Samuel Garringer
The Communicator
SFCC has spent thousands of dollars on technology for students, but some of that technology the students don’t even know about.
For instance, students can rent laptop computers, use a green screen and even have access to a soundproof recording studio; all for free.
Babs Hachey, the Head Librarian, in the campus library is in charge of the school’s laptop rental program.
“Basically (what) it offers is, your tech fees which (students) pay, provide laptops that (students) can check out for 24 hours. We have (the options of) Dell and Mac computers,” Hachey said.
“If things are getting really full in the lab area, (in the library), then you can check out a 2 hour laptop, but only if you are going to stay here in the library,” Hachey said.
Also students need to keep in mind that there are fees if a laptop is returned late.
“The late fees are $10 per hour, (it’s) capped at $75. And (the library is) very, very, strict on those fees. The big reason is because (the school has) a lot of students on campus who want to check them out and the library only has a limited number of laptops,” Hachey said.
The green screen is located on campus in building 19, also known as Technical Arts building, in room 0119 on the main level.
One of the SFCC students who has been working with the green screen is Connor Molter-Gaddy, he has about two academic quarters invested in learning more about the screen and all that i offers.
“The green screen is also capable of tri-casting, which professor Jason Nix has set up, but the system is so advanced that he really hasn’t had the opportunity to figure out how to teach the students to use it,” Molter-Gaddy said, “but potentially we could use it to make lower-thirds and active graphics like you would see on real televen newscasts; like Nascar or other sporting events.”
In that same room, when you walk through the door there is a soundproof recording studio just off to the right. This studio is capable of several impressive and high quality productions. This studio is angled more towards video recording and editing. Some of the tasks the studio is up to are recording and creating podcasts.
Over in building 15, the music building, there is another recording studio. This one being more so angled towards audio recording. It is ran by Steve Gamberoni, the Program Lead of Audio Technology for SFCC.
“This is pretty much a full blown professional recording studio. The software we train the students on is called pro-tools,” Gamberoni said, “this studio is available for students enrolled in the program. For students that are not enrolled in our program they are aloud to book the studio for personal use, such as creating a CD for their band.”
Guy Antonius, an SFCC second year student, didn’t know all the technology on campus for student use. Though, he did find some technology for musicians on campus.
“I know there are desktop computers in almost every building for students and there is a laptop rental program. But what many students don’t know is there is also soundproof rooms in the basement of the music building with electronic pianos,” Antonius said, “the keyboards have multiple settings, as in harpsichord, classical piano and also a built in recorder.”