[UHF]

Just a couple things:

Casters making sure they are paying attention to the game. There were a few times when the main caster was on another screen typing something for quite a lenghty period with the camera sitting in FoW, while the co-caster was still calling action.

Also, if the situation arises if someone is solo casting, they need to keep the casting going, or at least keep talking about something. A few times (especially early game) there were long quiet periods which were a bit awkward.

Other than that, it was pretty good viewing!

[DeNile]

This is specifically for the online tournament casting. My advice is that you may have to increase the casting roster. (and as much as i would love this to be an attempt at trying to cast for acl ITS NOT).

Quite simply your online games the other day i tuned in late for the Maynard doble cast and Maynard in particular seemed a little vague and over fluffy in his comments. And from what little i know becoming vague and traveling off topic often goes hand in hand with just being tired or over starring at SC2 (impossible i know we are all so passionate).

Even if this is merely having a stand by fill in to cover one set here or there as you both get up walk around, Grab a drink or something like that. When you look at tournaments which go for the whole day such as IPL or MLG breaks are given quite often, and even players are used for these breaks to shake it up and wake you all up.

Truth be told 90% of the time i love all the casters ACL use and love the casting, these were just a few ideas i had to ensure long particular online casting sessions don't get vague,, for lack of a better word.

[Stallion]

Originally Posted by SQL.yang

The MLG maps on SEA are outdated.

yea I abused this in PvZ in seacl :P

[Maynarde]

Originally Posted by QEDDeNile

Quite simply your online games the other day i tuned in late for the Maynard doble cast and Maynard in particular seemed a little vague and over fluffy in his comments. And from what little i know becoming vague and traveling off topic often goes hand in hand with just being tired or over starring at SC2 (impossible i know we are all so passionate)

Can you elaborate for me man? Was I stammering? Making bad calls? Going off topic too much? If it's the latter I'll be sure to improve on it.

I stammered and had "disjointed" sentences sometimes especially during the start of the cast because we basically had complications using a program called "Mumble" to cast with. Skype is commonly used by a lot of people and is easy enough but the issue with it is when you talk and someone else is talking the volume auto corrects to have the previous speaker drowned out.

In my headset, I had whatever was coming out on the stream. Doble, his doof doof AND myself. But with a 1 second delay. So basically, whenever I said something it would come back in my headset 1 second later and it completely did my head in. I messed up entire sentences and completely forgot what I was saying more than once because of the repeating audio. This is due to Doble only currently having one audio card, but he is getting a second and will be able to let whoever is co-casting have their own audio stream next time.

I was also using push to talk, which I'm not used to. This is because if my mic was live, due to the single soundcard + mumble setup, the audio would start a feedback loop if I didn't de-activate it after I stopped speaking. Also I think my headset volume was too high, which was coming through the mic as well.

Basically saying if it's the disjointed sentence / stammering / forgetting what I was saying thing; won't happen again. BUT if you're saying I go off topic or make bad calls please say so and give examples as that is something I can definitely strive to improve on.

[raycey]

I do occasionally watch games on stream, despite having little to no game knowledge.

I enjoy Maynarde's voice, it's ever so soothing. He does animate his voice quite well when it comes to the action making it even more fun to watch. More info on players, maps, strategy etc will come in time no doubt.

Doble has definitely improved from ACL GC. Talks a bit too fast sometimes. Defs need to pull back on the Twitter plugging and more info on the sponsors would be nice when they're mentioned. I like the chemistry between Doble and Maynarde, they've come a long way.

Dox darling you're a bit hard to hear sometimes, mostly due to your deep and gravely tone. Also because you seem to speak a bit quietly. And yeah, a bit monotone so more animation in your voice would be great. Excellent game knowledge, I don't feel so completely out of the loop when watching.

I'm a total noob in the world of SC2 so the more info that's provided the better. But better explained than what I've seen so far. It'd help more than just the noobs, everyone's hungry for detail. Camera work needs to be improved as well, hopefully inFeZa is as good as previously mentioned.

