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SEVERE TIRE DAMAGE
Site Map
You (1) are wasting time on the Internet (2).
This is an accurate graphical map of the Internet
You come across the STD website (3).
A fast DEC Alpha running an Apache webserver, connected via OC16 to the 'net.
The STD website informs you there's cool stuff to play with if the band is currently live. When this is true all sorts of neat things happen. You'll know because you
can get to "severe" (4).
"severe.std.org" is an SGI Indy which may be located anywhere.
When you click on any of the "controllable goodies" buttons a command is issued at
"severe" to be sent one of the two serial ports to either the camera (7) or the
MIDI Translator Thingy (5). The camera (7) immediately reacts to the command.
The camera is usually a Canon VC-C1, a remotely controllable (via serial connection and IR) camera with a motorized pan and tilt head. The camera may also be anything from a three-chip broadcast camera to a USB cheapie duct-taped to the guitar neck.
The camera feeds not only the STD Encoder (10) but also "severe" so you'll get
immediate feedback.
"severe" receives the camera's y/c input, the encoder usually gets the NTSC composite.
The MIDI Translator Thingy (5) sends a command to the audio mixer (6).
The MIDI Translator Thingy is an Opcode "MIDI Translator II" designed for a
Macintosh. NOTE: SGI Indy serial ports are different than Macintosh serial ports,
requiring a custom cable for SOME types of connection, but not this one.
The audio mixer (6) motorized faders move appropriately, changing the volume or
other parameter of the sound affecting the output sent to the STD Encoder (10).
The audio mixer is a Yamaha DMP-7.
The green boxes are things that can be controlled by the MIDI Translator Thingy (5).
Everyone in the band has something MIDIable potentially controllable via the web.
One of the things the MIDI translator thingy (5) can operate is the MIDI Relay Trigger (8).
The MIDI Relay Trigger was provided by MIDI Solutions Inc. of Vancouver, BC Canada
(604) 794-3013 in return for this sentence.
The MIDI Relay Trigger (8) is usually attached to STD's Industrial Strength Fog Machine (9).
The Fog Machine is a fifteen-thousand cubic foot per minute theatrical fog machine. It's non-toxic fog. Says so right on the gallon jug of pina-colada scented fog juice.
While you're asphyxiating the band with STD's Industrial Strength Fog Machine (9) you'll
watch the results via the Remote Cam (7) as encoded by STD's Encoder (10).
The Encoder might be almost anything. Usually a laptop. Maybe even "severe".
The encoded audio and video stream is sent via the Internet (2) to live.std.org (11).
live.std.org is a massively well-connected machine in Palo Alto. Made by Compaq running a RealServer. Two different RealServers, actually.
The server at live.std.org (11) sends the buffered packetized multicast stuff into
the Internet (2) where it is eventually seen and heard by you (1).
Your Internet connection is the limiting factor. Don't blame STD.
You (1) are so impressed by all this you click the applause button, which is
actually an image map living at www.std.org (3), which sends a command via
the Internet (2) to severe.std.org (4) to play an audio file of people clapping into
the public address system to the band which responds politely, all of which you'll
see and hear eventually (6)(7)(10)(4)(2)(11)(2)(1).
It's an awful lot of technology just to see a garage band, don't you think?
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