Recently the University of Melbourne had a requirement and put out a tender for new integrated media production studios to be designed then built on campus using the very latest, state-of-the-art equipment. The winner of the tender was Videocraft Pro.
The University of Melbourne’s media production studio facility manager Dr. David Beesley explained, “The new integrated media production studios were proposed and constructed to address the growing demand and need for practical, applied learning across the Faculty of Arts. We wanted the new studios to provide exceptional facilities that are purpose-built and would thus improve the student experience. The new facilities were required to provide students with an exceptional opportunity to enhance their learning experience in a hands-on, applied learning environment. Their capabilities would also support teaching, research and public engagement across the Faculty of Arts and broader University community, allowing us to meet the diverse needs of our students, academics and partners. I’m delighted to say Videocraft Pro delivered all of this and more.”
Videocraft Pro is the division of Videocraft which has designed, managed and installed professional audio and video production and post-production projects in Australia for over 50 years.
Videocraft sales director James Taylor said, “The University of Melbourne initially asked us to consult on the project, so we could help them create a studio facility for students where they could learn how to work in a real live TV environment as part of a team. They also wanted us to propose a cost effective and powerful system which would be the heart and backbone of the new studios. It was an incredibly rewarding project as we knew we were helping educate the television and broadcast professionals of the future.”
After the initial consultation and winning the tender Videocraft Pro got to work on the design and implementation of the new studios.
Dr Beesley continued, “Videocraft Pro’s winning proposal included the fit out and integration of the AV for our new integrated media production studios, comprising of five multimedia podcast suites, a small TV studio and control room, a dedicated main audio space and control room, a large TV studio and control room and a machine server room. In truth the project grew from what was initially going to be a single studio to an integrated precinct with the power and capability to cover all media production bases.”
As a result of the new build the ground floor of the university’s Babel Building has seen a significant improvement in facility offerings for its Faculty of Arts students and staff.
Taylor added, “These new facilities are all networked together so they provide students with an exceptional opportunity to enhance their learning experience in a hands-on, applied learning environment. They can recreate live crosses and remote production with the highest-quality video and audio from any location to any location and deliver live streams out of the studios to external providers and other educational facilities.”
The design and build of these new studios was no mean feat as the University of Melbourne had comprehensive technical requirements that needed to result in professional facilities which would enable hands-on learning in an environment that embodies best industry practice and contemporary digital workflow but also caters to a diverse range of skill levels and allows future expansion.
At the heart of the solution was Videocraft Pro’s decades of experience in choosing exactly the right equipment to not only meet the university’s technical requirements, but also their budget and then integrating all of that equipment to give the best possible solution.
To that end Videocraft’s solution included Blackmagic vision switchers, routers and cameras, Riedel comms, Yamaha QL1 and QL5 audio desks, a Dante audio network, Rodecaster Pro II podcast suites, EditShare storage, V-Mix and SRT for external connectivity and an interactive screen.
When asked how the Videocraft solution fulfilled and continues to fulfil the university’s requirements Dr Beesley answered, “Brilliantly! Since the soft launch earlier this year usage to date has already exceeded expectations. Students just love it and cannot get enough time in the new facilities and bookings for next year are already extensive. This is a real credit to Videocraft Pro, their experience and their expertise as they significantly over delivered whilst being on budget and within our timeframe.”
The university uses their new studios for hands-on teaching and learning across a variety of undergrad and post-grad courses within the Faculty of Arts, specifically the School of Culture and Communication, School of Language and Linguistics and the Centre for Advanced Journalism amongst others.
Being able to choose and integrate the right equipment that could deliver for these students in the most realistic, real-world environment was a challenge welcomed by James Taylor and the Videocraft Pro team.
He explained, “We had to use all of our 50-plus years of experience to choose equipment that would help the students deliver a real-world, television-grade result and prepare them to work in the modern-day broadcast industry – at the right price. In truth the equipment we chose and how we configured and integrated it got a result that was bigger and better than the sum of its parts.”
The university typically uses its new studios to create and help with podcasts, news broadcasts, media training, live-crosses, media experts, audio storytelling and live events with students writing, producing, directing, crewing and being on-screen talent.
Dr. Beesley added, “Videocraft’s experience working with partners in the tertiary sector gives them a genuine understanding of educational needs and educational processes. The provided solution meets our initial user brief perfectly and is another reason for prospective students to choose the University of Melbourne as their preferred institution in which to study. What Videocraft were able to achieve with this build and install is remarkable. They have created a state-of-the-art, functional, usable and flexible facility that has a real-world television and broadcast feel without cutting any corners. In short, they pushed the equipment to deliver solutions we didn’t know were possible – and that’s what we call Videocraft’s secret sauce.”
The new integrated media production studios Videocraft have designed and installed have added real value to the University of Melbourne as Dr. Beesley concluded, “Videocraft have created the opportunity for students to engage with a state-of-the-art, purpose-built media production studio facility that emulates best industry practice. It is an amazing fit-out with a huge amount of potential and capacity for great things.
We are very excited about what the future has in store, and what our students and researchers will create given this opportunity. The real added value very clearly came from Videocraft Pro using all of their experience and expertise from the last 50 years to create and integrate this unique new facility. There are not many companies in Australia who could have designed, installed and delivered this. Hats off to Videocraft Pro for doing so.”