Policies Regarding the Use of the Harney 141 Media Lab

We ask your cooperation in helping maintain the lab by observing the policies below:

1.  The Department of Media Studies and the Department of Communication Studies operate the Media Lab.   The Media Lab is open to students currently enrolled in courses in the Department of Media and Communication Studies utilizing the lab.  Students must have a completed Media Lab Financial Responsibility form on file in order to utilize lab facilities.

2. The Harney Media Lab is available for use during scheduled lab hours.  Classes are also held here four times a week.   You may not use the lab when classes are in progress.  Check schedule posted outside the door for lab schedule.  It is also available via the web at: www.usfca.edu/medialab.  A lab monitor must be present. 

3. You may sign up to reserve a workstation.  Use the sign out sheets posted outside the door to reserve editing time on a workstation.  There is a limit of 8 hrs/ week during the semester and 4hrs/wk during peak usage times (Midterms, Finals), so plan to do your editing ahead of time if possible.  Should you have a need for additional lab hours, or for a change in lab times, contact your course instructor or the lab Director.

4. Lab monitors will be available during scheduled hours to assist students.  These monitors have varying degrees of familiarity with the equipment and software in the lab. If you anticipate particular assistance with a program or equipment, contact the lab to see who might be best suited to help you with that hardware/software.  Note that we assume you have received primary training in the use of the equipment within your course.

5. To avoid disturbing other lab patrons, please turn your cell phone or other electronic device to “vibrate,” and enjoy your conversation privately -- outside the labs.  You must wear headphones in the lab when others are working so we can all share the work environment. 

6.If you find that equipment/software is broken or not working properly, please report it the Lab Monitor on duty.   Please be as specific as possible when reporting hardware or software problems.

7. Please log off computers when you are finished.   Do not shut down.  Do not turn POWER off to individual items.

8. Do not leave files on the desktop.  They must be backed up or risk being thrown away.

9. Before you leave the lab, please take a moment to collect all your belongings -- books, papers, newspapers, etc.   There is a Lost and Found Items bin.  All items left in the lab will be placed in the bin.  Items of value will be placed behind the counter.

10. If you need assistance, contact your instructor, a student monitor, or the lab director, Sheri Brenner  at 422-5868.

Equipment Reservations

Students in courses utilizing the lab may check out a variety of audio and video equipment for field production. Please observe the following procedures:

1. Students must have completed a "Financial Responsibility Form" before gaining access to the equipment, and must be trained in the use of the equipment by your course instructor.

2. Students will receive a Media Lab ID number and/or ID card at the beginning of the semester.   This is your ticket to checking out equipment.  Please memorize it or the lab monitor can look it up. 

3. Equipment can be reserved up to one month in advance.  You may only have two active reservations at a time.  You must come in to the lab or speak directly with a lab monitor on the phone to confirm reservation.

4. The lab monitor must reserve and checkout your equipment in the equipment checkout database.  You cannot take or reserve equipment without assistance.  The reservation includes a pick-up and drop-off time, according to the lab schedule and your stated preferences.

Checking Out/ Checking In Equipment

1. We recommend that you carefully check, set up, and test the equipment before leaving the lab.  When you check out the equipment, it is your responsibility to verify that the equipment is in operating order, and that you are receiving all the materials you reserved.  Upon check-in, all materials will be inspected and are expected to be returned in good working order.  If something is not working or not provided, make sure the lab monitor is aware of the problem.  Please check carefully before you leave the lab!

2. If you have the opportunity, charge any battery that has been fully drained before you return the equipment.

3. When you check in the equipment, allow yourself about 10 minutes.  Make sure the lab monitor acknowledges that the equipment is in good working order.   Instructors should not check out equipment.

4. If any equipment is not working, tell the lab monitor at time of checkin

Equipment Use/Late Return Policy

Equipment is available for 48 hours.   Please pick up equipment directly before use and drop it off directly following use.   If you are finished with it early, please return it early.  This ensures it will be available to other students.  If circumstances or scheduling prevent return within scheduled time frame, please discuss it with lab monitor and specific arrangements can be made.  An item is considered late if it is not returned within 30 minutes of scheduled return.  If equipment is returned late, you will receive a late notification call.  If equipment is returned late two times, you will lose your reservation privileges.  If equipment is returned late three times, your equipiment privileges will be revoked, and your name will be submitted to the Instructor.  Late return of equipment will not be tolerated.

Reserving Editing Time On A Workstation

Media Lab workstations #1-#10 are available for use during lab hours.  During periods of high use, it is a good idea to reserve editing time by signing up for it advance on the sign up sheets posted outside the door.  You can reserve a station up to two weeks in advance.

Students may schedule no more than 8 hours/wk of edit time during normal use times and 4 hours of editing time per person during peak use times during finals and midterms.  If the scheduled editor does not show up within 15 minutes of the start of his/her editing time, the entire block of time is forfeited.  This editing time becomes available for others.

