Frequently Asked Questions
For questions about the development and use of multimedia material, go to the online course Using moving images and sound. This course has been compiled by Media and Learning Unit and offers an answer to all your questions.
Multimedia production
Recording
- Does Media and Learning Unit have a recording room available?
- I want to make a video recording, and sound is not important. What do I need?
- I want to video an interview. What do I need?
- I want to video a class, and an audio recording of the teacher is important. What do I need?
- I want to make an audio recording of an interview/meeting. What do I need?
- I want to make an audio recording of an interview/meeting. The recording also needs to be transcribed. What do I need?
- I want to make an audio recording of an interview/meeting on a digital dictaphone. The recording will need to be sent by email later on. What do I need?
Digitisation
Editing
Presentation of multimedia material
- I would like to have a technician to operate the audiovisual equipment. Is this possible?
- I want to give a PowerPoint presentation. What do I need?
- I want to show a video/DVD on a projection screen. What do I need?
- I want to show a video/DVD on my stand at an information day/exhibition. What do I need?
- I want to show a PowerPoint presentation on a video monitor at an information day/exhibition. What do I need?
Lending service
- Can cameras etc. be borrowed from the lending service free of charge?
- How far in advance do you have to reserve equipment when you want to borrow something from the Media and Learning Unit lending service?
- Is it possible to borrow a display device for a few days?
Toledo
- How can I use audiovisual material in my Toledo course so that pages can still be downloaded quickly?
- Can all students view a video clip even if they have a slow internet connection?
- What software do students need to view the film clips?
- Are good free software packages available for editing my audio or video files?
- What audiovisual material can I digitise?
- What are the most suitable formats for making audiovisual material available on Toledo?
- What conditions must my audiovisual material satisfy in order to support educationally responsible use?
- I have a video clip on my computer and want to paste it into my Toledo course, but the file is very large. Does this cause problems, and what can I do about it?
- I have a firewire and a digital camcorder. How do I transfer my video files?
Multimedia production
Recording
1. Does Media and Learning Unit have a recording room available?
Media and Learning Unit has its own studio, but this is only available for the internal use of its own Production Team.
2. I want to make a video recording, and sound is not important. What do I need?
- A camera
- A camera stand
You can obtain this equipment from the Media and Learning Unit lending service.
3. I want to video an interview. What do I need?
- A camera
- A camera stand
- An external microphone
- Headphones
You can obtain this equipment from the Media and Learning Unit lending service.
4. I want to video a class, and an audio recording of the teacher is important. What do I need?
- A semi-professional camera with extra audio inputs
- A camera stand
- Headphones
- A cordless microphone for the teacher
- A microphone for the sound of the class
You can obtain this equipment from the Media and Learning Unit lending service.
5. I want to make an audio recording of an interview/meeting. What do I need?
- A microphone
You can obtain this equipment from the Media and Learning Unit lending service.
6. I want to make an audio recording of an interview/meeting. The recording also needs to be transcribed. What do I need?
- A pedal-operated display device
- A microphone
You can obtain this equipment from the Media and Learning Unit lending service.
7. I want to make an audio recording of an interview/meeting on a digital dictaphone. The recording will need to be sent by email later on. What do I need?
- A dictaphone with a memory card
Note: If you want to put the recording onto your computer yourself, you will need a computer with a USB port.
If the interview also needs to be transcribed, this can be done automatically with a pedal-operated display device. This device must be connected to a computer, which must have a USB serial port, a line out and a sound card.
You can obtain this equipment from the Media and Learning Unit lending service, except for the computer.
Digitisation
1. Is it possible to get a video converted to DVD so that it can be put on a website?
If you want to get video material digitised or compressed, you should always make sure you are working with the best possible source material. Video material from a DVD is already digitised and compressed material. The end result will therefore not be very good, but it is possible. Read more about digitisation and compression.
Editing
1. Who can reserve an editing unit and how much does it cost?
- If you are a student or staff member of K.U.Leuven, you can do this for work-related purposes for free. You can use the editing unit 24 hours a day, with guidance during office hours.
- If you are a student or staff member of K.U.Leuven, you can also hire the units for private or commercial purposes. We hire the units out per half day or per whole day. The price for commercial purposes differs if the end product is in the socio-cultural or educational sector.
