PDF | Print | E-mail

Digital Audio Lab

The Digital Audio Lab consists of 14 individual Macintosh workstations running the latest versions of Mac OS and Pro Tools. There is also a full-featured recording studio with professional grade microphones, monitors and a sound effects library, students can produce anything from radio commercials to multi-track musical soundtracks for video production.

Electronic Field Production

Three professional digital field packages that can be timecode slaved or operated as stand-alone packages: Sony DSR 300 DVCam camcorder, Sony D35 camera (w/DVCam or BetacamSP and choice of wide angle or long lenses), and Sony XDCAM HD Camcorder Model PDW-F350 (DVCam format or XDCAMHD) with wide angle lens.

Audio capabilities include two wireless VHF systems, two wireless UHF systems, a portable audio mixer, and various shotgun and lavaliere microphones. Lighting equipment includes both Tungsten and HMI packages, gel frames, c-stands, flags, scrims, and diffusion flys. Additional equipment includes a variety of batteries, fast chargers, tripods, and monitors (both HD and standard definition).

Mobile Uplink/Production Facilities

WSIU operates a full-service 8' x 32' uplink/production truck that features a digital dual-path Ku band uplink and dual satellite receivers. It's production capabilities include 4 Sony DXC-D35 WSL cameras, Grass Valley Group 110 switcher, ADM stereo audio, Inscriber Inca graphics system, 2-Frame synchronizers, three Betacam tape machines, intercom, two-way radios, cellular phone lines, a sophisticated telephone switching system, and more. The uplink truck has traveled across the Midwest and beyond, giving students an unparalleled hands-on learning experience. Clients have included ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, C-SPAN, ESPN, FEMA, FOX, and PBS.

Radio Master Control

WSIU Radio Master Control is the state of the art, digital, central broadcast location for WSIU Radio, which includes WSIU Carbondale (91.9 FM, WSIU HD 1&2), WUSI Olney (90.3 FM) and WVSI Mt. Vernon (88.9 FM). The main automation computer system is Enco DadPro32. There are several networked computer terminals throughout the FM Studios for station production, and program storage and receiving.

One main computer in FM Master Control is used by board operators to run or automate programming for the station; other computers are used for station monitoring and operation functions. There are also various pieces of broadcast equipment including two CD players, two DAT (Digital Audio Tape) Players, and four high-end microphones for on-air hosts and their guests.

Television Studio A

This 35 x 55 television production studio features a a lighting system with 278 2.4K and two 6.0K dimmers controlled by an ETC Express 48/96 with two DMX universes, 4 playback faders, trackpad, and a remote focus unit. Instrument inventory includes 22 Strand Arturo 2K softlights, 52 8" fresnels, and 28 ellipsoidal spotlights. The lighting grid is approximately 15.5 feet above floor level and is accessed via Genie lift or ladder.

The studio walls are lined with 120 feet of black curtains and 120 feet of tracked, off-white cyc curtains. Studio A production equipment includes three Panasonic WV-F250 cameras, a Grass Valley Group 200 production switcher, Inscriber Inca Graphics System, Deko500 Graphics System, DVCPro tape, and 360 Systems ImageMax server video playback. A 16 channel Wheatstone digital audio control surface connects to an audio bridge router for access to every audio source in the facility. Sony ECM 77 and Sennheiser MK 102 lavalier microphones are available.

A CamMate T- 25 crane is available, configured with tripod or Pathfinder dolly, and can support cameras up to 40 pounds. WSIU TV's local studio productions are split between Studios A and B as needs dictate, averaging an estimated 600 hours of actual broadcast production annually. Several WSIU productions have won regional and national awards. In addition to broadcast production, the WSIU/WUSI studios together average 18 hours of undergraduate and graduate classroom instruction each week.

Television Studio B

Our largest studio is 46' x 48'. It features a lighting system similar to that in Studio A, and shares the production equipment with Studio A. The studio walls are lined with 80 feet of black curtains and 80 feet of tracked, off-white cyclorama curtains. The studio also has a 12' x 12 green chroma wall. In addition to varied broadcast productions and classroom instruction, Studio B is the home of the award-winning "River Region Evening Edition" nightly newscast.

TV Master Control

TV Master Control operates both WSIU Carbondale and WUSI Olney, and is operated by SIUC students under the supervision of professional staff. The heart of operations for the WSIU stations, this area is undergoing massive renovations to include a tapeless workflow and modern capabilities. Master Control student staff operate and monitor the transmission signals of two digital television stations, switch to live studio productions, air a variety of programming on tape format, switch to live feeds from national satellite systems, capture satellite feeds to tape for air at a later time, edit local promotional breaks, capture and route teleconferences for campus use, and much more. Equipment in Master Control includes various switchers, routers, satellite receivers, remote control for the transmitters, an Inscriber Inca graphics system, production monitors, and network servers.

TV Post Production

The post production area is currently being renovated in preparation for a file-based workflow for TV Master Control. The post production area features two basic FinalCutPro work stations and two advanced FinalCutPro workstation outfitted for finishing work. Each edit station can access its own BetacamSP tape source; the finishing work station also can capture material from DVCam sources. This area also can edit XDCam HD, as well as HDV video formats.