[Phil Hinton]

I'm sure many of you have seen the CH4 'Grand Designs' series where Kevin visits those who build their own houses.

Well we plan something very similar, but not as grand as building houses!

AVForums.tv will develop it's content over the next few months to not only include product launches, tutorials and reviews, but to also include the AVForums membership in future productions.

We plan to cover the really big self builds of cinema rooms, to see how the DIY'ers out there go about designing and then building their cinema. We felt that this is not just interesting to see, but usually there are a lot of pit falls and problems to solve. This gives other members an insight on how they may want to go about converting an existing room, or even building an extension to house their cinema.

So what would we be looking for?

• Someone who has recently built a cinema room and wants to talk us through how they went about it. Having high Resolution photos of various stages of the build would be great to have as well.
• People who are about to set off on their DIY adventure and would like to have the progress covered

How to volunteer

Send an email to phil@avforums.com with some details about your build and any photographs you may have.

What the series will cover

• Home Cinema Builds new and old
• Presented in a style that imparts knowledge of the pitfalls and highlights of a build
• Includes footage of the build in progress or photographs and explainations
• Includes finished build and discussion on what might have been done differently, or what worked better than expected

Any concerns?
Obviously as the series will feature on the UK's largest Home Cinema website you may be concerned that your privacy or home may be compromised in security terms. We will make every effort to make sure that locations of premises and your security is protected as best as can be achieved at all times.

Feedback.

So please give us some feedback on the series plans and ideas and we would welcome any suggestions for content we haven't mentioned above.

Finally we still need to find a catchy name for the series, so any ideas please include them below!

I have my first victim lined up for a shoot soon, all will be revealed in the near future!

For those who volunteer to take part, we will also provide you with a Blu-ray of your programme as a momento.

Custom Installation
As well as covering the DIY builds, we plan to see how the professionals also go about the task of designing and building cinema rooms.

[crimsoneagle]

Fantastic idea!!!


Great way to evolve the site...

Would it be possible for the episodes to be downloadable in HD!??

[Phil Hinton]

Originally Posted by crimsoneagle

Would it be possible for the episodes to be downloadable in HD!??

Thanks for the comments. Yes we will look at ways we can provide the footage in HD for those who want it. However we may be restricted by bandwidth issues so Stuart will have to look at how this can be done.

[crimsoneagle]

Originally Posted by Phil Hinton

Thanks for the comments. Yes we will look at ways we can provide the footage in HD for those who want it. However we may be restricted by bandwidth issues so Stuart will have to look at how this can be done.

How about newsgroups?
That way it wont directly impact site bandwidth?
Just post the nzb

[Max Payne]

This is one of the best ideas I have seen!

Fantastic, and Im really looking forward to seeing it - especially considering the quality of the videos on the site

Can't wait!

[sstorrow]

Originally Posted by crimsoneagle

How about newsgroups?
That way it wont directly impact site bandwidth?
Just post the nzb

...or Bit Torrent is a great way to distribute large files while minimising the amount of bandwidth required by the content provider.

[Engram]

I would second BitTorrent. Has to be the easiest way.

Some name ideas:

Sound Ideas
Audio Architects

Neither are very original as you can find several companies with those names. But they follow the theme of "Grand Designs".

[Mark Grant]

Originally Posted by Phil Hinton

However we may be restricted by bandwidth issues so Stuart will have to look at how this can be done.

To host some HD how about Vimeo ?

Look at the quality of this kind of stuff :

http://www.vimeo.com/707793

(If playback stutters, pause to allow plenty of buffering before pressing play again )

Watch it full screen and compare that to Youtube size videos at full screen


Much better than bit torrents, thought they where just for illegal stuff


For a name suggestion,

Hintons Homes

HD Homes


Mark. - (HD camcorder newbie, but learning fast..)

[crimsoneagle]

Originally Posted by Mark Grant

T
For a name suggestion,

Hintons Homes

HD Homes


Mark. - (HD camcorder newbie, but learning fast..)

Hintons Homes sounds like a property developer...

[Mark Grant]

I know its a bit ridiculous best I could think of at the time.

Grand Designs sounds like a handbag shop or girlie fashion boutique, Kevin McCloud does OK with it though.

whatever it's called it needs to be catchy and be good for google indexing and maybe have a domain name available as well.

Looking forward to it, especially if some quality HD can be online

Mark.

