Selecting A Generator – Which Is Best For Your Requirements?

When the time comes to choose a honda generator, there are quite a number of possibilities for both the home owner and the business operator: so many, actually, that it can be quite confusing to the uninitiated. What source of fuel do you prefer – diesel or petrol? Do you need a small “emergency” silent generator for the home, or one with plenty of power to act as a back up when the mains electricity fails in your business? If you don’t have much knowledge as to how diesel generator work, you will find it difficult to choose.

How then, do you make a choice? Firstly, you should decide for what exact purpose you will need the generator, as this will help you to determine the capacity. If you require a generator for home use, it would not be wise to choose a heavy duty industrial generator, as it would give out more power than you actually need. Similarly, if your requirement is to run machinery, a generator with a low output of power will not be enough as it is guaranteed to fail when you need it most.

Diesel and petrol generators operate in a similar way. Diesel electrical generators are quite often found in agricultural environments, on construction sites and in factories and warehouses: in fact, wherever you may need a portable and reliable source of energy. This can be because there is no mains power (for example construction sites) or the mains power cannot be relied upon (such as with agricultural areas and factories).

When you are working out your generator requirements, you should opt for the most efficient model. The size of the new portable generators is specified by the output and speed as given by the manufacturer: it is usually the case that, a more powerful generator has a greater output and speed. The majority of generators range between an output of 5KVA (kilovolt-ampere units) and 2500KVA. The generators with lower KVAs can be used in the home, whereas the those with a higher KVA rating provide more than enough power for most industrial applications.

The model’s efficiency is the initial step: however, it is also necessary to calculate the load you have to supply. To do this, you just have to figure out the power demand, whether this is in the home or the business, during normal operating conditions. The amount of power that the generator is able to provide will indicate whether it is sufficient to meet the needs of your home or business: the capacity of the fuel tank only determines the number of hours the generator will operate between refueling.It is always a good idea to choose a generator that can give a little more power than you really need, thus minimising the eventuality of overloading.

Something else you may need to think about is the decibel output of the silent generator. Does the generator need to be run during the night in the home? If so, you should select a silent diesel generator as the noise level of these is considerably less than traditional diesel generators. It is also a good idea to opt for a silent diesel generator with a decent sized fuel tank, to ensure that it runs overnight, so you don’t have to be worried about refueling in the wee small hours. The noise level is not such problem if it is used in an industrial situation, or during the day.

If you only need to use the generator occasionally, it makes sense to buy a good quality used generator, as this will save you a good deal of money.

Having a portable generator available for emergency situations, such as natural disasters or power outages, or perhaps those times when there is no mains electricity (camping is one such example) is an excellent idea. However, it is sensible to do your homework and carefully choose a generator that best suits your individual needs.

Travel By The Train to The San Diego Area To Enjoy Your Next Leisurely Family Vacation

If you have not traveled by Amtrak for a vacation, perhaps it is time to to give it some consideration.  Many North American destination cities are easily accessible by train.  Getting there can be half the fun on some of the more scenic routes.

San Diego is one of the best-known and most appreciated vacation targets in the country  It is easy to take a train to the historic station and then use public transit for getting around locally.  Compared to other parts of Southern California, San Diego is actually relatively close together.  You can even get around to a lot of vacation attractions by walking if you enjoy that.

San Diego is really loaded with interesting places to visit.  Visiting all of the beaches, museums, historical attractions and other amusements could truly take weeks.  There certainly would be no problem filling a busy week of vacation in this beach-oriented city.  One of the major features that San Diego offers its guests and residents alike is its wonderful, moderate weather, especially in the summertime.

Perhaps you would like to make an even more ambitious train travel event, in which case you can take the train up the coast.  It is easy to take the train from San Diego all the way to Union Station in downtown Los Angeles, with maybe ten stops in between.  By doing any of the above, it would be reasonable to engage in a one- or two-week vacation without using a car.

