About Media Services

To contact Media Services, please call (802-443-2200) or email the Helpdesk (helpdesk@middlebury.edu). Our official web page is at go/media.

Recent years have brought a convergence of electronic technologies. Thus, computers, telephones, audio/video equipment and other devices have become closely related and interdependent. To better address technology support, Media Services operates as part of the LIS Technology Helpdesk. As a result we can offer support that integrates computers, audio/video equipment, telephones, and more.

The most popular types of support offered by Media Services are listed at go/media. For a full overview of the media services we can offer, please see the sections below. Media Services also assists in the design of classrooms, offices and other spaces, by offering design expertise and installation services for a variety of multimedia technologies. 

In addition to the support options from Media Services, LIS also offers support for digital media development (including training and media project support) through the Digital Media Tutors. Please visit their page at go/dmt to find out more about the Digital Media Development Program.

See also

• go/media for classrooms, film screening, and event support
• How to use the projection systems in classrooms and other spaces.

Digital Media Development

The Digital Media program provides support for faculty, student and staff media development, which can include, but is not limited to:

• Images and document creation: posters, diagrams
• Audio: podcasting, voiceovers
• Video: digital stories, animations
• Digital Spaces: 3D visualizations, virtual worlds

If you need help with your media project, stop by the Wilson Lab in the Davis Family Library (1pm-1am). You can also request e-mail support at DigitalMediaTutors@middlebury.edu. The Digital Media Tutors provide walk-in support for the Wilson Media Lab, located in the Davis Family Library. These computers provide Middlebury College with the tools to meet digital media development needs. For more information on Digital Media Development, contact:

• Joe Antonioli at 443-3062 or e-mail jantonio@middlebury.edu
• Mack Roark at 443-2328 or e-mail mroark@middlebury.edu

Wilson Media Lab

Hours

The Wilson Media Lab is open to the public while the Davis Family Library is open. It is staffed by Digital Media Tutors at the following times:

• Sunday - Thursday: 1PM - 1AM
• Friday: 1PM - 4PM

House Calls:

• Mon-Fri 9 am to 5 pm

Due to limited staffing, hours may vary during Summer and Winter terms and during College break periods. Please check the schedule on the outside of the lab for exact hours during these times.

Digital Media Tutors

The Digital Media Tutors provide walk-in support for the Wilson Media Lab, located in the Davis Family Library.

They have:

• a webpage at go/dmt
• a blog http://blogs.middlebury.edu/dmts/
• a segue site (archived) https://segue.middlebury.edu/view/html/site/et/node/1211373
  

Film Screening and Event Services

For more information on planning and scheduling a film screening, please visit the Film Screening Services page.

Supported Projection Formats

Our classrooms, auditoriums, conference rooms and other projection-enabled spaces support a variety of projection formats (computer/VGA, DVD, VHS, etc.). For more details, please see the Supported Projection Formats page.

Event Recording

There are two ways in which Media Services can record a lecture:

1. Regular event recording: Recording a video and/or audio of the presenter and the presenter's immediate vicinity.
2. Complete Lecture Capture: In addition to recording the presenter, our Lecture Capture system (formerly Accordent) can "capture" the activity on the presenter's computer, which may be a powerpoint or many other activities. The video showing the presenter's computer screen is added to the video of the person that's talking, resulting in a nicely integrated recording of the event (as can be seen on our digital lecture archive pages).

Media Services can provide regular recording assistance in some spaces, and complete Lecture Capture in fewer spaces. The Event Recording Form details the supported spaces for either situation. To request either a regular recording or a complete Lecture Capture, please fill out the following form: Event Recording Request Form.

Overflow Support for Events

For scheduling audio/video overflow support and for a list of overflow locations, please visit Audio Video Overflow Services.

Audio Conferencing Services

Please see Telephone_and_Voice_Mail_Services#Conference_Calling.

Videoconferencing Services

General guidelines:

• Book early
• No cost involved
• Set-ups are all plug and play once you know how to use them
• Video is from fixed camera and shows people in the room; does not involve projection of what's on a laptop, etc.
• At larger conferences, to ask a question/make a comment, a person in the audience would have to come to a designated spot (where camera is pointed) in order to speak; although speakers in the audience might be heard from their seats, it would be difficult to tell who is speaking

Midd Campus

Videoconferencing is available on the Middlebury campus using Polycom videoconferencing systems in select locations (listed below). Unless otherwise specified, the locations must be reserved by the scheduling office. All systems use IP based videoconferencing to connect with another videoconferencing system.

To request video conferencing assistance in one of the locations listed below:

1. Select a convenient location from the list below and contact the appropriate office to schedule the location (in most cases the appropriate office is Events Scheduling, but check below for details).
2. You should contact the other end (the far side) of the videoconference to obtain the IP address of their video conferencing equipment and their technical contact person.
3. Contact the Helpdesk (x2200 or helpdesk@middlebury.edu) and provide us with the information you collected in step 1 and 2 above. We need at least five business days notice to guarantee assistance.
   

