Required Equipment List

As you have likely experienced by now, media production is fraught with the possibility of many technical failures. Part of the art of media production is our ability to prevent these failures before they happen. For this course, you will need a Hard Drive, compatible SD Card, Headphones, and AA Batteries. I have curated the following equipment recommendations to provide you ways to potentially prevent production failures before they happen.

Hard Drive

Because we produce media regularly throughout this course, you will need a place to store your files. I recommend at least a 1TB hard drive. The four below are solid recommendations (click images for online retailer):

Memory Card

What good is a hard drive if you don’t have a way to capture your media? The two variables in memory cards you should always pay attention to is the capacity (measured in gigabites), and read/write speed (usually measured in MB/s). If you have a memory card with enough capacity, then you can shoot a lot of footage without running out of space on your card. If you have a fast enough card, then you can capture larger resolution files without the camera malfunctioning. Each of the following SD cards will serve you well during the semester (click images for online retailer):

Headphones

For video/audio editing in class and monitoring camera audio while shooting. You should get headphones that physically isolate the sound from outside noises. “Boosted” bass frequencies or sound cancelling features are NOT recommended because they process the sound before they reach your ears. It’s important to have a “flat” signal reach your ears to hear exactly what you are recording. The following are some great options at different price points depending on your needs (click images for online retailer):

Colored Gels

To practice lighting techniques, you need your own kit of colored gels. These are light modifiers that change the color of the lights we use in this class. They are heat resistant and render color in magnificent ways. Lesser quality gels can melt and often do not render color as vividly or with as much punch. Stick with this specific kit and you’ll be set (click image for online retailer).

Batteries

To power your wireless microphones, you will need AA batteries. The equipment room will not supply you with any. You will have to provide your own. Below are some premium options While you can purchase AA batteries just about anywhere, some brands of batteries perform better/longer than others and you can often benefit from some outstanding features. Outside of what you can purchase at the grocery store, consider the following as recommended options (click images for online retailer):

Camera/Light/Sound Equipment:

You will check out production equipment from our equipment room located in NQSC 208. Before you do, you will need to do the following:

1. Read through the Equipment Room Policy (link below)

2. Sign and submit the Equipment Room Agreement form (found at the end of the policy document) to the equipment room.

Adobe Premiere

There are two Mac Labs that you can use in the COM building located in Room 218 and 311. There are also a few iMac computers in the Newsroom on the second floor across from 218. You will be authorized for evening and weekend access to the Mac Labs via your passport. The Media Lab in Smith Library (first floor) also has Adobe software.

Many students find it convenient to purchase a subscription to the software to use on their own laptop computers. While it is not required, you may find this option helpful (click image for online retailer).