CTT Video Reviews

[Anonymous]

Hey guys,

Concerning reviews and videos, keep in mind that CTT is more than a magazine, it is a business with employees, expenses, and revenue.

We create the videos on company time and we need to justify our hours, just like at any other workplace. The videos are free and, compared to how many subscribers we have, not many people watch them. So we can only spend so much of our workday doing something that does not create revenue. Same as in any other business.

The trains that we review in CTT come to us in three ways: a manufacturer sends us a sample, we go out and buy it using CTT money, or a staff member buys it for his personal use and allows us to review it.

As far as going to hobby shops for reviews, I can't imagine a shop owner would allow us to take things off the shelves, run the pants off them for a few hours, take some notes, set up lights and camera equipment for photos, and then put the trains back on the shelves without expecting compensation, since we have taken his "new" trains and turned them into "slightly used" trains, not to mention disrupting his shop for a few hours.

So, as I previously mentioned, we go to hobby shops from time to time and buy trains for reviews. Sometimes we trade these in toward future trains to review, and sometimes we keep them around for long-term tests or other backwards-compatible tests. We also use these engines for photos, so if you have sharp eyes you'll notice from time to time that a reviewed engine shows up in a how-to story (the upcoming November cover story will be an example).

Thanks,
Neil Besougloff
editor

[BigJim]

QUOTE: I'd say the odds are against Lionel shipping us pretty much anything for review, however, and I'm not going to use my limited budget to buy rolling stock for review.

Bob,
I know that we have had this discussion before, but I would like to touch on it one more time since it has been brought up.
Wouldn't it be possible for one of you to go to a hobby shop and do a review from there? Sounds simple enough to me.

[MartyE]

Hey Bob

Do you guys review items that you personally bought or something someone migh lend you to review or do you solely rely on manufacturers to send stuff?

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Ogaugeoverlord
I'd say the odds are against Lionel shipping us pretty much anything for review,

That's a curious statement. Why won't Lionel ship products for reviews?[:O]

[Bob Keller]

Big Jim, if Lionel shipped us the cars for a review, I'd mention the windows, just for you. I'd say the odds are against Lionel shipping us pretty much anything for review, however, and I'm not going to use my limited budget to buy rolling stock for review.

As for the video quality, I figured something was better than nothing (since as I mentioned earlier, when they're being edited they look fine), but maybe that isn't the case. Perhaps it would be better to go with the nothing is better than something line of thinking.

Have a nice day.

[dwiemer]

Big Jim,
I have no problems with being critical, in fact, I think the folks at CTT are very responsive to it, just look at Marty's post about the lack of photos, the guy responsible for the given article, Kent Johnson, replied right after he returned and they are working on things.
It does change the atmosphere when you refer to all the money that they have, I am sure that if they had "all that money" they would invest more to enhance the product they deliver, which IMHO, is very good at present.
I would encourage everyone to offer ideas, tips, and perhaps some photos and story submissions to make CTT better for us all. But please do it in a respectful way.
Dennis

[BigJim]

Marty,
I also tried the Quicktime version and it was dark too. I was able to get this version to fill most of the screen but the quality drops off to viewing big pixels. However, I was able to lighten it up. But why should the subjects, which are the models, be so dark to begin with? Each review that I have looked at is the same. Like watching a dark object pass through while the backgrounds (table, track, transformer, washing machine, etc.) look just fine.

Too bad everyone looks at this as being negative. It is not negative. It is critical. All I am doing is asking for CTT to do something positive to enhance yours and my veiwing so that we the consumers can make objective decisions on whether or not we may want to purchase the product shown, many of which are not published in the magazine and also may not be at our local hobby shop.

As for the Lionel windows...don't get me started. And BTW, I haven't seen a review published yet in CTT or OGR about these cars YET!

Good Night and Good Luck.

[MartyE]

Sorry Big Jim gotta poo poo you on this one. Even though it wasd a little dark on the first play, a vew adjustments in Windows Media Player and it was more than fine. Now those Lionel windows...