Computer/Editing System Use Policies

The Media Lab has (9) digital video and audio editing systems for your use.  Each is identified by number with a plastic sign.  They feature Apple G5 computers with dual 2 GHz processors, 2 GB RAM, and 21" Apple Cinema Displays.   The systems run in Mac OSX.4.9.  Each system has Final Cut Pro 6, ProTools, Photoshop CS2, DVD Studio Pro, Motion, and iLife software.  Each system is equipped with a DVCAM/MiniDV deck, an audiocassette player, a VHS recorder, an audio mixer, an NTSC monitor for viewing your video and a internal DVD-burning drive.

Medialab 08 is equipped with DVD cover and template design software, and a color disc printer, and duplication.

Medialab 09 is for students who shot  their projects in HDV.  It is equipped with an HDV deck, and a 16:9 monitor for viewing high definition video.  It is also for students who want to pursue interests in other areas of media production like web design, motion graphics, and print production.  It has Adobe In Design print and layout software, Adobe Aftereffects Motion Graphics software, and Dreamweaver/Flash web design software.  It does not have ProTools.  

Medialab 10 is the laptop station.  It does not have ProTools.

Login to computers

When you arrive at the lab, the computer should be set to the Mac OSX login screen. It is available from the Media Lab or you can purchase your own.  Select “student” from the list of logins, then hit enter.  Enter the word “student”.    If you are using ProTools, select the ProTools user, and type in the password “protools”. 

File Storage

Each system in the lab (except the laptop) has a second hard drive for storage of student files.  They are primarily for use by the Audio students who are not required to purchase a firewire drive.  You can use it to store smaller files or backup your project file.  Always store your files in a folder with your name on it.   Files not in folders or left on the desktop may be deleted weekly.  You may not use it to store your video files for your FCP projects.  These are large files and must be stored on your personal firewire drives. 

Bring Your Own Firewire Drives

All students enrolled in Intro to Video or Advanced Video will be REQUIRED to purchase a firewire hard drive to store your projects and media.    This is in place of a textbook, and will stay with you throughout your production career here at the university and beyond.  They are available for purchase from the book store or can be purchased online.  See lab monitors for specs before purchasing.

Save projects and media to firewire drives.   Do not save media to the main system hard drive.   You will be instructed in the correct procedures for doing so during the tutorial.

Completing a project/ Clearing Medialab Drives of your old files

Back up your assignments and projects up to DV tape or DVD disks when you are finished, then delete the project and media files from the system to free up student hard drive space for other users.  All files will be cleared from the media drives approximately 2 weeks after the semester ends. Please ask a lab monitor for assistance with moving, copying, or deleting your media from the system.

Videotape formats/Media

Each system and camera works with both Mini DV format and DVCAM professional format videotape stock.  The systems and camcorders are preset to work with MiniDV, however you should check your camera’s menu settings before working with the unit to make sure you the correct format has been set.  Please ask a lab monitor for assistance with this.   

Please provide your own MiniDV tape stock.  We ask that you use Sony DV Premium tape stock as Sony tapes are formulated to work on Sony decks.  Do not use poor tape stock such as TDK. It will damage the machines or will break.  If you are shooting with the Panasonic camera, please use the Panasonic DV tape stock formulated for playback on Sony decks. (AY-DVM63MQ) Using other Panasonic tape stocks will clog the heads and break the decks.  These tapes can be purchased either at the bookstore or from local tape supplies, Media Distributors or Comtel.  A small stock of these tapes is available from the Media Lab, however it is only for emergencies.

Scanner/External Firewire devices

There is a scanner set up in the lab for scanning images and slides.  You can also attach your own Firewire camcorders to the systems to input or output to the system.  Please ask a Lab Monitor for assistance with external devices.

CD/DVD Burning

All of the systems are equipped with CD/DVD burners for burning CDs and DVDs.  We also have A 5:1 DVD duplicator and cover printer.  Students can print up to 5 color covers for their production.  For additional volume, you must purchase your own toner and paper. Please consult the appropriate section of the MediaLab manual for instructions on how to burn a CD or DVD, print a cover, or use the duplicator.

Training Resources/Tutorials/Reference Books

HR141 MediaLab manuals are placed in the front of the room.  It is also located on the hard drives under Student Files/Medialab manual.pdf.  The Medialab manual provides instructions for most of the standard procedures like scanning, making a VHS copy, or burning a DVD. 

Final Cut and ProTools manuals are also available in the cabinet in the front of the room, as well as from the Help tab on the application menu.  Please do not remove them from the room.  There are a number of additional reference books and training materials which are now available for checkout from the lab.  Feel free to browse our collection and check them out with a lab monitor. 

Tutorials for all applications are available on all of the system’s main hard drive.  Go to Medialab#/Student Files/Apple Pro Tutorials and select the appropriate .pdf training file.  The project files associated with that training are also located in folders Apple Pro Tutorials-NTSC. There are also tutorial books behind the counter for ProTools and FCP 6. Media Lab monitors can often assist you with more advanced questions.