I am going to be taking an ISF certification course, presented by Sencore. The main instructor is Joel Silver. Has anybody taken this course and have any feedbak on it? Trying to find out if it was worth it, with the heavy price tag.
Any info greatly appreciated as always.

Mike

The information is worth it. Just be prepared for the Sencore sales pitch.

Bob

when are you going? im taking one this weekend at boston acoustics

I'm going next week, Thursday and Friday in NYC. I'm well prepared for the Sencore sales pitch, but after reading the reply's from oex's post i'm not so sure i'll be easily sold.
Mike

mike - im doing the 2 day video only in boston. may try to get into the audio in ny next week. do you know when they are doing the audio section. the 5 day, as i understand it, is 1 day rti/rf, 2 day video, 2 day audio. ill post here monday when i return. how much are they hitting you for enrollment?

I'm also only doing the 2 day Video. The Audio class is October 16 &17 @ 9am - 6pm. If you need any more info let me know.

Mike

This message was edited by MikeTech on 10/07/04 21:57 ET.

I did both the ISF and the HAA courses back in March. The information in both of them is really worth it at least it was for me. I've been in a couples of seminars with Joel Silver before and his presentations are really good. One advice specially for the ISF course, take a lot of notes even if you think that are irrelevant and try to do the test in both of them as soon as you can because there are little details that you might not remember after a couple of weeks that will be at the test.

Joel is good and great presenter. I took the course a few years back just when Sencore took over. While the info is good, it is basically a 2-day infomercial for Sencore. It is good knowledge to have, but I think it is a bad idea to have Sencore "own" it. If they are going to own it, they should make the course free. Why?

Because... how many dealers out there would love to have a room full of fully qualified customers (doctors and well heeled business men in the market for our products because they are, i.e. building a house). I know I would pay a lot to have a captive audience like that in my showroom for 2 solid days so I could pitch my products & services.

This is exactly what Sencore has and better yet they are getting the customer to pay for the privilege to attend the infomercial. Sheer genius, Brilliant!

Shame on us for putting up with it. Boy are we stupid!

And honestly over the years now that I've taken the class, and become ISF certified, I realize that most of this info can be had and absorbed by a little internet reading, a few classes at CEDIA and EH Expo and several magazine articles in magazines such as Widescreen Review. Also the other manufacturers such as ColorFacts and Progressive Labs also have mucho documentation to get a calibrator off the ground. I say: save your $1000 (or whatever it is up to these days), stay in the field and make money (we tend to forget about the cost of not working during those 2 days we are in the class, and its associated cost) and have the discipline to self educate in your spare time at night or whenever. If you don't have that discipline or feel you absolutely need that "ISF" Good HouseKeeping Seal, then by all means go ahead and attend the class. It is good info, just way overpriced (as is Sencore equipment).

Don't get me wrong here. I am a total believer in taking classes and furthering one's education. I annually load up heavy on classes at CEDIA and most of those classes have made a significant difference in me and my business. Understanding grayscale tracking is also important knowledge and mandatory in our business. Just realize there are many options on obtaining that knowledge and many don't cost so much!

IMO, Sencore is the MosnterCable of color calibration equipment. Heavy on marketing. It took me 2 years to get these guys to quit calling me. I finally had to get short with the latest "flavor of the month" sales guy and tell him to take me off their call list. One foot on a banana peel and the other foot in the shoe of proto-typical telemarketing.

Sorry about the rant, I feel better now.

I must say a few things. I just returned from the 2 day in boston. Joel is a great speaker. I did in fact learn alot. I doubt anyone could learn from 'a little internet reading' what is taught in the class.

As for being an infomercial, Sencore did nothing but supply the equipment we used and buy lunch! TWICE!!! Is was NOT a sales pitch. We did however get to use and abuse their stuff. They didn't even show us the full line of Sencore product or discuss pricing on the equipment we used. There was a rep to offer insite if we inquired.

This class will make anyone a better video installer. And that's the facts - from my perspective.

OEX I agreed with you. Same thing happened when I took my classes in March.

Took the class few years back. Loved it. Jim Burns, Joel, and Jim Doolitle(spelling). Tought the class.

Worth the money.

Dave

Well, everyone has their opinion and I agree that everyone could benefit from this info, but I definetly still feel that this information can be had elsewhere. And I didn't say only over 'a little internet reading' either. One would have to gather this info from a variety of places but it can be had for free. IN FACT, if one were to "gather" it from a variety of places (Internet; trade mags, technical forums and other manufacturer's [like ColorFacts and Progressive Labs] support material), one would probably acquire a better understanding and education than what you could acquire from ISF training. ISF skims over many of the facts and to their credit, that is because it is tough to cover in 2 days.

I still feel that Sencore is the Bose and Monster Cable of color calibration equipment - very heavy on marketing (and maybe that is simply my opinion , although I've talked to many calibrators at CEDIA and elsewhere that agree with me). That is their business model and it seems to be working for them - so good for them.