Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the Multimedia Studio?
A: The Multimedia Studio offers high-end computers, video editing systems, and a knowledgeable staff. It is a quiet, professional environment perfect for developing and creating cutting-edge multimedia presentations. Specifically, it's a production space with eleven workstations (Windows-based and Apple Macintosh) with a variety of media-related hardware and software for the creation of multimedia presentations, audio and video production, and image manipulation.
Q: What kinds of services does the Multimedia Studio provide?
A: The equipment in the Multimedia Studio provides students with the ability to generate high quality video presentations, which can be presented in the form of a VHS tape, DVD, CD or placed directly into a PowerPoint presentation.
Q: What level of assistance does the CMC staff give to the students?
A: The CMC has various staff members dedicated to assisting patrons with questions in the Multimedia Studio during all hours of operation for the MMS.
Q: How do I get my students into the Multimedia Studio?
A: The First step to getting students into the MMS is for instructors to fill out and submit a Multimedia Assignment Registration Form (MARF) along with a class roster. This allows the CMC staff to gauge the scope of the project and coordinate preparations. Next, the students must fill out a Student Project Authorization Form (SPAF) making sure to fill out all of the details so that the CMC staff will be able to properly assess presentation needs and assign students to the proper workstation. The final step is to book an appointment. Appointments must be scheduled at least 12 hours in advance to assure that our supporting services will be available.
Q: Do instructors need to sign every SPAF form individually for all of the students in the class?
A: The only situation in which an instructor is NOT required to sign each Student Project Authorization Form (SPAF) is if they submit a class roster along with the Multimedia Assignment Registration Form (MARF). The class roster will be kept on file and serves as an instructor authorization for everyone on the list.
Q: When should students think about making an appointment?
A: It is always best to come in and speak with a CMC staff member about getting into the studio as soon as the class project has been assigned. Make sure to plan ahead and to NOT wait until the last minute to use the studio. Often times, studio availability is extremely limited during busy times of the quarter so MAKE SURE TO PLAN AND SCHEDULE AHEAD.
Q: How much time is needed in the studio?
A: Studio appointments are scheduled in three-hour blocks of time, if more time is needed for an appointment, a patron may check in at the front desk at the END of an appointment to see if the workstation has the availability for a three-hour extension. It is estimated that every minute of final presentation footage takes about an hour of editing time (i.e. a five minute video could take about five hours to make).
Q: What should students know before getting into the Multimedia Studio?
A: A basic working knowledge of computers and the ability to navigate through an operating system is required along with the ability to operate a VCR and navigate through a DVD menu. Patrons must also be able to open a program, copy files to and from a disk and be able to save files/projects.
Q: What do students need to bring to their Multimedia Studio appointment?
A: All that is needed for a studio appointment is the footage with which the patron would like to edit and a media type (VHS, DVD, DV) to save the final presentation. Please note that if the patron is working with footage stored on an 8mm tape, they must bring in the camcorder to hook up to the system in order to play the video.
Q: What kind of tools does the Multimedia Studio provide?
A: Hardware tools: The Multimedia Studio offers dual boot Mac and PC based editing workstations. Each workstation is equipped with a DVD player/recorder and a VCR which also plays DV tapes. Flatbed scanners are also available to import images.
Software tools: The workstations are outfitted with three types of video editing software. The Macs have iMovie, which is a simple and user friendly video editing application for new users. Final Cut Pro is a higher end, robust and complex video editing application for experienced editors. Our PC workstations are equipped with Windows Movie Maker, which is a user friendly video editing application that provides a good variety of editing options. The PCs also contain PowerPoint so students are able to work on their PowerPoint presentation in the studio.
Q: What options are available for creating a DVD?
A: All workstations have the ability to burn onto a DVD-R format, which are sold at the bookstore on campus.
Q: Are students able to download video files off of the internet and incorporate it into the presentation?
A: Unfortunately internet access is not available in the Multimedia Studio. It would be best to save the video file onto a CD at home and bring it with you at the time of your appointment.