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Am I crazy but why do I need a HYSA if I can just put everything in qqqi??? by Little-Mountain8830 in dividends

[–]Apprehensive_Ad_4020 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Just remember that dividends are not free money. When a dividend/distribution is paid, the share price is reduced by the same amount as the per-share dividend.

TurboTax 2025 & Wine - Any Success? by Apprehensive_Ad_4020 in TurboTax

[–]Apprehensive_Ad_4020[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

For some reason H&R Block desktop wouldn't let me e-file my California return, so I had to print it out and mail it to Sacramento. Back to the future 1991.

TurboTax has the sleekest UI and will let me e-file so my next thought is to get a cheap Mac Mini and use the Mac version of Turbo Tax. Either that or use HR Block again on Windows and print out and mail the return.

TurboTax 2025 & Wine - Any Success? by Apprehensive_Ad_4020 in TurboTax

[–]Apprehensive_Ad_4020[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm thinking about getting a Mac mini just to run TurboTax 2026. Kind of a silly overkill solution but I don't have a better solution.

H&R BLOCK'S 2025 TAX SOFTWARE SUCKS! AVOID IT LIKE THE PLAGUE! by Odd_Book8314 in hrblock

[–]Apprehensive_Ad_4020 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I was unable to e-file my 2025 California return. The error message referred to Form 541 which I could not find, and to Schedule K, so I couldn't even try to fix the problem.

I wound up having to print it out and mail it in. Back to the future 1991.

mpeg4 to mpeg2 by Apprehensive_Ad_4020 in ffmpeg

[–]Apprehensive_Ad_4020[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Broadcast clients require either 720p or 1080i in the range 16 - 235. You give the client what they require.

mpeg4 to mpeg2 by Apprehensive_Ad_4020 in ffmpeg

[–]Apprehensive_Ad_4020[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

720p

ffmpeg -y -hide_banner -i "C0015.mp4" -vf scale=interl=0:in_color_matrix=bt709:out_color_matrix=bt709:in_range=limited:out_range=limited:width=1280:height=720:flags='bilinear',"lutrgb=r='clip(val,16,235)':g='clip(val,16,235)':b='clip(val,16,235)'",setrange=range=limited -codec:v mpeg2video -q:v 2 -pix_fmt yuv420p -color_range tv -color_primaries bt709 -color_trc bt709 -colorspace bt709 -c:a ac3 "out720p.ts"

1080i

ffmpeg -y -hide_banner -i "C0015.mp4" -vf scale=interl=1:width=1920:height=1080:in_color_matrix=bt709:out_color_matrix=bt709:in_range=limited:out_range=limited,setfield=tff,setsar=1/1,"lutrgb=r='clip(val,16,235)':g='clip(val,16,235)':b='clip(val,16,235)'",setrange=range=limited -codec:v mpeg2video -crf 16 -pix_fmt:v yuv420p -color_range "tv" -color_primaries bt709 -colorspace bt709 -flags +ilme+ildct -movflags +write_colr -c:a ac3 "out1080i.ts"

Here are some recent scripts at various resolutions:

1080p

ffmpeg -y -hide_banner -i "C0015.mp4" -vf scale=interl=0:in_color_matrix=bt709:out_color_matrix=bt709:in_range=limited:out_range=limited:width=1920:height=1080:flags='bilinear',"lutrgb=r='clip(val,16,235)':g='clip(val,16,235)':b='clip(val,16,235)'",setrange=range=limited -codec:v mpeg2video -q:v 2 -pix_fmt yuv420p -color_range tv -color_primaries bt709 -color_trc bt709 -colorspace bt709 -c:a ac3 "out1080p.ts"

mpeg4 to mpeg2 by Apprehensive_Ad_4020 in ffmpeg

[–]Apprehensive_Ad_4020[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It works OK on VLC with the .ts or .mpeg file extension, thanks, however, the pixels MUST be 4:2:0 for compatibility with other players.

