Digital Media Tutoring Center & Virtual Reality

Purpose

The Digital Media Tutoring Center (DMTC) provides equipment for the creation of audio, video, and image-based projects in support of personal and class projects.  In addition, we offer a virtual reality area for people to explore this technology and imagine possibilities. To help you, tutors are available at scheduled times.

Equipment

For content creation and editing, the Center has three high-end workstations, and two monitor stations with external mice and keyboards for connection to NMU issued or personal laptops.  These workstations and monitor stations are available anytime the Library is open.  Help is available only when a tutor is scheduled. You can reserve the use of a workstation or a monitor for up to two hours. 

In addition, the DMTC provides creation equipment like camcorders, point-and-shoot cameras, tripods, computer microphones, and audio recording devices available for check out at the Public Services Desk (227-2250)

The virtual reality area has three Oculus Rift workstations. The VR workstations are only available when a tutor is scheduled. Use the links below to reserve specific workstations for up to one hour per day. Reservations are not required to use the VR equipment, and drop-ins are welcome.  Exploration time can be extended by DMTC tutors if no-one is waiting.

Apps

Creation
The three desktop workstations have the entire Adobe Suite of software and other open-source apps.  Key apps include:

Key Adobe suite of software, and other open source apps

Adobe Premiere Pro (video)	Adobe InDesign (desktop publishing)
Adobe Audition (audio)	OBS Studio (screen recording)
Adobe Photoshop (images)	Blender (3D computer graphics)
Adobe Illustrator (drawing)	Adobe Animate (animation)

Open source video and audio editing apps are available to download on NMU issued or personal laptops.

Kdenlive (video editing)

Audacity (audio editing)

 

Virtual Reality

Each of the VR workstations has a variety of apps, from educational to games.  We have compiled a key list of apps per workstation for you to browse.  For faculty interested in finding apps for use in their classes contact Scott Smith of the Center for Teaching and Learning. 

Policies

The Center’s workstations are available to NMU faculty, students, and staff, and the general public.  A barcode on an NMU-issued ID or community borrower card is needed to access the workstations. If you forgot your ID or are a community member without a borrower card, a DMTC tutor can log you into a workstation.  If a DMTC tutor is not present, ask for assistance at the Public Services Desk (227-2250). 

The workstations and monitors are not intended for playing video games, watching videos, surfing the internet, or checking email. There are other workstations in the Library for such work.

Please do not modify, move, unplug, or change in any way the computer equipment, including cables, keyboards, mice, etc. If you need assistance, consult the DMTC tutors or the DMTC supervisor, Kevin McDonough.

Please do not attempt to download, install or uninstall software of any kind. If you need something that is not available on a computer, please make a request to Kevin McDonough.

The use of virtual reality can cause motion sickness and has other risks.  Please be aware of these policies and considerations before using VR equipment.

File Storage

The DMTC does not provide file storage when working on the creation and editing workstations.  Although you can store files on the D: drive of the workstations, all files will be deleted weekly.   Consider bringing your own memory stick or DVD, or check out storage devices from the Public Services Desk

Copyright

Reproducing or distributing copyrighted works, including but not limited to, images, text, or software, without permission of the owner, is an infringement of U.S. Copyright Law and is subject to civil damages and/or criminal penalties including fines and imprisonment.  

Generally, there is no issue if media projects are used for educational purposes and not made available to the public, or use small sections of copyrighted works, and give credit to original sources. If in doubt, please contact Kevin McDonough, DMTC supervisor (227-2118), for clarification. Ultimately you are responsible for any copyright violations.