Presentation of multimedia material
1. I would like to have a technician to operate the audiovisual equipment. Is this possible?
Media and Learning Unit offers the following support options:
- provision of preliminary explanations at the auditorium for a technical coordinator from your faculty;
- a student technician comes to help start up the symposium;
- a student technician remains throughout the activity and looks after all technical aspects.
The services of a student technician are always charged for.
Read more about presentation support in auditoria.
2. I want to give a PowerPoint presentation. What do I need?
- An LCD projector
- A projection screen
- A PC (not available from the lending service)
You can obtain this equipment from the Media and Learning Unit lending service.
3. I want to show a video/DVD on a projection screen. What do I need?
- An LCD projector
- A projection screen
- A VHS/DVD player
- Loudspeakers with built-in amplifier or amplifier with separate loudspeakers
You can obtain this equipment from the Media and Learning Unit lending service.
4. I want to show a video/DVD on my stand at an information day/exhibition. What do I need?
- Video monitor + loudspeakers
- A VHS/DVD player
You can obtain this equipment from the Media and Learning Unit lending service.
5. I want to show a PowerPoint presentation on a video monitor at an information day/exhibition. What do I need?
- A video monitor
- A scan converter: this converts the VGA signal from the computer to a video signal
- A PC (not available from the lending service)
You can obtain this equipment from the Media and Learning Unit lending service.
Lending service
1. Can cameras etc. be borrowed from the lending service free of charge?
Yes, this is possible for K.U.Leuven students and staff members, for educational purposes. Read more about the lending service.
2. How far in advance do you have to reserve equipment when you want to borrow something from the AVNet lending service?
It is best to do so as soon as you know that you will need something. We apply the principle of 'first come, first served'. Depending on the timing and the equipment you want to borrow, the waiting period may be as much as one month. Read more about the lending service.
3. Is it possible to borrow a display device for a few days?
You can borrow a device for up to 14 days. Read more about the lending service.
Toledo
1. How can I use audiovisual material in my Toledo course so that pages can still be downloaded quickly?
Video material needs to be compressed before it can be distributed via the internet. There are various solutions for making your video material available on Toledo. You need to choose the file format, file size and mode of provision in order to make the file size as small as possible. In the online course, you can read step-by-step instructions on the best way to make your video material available in Toledo.
2. Can all students view a video clip even if they have a slow internet connection?
Video files are often very large, so they can take a long time to view via the internet. However, there are a few tips and tricks which may help you to reduce the file size. For example, progressive download or streaming media is a good solution for making your video material available, even for students with a lower bandwidth. If you would like to know more, go to:
3. What software do students need to view the film clips?
The software that students need to view your video material depends on the file format you use. Consult an overview of the online course.
4. Are good free software packages available for editing my audio or video files?
There are a few free software packages available, but the end result will usually be significantly less good than if you use professional software. The editing units at Media and Learning Unit are equipped with Final Cut Pro. As a K.U.Leuven student or staff member, you can use them free of charge, and you will also receive a free introductory lesson. However, if you do opt to use free software, you can find an overview in the online course.
5. What audiovisual material can I digitise?
In principle you can digitise any film material. However, you need to bear in mind that the quality will inevitably get worse. It is therefore always better to work with the original file. Read more about digitising.
6. What are the most suitable formats for making audiovisual material available on Toledo?
In principle you can provide any format on Toledo. Obviously, it is important to limit the file size, which is why it is best not to work with .DV or .avi files. The four most common formats are .wmv, .qt, .rm and .swf. The user needs a different player for each of these formats. You can find more information in the online course.
7. What conditions must my audiovisual material satisfy in order to support educationally responsible use?
It all depends on what you want to do with your audiovisual material. However, there are a few general guidelines it is best to keep to. You can find these in the online course.
8. I have a video clip on my computer and want to paste it into my Toledo course, but the file is very large. Does this cause problems, and what can I do about it?
Video material is often very large, so it can take a long time to view via the internet. However, there are a few tips and tricks which may help you to reduce the file size. For example, progressive download or streaming media is a good solution for making your video material available, even for students with a lower bandwidth.
9. I have a firewire and a digital camcorder. How do I transfer my video files?
You can connect the firewire directly to your computer. However, you need a firewire card to do this. As well as the hardware, you will also need the right software to transfer your video material. A free software package is often supplied with your camera which you can use to transfer your video material.
For more technical information, refer to the online course.
