Digital Waves

Digital Media Studio

 Loanable technology to support critical media practice

All students in the Sociology Department, including at both undergraduate and graduate programs, are automatically registered and able to access technology from the Digital Media Studio. Equipment that comprises this studio enhances how students and staff engage with cultural theories and practical skills to meet the aims of producing critical and digitally literate citizens. Students can use this technology related to coursework, dissertations, and projects, including:

  • Journalistic reports, documentaries, and shorts
  • Digital ethnography
  • Audio documentaries
  • Longform audio journalism
  • Computer programming/hacking initiatives
  • Podcasting
  • Creative digital artwork and installations
  • Digital humanities
  • Mental mapping and city-making projects
  • Service-learning and community storytelling
  • Creative and research projects

Checking-out Equipment

To access digital media equipment, students should email their name, username, email address, and module course number to l.clancy2@lancaster.ac.uk or ask their instructors to submit this information, which will then allow students to access the online Siso inventory system to check-out equipment.

As of October 2021:

  • Bookings need to be made by 1pm for collection on the following opening time
  • Opening times are Tuesdays - Friday, 10.00 - 11.30
  • Please wear a mask (unless exempt)
  • Please sanitise hands before and after entering the collection point
  • Please bring student or staff ID
  • Please stick to your booking time as best as possible

(This process was correct at the time of publishing in October 2021, please check with LICA technical services for updates at lica-technical@lancaster.ac.uk)

Online Inventory System

To view and reserve equipment, access the online Siso inventory system.

Once in Siso:

  • Enter your Lancaster University username and password
  • Click “Make Booking”
  • On the next page, click “stock” and select the collection and return dates and times. Bookings must be made at least 24 hours in advance.
  • When you have selected the dates and times, click “Search Assets”
  • Select Sociology in the list provided on the next page
  • Select the item(s) you wish to reserve by adding an item to your basket and clicking “Book.” If a booking isn’t possible, a button titled “Resolve” will provide details and calendars to assist in your booking.
  • On the next screen, read the terms of the agreement and, if you agree, click to confirm.
  • Once the booking is complete, you should receive a booking confirmation email.

Technical Assistance

Contact Dr Laura Clancy at l.clancy2@lancaster.ac.uk with any problems and to access equipment if you are not registered.

Visit the video production for additional resources on editing and production and facilities page for information on LICA technical offerings, but recognize some of the information (ie editing studios) may not apply to students outside of LICA. Please also visit LICA online for hours of operation for collecting and returning equipment. Generally, students will be allowed one week for checking out Digital Media Studio equipment and will be required to either return or renew within that time period.

Technology provided includes:

Videography and Photography

  • 8 Canon EOS 77D DSLRs with 18-135mm IS USM lenses with memory cards
  • 5 Canon CX10 4K Video Cameras with memory cards
  • 4 lighting kits
  • 13 tripod kits
  • 13 light reflectors
  • 1 camera gimbal
  • RICOH Theta SC2 360-degree video camera

Audio Recording and Editing

  • 13 lavalier mics
  • 8 audio recorders and cases
  • 13 shotgun mics
  • 15 headphones
  • 16 headphone splitter cables
  • 5 Blue Yeti USB microphones and windscreens

Computer Programming

  • 1 24-port managed switch with monitor mode
  • 10 Raspberry Pi 3 Model Bs for programming
  • 10 Raspbian SD cards, preloaded with the operating system
  • 8 Raspberry Pi power supplies
  • 4 network cable crimper tools
  • 1 300-meter cat5e network cable
  • 10 16GB USB drives

Accessories

  • 13 carrying cases for DSLRs and video cameras
  • Rechargeable batteries and charging docks for cameras, recorders, and video cameras
  • SD cards for video cameras and DSLRs

Computer Labs

All ISS Computer Labs have Adobe Creative Cloud for producing and editing digital content. Users may need to provide their own SD card readers to access digital content from cameras, and external drives may be necessary to provide adequate scratch disks for video editing.

Please note, the labs with the full Adobe suites are Ash House, Bowland North A64, and Fylde C17.