Don’t forget that a trip by train can add several days on to the total schedule compared to flying, but if you have the right mindset the traveling can be part of the overall enjoyment of the trip.

Teleprompting 101: Preparing For Your First Teleprompter Presentation

Teleprompting 101: Preparing For Your First Teleprompter Presentation

Using a teleprompter is straightforward and the end result both professional and accurate, making their use popular for video presentations, award ceremonies, live conferences, product launches and increasingly as live note holders for public speakers.

However new users are often apprehensive. Newcomers may experience discomfort, nervousness or even drowsiness. Some new presenters can even come across as appearing dishonest.

This article is a summary of what to expect on a video production and the best ways to get professional results by using a teleprompter during your next presentation.

Word Smithing

Your presentation starts at the script. All your information and content is in the script. Designing your script to be spoken out loud is the key to a successful presentation. You can supply it to the auto cue operator in any word processing format, Mac or PC, preferably emailed to the production company ahead of time.

Use shorter sentences whenever possible and always try to use the contracted form of words, to better mimic the way people speak and give your delivery a more natural flow. Your auto cue script should only contain the text to be read. No bullet points, indents, tables, charts, borders, scene directions . . . just your monologue. If you need graphical aids, use screen graphics that can be displayed to your audience.

The auto cue operator will review the script and do some basic preparation so the lines read clearly on the auto cue screen. Keep in mind that if a lot of retouching is needed before the shoot day, a fee may be applied to cover editing time. So don’t send the auto cue operator a fully laid out storyboard . . . just send the speech!

Dress for Success

Once your script is done, it’s time to take a look at some of the more basic ingredients of your presentation.

A script is normally written with a particular audience in mind, so dress accordingly. Theatrical elements not withstanding, presenters would do well to wear comfortable clothing, reflecting the mood and overall tone of the message they are trying to get across.

Avoid striking reds wherever possible and steer clear of bright white clothes. These don’t copy well to video and are usually less than flattering for your skin tones. Pinstripes, hounds-tooth and any other patterns with very fine lines can also be distracting.

Makeup is used for both cosmetic and technical reasons . . . hiding blemishes is one thing but lights used in both video and stage environments are bright, harsh and hot, so makeup is often used to take out the shiny spots on the T of the face caused by the heat (and sometimes by nerves).

All that counts in video and stage production is the final result. In these strange environments, the final product is more important than the actual production stages, so don’t feel overly self conscious if the production company makes alterations to your wardrobe or insist you have makeup applied.

Your producer should have given you more specific information about what to wear and how to look your best, depending on the project.

Location

Regardless of whether the shoot is held in a studio, in an office or on the street, the same number 1 rule applies . . . safety first. Look out for cables on the floor, light stands, heavy rigging and awkwardly placed props. Stage lights are bright and for a good reason. They get very hot, so best not to touch!

When you arrive at, the Director will get you up to speed with how the set up is going and introduce you to the crew. For a shoot involving the use of a teleprompter, the crew will typically be made up of at least four people. The teleprompter operator, the sound operator, the camera operator and the Director. The bulk of the technical work will be done before you get there and after the shoot is over.

First port of call will be wardrobe and makeup. If you have any alterations or additions to the script though, make sure the teleprompter operator is aware of these as soon as possible.

The key feature of the teleprompter is to take a screen of text from a computer and project a smooth scrolling page of text onto a screen. Editing functions are limited, so allow the operator plenty of time to make any required edits. For single, this is quite easy to do. If new pages need to be added though, it takes time to either type these out or copy from a file.

When all the text is in place and you’re ready to go, grab a glass of water (not too cold) and get ready for the Director’s “3-2-1 . . . ACTION!”

Rolling, ACTION!

People will usually begin to fuss as you make your way to the camera . . . best to let them get on with it. You probably won’t hear that much from your auto cue operator unless he makes some alterations during your pre-read.

As you look into the monitor, it soon becomes apparent why bullet points and formatting are a bad idea. They would take up far too much space on the screen.

