Win a FREE 1TB HARD DRIVE for coming to the New Media Center!

Midterms season is in full swing, and students are starting work on their big end-of-year projects. But where do you store your giant video project? If only you could get a new flash drive or hard drive for free...

Good news: our friends at the New Media Center are giving them away!

If you attend a New Media Center training session between now and November 15th, you could win a 32 GB flash drive or a 1 terabyte hard drive! Simply show up to any of the New Media Center's training sessions to enter.

Good luck. This is a prize worth winning!

Feeling creative? Learn screenwriting at the New Media Center THIS THURSDAY!

The New Media Center's training sessions usually cover technical know-how, like editing video or making a podcast. But for one night only, we're covering the creative side too.

On Thursday, September 12th at 6pm, the New Media Center will host a master class taught by SOC Professor Claudia Myers on the screenwriting process. If you've ever wanted to hone your skills at writing story, structure, character, action, and dialogue, Thursday evening is your chance.

Come to the New Media Center on Thursday evening to learn! RSVP is not required, but feel free to sign up for the event on Facebook.

Vimeo steps into the film distribution game

The breakdown of the conventional media publishing model has led filmmakers to some unusual sources for funding. The most obvious alternative is Kickstarter, where hopeful directors can collect thousands of small donations to bankroll projects. Other large companies such as Netflix and Amazon have offered lucrative deals for original content in the vein of traditional distributors.

But now, even unlikelier names are offering up money. Vimeo, the YouTube alternative frequently used for independent short films, is offering $10,000 to films willing to premiere exclusively on Vimeo.com for their first month of release. We know that many students who visit the New Media Center use Vimeo to distribute their video projects, so although this initial deal only applies to films appearing at the Toronto International Film Festival, this is a smart idea that could give a much-needed financial boost to aspiring filmmakers.

We'll see if Vimeo extends this deal after TIFF. If they continue putting fund up for independent films, we could see a new (and more accessible) player in the film distribution world.

DC Digital Commons opens, offers powerful media resources

We're very proud of the services and equipment available at the New Media Center; our training sessions and studio spaces had great attendance last year, and users are walking away with finished projects and greater knowledge of multimedia software. We're always very happy when we see other universities and libraries offering these services too.

Color us excited that now DC Public Library is getting into the game! Today, the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library is opening the Digital Commons, a state-of-the-art multimedia lab available for all DC residents. The Digital Commons offers a plethora of services, including:

• Smart room meeting space for small businesses and independent groups
• Skype stations for videoconferencing
• Computers loaded with the Adobe Creative Suite
• A 3D printer and book printer for creative types (seriously!)
• Tutorial sessions on popular software and services
• A "Digital Bar" for test-driving the latest devices

We love to see these types of services available throughout the city. If you're a recent alumnus who wants to continue using cutting-edge multimedia resources, the Digital Commons is a great new resource.

Learn Final Cut Pro X TODAY at the New Media Center

Although Media Services is understandably a bit less busy during the summer, the New Media Center is still going at it. Our series of summer training sessions continues today with the popular Final Cut Pro X Bootcamp, a two-hour session that teaches you the ins and outs of one of the most popular video-editing programs.

The bootcamp session starts at 2pm today in the New Media Center. If you've ever wanted to learn how to edit videos with more professional software than iMovie or Live Movie Maker, now's your chance!

If you can't make this session, there will be a few more in the coming weeks, including a few evening classes. Check our schedule for a full list.

No RSVP is required. Hope to see you there!

Artist pushes Photoshop pushed to weird limits, turns rust into planets

The New Media Center is getting busy as we head into the second half of the semester, and a good number of our patrons are using Photoshop. The average user might use it to touch up a photo, add text, or do some graphic design work.

But then there are the extreme outlier users like Adam Kennedy. Adam uses Photoshop to transform photos of rusty fire hydrants into stunning planetary landscapes. It's such an out-of-the-box, unusual idea, but it works, and it looks great. This is a terrific example of photomanipulation being pushed beyond what you'd expect. There's also something to say about the re-appropriation of urban decay to create new worlds, etc., but we'll leave that to the critics.

