The Egg

The Egg consists of the open public place a dedicated theatre and provides the ability to engage with the interactive media technologies within the area.

• Christie Micro-tile wall: Set up as a wall of 120 separate digital screens able display extremely high resolution video as 1 large image or 120 separate images across the screen. Unique to the system is the ability to configure the screen to create various different shapes and compositions. The wall can be fully immersive by utilising the three Microsoft Kinect sensors attached to the wall, enabling interactive video and software through movement. 
• Ten interactive touch tables featuring the latest touch screen technology – a bit like giant ipads. Here students and the public alike will be able to catch up with latest news and events. In the future we hope to be trailing some of the latest touch table software solutions produced by our researchers.  

TV Studios

There are two fully functioning state of art TV studios, possibly the highest specification education studios in Europe; These are equivalent to those used by industry including BBC, ITV and Sky. Features include:

• Full 1080 HD cameras and video systems with 5.1 surround sound mixing
• Fully virtual 3D sets and Green Screen systems 
• Selection of world class audio and visual systems as used by the BBC, Sky and ITV 
• Sound treated studios
  

Studio A

• TV Studio A has a full comprehensive list of industry standard equipment that can facilitate any production. Our quality is full HD visual with surround sound mixing for broadcast in a tapeless workflow environment, allowing our productions to roundtrip over several different software platforms. Lighting systems by ETC allow for programming and recall of shows and productions with easy of use. Our Audio systems by SSL are linked with Protools 9 HD and allow full 5.1 surround mixing, playback and multi-tracking. The space is acoustically treated featuring not only acoustic panelling but also an acoustic floor. Our Cameras (Sony HXC100) are HD broadcast with a 2/3 sensor and Canon hi precision lenses. Autocue is managed by Qpro and our ped systems by Vinten are standard on all units. Recording is captured via DVS Venice servers and the University of Salford MAM.

Studio B

• Studio B provides the same high-level specification as Studio A and offers a virtual environment space with dedicated green screen and the latest platform from ORAD. The Orad screen measures 5mtrs x 3mtrs and the integration of live studio and 3D environments can enhance any production with high quality virtual sets.

Digital Performance Lab

This experimental performance/lecture space combines the technology of a TV Studio, the excitement of live theatre and visual immersive cinema – all in a double height space.
It is adaptable to cater for student lectures and conferences alike. Its technical infrastructure is that of a black box theatre, hard-wired over a grid at floor and ceiling levels, controlled from a fully equipped flexible control room with verbal connection via a digital intercom system.

• One of Largest HD Screens in Europe
• A capacity of 150-theatre style
• The extensive fibre optic and digital network infrastructure within the DPL will allow for multiple high speed HD video and audio connections throughout the space with access to multicast enabled video conferencing technology
  

Due to the technical investment, it can be used for computer gaming, animation, dance and accommodate specialist teaching, live performances and creative technology installations. It is particularly suited to research-led practice in creative media and new forms of digitally enhanced performance.
Adjacent is the ‘Green’ Room with full changing and shower facilities – all of which adds to a true working live environment and fully contained studio facility.

Editing Suites

This campus features three craft edit suites which are reminiscent of those found in any post-production house in the UK creating programmes such as 'Dragon’s Den'. These areas nurture the potential for professional editors to collaborate with students.

All suites possess the following software:

• Smoke - worldwide industry finishing software that is used on multiple adverts and TV.
• Nuke - an award winning compositing software used on multiple feature films such as Avatar, Tron Legacy, Harry Potter. 
• DaVinci Resolve - a colour finishing tool which is used to grade multiple TV Programmes such as Waterloo Road.

Video Editing Classrooms

Our video editing suites consist of 20 Mac Pro's with connection to the Media Asset Management system.

Dual Screen workstations include NVIDIA 400 Cards & Blackmagic Cards and have access to a suite of software including Final Cut Studio 3, Smoke 2012, Nuke 6.3.4, Adobe CS 5.5, Da Vinci Resolve, and Autodesk Maya 2011.

Media Tech Lab

To provide users with the ability to critically analyse, measure and view HD content in a multitude of formats, streams and ways, you will have access to a dedicated multi-functional research The main features includes:

• 2k projector with large screen
• 3d TV with 3d blu ray
• 7.1 genlec audio monitoring
• Multi purpose display
• Blackmagic Ultrascopes
• Sky HD
• Omnitek waveform monitor and signal generator
• Panasonic P2 Input
• Mutli Purpose routing from around the building
• Mutli I/O
• Mac Pro’s

Radio Studios

We have three state of the art radio studios that can actually create broadcast material with equipment as used by the BBC.

They are capable of being linked to every other audio room in the building, which could facilitate outside sources such as live bands performing within the TV studios.

The studios can be linked together and the whole system uses uncompressed audio throughout for maximum quality. The studios use VCS (automated play out system in the radio studios) as used exclusively by the BBC in their radio studios. This has recently been renewed by the BBC for the next 10 years and will ensure that students are trained on industry standard technology.

The Studer On Air 3000 mixing consoles are identical to that which the BBC use in their latest radio studios with presenters having access to high quality AKG C414microphones.

Journalism Centre

Our dedicated Journalism centre consists of TV studio, gallery, radio studio and dedicated teaching facilities including our AVID sponsored News Room.

The TV Studio contains a state of the art News set, designed by our very own Interior Design student Shaun Clark and includes three HD cameras with teleprompters.

Adjoining to the TV Studio is the Studio gallery, where the Director, Producer, Sound Mixer and other members of the team, will sit during News Bulletins and productions, controlling all the action. This studio also has the ability to link up to the other two TV Studios in the building based on the ground floor enabling live feeds.

'AVID' News Room – A specialist in video and audio production technology, AVID recognise the importance of supporting and developing talent and sponsor this dedicated journalism suite. Our journalism students use this space as their hub where they are able to simulate a full working day in a Newsroom. Software includes Avid iNews, Avid Newscutter, Adobe Audition and QuarkXPress.

Radio Studio – dedicated to the Journalism centre, this is one of three Radio Studios where you would be involved in all our radio news days. This space also features an Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) facility which allows quality inserts to be broadcast to radio stations across the world. The radio Studio can also be lined without our other two radios station in the building.

Audio Production

The Audio Production suite consists of 25 Mac Pro digital audio workstations, designed for mixdown preparation, audio editing, sequencing, electronic music production, sampling and synthesis. Each workstation entails:

• Avid Pro Tools
• Adobe Audition
• Native Instruments Komplete
• Propellerheads Reason and Record
• Steinberg Cubase
• Sennheiser Headphones
• Waldorf Microwave Synthesizer
• Novation Nocturn keyboard
• Avid MBox
  

Audio Post Production

The Audio Post Production room consists of state of the art facilities and 16 audio/video production workstations to assist teaching and student work. The facility includes a vocal booth for recording voice-overs, an Avid Icon console and a Genelec 7.1 surround sound system. The Mac Pro workstations consist of:

• Avid Pro Tools
• Gallery ADR Studio 
• Audio Ease Altiverb
• Adobe Audition
• Native Instruments Komplete
• Propellerheads Reason and Record
• Steinberg Cubase
• Apple Final Cut Studio
• MXF4Mac AVC-Intra QT
• Sennheiser Headphones
• Avid MBox