Multimedia Development Studio

Located in 651 Phillips Hall, the LMC Multimedia Development Studio serves the multimedia development and training needs of language faculty and graduate students, providing access to specialized hardware and software for producing and testing media-based materials for language instruction. 

ITS Academic Technologies (AT) is a partner in the Studio, contributing additional expertise and technical support for language department projects and small-group training. LMC and AT staff offer small-group coaching and special workshop opportunities for interested faculty and grad students.

All faculty, instructors, and graduate students who are involved in developing multimedia materials for language teaching may use this facility. It is not intended to be an alternative workplace for the LMC ITC (that is, a place to check e-mail, surf the web, etc.) Rather, it is a place where you may go to find special help, software, and hardware to enable developmental work. 

Technology
Hours and Reservations
Rules
Contacts
 

Technology

  • 2 Macintosh PowerMacs with Intel processors, CD/DVD recorders, and Panasonic headsets
  • 2 Dell Dimension 9200s equipped with CD/DVD recorders and Panasonic headsets
  • an HP Officejet 7115 scanner with a multipage sheet-feeder
  • an Epson CX7800 scanner with a special transparency unit for scanning slides and film negatives
  • a Xerox Phaser 8550DP solid ink color printer
  • an HP LaserJet 4050n black-and-white laser printer 

For digital video editing, the Studio offers a tower equipped with

  • a Panasonic AG-DV 2000 master editing deck 
  • a Sony DVMC-DA2 Digital to Analog Converter
  • a Samsung SV-5000W multi-standard VCR
  • a LITEON LVW-5045A DVD/hard drive recording deck

Video may be viewed on another tower equipped with

  • a Toshiba MD13Q41 combo unit with monitor and DVD player
  • a Sharp XA-405 VCR
  • a Daewoo 5800 code-free DVD player.

For video projects, the Studio has 8 digital cameras available for special instructional projects: a Canon Powershot S70 7.1 megapixel still camera, and the following digital video camcorders (also for still images):

  • a Sony DCR-TRV20 Mini-DV camcorder
  • a Hitachi DZ-MV380A DVD camcorder
  • a Panasonic VDR-M50PP DVD camcorder
  • a Canon HG-20 HDD camcorder
  • three Canon HV-30 Mini-DV camcorders 

Crown PZM-185 external microphones and an MM Mini-tripod microphone are available to enhance audio on the camcorders.

For digital audio recording, we have

  • 5 digital voice recorders, 1 from Sony and 4 from Olympus

Studio users may borrow computing equipment stored in 116 PH for projects as well. Available equipment:  

  • Three Macintosh PowerBook laptops
  • a Dell Inspiron 600m laptop with Windows XP
  • a LaCie DVD read/write drive
  • a DVD-RAM drive
  • 3 portable external hard drives
  • a portable Firewire hard drive are also available for checkout for special projects and presentations. To transport files the LMC has several flash drives of various sizes. We have three data projectors for presentations from computers: a Sony VPL-PX1 LCD projector, an Epson 1710c projector, and a Dell 5100MP projector. We also have a a Dell Inspiron 9100 laptop set up with Start-Stop software for transcribing digital files. To check out cameras, portable drives, laptops, or projectors, see one of the LMC's professional staff members.

The Studio computers have a variety of software installed:

  • Web development tools (Dreamweaver, Flash, Fireworks, Freehand)
  • Digital video software (iMovie, Final Cut Pro, Premiere, DVD Studio Pro)
  • Digital audio recording/editing software (Soundtrack Pro, Sound Forge)
  • OmniPage Pro (multilingual optical character recognition software)
  • Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access)
  • Image editing and desktop publishing software (Photoshop, ImageReady, Illustrator, After Effects, PaintShop Pro, QuickTime Pro, Acrobat Professional, Roxio Media Creator/Toast, Hot Potatoes, PageMaker, MonoConc Pro, and Authorware) 

Hours and Reservations

Hours for support staff are limited and change from semester to semester according to staff availability. Check the LMC website or the door to 651 PH for the current schedule of staffed hours. 

Faculty and graduate students engaged in special development projects may also reserve time in the Studio by signing up on the schedule on the Studio door. Make sure you only reserve the time you need. If you do not show up within the first 10 minutes of your reservation, the reservation will be canceled automatically. If your computer is unattended during your reservation for more than 20 minutes, your reservation will also be canceled, unless there is an ongoing task such as video importing or exporting, etc.

Keys may be checked out from Sue Otto. 

Rules

  • Keep the door closed when you are not around, even if you only plan to be out for a few minutes. The door will lock itself when you go out, so remember your keys, but it is still your responsibility to keep it closed. It is extremely important that we all do this since theft unfortunately does occur on campus.
  • Drinks are allowed, but only in closed containers and only if kept away from the machines. Set them on the table next to the printer, please.
  • No food is allowed. No one likes using a messy keyboard.
  • Please become familiar with our policies regarding the duplication of copyrighted materials as found under duplication and copyright in our online guide.
  • This studio is only to be used for development of multimedia projects by graduate students and faculty in language studies.
  • No game playing.
  • There is a black and white laser printer and a color laser printer in the room connected to all four machines. Whenever possible, please use your own department's printer. Try to limit color printing to those times when it is really necessary; be aware that it is a lot more costly to use it than a standard black and white printer. It takes approximately three minutes for the color printer to warm up, so don't be surprised if your print job doesn't go through immediately.

Contacts

There are many people available to help you utilize this room more effectively. The Language Media Center in 120 Phillips Hall is the place to start.

Greg Johnson (335-2336)
Sue Otto (335-2332)
Studio Assistant Mariana Colombo (353-2330). The studio assistant's hours are posted here and on the door of the Studio.
ITS Helpdesk (4-Help: 384-4357)

There is also a book in the room itself (next to the printer) where you can write comments or questions. We check this book often to address problems that arise.

Read more about digital media production on the ITS digital media page.