Recording and Digitization Studios

A video recording studio with lighting, screens, and a microphone.
Studio lights and screens and a camera in a recording studio
Doors leading into a one-touch video studio and teleconferencing room

The Freedman Center for Digital Scholarship provides space for recording and A/V digitization.

Selfie Studio

The Selfie Studio offers space for recording audio and video with your personal device.  BYO device and utilize the studio lighting, backdrop, and phone mount to create high quality video and audio for your digital scholarship project. Designed to be utilized by a single person or small groups of people, this space is ideal for recording videos for classes, conducting filmed interviews, recording monologues, etc. Be aware that the Selfie Studio is not a soundproof room, and that the library is an active learning space.  Therefore, we cannot ensure an environment that is free from interruptions, distractions, or outside noise.

The Capture Studio 

The Freedman Center has a dedicated room for capturing A/V materials. The room is equipped with two desktop computers with hardware and software for A/V digitization.

Capture Station 1 can capture video from VHS, DVD, Bluray*, DV**, Beta, and Laserdisc.

Capture Station 2 can capture audio from Records (33, 45, and 78), cassette tapes as well as DVD and VHS from international sources.

The A/V editing workstations allow users to digitize, edit, study, and export A/V materials with the guidance of our online tutorials and scheduled consultations (freedmancenter@case.edu).

Reservations are not required but suggested as the process of digitization can take a long time.  It is a real-time process so 1 hour of video takes 1 hour to digitize.  Video generally needs to be compressed into more manageable files after it has been digitized as the raw digitized format is 12GB per hour. This process also takes time.

*Bluray can only be captured in SD quality NOT HD quality.

** DV and MiniDV is currently not available as it is being upgraded.

Patrons should note that other formats can be digitized by the library as part of our for fee Premium Services. This includes: SVHS, Digital and High 8mm video tapes, 16mm and 8mm film, as well as open reel audio.  Those interested in using this service should contact (freedmancenter@case.edu) for a consultation and a quote.

Any formats not specifically listed can possible (probably) be digitized so please ask!