Equipment & Software

Hardware

Microphones

• One condenser microphone for use in the Edit Studios only are also available for loan at the Lyons Help Desk. This is a USB microphone which plugs into the computers. This does not work with the cameras we have.

• We have one camera microphone to be used in the green screen room only with our camcorder. Sorry, this cannot leave Lyons and cannot be booked otherwise.

Cameras

Lyons now has several cameras which may be booked / signed out for a 24 hour loan period:

• 2 x Canon SD 1400 IS - digital cameras

  • point-and-shoot for taking pictures, but they do have some video capability

  • March 22/12: One of these cameras doesn't have a working flash. When booking, please indicate if you need the flash.

• 1x Canon Vixia HF-200 camcorder - video camera

  • User's Manual (PDF)

  • If you have an error about "Initializing Memory Card", check page 43.

• Canon Vixia HF R200 camcorder and a Manfrotto 785B tripod (for use in the Media Classroom with the green screen only)

Please be prompt when returning the cameras, as there may be other bookings on the cameras and there are fines for late returns.

Renewals are usually not permitted on cameras, but occasional allowances might be made, depending on demand and time of year. (Speak with the Manager.) Such renewals, if granted, must occur in person; phone or email renewals are not possible.

Cameras MUST be booked in advance (except the green screen camera & tripod). Drop-in requests are not permitted at this time. To book a camera, contact:

Rhonda Moore (Manager) x21391 - click on the link for her email address

or

the Lyons New Media Centre office (L212) x26106 in her absence.

Cameras can be signed out from the Help Desk in Lyons (even those which are booked). Remember to remove your files from the camera prior to returning, as memory cards are wiped regularly by Lyons staff. Please try to recharge the camera before returning. 

IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT FINES:

All cameras, tripods and other accompanying equipment are due back within 24 hours from the time borrowed (so if the camera is signed out at 2:05pm on a Friday, it is due at 2:05pm on the Saturday). Please be sure to be prompt in returning cameras & other equipment to prevent any fines from accruing upon your account.

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Computers, Gaming Consoles & Viewing Station

The Lyons New Media Centre has several Mac desktops with large screens to use for editing and creating new media as well as several PCs in the edit studios for more in-depth editing (such as video and audio editing). The priority use for these machines is patrons needing the multimedia software and/or lynda.com access.

One of the edit studios houses an Axiom 61 music keyboard, while the other supplies a DVD/VHS/cassette tape viewing and listening station. The classroom is hooked up with several Macbook Pros for use during classes, as well as a green screen for advanced video and photography use.

And finally, the gaming and media theatre has three gaming console stations, each hooked up with a Playstation 3, Wii and XBox. There are also two gaming PCs with a long list of games installed (many through Steam).

Gaming console capacity: 4 people

PC Gaming Station capacity: 1 person

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Video Wall

The Centre is host to a 9-monitor video wall in the middle of the main room. This video wall primarily showcases photography, images of fine art, videos and other media created by students. Important information about Lyons can also be viewed on this wall, as well as tutorials and other information. Are you a student with a media project you'd like to see up on our video wall? Check out the section on the video wall on our policies page.

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Software

Several popular software suites are available on the computers in the Lyons New Media Centre, including Adobe Creative Suite 5 (such as Photoshop, Illustrator, Dreamweaver and In Design), Microsoft Office 2007 (such as Word, Powerpoint and Excel), the iLife suite (such as iMovie and Garageband), Camtasia, Comic Life and Final Cut Pro.

Don't know what all of this does? Here's a quick run-down on some of the more popular applications:

• Photoshop: This is a really great program for altering/fixing photos. Some people also use it to create graphics, though Illustrator is the better program for graphic creation.
• Dreamweaver: Want to design your own website? Dreamweaver is the application for you. It offers a code-view (so you can do the HTML code yourself) or a design-view (for those who don't know the code too well). This is available in our Edit Suites (L415 & L416), which can be booked in our Room Booking system.
• In Design: Looking to design print flyers and posters? In Design does this. It's great for print-design layouts and is one of the industry standards for this purpose (like Quark, which we do not have). This is available in our Edit Suites (L415 & L416), which can be booked in our Room Booking system.
• iMovie, Adobe Premiere and Final Cut Pro: All three of these applications are for video editing and creation. iMovie is part of the iLife series which often comes pre-installed on many Mac computers. This is a good program to start with if you've never done any video editing/creation before. Adobe Premiere is more advanced and has many different settings and functions not featured in iMovie. Final Cut Pro is an even higher end of video editing software and is only available in our two Edit Studios (which must be booked). Captioning can be added via Final Cut Pro and Adobe Premiere. With iMovie, it's very rudimentary but could also be done. Final Cut Pro: This is available in our Edit Suites (L415 & L416), which can be booked in our Room Booking system.
• GarageBand: Need to record an interview, create a podcast or simply record a song? GarageBand is a good choice. We even have a midi keyboard in Edit Studio L415 (again, which must be booked). Don't know how to make music but you need a quick jingle? Try Magic GarageBand when you load GarageBand -- it supplies the tunes; you just have to choose the genre and the instruments!
• Camtasia: If you're looking to create a tutorial or screencast, Camtasia is a good option. You can add different effects, titles and even an audio track. Keep in mind that like Final Cut Pro, this is only available in our two Edit Studios, which must be booked. Videos can also be captioned using Camtasia. This is available in our Edit Suites (L415 & L416), which can be booked in our Room Booking system.
• Comic Life: Ever wanted to create a comic strip? Maybe your own graphic novel? Comic Life can help you do this! 
• CapScribe Open: This program allows you to put open or closed captioning in your video, making it more accessible.

Complete Equipment List (by room)

All equipment is for use in the Lyons New Media Centre.

Main Room (L411):

12 Mac Pros with:

• iLife 9 (Garageband, iMovie, etc.)
• Adobe Creative Suite 5.5 - Production Premium (Photoshop, Illustrator, In Design, etc.)
• Microsoft Office 2008 (Word, Powerpoint, etc.)
• Comic Life

Media Classroom (L413):

1 instructor station (Mac Pro) & 12 MacBook Pros with:

• iLife 9
• Adobe Creative Suite 5.5 Production Premium

Gaming Theatre (L414):

• 3 console gaming stations, each with:
  • Playstation 3
  • Wii
  • XBox 360
     
• Gaming Station #3 now has X-Box Kinect (NEW!)
  • please note this is the only station with Kinect, so if you wish to use it, please book Gaming Station #3 when you book online
     
• Playstation 2 games appear to only be working on Gaming Station #3, so please keep this in mind when booking your station and/or choosing your game(s)
   
• 2 PC gaming stations have many games installed, most of which via a Lyons' Steam account.

Edit Suites (L415 & L416):

Mac Pro stations with:

• iLife 9
• Adobe Creative Suite 5 - Master Collection
• Final Cut Pro
• Camtasia
• Comic Life

Edit suite L415 has:

• 1 Axiom 61 midi keyboard

Edit suite L416 has 1 viewing station with:

• Laserdisc player
• DVD/VHS player
• Cassette deck
• Turntable

Please note that the Lyons New Media Centre does not provide headphones or earbuds due to sanitary issues. Please provide your own.