The Director is in charge of directing your presentation during the rehearsals and the final shoot. If time allows however, the teleprompter operator will often provide a general overview of the cue.

Here are the 5 main points to be aware of during your presentation:

1. Try the Script

You should always be given a pre-read of the script on the actual teleprompter during the rehearsal. Occasionally you’ll find words that normally run together being split to span over two pages to assist the delivery. Sometimes the opposite makes more sense. Written text normally spans 8-15 words on each line. In this medium however, the usual span is 3-5 words per line.

It’s an altogether different reading pace and you need to get used to it. It’s the teleprompter operator’s job to assist with the readability options.

2. Keep to Your Own Speed

The teleprompter operator will react to your delivery, constantly refining the scroll speed to match your reading speed. If you speed up, the auto cue speeds up. Slow down, the auto cue slows down.

3. Hold Eye Contact

This is something that needs practice, and/or a lot of takes to perfect. Until the Director tell you anything different, before the take starts, during the take and after it ends, just keep looking directly at the camera. That is of course unless you’ve mastered the process.

Eye movements are more crucial, the closer the shot is. Eye movements away from your audience make you look either uneasy or slightly dishonest. The only time you can really look away from the screen is when the Director says ‘cut’.

Most people won’t even know they are looking away from the camera. Turn away during an edit point in the script and the take will have to be re-done.

It’s ok to blink though!

4. Keep still

People very rarely stand totally still, often rocking from side to side of shuffling their feet. This is a perfectly natural movement but isn’t really the best thing to do during a shoot. It makes you look uncomfortable or distracted . . . which, if you’re rocking, then you are. It’s a bit like the eye contact and body movement discussed earlier on. Animated gestures in a production are fine as part of our communication is based on movement. Awkward looking swaying or shuffling aren’t.

As you get to start of the take, spend a few moments warming up. Stretches, bends, jumps. Anything to shake out your fatigue. The aim is to be both mentally and physically prepared. If the warm up still won’t keep you still, ask for a pedestal to rest one foot on or even make your presentation sitting down.

5. Value the Message

This may sound a little cheesy, but don’t just read your message . . . value the script! Remember, the script is a message that’s important. On some occasions you may not like what you’re saying, but you have to believe in the script. Use gestures, insert stresses too your presentation, don’t be monotonous . . . practice in front of a mirror!

All the information you will need is in the script and it’s crafted to get a clear massage across. Make the audience understand how important that message really is.

The Finished Product

So you’ve finished your recording and it’s time to see the finished product. The first thing you’ll confront when watching the tape is vanity. Don’t worry . . . it happens to everybody.

You might think you sound strange. You might think you look weird. The reason for this reaction is simple . . . you are used to seeing a reflected image of yourself rather than how everyone really sees you. Seeing your left side where your right side normally appears and vice versa is strange.

Some camera angles can also distort your appearance. You might fool yourself into thinking you look unwell or have put on weight. Giving polished presentations involves self criticism. Not negativity, but constructive criticism. Go over your performance and try to rectify any distracting or awkward habits.

Don’t split hairs here. Your concern is to make a sincere, polished presentation. You usually find that around the eyes. Are you mesmerized by the scrolling text, or speaking lifelessly? Are you a rocker? Are you maintaining eye line?

It’s all about getting an appreciation of your own performance. More importantly, do you look like you believe what you are saying? Business leaders from all industries realize the importance of an effective, personal and likeable communication style, yet public speaking is a major stepping stone for many of us.

This article has been all about the use of a teleprompter and an overview of how to best prepare for video production and presentations. It will need some homework on your part but when you meet the crew on the big day, the emphasis will be on making the best delivery and getting your message across as professionally as possible.

When you are ready to bring your presentations in-house, using professional teleprompter software can make a huge difference to the success of your production.

You can get a good idea of how this affordable teleprompter can help you by watching the great demo available on YouTube.

PromptDog also has a Mac version demo at teleprompter for Mac OS X.