The artist has published more on his personal website and is currently seeking crowd funding to continue this project. In any event, it should serve as inspiration for people working on end-of-semester Photoshop projects. Yes, you can make something as awesome as this with the right tools.

Greg Smith SFX Collection updated

SOC Professor Greg Smith has previously provided the AU Library with an expansive sound effect library free for anyone free for anyone to use – AU community member or otherwise. It's a very useful resource, especially for people working off-campus who are looking for sounds for one of their projects.

Today we added over 400 new sounds produced by Greg Smith's students to the collection. There's a load of variety in the pack, including motorcycle engine noise, city ambience, and a collection of useful foley effects. As with the rest of these collections, these sounds are free to use in your personal or commercial products.

We're right in the middle of midterms season, so if you have a video project that needs an extra punch, consider using a few sounds produced by people from your own university.

Lynda.com branches out with new tutorials

American University has a subscription to Lynda.com, a video tutorial website that can teach you skills ranging from high-end multimedia software like Photoshop to office programs like Excel. Any active member of the AU community (current students, faculty, staff, etc.) can access these tutorials through american.edu/lynda.

But Lynda.com isn't just for production software. The site has been expanding its selection of tutorials to include business skills, creativity, and services that you might not think would need video tutorials. A few highlights from their most recent batch include:

• Conflict Resolution Fundamentals
• The Creative Spark: Title Case, Typographic Artisans
• User Experience Fundamentals for Web Design
• Foundations of Photography: Specialty Lenses
• On Camera: Video Makeup Techniques

Lynda.com is a seriously useful resource, and it's exciting to see them expand into new skillsets. Give them a watch at american.edu/lynda.

Meet the Poster Printer

The library has a fun new addition: meet the poster printer! This dashboard-sized behemoth prints large-form posters for presentations and events. No longer will you have to awkwardly print out paragraphs and glue to them to CVS posterboard; you can design the whole poster with software available at the New Media Center. Price varies by size and starts at $4.50 for a 2-foot poster.

As finals season is revving up, keep this in mind if you need to make a poster for a research presentation. This will be especially useful next semester for students in a research symposium or working on an Honors capstone.

Learn Photoshop like a preschooler — with puppets!

The end of the semester is upon us, which means that term projects and presentations are rearing their ugly heads. If the activity in the New Media Center is anything to go by, professors from across campus are now expecting students to use media in their presentations. This is expected for graphic design, film, and communications classes, but for a political science student who's never touched Photoshop, it can be intimidating.

If you're new to the world of media software and need someone to explain it to you like you're a toddler, look no further than "Fafa's Photoshop Tutorial," a video tutorial on the basics of Photoshop as presented by puppets. It's equal parts adorable and informative for first-time users.

Remember that if you need personal, human help with media software, the New Media Center staff are available to help out whenever we're open.

Two master classes at the New Media Center

The New Media Center continues its Beyond the Studio series this week with two master classes on very different subjects taught by American University staff and faculty.

First off, this Tuesday (tomorrow!) at 4PM, SOC Librarian Robin Chin-Romer will speak about the evolution of memes in her training session, "Rick Rolled Again: Memes and Meaning." It's sure to be a lot of fun.

Then, on Wednesday, join Emmy-winning SOC professor Larry Engel at 6PM for a class on how to shoot quality video with a low-end camera. If you've ever come into the New Media Center looking for one of the HD Vixias because you absolutely need the highest quality, you might learn a thing or two about how to get some great shots from your iPhone as well. We're honored to have Prof. Engel come in for this training session.

Beyond the Studio will continue throughout the semester. Check the New Media Center website for a full list of their training sessions this semester.

New Media Center's Beyond the Studio series begins

Tomorrow, the New Media Center begins its new series of special training sessions titled Beyond the Studio. Typical New Media Center training sessions cover how to use software such as Photoshop or After Effects; these sessions are designed to teach skills that you can't pick up from a computer, like marketing and other practical skills.

The series kicks off tomorrow with "The Hero w/ 1000 Faces: Storytelling for Video." Telling a story in video requires different skills than shooting one, and author Joseph Campbell once argued that many great stories all use this same structure. If you're interested in entering the world of narrative filmmaking, this session should point you in a tried-and-true direction.

