Our campus studio got an upgrade! New Sony studio cameras were installed during Engagement Week to replace the original broadcast equipment that had served students well for 15 years. With some technical issues recently, it was determined that further repairs or replacements were not possible. So, it was time to make the switch and upgrade.
The new Cameras, which students have been using for a few months now, have already earned praise. “The feedback our technician has received from the students since the installation is that there is a noticeable difference in their use and the quality of the picture they produce, which is encouraging,” Gillian Edwards, Manager - Media Technology Facilities at the Story Arts Centre, shares.
Sony is a familiar name in the industry and one the students can use regularly, as our equipment room is well stocked with the brand's gear. Having the latest Sony equipment in-studio where they can receive hands-on instruction and participate in interactive learning is a significant part of preparing students for their careers after graduation.
“The studio cameras installed in our main television studio are an industry standard. Broadcasters in the GTA are currently using them, and we know those students interested in camera and studio work will certainly have an advantage after having worked on the equipment here,” Gillian explains. “As students go on placement or enter into the broadcast workforce, they can be confident in their knowledge of the studio environment and count on the hands-on experience they have had.”
Gillian also notes how important it was to have proper broadcast engineers present to make the installation happen, and Matrix Video Communications was the team for the job. Troy Gallant, part of this team, shares, “When the power supplies started to fail on their aging end-of-line Hitachi studio cameras, Centennial reached out to Matrix to supply them with four new studio cameras for their main studio. Centennial chose Sony cameras not only for their exceptional image quality but because the majority of television stations and mobile trucks in the country are using Sony studio cameras, and it made sense to prepare their students for the cameras that are predominant in the industry.”
Gillian also speaks to this preparedness by explaining how important it is to future-proof the campus’ purchases. “Technology is rapidly changing, and we have to plan for the state of the practice. A wide variety of our vendors know that our students are the future creators and innovators, and they use their tools to train on and create with.” She continues, “It has been my experience that most vendors are interested in our student success and provide opportunities for student demos, etc. They also make themselves available to our faculty and support staff by offering training, information, technical support and problem-solving. We take our relationships seriously and have gratitude for their support.”
The upgrades are done, and now we turn things over to our incredibly talented storytellers.
Article by: Alexandra Few
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