[chriscozens]

this will be good as if u can document brick by brick wire for wire the whole build on video, it be our own grand designs but we can call it 'Grand AV Designs' that sounds good.

im learning basics at the moment and im a alround diy person anyway but love to learn more

[albriscoe]

Hi Phil

I suppose I`ve just done all this including the house bit but maybe not as grand a cinema as some I`ve seen on here

But it you want to use any of my thread content or tell me what you`d like me to do if you want to use any of it then I`ll have to make a bit more time

Sound like a great idea to me btw

Allan

[inzaman]

I think this is a great idea

There have been some amazing threads in this section and to see some of them on film would be great. There are also many knowledgeable and very helpful members who post in this section (in fact all who post in this section really ) which gives us a great start

[Phil Hinton]

Originally Posted by albriscoe

Hi Phil

I suppose I`ve just done all this including the house bit but maybe not as grand a cinema as some I`ve seen on here

But it you want to use any of my thread content or tell me what you`d like me to do if you want to use any of it then I`ll have to make a bit more time

Sound like a great idea to me btw

Allan

Sounds like I may have my second victim, sorry volunteer then!

[crimsoneagle]

Originally Posted by chriscozens

'Grand AV Designs' that sounds good.

Or just plain and simple AVDesigns would be in keeping with AVForums and you could keep the branding similar!!??

[Shockabuku]

Superb idea!

[ap69]

I think this is an excellent idea.

Maybe in the future it can be expanded to include not just whole builds, but specific tasks that most of us get involved in/want to know about, e.g. mounting plasma wall brackets, channelling cables, etc.

Looking forward to this thread

[jagdeepp]

What an absolutely brilliant idea! Would be great seeing motion video of different projects on here. Especially if they are going to be edited down to make them slick and captivating. Not too sure how comfortable it would be for those who feature security wise but i guess its unlikely to be the case that jo bloggs, the local burglar/drug addict will sit and watch these videos instead of going out nicking from cars!

In terms of title.. How about:

"pimp my home cinema"

"super size AV"

"AV Living"

"AV SOS"* (My fave, a take on DIY SOS)

"AV Digest"

"Av InterActiVe" .. or simply "InterActiVe" with a captial A and V..




or for an obvious one.. "Members Home Cinema Video Diary"

[Phil Hinton]

Thanks for the replies so far, I am looking for at least three more volunteers to email me so we can plan to shoot at least four epsiodes over the next few months. Ideally the first series will feature builds that have been finished recently and where the build has been documented in photos. It will also require at least one full day of shooting at the location.


I am also looking for volunteers who have/or are about to start their own builds, no matter how big or small. This will allow us to try and get some footage filmed as work progresses on the project, before shooting the final parts when finished.

It doesn't matter how big or small your builds are, send me the details and we will look at which ones offer an area to cover.

Thanks again for the comments, I'm sure this will make a superb series of short films.

[X3ELS]

Hi Phil

How are you mate

Happy to put myself down if i count

My build is just getting underway, contact me for more details if you are interested

[audimushroom]

Hi Phil

I'm about to start on a Garage conversion, this will be a mix of Professional help and some DIY, it won't all be done by one company.

So far nothing has been done at all.
Planned is window change this week which is'nt really a big deal as it a straight swap.

I've already had Building Control officer round and they have stated what they require, so I know what is and is'nt acceptable now...

New roof is likely next task, just waiting for quote.

Does it matter if it takes several months to complete?

[Dr Force]

How about calling it "AV grand Designs"........................just a thought

[makaio]

Ooh, cracking idea! It'd be great to see some of these setups "in the flesh" (as much as you can online, that is). Think this could get very popular, very quickly. Can't wait! :-)

[Phil Hinton]

Originally Posted by X3ELS

Hi Phil

How are you mate

Happy to put myself down if i count

My build is just getting underway, contact me for more details if you are interested

Of course we can cover your build, send me an email to the address above with some details and we will take it from there. Cheers.

[Phil Hinton]

Originally Posted by audimushroom

Hi Phil

I'm about to start on a Garage conversion, this will be a mix of Professional help and some DIY, it won't all be done by one company.

So far nothing has been done at all.
Planned is window change this week which is'nt really a big deal as it a straight swap.

I've already had Building Control officer round and they have stated what they require, so I know what is and is'nt acceptable now...

New roof is likely next task, just waiting for quote.

Does it matter if it takes several months to complete?

Send me an email and we can discuss from there. (Address in the first post)

[Safe101]

Excellent ideas looking forward to seeing stuff from this thread!

Love it.

[snellfish]

great idea cant wait to see this.

as for a name how about a simple:
AVHomes

[Phil Hinton]

I think we may call it "AV Grand Designs" unless anyone can think of something better? Has to be soon as I will have to make the title sequence.

[jrsmith12]

Obvious but....."Grand AV Designs" ?

[Kenny Glasgow]

Fantastic idea

Been sitting trying to think of a "better" title than already suggested but can't