Are the videos any different from those available on this site? It's just that with my dial-up connection, I don't want to download big files if I already have them (I'll be downloading the videoclips at school next week).

Hi there,

No - they're the same. Don't waste your bandwidth.

Only useful if you want copies in iTunes or on your video iPod.

What is a Video Podcast Feed?

Cheers for the heads-up, Maddigan ;).

A Video Podcast Feed is a method of getting a piece of software (eg Apple's iTunes) to automatically download a video each time a new one in the series (in this case behind-the-scenes footage) is released by the author on the feed...

...I think. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

I have windows XP and I couldn't download anything from this section.

The behind the scenes stuff interest me.
I remember accessing it earlier from another part of the site. Why can't I now? Is it a problem my end is is it because the format has changed?

You'll need to download iTunes for windows, go to this site http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/win.html . The Behind the Scenes is the same one that you'll find in Yves wagon on the site, but it is quite cool that it downloads automatically everytime you start itunes (ie you don't need to keep checking the website, everytime there is a new podcast of Maddigan's itunes will download it ready for you to watch at your own convenience) also you can put it on a video ipod to show anyone you meet on the street.

Part Three of the Behind The Scenes documentary has been uploaded - for those who want to watch it in iTunes or on your video iPod.

Watch out for Episode One in three parts - to be Podcast from Saturday 11th Evening (NZ time)

Wow - you mean the series will be downloadable? Or is it just episode one, as a kind of taster?

Will there be any way of downloading the whole episode as a file, as opposed to a podcast?

Just Episode 1 at this stage as a taster.

The whole episode won't be downloadable as a file, sorry. It will, however, also be streamed from the website.

This whole thing is a bit of an experiment for the industry here in NZ.

I've just added an audio podcast of the Maddigan's Quest theme music by Victoria Kelly for your enjoyment.

Thanks for that Maddigan! I don't have iTunes but via a little HTML magic I've managed to download the file anyway. :D As has been mentioned by people in other threads - the way Official Types respond to fans's requests is amazing.

Thank you so much maddigan! I love the theme tune - I'll download it in just a second.

Just got it, and it's fantastic! Is the theme played over the credits the same music?

Couldn't help noticing that it's track 1 of 35 - what are the other 34 tracks?

The end credit music is a different piece.

There are many, many pieces of music composed for the show - 17 to 20 minutes per episode.

We may look at a commercial CD release at some stage so I can't make any more music available right now.

That would be excellent - please keep us informed of any such developments!

Seeings as Road Rats will be Podcast from tomorrow, I have a question about iTunes:

If my connection is interupted whilst downloading the Podcast, what happens when I reconnect? Does it start again, or will it begin from where it left off?

It's just I'd love to download them, but I only have a dial-up connection :(.

maddigan - how big will the files be, approximatly? I know they're Podcasts, so can only be downloaded with the relevant software (which I have), but if I knew how big they were, I could estimate ow long it will take me.

The three parts of episode 1 are: 42MB, 51 MB, and 47MB.

The episode will also be streaming from this site.

Tehy will take me around three hours to download each. Seeings as my connection terminates every two, I hope iTunes does continue from where it left off...

Episode One is now up and available for Podcasting.

Maddigan, I've managed to download parts one and two fine - but part three doesn't seem to be there. The page is up, but when I go to it, the video doesn't open, and as far as I can tell there isn't an embedded object anywhere in the source code. :3

Yup, I had the same problem--part 3 doesn't work. Please fix! Parts 1 & 2 were excellent but I need to see how it ends! Thanks.

Okay, sorry - still uploading. A few technical glitches!

Finally!!! All three parts of episode 1 are now available. Sorry about the delays...

Just a quick question: i havent downloaded the software yet and might not depending on the answer to this, but bearing in mind that i really don't understand file sizes and how big things are in relation to how much a computer can hold etc. would downloading whole episodes be likely to seriously fill up my computer amd npot leave room for much else? (we have windows xp), thanks! x

It entirely depends on the size of your hard drive and how much you already have on there. The three episode 1 files are between 40 and 50 MB each.

