single editor will do a day? Average is around 60, but we've done up to 74. Does the DZ pay the editors or do the Videographers? DZ pays the editors. Do the editors get paid per edit? Yes.

Well dammit, that's what you get for trying to do business with a company that cares; Good customer service. Serves you right (pun intended)!

Can't disagree with you. If you feel strongly about it, why not approach the BOD with a request to put this on the agenda? Why would you be crushed? Aren't you already an AFFI? [edit] ~~Relevant discussion

The focus will reset after 12 hours (it's a 12 hour clock), like most cameras do.

You have an Express card port on your Macbook, right? Express card to firewire are only about 50.00 at your local best buy...

Hey! I was there by 8:30...by the time the skydiving operation starts.