Published in: Marist College's school newspaper, "The Circle"
A computer upgrade with two Mac Pro workstations and new software was what provoked the team of broadcasters to work hard to create a successful television station representing their communication department.
"This was also the start to our digital archiving system, which allows us to have immediate access to several years of content, instead of searching through boxes of tapes in our closet that will eventually deteriorate," Smith said. "No more tapes means everything will be digital.Before digital, everything was analog. So after shooting, there would be 1,000 tapes to put on the computer and then go through. Now, everything goes to hard drive and several steps are cut out."
"It cuts down hours of work," MCTV's Entertainment Director Matt Scuteri said. "It makes it easier to keep footage in order" though there is more equipment to keep track of now. The picture quality will improve, as well.
"The second part of my plan involved improving MCTV's quality on TVs around campus," Smith said. "We were used to seeing a distorted picture and hearing noise on our channel, figuring there was nothing we could do about it because of the campus cable system. Even after the club went digital back in 2005, we were still limited by the extremely poor quality of the cable system."
The cameras will now be shooting in high definition, with channel 32.1 playing in HD and channel 29 will be for older televisions that cannot interpret the HD picture. According to Scuteri, the new technology will make the work flow easier since the recording will be through a chip.
"It'll be hard to adjust to it, but we're all really excited about it," Scuteri said.. "Being able to watch a show you worked very hard on in crystal clear HD from the comfort of your dorm room on campus is truly rewarding for our club members. I'm confident in a great future for the club, and I'm glad to have played a role in shaping it," Smith said.
"The second part of my plan involved improving MCTV's quality on TVs around campus," Smith said. "We were used to seeing a distorted picture and hearing noise on our channel, figuring there was nothing we could do about it because of the campus cable system. Even after the club went digital back in 2005, we were still limited by the extremely poor quality of the cable system."
The cameras will now be shooting in high definition, with channel 32.1 playing in HD and channel 29 will be for older televisions that cannot interpret the HD picture. According to Scuteri, the new technology will make the work flow easier since the recording will be through a chip.
"It'll be hard to adjust to it, but we're all really excited about it," Scuteri said.. "Being able to watch a show you worked very hard on in crystal clear HD from the comfort of your dorm room on campus is truly rewarding for our club members. I'm confident in a great future for the club, and I'm glad to have played a role in shaping it," Smith said.
Turning the broadcasts into HD is very innovative for a college campus.
"This was the start of something truly amazing for MCTV, as we are now one of the only college TV stations in the country that is available in HD, and still the only channel in HD here on campus," Smith said.
Filming in HD also allowed the club to film live broadcasts. MCTV now holds many live events that help promote what the club is capable of. The club does live broadcasts of games from McCann and some of the HuMarists Shows.
"We had the opportunity to do a live production of the Rob Stone Memorial concert and this past weekend our first ever basketball game in HD," Smith said. "Besides the improvements in quality, the simplified set-up of this equipment has cut our usual three-hour set-up time in half. We are hoping to produce many more live events because of this."
Other events helped in the promotion of the club, including a "premiere night" in the Cabaret on Oct. 27. A new "dramatic comedy" called "GreenTree," made by freshman Jim Meyers, was featured, as well as juniors Ryan Rivard and Jon O'Sullivan's new episode of "Fresh Blend." This event helped showcase the student's capabilities and what the club can do to help any broadcasting dreams students may have.
The transition to digital is "just about there," Scuteri said; it is the mental and habitual transition that MCTV members need to do. He said that upperclassmen have to remember the new processes since they are different for HD. But this will be what freshmen and incoming students know, so it will be easier for them when they take over.
"MCTV shows are all online at MaristCollegeTV.blip.tv," Smith said. "We would like to have [students] feedback on how MCTV looks on channel 32.1. We have not tested it out at every location on campus and need to know if [students] are having problems with the HD channel, so a service request can be put in to the cable company." A service request can be made via email to maristmctv@gmail.com.
Not only will the technological transitions make production life easier at MCTV, but they will begin a new era that will garner student support and appreciation. The fresh start for the club will produce a successful television station that the communication department can be proud of.
"This was the start of something truly amazing for MCTV, as we are now one of the only college TV stations in the country that is available in HD, and still the only channel in HD here on campus," Smith said.
Filming in HD also allowed the club to film live broadcasts. MCTV now holds many live events that help promote what the club is capable of. The club does live broadcasts of games from McCann and some of the HuMarists Shows.
"We had the opportunity to do a live production of the Rob Stone Memorial concert and this past weekend our first ever basketball game in HD," Smith said. "Besides the improvements in quality, the simplified set-up of this equipment has cut our usual three-hour set-up time in half. We are hoping to produce many more live events because of this."
Other events helped in the promotion of the club, including a "premiere night" in the Cabaret on Oct. 27. A new "dramatic comedy" called "GreenTree," made by freshman Jim Meyers, was featured, as well as juniors Ryan Rivard and Jon O'Sullivan's new episode of "Fresh Blend." This event helped showcase the student's capabilities and what the club can do to help any broadcasting dreams students may have.
The transition to digital is "just about there," Scuteri said; it is the mental and habitual transition that MCTV members need to do. He said that upperclassmen have to remember the new processes since they are different for HD. But this will be what freshmen and incoming students know, so it will be easier for them when they take over.
"MCTV shows are all online at MaristCollegeTV.blip.tv," Smith said. "We would like to have [students] feedback on how MCTV looks on channel 32.1. We have not tested it out at every location on campus and need to know if [students] are having problems with the HD channel, so a service request can be put in to the cable company." A service request can be made via email to maristmctv@gmail.com.
Not only will the technological transitions make production life easier at MCTV, but they will begin a new era that will garner student support and appreciation. The fresh start for the club will produce a successful television station that the communication department can be proud of.
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