Production mixers will recently have received a letter from AMPS' Radio Microphone sub-committee warning of the dangers of working in the vicinity of venues that present live stage shows. It explained that in such locations it is unwise to assume that the venue will only be using fixed site Channel 69 frequencies.
Licences for the shared frequency blocks used by film and TV programme makers can also be granted to fixed site holders to supplement their needs.
So as the letter suggests, if you are aware of working in the area of an entertainment venue, listen in to your frequencies before you transmit. By contacting the venue you may be able to
come to an amicable agreement to avoid
clashing.
More important, is to have a proper licence for you equipment. If someone with a licence crashes in on you without a licence - no argument, you're breaking the law; you've had it.

Remember the penalties/or being caught with
your 'licence pants down' are severe.
FELLOWS & HONS
- A word from the Secretary

From time to time the Council considers
making awards such as Honorary Members and Follows of the Association. If members would like to put forward any names for consideration, from AMPS or the Industry in general, please contact Brian Hickin and he will forward your suggestions to Council

PETER HODGES

A CLARIFICATION

A reader has pointed out that, while not wishing to belittle the late Ken Weston's achievements as both Boom Operator and Production Mixer, the text of Lionel Strutt's excellent tribute is slightly ambiguous regarding Ken's position on Bugsv Malone, Midnight Express, The Web, and The Commitments. Ken was Boom Operator on these pictures while Clive Winter was the Production Mixer.

GEARBOX JOINS AMPS

AMPS would like to welcome Gearbox (Sound
& Vision) Ltd as a new Sustaining Member. Gearbox are a sales and rental company with strong industry connections. We thank them for their support and will carry further details in our next issue.

The hot subject in the Industry at present is 24P and Hi Def. AMPS Council decided to approach the APPS and lBS to help organise a joint Technical Seminar on Hi Def Sound Production. The first joint meeting took place on Monday 3rd September, attended by:
Sandy MacRae AMPS, Lionel Strutt AMPS, Brian Simmons AMPS, Anthony Faust AMPS, Jim Betteridge  AMPS, Dennis Weinreich APPS (and AMPS), Peter Hodges AMPS (and APPS), Andy Hewitt IBS, Dave Humphries AMPS (and APPS).
It quickly became evident that a Technical Seminar was not going to be possible in the short term because of the lack of technical information on, and experts in, sound for this medium. Instead, a joint working party was set up to investigate Hi Def Sound Production
and Post Production, with a view to holding a seminar sometime in the future. We are currently talking to manufacturers of HD systems and editing equipment and much useful information is being produced. Hopefully, we will shortly be in a position to make recommendations on how to shoot and post 24P and
Hi Def and eventually organise the Seminar. We also wish to influence future design of equipment.
What we need now is feedback and information
from members with experience shooting and post-producing Hi Def, be it 23.98P, 24P or 25P!  Please share it with us and we will collate and distribute the information. Emails to info@amps.net are the best
way but feel free to use paper and pen to the AMPS office.

SANDY MACRAE

WHERE ARE THEY?

Ken Osborne would like to regain contact with his old Boom Operator friend David Pearson, last heard of in South Africa. Would anyone who can help please email Ken on kenosborne99@hotmail.com or fax him on +66 38710732.
John Wolstenholme is still a paid up member of AMPS but he forgot to notify us of his change of address back in 1999. So far efforts to trace him have failed. Would any members knowing his present whereabouts please contact AMPS Membership Secretary, Patrick Heigham, do the AMPS Office, 28 Knox Street, London W1H 1FS. Tel: 0207 723 6727. Email: ampsoffice@tinyonline.co.uk