This question comes up all the time, “How do I get started with media servers?” Well, the short answers are training and practice. Practice is something you have to do on your own. Training, on the other hand, is something that luckily is readily available in a variety of options. So where do you go for training? Here’s a look at some great resources for training of all kinds for just about every type of media server out there.
I wanted to write this article because I think people don’t truly know the types of training resources that exist for programmers these days. For example, here’s a list of many of the types of training options out there right now:
- In Person Classes hosted by the manufacturer or distributor
- Online (including videos, webinars, and blogs)
- Third Party Training Videos
- Printed Materials (Books, Magazines)
- Product Demos
- Trade Shows
- One-On-One Instruction
- Shadowing
Manufacturer-Hosted Classes
Most manufacturers offer hands on training classes, and they list their schedules on their websites, such as these:
Hippotizer by Green Hippo (www.plsn.me/H-Training)
disguise (formerly d3) offers training classes at their facilities as well as across the US at local venues (www.plsn.me/D-Training-Comm) and they also have an established network of certified instructors around the world (www.plsn.me/D-Training-Cert).
Avolites Ai (www.plsn.me/Avo-Training)
Watchout by Dataton (www.plsn.me/W-Training)
Pandoras Box by Christie (www.plsn.me/PB-Training)
Madrix (www.plsn.me/M-Training)
ArKaos (www.plsn.me/ark-training)
Manufacturer Sites
Manufacturers and distributors have warmed up to the resource that the internet can be, and now post valuable training videos online to help users get a jump start:
PRG Mbox (www.plsn.me/Mbox-Vid)
ArKaos (www.plsn.me/Ark-Vid)
Resolume (www.plsn.me/Res-Vid)
Theatrical Concepts also holds monthly training classes on Pandoras Box and has posted training videos. (www.plsn.me/TC-PB-Vid)
Post-Your-Own-Video Sites
YouTube and Vimeo are two great sources of official training videos these days:
Disguise (www.plsn.me/D-YouTube)
Avolites AI (www.plsn.me/Avo-YouTube)
Hippotizer (www.plsn.me/H-YouTube)
ArKaos (www.plsn.me/Ark-YouTube)
Watchout (www.plsn.me/W-YouTube)
Pandoras Box (www.plsn.me/PB-YouTube)
TouchDesigner (www.plsn.me/TD-YouTube)
Resolume (www.plsn.me/Res-Vimeo)
VDMX (www.plsn.me/V-Vimeo)
Isadora (www.plsn.me/I-YouTube)
MadMapper (www.plsn.me/MM-YouTube)
Madrix (www.plsn.me/M-YouTube)
Third-Party Sites
Some videos are created by third party super users, such as:
ArKaos (www.plsn.me/Ark-3P-FB)
TouchDesigner (www.plsn.me/TD-3P)
Avolites Ai (www.plsn.me/Avo-3P-YouTube)
LightingTrainer.com has a healthy selection of links to training videos to a wide range of products (www.lightingtrainer.com)
Resolume (www.plsn.me/Res-3P)
Creative Technology’s Introduction to Projection Mapping (www.plsn.me/CT-Vimeo)
Designer Blogs and Sites
Digital blogs and websites from creatives in our industry can be great resources for tips and tricks and case studies not commonly found in books or videos. Some of my favorites include:
Laura Frank (www.luminousfx.com)
Drew Atienza (www.fxpsllc.com)
Brad Schiller (www.knowmartinpro.blogspot.com)
Bob Bonniol (www.modestudios.com/the-experiential)
Bart Kresa (www.bartkresa.com)
Kevin Zhu (www.vimeo.com/kevzhu)
Social Media Groups
Social media groups such as these also can be a good resource for a tip or trick needed in a hurry:
Facebook:
Media Server Pros (www.facebook.com/groups/mediaservers)
Mbox users (www.plsn.me/Mbox-FB)
Disguise APAC (www.facebook.com/groups/d3apac)
Notch (www.facebook.com/groups/notchusergroup)
Hippotizer (www.plsn.me/H-FB)
Avolites Ai Users (www.plsn.me/Avo-FB)
Martin P3 and LED user group (www.plsn.me/Martin-FB)
Linked In: Yes, Linked In can be useful for something beyond sending connection requests to people you don’t know! I joined a group called Media Server Professionals (For Live Entertainment) a while back and have actually made a few real connections through the group.
