University of Michigan - Flint

The Information Technology Services Department (ITS) supports the Video Production Center (VPC), which opened in May 2004. The purpose of the VPC is to provide the campus community with tools for multimedia projects. The facility is available for students, faculty, and staff to use for campus-related video projects. 

LOCATION
The VPC is located in Room 3106 of the William S. White Building (within the ITS suite at 3102 WSW).

NOTE:  This center is moving and will be closed beginning Friday, March 30, 2007, and will reopen in the ITS suite at 207 MSB on Monday, April 16, 2007.

HOURS
The hours of operation are Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed from Noon-1 p.m. for lunch).

Note:  The WSW office suite is generally staffed from 8am-Noon, however the office will be locked from Noon-1pm for lunch and during other times when all staff are away from their offices.

RESERVATIONS
An appointment with ITS staff is necessary to guarantee availability of the facility or for basic assistance with learning to operate the equipment or software.

The VPC is available on a “first come-first served” basis during regular hours.  However, clients must relinquish the room at the given time if another client has a previous reservation.

Contact ITS Training at ITSTraining@umflint.edu or call (810) 237-6647 to reserve the room.

Clients may forfeit time reserved if they fail to show or call within 10-minutes of their scheduled time.

EQUIPMENT AVAILABLE

The VPC has been equipped with the following:

• TV, a VCR, a DVD/VCR combination player, and a DVD/VCR Recorder
• Dell XPS  (3 GB RAM)
• Hardware
• Radeon X1900 (256 MB) ATI capture
• Two (2) 300 GB Hard drives
• Firewire capture
• DVD burner
• Video Production and Editing Software:
• Adobe Premiere
• Macromedia Director
• Nero 6.603
• Pinnacle Studio 10.5
• Two ZR400 Canon camcorders and one Panasonic camcorder (mini-dv format) are available for faculty and staff to check out
• One Panasonic VHS camcorder is available for faculty and staff to check out
• A SanDisk ImageMate 8 in 1 USB 2.0 Card Reader/Writer is available upon request

While there is no charge to use the equipment in the center, a small supply of media (such as blank VHS videotape, CD and DVD) is available for purchase if needed. (You may bring  your own media.)

Blank Media

SUGGESTED USES

The facility is available for the following projects:

Presentation Practice
This service is for students and faculty wishing to videotape themselves giving a presentation/lecture. The student is able to view the videotape on the TV/VCR located in the VPC or copy the videotape to view later or to give to their instructor.  Faculty members will receive assistance with posting their lecture video online.
 
Video Duplication*
The following equipment is provided for the purpose of duplicating a VHS** videotape to VHS or DVD format, or duplicating a DVD** to VHS format:

• TV
• DVD/VCR Combination Player
• DVD/VCR Recorder
  
  * Please note that the equipment provided is not commercial-grade and is not meant for large volume duplication projects.  VHS duplication services can be found online at http://www.discmakers.com/

** Media to be duplicated must be non-copyrighted and campus-related.

CD/DVD Duplication
Please visit the Duplication Service page for complete information.

Video Capture and Editing
Dell PC with All-in-Wonder and Firewire capture is available for capturing and editing video from multiple formats and camcorders.  You will be able to burn your video to DVD or stream it over the Internet (faculty/staff only).

ROOM POLICIES

• Absolutely no duplicating of copyrighted material is allowed on any equipment except as provided by the U.S. Copyright Law's Fair Use Standard. Students, faculty, and staff must not make improper use of copyrighted material. You are personally responsible for any violations of copyright law.  When copying and reproducing media, please make sure you are in compliance with copyright laws.  When in doubt, please consult http://www.copyright.umich.edu/
• Since video capture and production takes place in real time (i.e. if your video is two hours long, it will take two hours to capture the video and then more time to burn the DVD).  Video editing is also a time-consuming process.  When reserving the VPC, please allow ample time to complete your project.
• Video capture projects produce large files stored on the VPC computer.  Since there is limited storage space, video files can only be stored for two (2) weeks after the start of the project.  Projects which are longer in duration will need ITS approval.
• Except for VCR’s with front connectors, equipment may not be re-configured. Please do not attempt to reconfigure the cables without approval, and do not attach other accessories or cables.  If you need a different configuration for your project, please request assistance from ITS staff.
• No food or beverages (other than bottled water) are allowed in the VPC.  If you have food or beverages, you will be asked to leave.
• Please respect the ITS staff who are working in the office.  No loud noise, boisterous or rude activity will be tolerated.
• ITS staff will not install personal equipment. The university is not responsible for damage to any personal equipment (i.e. hard drives) that may result from you connecting this equipment to the VPC computer.
• Policy violations could result in the loss of the privilege to use the equipment for the remainder of the current semester and possibly for the duration of the next semester.

VIDEO EQUIPMENT CHECKOUT

• Faculty and staff may reserve a camcorder using the MCS equipment order form located at http://ww2.umflint.edu/its/mcs/order
• If reserving a camcorder or camera, please note that ITS staff does not deliver or pickup this equipment.  Faculty or staff must sign out the equipment from the ITS office at 3102 WSW.  Student workers may operate the equipment under the guidance of faculty or staff. 
• If equipment is to be taken off campus for any reason, a completed and properly signed Equipment Checkout and Responsibility Agreement form must be presented when picking up the equipment.
• ITS may be able to provide only one (1) mini-dv tape (holds 1 hour of digital video) for use with a camcorder (the tape may be used).  If additional tapes are needed, the requestor will be responsible for purchasing blank tapes.
• A tripod is available for checkout with a camcorder.

SUPPORT

• To make sure that ITS staff is available to provide basic instruction on the use of the equipment, please make an appointment.
• ITS staff will make every effort to provide limited guidance for simple video projects, such as connecting the camcorder via firewire to the computer, capturing the video and then burning a DVD.
• Video editing is both an artistic and technical process and can become very complex.  ITS staff have limited editing skills and any project that requires expertise beyond the basics will have to be unassisted.
• ITS staff is not available to videotape events.
• ITS staff will not provide video copying, editing, or production services. 
• Faculty who are teaching an online class may be eligible for video production assistance from the Office of Extended Learning.