Thanks for fixing part 3. Having now seen the whole episode, I have to say that I'm very impressed with it. You've done a great job of creating this world and I enjoyed it very much. I am looking forward to the eventual dvd's (I'm just going to assume they're going to happen!) because it will be wonderful to see it full-size--and (as I understand it) in HD! Fantastic.

Of course, I'm also hoping that it will someday be shown here in the States.

Skeksis, you don't need to download the episode in order to watch it--you can just watch it on your computer (you will want to do it on a high-speed connection, however; if you don't have one at home, try a library or something--with earphones, of course). But if you do download it, it won't take up that much of your harddrive space. With a total file size (for the 3 parts) of less than 150 megabytes, it should easily fit on most harddrives which nowadays are usually several-to-many gigabytes (1 gigabyte = 1024 megabytes).

Ah didn't realise you could just watch them, thanks a lot! :D Do you have to have the itunes software to watch without downloading?

(quoting Skeksis) "Do you have to have the itunes software to watch without downloading?"

No, I'm pretty sure you don't. But you will need Quicktime Player--available free from Apple's website (www.apple.com) if you don't already have it.

That I do have, thanking you muchly! :) Don't think the other half would really appreciate me filling up his pc with unnecessary sotware lolol

There's a new audio track available.

It's the original theme music for the show that was never used, as it was deemed to be too 'downbeat' and 'sophisticated' for the programme's young viewers.

Thoughts?

I don't know about too sophisticated, but it is a little sombre. It's a lovely little track, but I'm not sure it would have made a good theme tune - I deffinitly prefer the chosen one.

Might have been nice to alter it a little, and use it as incidental music, though.

I wouldn't say it was too downbeat but I guess it might be a little understated for a young audience theme tune. It's really lovely though.

I like the one that was chosen eventually, but I agree with Islander - this might have been really great as background/incidental music somewhere. It'd be fantastic for a travelling/wagon moving scene or something like that. It's got a nice traditional folk-y feel to it.

Is there any kind of sheet music avaible for either of the themes, or shall I have to work it out myself?

The alternative one is quite haunting in places and that's why I think the other is better as an opening theme, but that one would have been nice to be used in full somewhere.

Sorry, no sheet music to hand.

is someone here?

The original theme's a great piece of music, but I can see why you didn't use it. It's the kind of thing probably better suited to a historical costume drama rather than a children's show. But there are certain themes in it that make it unmistakably "Maddigan's"!

New Maddigan's Photos now up for your enjoyment. They can be found at:

http://web.mac.com/pookina1/iWeb/7194C30C-D32B-4DD0-92D1-1D49DBABAB3D/Photos.html

Sorry about the long-winded URL - it's the way iWeb seems to work!

Enjoy!

These are excellent! Thank you so much for going to all this trouble!

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It didn't escape my attention that there is a picture of The Gardener, but the page is lacking a picture of you...

lol j/k :p

Fantastic pics. Ace!

Yea I noticed that I quite like the picture of the Gardener very amusing.

Come on maddigan lets have a look at you.

Plus I really wanted to try to save the pics to maybe use as Icons or wallpaper but because of format wasn’t able to. Anyway of doing something about this?

Goram - did you access the images from the website or the photocast feed?

I don't have any appropriate images of myself. However I suspect The gardener will return the compliment!

Its okay gone to the website from home and all working.

What do you mean by appropriate ?

Hmmm.... so that's what The Gardener looks like...

...very cute...

Agreed Zoot! :D

Oooh, thanks! More pictures to make icons with. :D (Unfortunately, not quite large enough to make wallpapers with.)

Gardener, you're obviously far more insane than I'd previously suspected... XD; I'm sure you can find an equally "appropriate" picture of Maddigan for us, can't you?! I also like the one of Rose, Zac and Jordan in the red dressing gowns, where Rose and Zac appear to be fighting and Jordan looks suspiciously nauseous in the background!

Yeah, I noticed that he doesn't look too good. Everyone else seems to be having fun though.

lol yeh i noticed tht too!!...prob jst a bad photo tho!! lol