The training session begins tomorrow at 8 PM in the Media Classroom.

Before Photoshop CS6... there were giant chickens

For as long as we've trusted the authenticity of photography, it seems like, naturally, we've wanted to mess around with photos too. Now it seems like this urge his been around for generations – in this case, a whole century before we started Photoshopping mustaches onto people's faces. Wired recently uncovered a collection of unusual postcards from the turn of the 20th century showing evidence of some of the first photo manipulation... though it appears that back in the 1900s, it was primarily used to make pictures of giant chickens and potatoes.

In any event, these pictures from the Tall Tale Postcards group and the Wisconsin Historical Society are a neat look back at our obsession with photographic fakery. If you want to take a leap into photo editing with modern technology (and presumably beyond pictures of livestock), the computers at the New Media Center are now equipped with Photoshop CS6.

Summer Software Training at the New Media Center

The New Media Center is located on the lower level of the library past the Technology Services desk, next to Media Services. The NMC conducts open workshops on a variety of topics related to multimedia production. These 30 to 60 minute sessions are open to all AU faculty, staff and students with all levels of multimedia production experience. There are usually four or five workshops held each week. There is no fee for these workshops and no RSVP is necessary. Check the NMC calendar for the latest schedule. For more information, contact the NMC staff (202) 885-2560.

There is a wealth of multimedia training resources available online. AU faculty, staff and students have access to thousands of hours of free training atLynda.com. Create a personal profile and get started. More information about resources can be found at Multimedia @ AU.

New Media Center Software Training Sessions this week:

The New Media Center is located on the lower level of the library past the Technology Services desk, next to Media Services. The NMC conducts open workshops on a variety of topics related to multimedia production. These 30 to 60 minute sessions are open to all AU faculty, staff and students with all levels of multimedia production experience. There are usually four or five workshops held each week. There is no fee for these workshops and no RSVP is necessary. Check the NMC calendar for the latest schedule. For more information, contact the NMC staff (202) 885-2560.

Sunday 4/8 at 3pm – Podcasting 101
Sunday 4/8 at 5pm – Basic Website Development
Monday 4/9 at 2pm – Final Cut Pro X: Beginner
Tuesday 4/10 at 12pm –Sound Design in Final Cut Pro X
Wednesday 4/11 at 8pm – Color Correction for Video
Thursday 4/12 at 4pm – Video Compression Workshop
Thursday 4/12 at 8pm – Making Movies in iMovie HD
Friday 4/13 at 12pm – Get Started with Photoshop
Saturday 4/14 at 4pm – Optimizing Video for Youtube

See the complete Spring Training Schedule by date or by topic.

There is a wealth of multimedia training resources available online. AU faculty, staff and students have access to thousands of hours of free training at Lynda.com. Create a personal profile and get started. More information about resources can be found at Multimedia @ AU.

New Media Center Software Training Sessions this week:

The New Media Center is located on the lower level of the library past the Technology Services desk, next to Media Services. The NMC conducts open workshops on a variety of topics related to multimedia production. These 30 to 60 minute sessions are open to all AU faculty, staff and students with all levels of multimedia production experience. There are usually four or five workshops held each week. There is no fee for these workshops and no RSVP is necessary. Check the NMC calendar for the latest schedule. For more information, contact the NMC staff (202) 885-2560.

Monday 3/19 at 2pm – Keyframing in FCP 7
Tuesday 3/20 at 12pm –Final Cut Pro X: Beginner
Wednesday 3/21 at 8pm – 2.5 D Animation in After Effects
Thursday 3/22 at 4pm – Final Cut Pro 7: Beginner
Friday 3/23 at 12pm – Get Started with Photoshop
Saturday 3/24 at 4pm – How to Shoot Great Video

See the complete Spring Training Schedule by date or by topic.

There is a wealth of multimedia training resources available online. AU faculty, staff and students have access to thousands of hours of free training at Lynda.com. Create a personal profile and get started. More information about resources can be found at Multimedia @ AU.

We've got a new Facebook url - Don't forget to "Like" us!

