Introducing the Production Lab

The Jonathan Mednick Editing Lab | NSC-172 & the Writing Lab | NSC-173 have combined to form the newly remodeled Jonathan Mednick Production Lab | NSC-172. Following up on our previous post, Phases 1 and 2 have been completed. Phase 3 is still pending.

Phase 1- Remodeling the space (Completed):

• The lab’s walls received a new coat of paint (thank you Equipment Room Staff!);
• It’s floor has been waxed and polished (thank you UCF Facilities Operations!);
• The overhead tungsten lighting was repaired (thank you Chad the maintenance guy!);
• Setup of the new work surfaces (thank you FIEA and CAH for the furniture!).

Phase 2A- Upgrading the production iMac workstations with new production software and setup for dual purpose- pre-production and post-production (Pending Completion 9/3/2010):

• The quantity of iMac workstations have been improved from 6 to 8.
• The iMac workstations received software upgrades to OS X 10.6.4 (Snow Leopard), Final Cut Studio 3 (FCP v7), Showbiz Budgeting & Actualization 8 (replacement for EP Budgeting), Scenechronize Scheduling (replacement for EP Scheduling), Celtx, Microsoft Office 2008, and many others.
• New Samsung LCD HD video monitors have been installed for playback at each iMac workstation.
• All workstations now have full internet access.

Phase 2B- Upgrading the Mac Mini workstations with new software (Pending Completion 9/3/2010):

• Three Mac Mini workstations have also been setup for basic pre-production applications and internet access.
• Software package includes Showbiz Budgeting & Actualization 8 (replacement for EP Budgeting), Scenechronize Scheduling (replacement for EP Scheduling),  Celtx, Microsoft Office 2008, and many others.

Phase 3A- Digital imaging and legacy tape capture workstations (ESTIMATED COMPLETION 9/10/2010):

• iMac workstation 1 will be setup to capture the legacy video tapes. Students will be able to easily digitize VHS and capture DV tape stock into video data files for use with nonlinear editing.
• iMac workstation 8 will be setup to support document and digital imaging needs. This includes a high resolution flatbed scanner, Adobe CS5 Production Premium and Design Standard software (for image manipulation and document creation), and a laser jet black and white printer. In regards to the printer, the Department will provide toner, students will be required to provide their own paper.

Phase 3B- The transfer rack upgrade (ESTIMATED COMPLETION 9/17/2010):

• The transfer rack has been moved into a dedicated room (NSC-172D).
• The rack is being streamlined to make connecting VTRs easier than ever. An AJA Pro I/O will be integrated into the rack for broadcast quality digitizing of all legacy tape stocks including: U-Matic 3/4″, Beta-SP, S-VHS and VHS.
• DVD and DV tape duplication will be streamlined.

“And that’s the way it is.”