What is it?

The LMC Multimedia Development Studio was created to serve 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 will offer small-group coaching and special workshop opportunities for interested faculty and grad students.

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. The facility has two Macintosh PowerMacs with Intel processors and two Dell Dimension 9200s (all systems are equipped with CD/DVD recorders), an HP Scanjet 5590 scanner with a special transparency unit for scanning slides and film negatives, Xerox Phaser 8550DP solid ink color printer, and an HP LaserJet 4050n black-and-white laser printer. For video editing a tower is set up with a Panasonic AG-DV 2000 master editing deck for digital video editing, a Sony DVMC-DA2 Digital to Analog Converter, a Samsung SV-5000W multi-standard VCR, and a LITEON LVW-5045A DVD/hard drive recording deck.  Video may be viewed on another tower with a Toshiba MD13Q41 combo unit with monitor and DVD player, a Sharp XA-405 VCR, and a Daewoo 5800 code-free DVD player.

For video projects the Studio has seven digital cameras available for special instructional projects: a Canon Powershot S70 7.1 megapixel still camera and six 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 Panasonic PV-GS150 Mini-DV camcorder, and two Canon HV-30 Mini-DV camcorders. We also have Crown PZM-185 external microphones and an MM Mini-tripod microphone to enhance audio on the camcorders. For digital audio recording, we have an Olympus DS-330 Digital Voice Recorder.

Studio users may borrow computing equipment stored in 116 PH for projects as well. Two Macintosh PowerBook laptops, a Dell Inspiron 9100 laptop, a Dell Inspiron 600m laptop (both Dells with Windows XP), a LaCie DVD read/write drive, a DVD-RAM drive, four portable external hard drives, and 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. 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), Photoshop, ImageReady, Illustrator, After Effects, PaintShop Pro, QuickTime Pro, Acrobat Professional, Roxio Media Creator/Toast, Hot Potatoes, PageMaker, MonoConc Pro, and Authorware. In addition, coaching and special workshop opportunities for interested faculty and graduate students can be arranged in the Studio.

Hours for support staff are limited and will change from semester to semester according to staff availability.  Check the LMC Web site or the door to 651 PH for the current schedule of staffed hours.  Faculty and graduate students engaged in special development projects may reserve time in the Studio by signing up on the schedule on the Studio door.  Keys may be checked out from Sue Otto.

Who can use it?

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, for checking email, surfing the web, etc. Rather, it is a place where you may go to find special help, software, and hardware to enable developmental work. You can check out a key to the studio from Sue Otto.

Reservations

If you need a computer or other equipment at a specific time, you must reserve beforehand. You can sign your name on the resource reservation calendar on the door. If you do not show up within the first 10 minutes of your reservation, the reservation will be cancelled automatically. Make sure you only reserve the time you need. 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.

Getting started

Directions for logging in
In order to use these machines you will log in as a visitor or with your personal user account for both Windows and Macintosh computers.

Macintosh login

Windows login

Occasional visitors to the studio will be well served by the shared ' Visitor ' account available for each computer. Regular users of the studio will probably want to request a personal user account for their computer(s) of choice. A personal user account has the following advantages: Files stored on the hard drive are placed in your own user area. Internet favorites/bookmarks are saved and organized for you rather than being combined with other visitors. Internet history is retained for your visits, for easy review. Internet cookies are saved, retaining usernames and passwords if you desire. Auto-fill can be enabled so web forms are completed automatically for you. Personal user dictionaries for spell checking are retained. Personalized program configuration settings are retained. Desktop, screen saver, screen resolution, and other personal settings are retained. Shortcuts placed on the desktop to programs and files will be saved. Let us know if you would like to have a user account setup for you. Please specify the platform(s) you prefer (Apple and/or Windows). Remember to logout fully when you are done, even when using the visitor account. This will ensure that users sign on properly. Do not select 'switch user' when logging out because you may lose information or corrupt the computer in the event that the computer needs to be shut down.

Saving files
If you log in with the 'Visitor' account, please create your own folder under 'My Documents', but be warned that there is no guarantee that someone else won't throw your files away. DO NOT SAVE ANYTHING TO THE DESKTOP. Anything saved on the desktop will be removed without notice. Bring a disk with you and use that. If you have very large files that do not fit on a disk, you can burn a CDR, or bring your own flash drive, or we can make arrangements for disk space. We are not responsible for any data lost or changes.

Users with personal user accounts will save their files in their own settings.

Printing
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.

The 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.

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

Greg Johnson (gregory-p-johnson@uiowa.edu) 335-2336
Sue Otto (sue-otto@uiowa.edu) 335-2332

In Fall 2008, the Studio will have four Studio Assistants to help as well.

Erin Chrissobolis (erin-beesley@uiowa.edu) 353-2330
Akiko Hagiwara (akiko-hagiwara@uiowa.edu) 353-2330
Ivan Ivanov (ivan-ivanov@uiowa.edu) 353-2330
Olga Kulikova (olga-kulikova@uiowa.edu) 353-2330

There is also the ITS help desk. You can reach them at its-helpdesk@uiowa.edu or 4-Help (384-4357).

And lastly there is a book in the room itself (next to the printer) where you can write comments or questions. We will be checking this book often to address any problems that arise.