That's right, Media Services and the New Media Center now have a new, easy to remember url: http://Facebook.com/AULibMedia

Now it's that much easier to remember where to visit us on Facebook. If you haven't yet, be sure to visit our Facebook page and "Like" us! On our page you can expect to find updates on AU Library events, New Media Center software training schedules and reminders, Vimeo and Youtube trailers for recent documentary and Home Use Collection films, links to new acquisition lists, and reminders about film screenings happening around campus.

New Media Center Software Training Sessions this week:

The New Media Center is located on the lower level of the library past the Technology Services desk, next to Media Services. The NMC conducts open workshops on a variety of topics related to multimedia production. These 30 to 60 minute sessions are open to all AU faculty, staff and students with all levels of multimedia production experience. There are usually four or five workshops held each week. There is no fee for these workshops and no RSVP is necessary. Check the NMC calendar for the latest schedule. For more information, contact the NMC staff (202) 885-2560.

Sunday, 3/4 at 3pm – Intro to Pro Tools
Sunday, 3/4 at 5pm – Basic Website Development
Monday 3/5 at 2pm – Get Started with Photoshop
Tuesday 3/6 at 12pm – Sound Design in Final Cut Pro X
Tuesday 3/6 at 8pm – NMC Equipment Training
Wednesday 3/7 at 8pm – Matte Painting in Photoshop
Thursday 3/8 at 4pm – Intermediate Photoshop
Friday 3/9 at 12pm – Basic Motion Graphics for Video in After Effects
Saturday 3/10 at 4pm – Final Cut Pro X: Intermediate

See the complete Spring Training Schedule by date or by topic.

There is a wealth of multimedia training resources available online. AU faculty, staff and students have access to thousands of hours of free training at Lynda.com. Create a personal profile and get started. More information about resources can be found at Multimedia @ AU.

A new piece of AV gear is now available for check out from the New Media Center!

Pearstone OLM-10 Omnidirectional Lavalier Microphone

The Pearstone OLM-10 lav mic is a really great sounding mic that may be perfect for one of your upcoming audio or video projects. It clips on and it has no problem picking up sound from a distance. When we tested this mic in the New Media Center, it managed to pick up voices from up to 15 feet away with no problem. Of course ideally you will only be attempting to record the voice of the individual that the mic is attached to. This mic will be great for audio interviews or "talking head" style video shoots where you want to be sure you're recording solid primary audio or even secondary audio using the Pearstone lav mic along with an audio recorder. The one thing to be aware of is that this mic is not wireless, but instead comes with 20 feet of thin, lightweight cable. Luckily, the cable is black so with a little creativity, you can easily conceal it from your shot. The Pearstone OLM-10 lav mic circulates for 3 days to any current AU student, faculty, or staff member. It can also be reserved by stopping into the New Media Center or by calling us at 202.885.2560. Come by the New Media Center and check it out for your next project!

New Media Center Software Training Sessions this week:

The New Media Center is located on the lower level of the library past the Technology Services desk, next to Media Services. The NMC conducts open workshops on a variety of topics related to multimedia production. These 30 to 60 minute sessions are open to all AU faculty, staff and students with all levels of multimedia production experience. There are usually four or five workshops held each week. There is no fee for these workshops and no RSVP is necessary. Check the NMC calendar for the latest schedule. For more information, contact the NMC staff (202) 885-2560.

Sunday, 2/26 at 5pm – Intermediate Photoshop
Monday 2/27 at 2pm – Keyframing in Final Cut Pro 7
Tuesday 2/28 at 12pm – Basic Website Development
Wednesday 2/29 at 8pm – Basic motion Graphics for Video: After Effects
Thursday 3/1 at 4pm – Green Screen Editing
Friday 3/2 at 12pm – Getting Started with Photoshop
Saturday 3/3 at 5:30pm – Final Cut Pro X: Intermediate

See the complete Spring Training Schedule by date or by topic.

There is a wealth of multimedia training resources available online. AU faculty, staff and students have access to thousands of hours of free training at Lynda.com. Create a personal profile and get started. More information about resources can be found at Multimedia @ AU.