SUMMER IS A COMIN’ IN, LOUDE SING CUCKOO!

Climate change, despite the disbelief by Trump, is real. And while that can mean more intense storms and misery at this time of year, it has this time meant a lump of hot air from Europe is bringing serious sunshine to the UK as we go from Spring, to summer.
So it is fully the season for car shows, sunburn and lopsided arm-tans. It also has given me the spectacle of a dude in a Skoda Favorit (I think) singing his heart out to some dodgy rock item that meant we got to see him do the hand actions while at the lights. Do you ‘˜car dance’? Or sing like a loon in the driving seat? I know that James Cordon has hit a nerve we have all known about for all our lives with the CarPool Karaoke thing. I love it! And do all the above.
The new JVC GY-HM200 4K video camera has proven a real task to get to grips with results-wise but I think I have got a grasp of the basics now. AT 4K broadcast grade, mine is still entry-level so isn’t about rapid pans, as the frame rate can only do 30fps at 4K. In 1080 resolution, I gather it can do smooth pans and JVC even bragged about it a bit in a supplement to the manual, about a new high frame rate. The small 1080 Sony does remain useful and even the Activeon action cam should get better use, as my Niagara Falls footage was kinda good!
Huge congratulations to Roo Ackerley of the UK EMMA – European Multi Media Association scene. For this season has seen record attendance at the first round of the Sound-Off competitions that he heads up the organising team of and again a record number of entrants to round two, of 90, then 105 cars! Just goes to show what an awesome hobbyist scene we now have. The only slightly odd thing is how so much of the specialist kit is ‘˜distributed’ by a single bloke, living with his parents, on the dole but ‘˜A distributor’. I would worry like heck about warranty only being a flimsy thing, like that.
Of course, there are a couple or thee notable exceptions, where the ‘˜one man band’ is a full-fledged long-term holder of distribution rights and has proven adept at even the dark art of the re-coned subwoofer. That and the likes of Celsus a proper outfit with the hallowed ISO accreditation.
But be you a car audio competition champion, or entering for the very first time or perhaps just because you like music played well while you drive, then just remember not to head bang to the Guitar Bit in Bohemian Rhapsody and enjoy the drive.
Adam Rayner On Line Editor!