[Mayo]

You need to inject a caster that has general knowledge about the game but is exciting.
Someone that can jump around and scream about the action that's going on.

Someone that casts like me :P

Because I think at this stage you have 3 nice analytic casters, but no one to really ramp up the audience and get the blood pumping in a big engagement.
imo

[iMSystem]

Actually this is something I want to touch on and only just remembered about it.

Starboard guys, seriously, it is one of the most important thing to have when casting an event with Bo3 and above. For Bo1 it isn't too much of an issue, and a simple CTRL+N can solve that, but tuning in late, you have no idea what the score is at or anything like that.

It is also very lightweight and takes only seconds to set up.


Also, how come you guys were using Mumble? Just mainly curious as to this decision, why not Skype? Was there limitations with the software?

Quick Comments

Stallion:

starboard good and skype is fine imo

[DeNile]

Originally Posted by Maynarde

Can you elaborate for me man? Was I stammering? Making bad calls? Going off topic too much? If it's the latter I'll be sure to improve on it.

When i say vague i mean you went off topic and spoke of random things neither on the map or unrelated to the players playing at the time. And to me it really sounded that you were tired and having trouble focusing just on the match, the more tired you get the harder to remain focused on one particular thing and not get distracted.. I wouldn't stress about your casting itself;f as i said i only noticed it late into the cast and only by refreshing yourself or other such methods can it be prevented. The actual casting itself;f was top notch.

Quick Comments

Maynarde:

Cool, I wasn't tired I was just being random. Will make a better effort next time :)

[Maynarde]

Originally Posted by Mayo

You need to inject a caster that has general knowledge about the game but is exciting.
Someone that can jump around and scream about the action that's going on.

Someone that casts like me :P

Because I think at this stage you have 3 nice analytic casters, but no one to really ramp up the audience and get the blood pumping in a big engagement.
imo

Mate ACL already have a herp derp lookit the fireworks and blood caster. I'm right here!

Originally Posted by System

Actually this is something I want to touch on and only just remembered about it.

Starboard guys, seriously, it is one of the most important thing to have when casting an event with Bo3 and above. For Bo1 it isn't too much of an issue, and a simple CTRL+N can solve that, but tuning in late, you have no idea what the score is at or anything like that.

It is also very lightweight and takes only seconds to set up.


Also, how come you guys were using Mumble? Just mainly curious as to this decision, why not Skype? Was there limitations with the software?

I completely agree with the Starboard thing, good point! Will make sure it's there for the next cast this weekend.

Re: the Mumble thing. I forgot why, Doble prefers it. I believe it's because of the auto-volume adjust thing that Skype does when you've got two people talking at once, and it can't be turned off. The streamers voice will always be fine, but the co-caster gets drowned out on the call when the streamer talks.

[Dox]

Originally Posted by Mayo

at this stage you have 3 nice analytic casters

This is the first time anyone has said anything like that.

Originally Posted by System

Starboard guys, seriously

I've been using it for over like two months......

Also, how come you guys were using Mumble? Just mainly curious as to this decision, why not Skype? Was there limitations with the software?

Maynarde already explained this.

[Mayo]

Mumble has a really good delay (low) compared to all other VoIP programs.


Maybe I'm just to used to FPS casters, when watching ACL myself I didn't find myself getting really excited over the casting in big engagements like I do in CS/CSS/BF2/CoD4 when someone gets some nice frags (I'm talking about FPS Audio only too, so I can't even see the frags myself).

[iMSystem]

Originally Posted by Maynarde

I completely agree with the Starboard thing, good point! Will make sure it's there for the next cast this weekend.