[febaix]

I agree with the less than desirable quality of the videos. But they are helpful, so… until the streaming video arrives on 2007, why not a two versions of the videos for different speed connections?

[wrmcclellan]

Not sure what the deal is here. I clicked on Jim's link he provided and also via the link in the monthly e-mail from CTT. It works fine. Lighting is bright, sound quality is good (and loud). Must be a PC or internet connection problem.

[Anonymous]

BigJim, please don't be so negative about things you don't like. You seem to do this on all of the boards.

I think the videos are fine.[tup]

[BigJim]

Well, it seems obvious that none of you are looking at what I am looking at.
Trying to give you all the benefit of the doubt, I just went back to the Atlas GP9 online review.
http://www.trains.com/Content/Dynamic/Articles/000/000/006/154sfuxr.asp
I clicked on and played the Windows Media Player version. I was presented with the same dark unrecognizable video that prompted this post to begin with.

Bob, you can pooh pooh me all you want. I'm just sorry that you are more concerned with getting your feelings hurt than the quality of work that gets viewed on your web site. What about the close up shots? I came to look at the GP9 not the entire layout from three feet away. If you could see what I've seen you would say there is much room for improvement too.

[MartyE]

I don't know...they look OK to me. Like Bob said a better download quality would be nice but for what it is I would say there is nothing to get ones panties in a wad over.

[beefmalone]

After all that whining from others about getting an unsolicited video I never even got one and I was actually looking forward to it!

[johnandjulie13]

Hello Bob:

You nailed the only criticism that I have. While I love the videos, better download quality would be appreciated. Maybe you could have multiple download options depending on the user's connection.

In any event, keep the videos coming!

Regards,

John O

[Anonymous]

I got the DVD and havent looked at it and I wi***hey would quit send me all that junk mail.

Evey time i get a subscription I get all kinds of junk mail.

[Bob Keller]

We're hoping to get a streaming video server in 2007. This would improve the size of the window and the quality of resolution.

When I edit the original video, it look great on my full computer screen - but when you save the file so that it won't take 5 hours to download on dial-up, it loses a significant level of quality, and often look darker than on the bog screen.

Don't know who's got the money, but it isn't me.

Oops, gotta run, the caviar and Starbucks cart is passing my office ...

[dougdagrump]

I liked the review of the SD-40, it runs and sounds exactly like my SD-35's but it appears that the lighting, headlights and # boards, is much better.

[PaulEFudd]

Are you guys talking about the DVDs that were sent out with a trial offer? If so, I enjoyed the trial one but noted many segments were from previous "Tracks Ahead" episodes, which many probably have not seen, but for me, it was not worth to enroll so I sent it back.

If they get totally new footage of layouts then I'll subscribe.

Paul

[1688torpedo]

Dennis- Maybe Bob attends the annual Corvair Collector Club of America's conventions to show of his latest addition?[;)][:P][:o)] The Hampton's are too overated & ritzy anyway. [;)][:o)] No one wants to go there anymore.[;)][:)] Take Care.

[dwiemer]

Got my vote Bob, but one question, what about all this money that y'all supposedly have? I know you may have to take a weekend off from yachting in the Hamptons to afford some high dollar video equipment just so you can make everyone happy, but ya still got my vote. Dennis

[laz 57]

There is nothing wrong with the video's.
I think they're great.
Gives you an idea of what the unit looks and sounds like.
Well done BOB, keep up the good work.
laz57

[Jumijo]

I've noticed a distinct improvement in the recent videos. Now they have lead in titles and fadeouts. Very nice. [tup] [tup]

Jim

[Bob Keller]

You made my day Big Jim, because I know that no matter what we do, we won't be able to please you. Thanks for your upbeat and positive assessment of my videography. We're counting on you, dude. [:D]

[BigJim]

Come on CTT, with all of the money Kalmbach makes, it looks like they could spring for some proper lighting for your video reviews. It is pitiful that they are so dark. And how about some closeup shots?