Twitter and Instagram: Since these two platforms have different types of posting platforms, I use them more as a resource for gathering ideas, seeing what other folks are doing, and researching topics. Manufacturers and distributors use these platforms quite well to promote their products as well as their training opportunities. I’ve found a few links to case studies that have been extremely insightful using these tools; I highly recommend scanning them occasionally to stay up to date on the latest technology.
While digital formats have many advantages over a hard-printed copy of some things like user manuals, there are still reasons why reading a book on the subject (or even a printed manual on the product) makes a lot of sense:
You can carry it with you and read it even when you don’t have a connection to the internet
You can highlight and markup important passages, add notes in the columns, skim over less important sections and maybe even come back to them later
Books take a broader approach and can give more of an overview of the topic than a targeted ‘How To’ video
Turning the pages of a book provides a more rewarding tactile experience than swiping left and right on an iPad (at least in my opinion)
Some books currently available at Focal Press (www.focalpress.com) that are relevant to this topic are:
Media Design and Technology for Live Entertainment by Davin E. Gaddy
Media Servers for Lighting Programmers by yours truly
Digital Media, Projection Design, and Technology for Theatre by Alex Olizewski, Daniel Fine, and Daniel Roth
Introduction to Video Production by Ronald Compesi and Jaime Gomez
An Introduction to Digital Video by John Watkinson
These are just a few of the many books written on all aspects of Live Entertainment. Each one of them is full of personal experiences, knowledge and advice that make them worth reading.
Trade Shows
In 2018 alone, companies like ArKaos, Hippo, and disguise have held or have posted classes at a handful of US based tradeshows including:
NAMM (www.namm.org)
NAB (www.nabshow.com)
InfoComm (www.infocommshow.org)
LDI (www.ldishow.com)
These classes are typically the same or similar to the classes offered at the manufacturer’s own facility, so they can be good launching points for getting started with a media server.
Some training videos found on social media may even come from trade show demos, such as:
PRG MBox Studio (www.plsn.me/Mbox-Demo)
ArKaos (www.plsn.me/Ark-Demo)
One-on-One Instruction and Shadowing
One-on-one instruction is the holy grail of training. Personalized and direct, the training can be tailored to your pace and specific needs. Most manufacturers do offer this type of training, but either at a cost or on a needs-only basis. If you find a trainer (or someone who’s just good at explaining things and has the time to share) who’s offering one on one instruction, then you should never turn it down. It’s the unicorn of training, in my opinion.
Shadowing, or the practice of following along behind a programmer while they are working, is likely the most subjective and hardest method of learning available for a few reasons:
- The programmer is likely under a deadline and doesn’t have a lot of time to explain every step along the way
- The programmer will have shortcuts that make getting from point A to point B faster, so the steps will not be as obvious to the person watching, which can be confusing at times. It can also be rewarding for someone who is looking for a few pointers but already know how to use the product. Hence, the subjective part. Never the less, sitting behind a buddy during setup or during a show might open up some questions and clear up some of the mystery behind the world of media server programming, so if the option is available (more like if the offer is extended) then you should definitely consider it; just be aware that you are on observer and may not be able to ask a lot of questions in the moment.
Practice
Most manufacturers offer offline or demo-based versions of their software, so downloading the software and following along with a training video is a very easy way to practice your skills and explore new features of the software. Do this now. It costs nothing except your time. And it saves the sanity of a customer support tech out there somewhere.
With all of these traditional and creative options that are now available for training there is no longer a reason to procrastinate… time to start programming with media servers! Happy learning!
Pictured at top: Training session held at the Stagecraft Institute of Las Vegas. More info at www.stagecraftinstitute.com.