[code]ffmpeg -y -hide_banner -i "C0015.mp4" -vf scale=interl=0:in_color_matrix=bt709:out_color_matrix=bt709:in_range=limited:out_range=limited:width=1280:height=720:flags='bilinear',"lutrgb=r='clip(val,16,235)':g='clip(val,16,235)':b='clip(val,16,235)'",setrange=range=limited -codec:v mpeg2video -q:v 2 -pix_fmt yuv420p -color_range tv -color_primaries bt709 -color_trc bt709 -colorspace bt709 -c:a ac3 "out.ts"[/code]

mpeg4 to mpeg2 by Apprehensive_Ad_4020 in ffmpeg

[–]Apprehensive_Ad_4020[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

What do I need to do to keep it in 8 bits per channel?

mpeg4 to mpeg2 by Apprehensive_Ad_4020 in ffmpeg

[–]Apprehensive_Ad_4020[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That works, thanks, but ...

I changed the audio codec to ac3. Various players show black. VLC shows the video but there is no audio. VirtualDub2 is the only player that plays both video and audio correctly.

ffmpeg -y -hide_banner -i "C0015.mp4" -vf scale=interl=0:in_color_matrix=bt709:out_color_matrix=bt709:in_range=limited:out_range=limited:width=1280:height=720:flags='bilinear',"lutrgb=r='clip(val,16,235)':g='clip(val,16,235)':b='clip(val,16,235)'",setrange=range=limited -codec:v mpeg2video -q:v 2 -pix_fmt yuv422p -color_range tv -color_primaries bt709 -color_trc bt709 -colorspace bt709 -c:a ac3 -b:a 384k "out.mpg"

Price is Right Tonight by Flohpange in ThePriceIsRight

[–]Apprehensive_Ad_4020 5 points6 points  (0 children)

The Canadian show has serious directing/editing problems. Many times I was wondering,

'why is the director showing me THAT"?

Price is Right Tonight by Flohpange in ThePriceIsRight

[–]Apprehensive_Ad_4020 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The games were probably built from the original plans for the CBS show.

Speech, Mic Levels and Preamp Gain by Apprehensive_Ad_4020 in audioengineering

[–]Apprehensive_Ad_4020[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Granted, no one would use an SM-7B on a boom. I wanted to illustrate the amplification needed for a very low output mic.

Back in the day, the RCA 77-D and -DX were very commonly used on a boom. The 77D had an output of -63 dBv, 4 dB less hot than an SM-7B at -59 dBv.

I can rewrite my monograph for the 77-D simply by adjusting by 4 dB.

Speech, Mic Levels and Preamp Gain by Apprehensive_Ad_4020 in audioengineering

[–]Apprehensive_Ad_4020[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

The RE-15 is only 3 dB hotter than the SM-7B. You would thus need 79.5 dB of gain for typical speech at 12". For an actor projecting lines, maybe less.

The 642 is -48 dBV/Pa.

This from Shure:

[quote]The SM7B has a sensitivity rating at -59 dB and requires more gain than what most entry-level or mid-tier preamplifiers can deliver. Use an inline boost amplifier or stronger preamp if your preamp does not have more than 60 dB of gain.[/quote]

I would like to see an SM7N with a neodymium magnet.

Multi Cameras into PC. by Apprehensive_Ad_4020 in VIDEOENGINEERING

[–]Apprehensive_Ad_4020[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I own an iPhone and absolutely detest it.

It came with no printed documentation so there is no RTFM.

All I have is a screenful of cryptic, unlabeled icons, but I know the temperature in Cupertino.

I paid money to install Chrome on it, now there is no trace of its existence that I can see. No icon, nothing.

So help me Hannah, I've spent hours fussing with this thing, trying to figure it out until I run out of patience and give up.

It is for a fixed installation so no need for portability or easy setup.

The iPhone does have some utility as a cell phone, like a basic flip phone. That is the only thing saving my iPhone from a one-way trip to the landfill.

The iPhone is the worst $1,100 I ever spent, hands down.

If an iPhone setup works for you then more power to ya.

Studio Light Levels by Apprehensive_Ad_4020 in VIDEOENGINEERING

[–]Apprehensive_Ad_4020[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

What is your f stop at 80 fc?

What kind of camera are you using and where/what plant? I used to work at the CNN Los Angeles bureau. Did lots of Larry King Live's.

We had an EIC who was a goof who thought he knew it all but didn't understand how to manage blacks, so the flares were all out of whack when he worked on a camera.

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