We help television and live media teams plan camera set-ups, stage lighting, audio sync and control room workflows, with written guides and on-site advice free of jargon.
These pictures show the kinds of settings and equipment our advice touches. Each one relates to a step we regularly help teams with, from checking a signal path to placing a light.
Monitor walls show how a gallery really works. In a review we note what the team watches, what is missed and how the layout affects decisions.
Matching cameras starts with white balance, exposure and colour on the same chart. We advise on settings so shots cut together without a visible jump.
A grid of fixtures needs a plan for position, angle and level. We draw the plan so the set looks right on camera and the crew can rig it quickly.
Clean mixes depend on routing and gain set early. We check channels, buses and monitoring, then write down a set-up your engineers can reproduce.
Tidy, labelled cabling saves time when something fails live. We review patching and labelling and suggest a simple scheme for the whole crew to follow.
A short, well-written checklist keeps a live show on track. We write them with the crew so each line reflects a real step in the running order.
dailyray was founded in 2014 by Helen Marsh, who came from television studio engineering. We work from Mill Road Yard in Cambridge with a small team covering lighting, cameras, audio and writing. Our advice is practical and written plainly.
AboutMost projects begin with a conversation about what is going wrong or what is about to change. From there we look at the studio or stage in person where possible. What you receive is written for your own crew to act on.
We start by asking how your production runs today and where it hurts. That might be slow changeovers, mismatched cameras, uneven sound or a crew that depends on one person's memory. We ask to see the space, the kit and the running order. Only then do we say what we would look at, how long it is likely to take and what you would receive at the end.
On site we watch a rehearsal or a live run where we can. We note signal paths, lighting positions, camera settings and how the crew communicates. We keep notes on what works as well as what does not, because a good habit is worth protecting. Nothing is changed on your equipment without your agreement, and we explain every observation in plain terms.
The result is a written report, plan or guide that your team can keep using after we have gone. It names the changes in order of usefulness, with the reason for each. Where it helps, we add checklists or short training notes. If you want a second visit to see how the changes have settled, we can arrange that after the first piece of work is done.
We explain technical points in plain language, in reports and on the studio floor. If a crew member cannot act on a recommendation, we have not written it well enough.
We check signal paths, settings and measurements before we put them in a report. Where we are unsure, we say so and suggest how to find out.
Advice has to fit your budget, space and crew. We favour changes that can be made in a working week and repeated by the next team.
Tell us briefly what you are working on and we will say whether we can help. If so, we follow up with a written quotation before any work begins.
Call us directly
01223 458 217