Dox told me this last time T.T

@Dox, you have but get Doble on it as well - Since he is running the ACL Twitch stream, which is the main port of call for the events

Originally Posted by Maynarde

Re: the Mumble thing. I forgot why, Doble prefers it. I believe it's because of the auto-volume adjust thing that Skype does when you've got two people talking at once, and it can't be turned off. The streamers voice will always be fine, but the co-caster gets drowned out on the call when the streamer talks.

I think it might be settings in Xsplit as well that needs tuning to fix this issue as well, but there is also a simple fix to it all, don't talk over each other :P

Personally though, I would of preferred small washed out sound when there are two people talking, than an echo

[Maynarde]

Originally Posted by Dox

I've been using it for over a month......

I think it wasn't on ACLPro2 stream though, perhaps on yours it was I didn't see

Originally Posted by System

I think it might be settings in Xsplit as well that needs tuning to fix this issue as well, but there is also a simple fix to it all, don't talk over each other :P

Cool I'll look into it, never noticed! Not talking over eachother is tough when there's a few seconds delay it's gonna happen! On Skype there is at least 1 second before what you say comes through on the other guy's end. Always make an effort not to though.

[syfChadMann]

Originally Posted by System

why not Skype? Was there limitations with the software?

Maynarde has issues with Skype randomly changing his voice volume when the game loads...
Muble is a horrible option tho, it has loads of lag and delay - better off with Team Speak or something....?

Also, @Mayo- Maynarde and Doble are not analytical casters - they are both play by play casters.. Analytical casters would be, Zepph and Dox.. perhaps... good casting duo needs one of each tho..

[Mayo]

I must be getting my terms mixed up.

Basically what I wanted was more "CYA MAAATE" but RTS style (See: Excitement and skin tingling)

Quick Comments

iMSystem:

CY@ MATE

[Maynarde]

Originally Posted by TAChadMann

Maynarde has issues with Skype randomly changing his voice volume when the game loads...
Muble is a horrible option tho, it has loads of lag and delay - better off with Team Speak or something....?

Nah I don't have that issue anymore with Skype (thanks breadfan!) would be happy to use it.

I don't rate Teamspeak, I don't know why lol.

[iMSystem]

Originally Posted by Mayo

I must be getting my terms mixed up.

Basically what I wanted was more "CYA MAAATE" but RTS style (See: Excitement and skin tingling)

I understand exactly what you mean, but it is hard to bring this kind of excitement to SC2.

FPS is action and frags - minimal stratergy (I know about strat calling for CSS and playing eco and such) but it mainly comes down to the frags.

The hugest hype thing you can see in a FPS game is someone coming back 1v5 clutch and defusing.

How can this be portrayed in SC2?

Early game you lose 20 workers to Hellions, still win the game via strategic play that is hard to spot to the caster, and goes way in depth to game play or just luck on positioning.
(The latter can still bring some hype)


I hope you see what I am getting at

[Mayo]

Did you have the option turned off in windows sound which puts everything down 75% volume when another application makes a noise (IE. A game)

When I watch tastosis I get skin tingling when banes hit and awesome fungals etc though.

[Stallion]

Originally Posted by Mayo

You need to inject a caster that has general knowledge about the game but is exciting.
Someone that can jump around and scream about the action that's going on.

Someone that casts like me :P

Because I think at this stage you have 3 nice analytic casters, but no one to really ramp up the audience and get the blood pumping in a big engagement.
imo

Id say Dox is analytic and Maynarde pumps up the crowd and the doble is a bit of both so i think they have a good balance as it is but a 4th caster (maybe a local per event) could be worth it as gives you guys more of a breather and can work in teams. Also there are some excellent caster in australia atm that fly under the radar. System , Flamga, Zepph and Benji could all be excellent 4th casters added in depending on where you/they are.

LOL net dc so this is late now :P

[syfChadMann]

Would also be sick to see some guest casting from players.. I know Pinder has amazing game sense as is an awesome caster.. I'm sure having other players like, PiG or iaguz giving their insights into their game knowledge by guest casting would be amazing!..