Video conferencing locations

• Carr Hall Seminar 005 (capacity 15) has a Polycom HDX6000 HD with 42" LCD monitor on a stand; image appears on the flat panel monitor. (For instructions on how to use the system see Using the Carr 005 Media Equipment).
• Davis Family Library 230 (capacity 18) has a permanently installed Polycom VS4000 videoconferencing system; image appears on backlit, fixed, large screen. 
  
• Davis Family Library 145 (capacity 16) has a Polycom HDX8000 and the image appears on drop-down projection screen; one fixed camera. Please contact Doreen Bernier ( 5595) to reserve.
  
• Davis Family Library 150 A-D (capacity 2-4) can be used with our portable Polycom HDX7000; image appears on 27" screen; Please contact CTLR (x3131) to reserve one of these rooms. Instructions for using this portable unit: Using the Portable Video Conferencing Unit in the Library.
  
• Robert A Jones Conference Room (capacity 15 + 86 additional seats out of immediate camera range) has a permanently installed Polycom HDX8000 system; image appears on two pull-down projection screens + TV monitor.
• Service Building Room 209 has a Polycom VSX system; image appears on 27" screen.
• Old Chapel Boardroom has a Polycom HDX8000 system; image appears on a 50" screen and can also be projected on the two side screens.
• Portable Polycom HDX7000 system; image appears on 27" screen. The system can be used in most rooms in the Library. Contact the scheduling office to reserve a library room.
• Portable LifeSize Passport system; image appears on 27" screen. The system can be used in most classrooms on-campus. Contact the Helpdesk to determine which location would be best suited for this.

Please note:

• All students inquiring about videoconferencing for the purpose of job interviews should contact Career Services in EIA before proceeding further. Career Services will act on behalf of the student as their sponsor.
  

MIIS Campus

• Two portable videoconferencing units - book/reserve 2 weeks in advance
• Graduate School of Business has two large, fixed screens in Lecture Room and Gathering Hall
• Other spaces on campus could be used as well
• Technology best suited to intimate setting of 6 - 8 people

Collaboration Services

• Using Skype for Audio/Video conferencing and collaboration 

Audio-Video Copying Services

See Audio-Video Copying Services.

Audio Production

The College has several sound studios and audio production facilities.

• LIS has a sound studio (sound proofed) in Sunderland (aka The Green Room). Contact the Helpdesk if you'd like to schedule this. The space has a week-long blackout period every four months as we do trustee recordings. During this time the room is unavailable. The space has a computer, though it is an older one.
• The communications office has a soundproof studio (called the whisper room), which can be scheduled via the communications office (see http://www.middlebury.edu/newsroom/resources/experts for reservation and use policy). The Whisper Room also has an ISDN connection so it's easy to connect with many radios, recording studios, broadcast stations and news agencies.
• There is a soundproof studio in Axinn, used by FMMC. The department schedules this internally, though they have worked with faculty, staff and students to allow use outside the department. (contact the FMMC Department Coordinator for further info)
• There is a student recording studio in FIC that a faculty could schedule, as well (contact the Music Department Coordinator for further info).

Sound Reinforcement

Sound reinforcement is also known as voice lift / voice reinforcement or referred to as a PA system or Mic system. Please see Sound Reinforcement for more information on this topic.

Production and Performance Support

While LIS can provide a wide variety of media-related services, live productions and performances are best done by experts. There are several resources that can help you plan and execute an effective performance (live music, theater, etc).

• PAG, the Performance Advisory Group, can help in a variety of ways, throughout the planning process, from inspired idea through production and including the performance itself. Please visit their web page at go/pag.
• Students and student organizations can also make use of the resources that CCAL offers. For example, CCAL and each Commons offers a selection of audio equipment and services for public speaking, music and performances. Please visit the CCAL web page for more production and performance resources.
• While we cannot endorse external resources, there are several local companies that can support almost any production need: Atomic Professional Audio, Top Hat, RMB Sound and others. We encourage you to use the PAG and CCAL resources before reaching out to an external company. If needed, PAG and CCAL will help you find a local resource that can support your needs, while being trusted and proffesional.

How to use hardware in the Media Lab

Using the ION Tape2PC

Please see Using the ION Tape2PC.

Checklist for Visiting Speakers to Campus

Middlebury invites a great number of visiting speakers each semester. To make their visit a complete success, LIS has created a Technology Checklist for Visiting Speakers.

Top Tech Tips for a Successful Event

Middlebury College hosts more than a thousand events each year, with a great variety of technical needs. To ensure the success of each and every event, LIS has created a document outlining the technology support options:

Top Tech Tips for a Successful Event

The Analog Sunset

The multimedia and computer industries have retired or are rapidly retiring older audio and video formats (analog TV, VHS, LaserDisc, etc.) Please visit The Analog Sunset page for more information on what this means for Middlebury College and beyond.