Video+Lab

=Creating a Video Lab= Betancourt, Leah. "The Complete Guide to Video Blogging." //Mashable: The Social Media Guide.// Mashable. n.d. Web. 20 May 2010. []. You have been inspired by this article to set up your video lab. Using it as a guide, find reviews for the items listed below Select the hard- and software for this lab. For each item selected give me the price, a brief product description, and a hyperlink to a review of the item. Use the reviewing tools from above to select the hard- and software. If you don't use a review tool from above you must defend the source you used. (Pretend I'm your principal and I want you to defend a purchase order request for expensive equipment and software.)

ALSO: Keep in mind you are a BUSY librarian. Kids will be using this equipment. DON'T buy the most expensive equipment but keep in mind that with this kind of circulation that if it is broken you may not be able to replace it easily. Look for durability. Look for quality bargains. Look for EASE. You will have little time to help students with complicated equipment or software. //Just sayin'.//

Finally, tell me where you would set up this small video production area in your library. If you need to create space or desks, tables, chairs, etc. and you have money left over from you $10,000, tell me what you would need and how it might be arranged.

1. Digital video cameras:
 * ** Kodak Zi8 Pocket Video Camera **
 * Easy to use, even for novices
 * External microphone jack
 * Rechargeable batteries
 * SD Card
 * Can also be used as a still camera
 * 4 out of 5 stars [|http://reviews.cnet.com/digital-camcorders/kodak-zi8-pocket-video/4505-6500_7-33740345.html?tag=contentBody;compare#reviewPage1]
 * 4.5 out of 5 stars []
 * $114.90 (on Amazon Marketplace)
 * Total cost for 8 cameras: **$919.20**

2. External microphones for the computers and the cameras
 * **Blue Microphone Snowball** (for computer)
 * USB jack
 * Plug and play capabilities, no software needed
 * Sturdy
 * 3.5 out of 5 stars []
 * $70.52 (on Amazon Marketplace)
 * Total cost for 8 microphones: **$564.16**
 * **Olympus ME 52W**(for cameras)
 * Standard microphone jack works with Kodak cameras
 * Smaller and more portable
 * []
 * $13.95 (on Amazon Marketplace)
 * Total cost for 8 microphones: **$111.60**

3. Computers (with monitors and mice) to edit the videos
 * **Dell Inspiron 14z**
 * CD/DVD burner
 * Great battery life
 * 4 out of 5 stars []
 * $599 from Dell
 * Total cost for 8 laptops: **$4792.00**
 * **Logitech V220 Cordless Optical Mouse**
 * Wireless mouse for ease of use with laptop
 * 3.5 out of 5 stars (user rating) []
 * $10.99 (on Amazon Marketplace)
 * Total cost for 8 mice: **$87.92**

4. Video editing software
 * ** VideoPad Video Editor **
 * Professional, easy to use software.
 * 5 out of 5 stars []
 * $69.95 (from download.cnet.com)
 * Total cost of software for 8 machines: **$559.60**

5. Headphones to be used in the editing process
 * ** Pioneer DJ Inspired SE-MJ31 **
 * Compatible with most audio devices as well as computers
 * 12 month warranty (parts and labor)
 * More durable than standard headphones, yet cheap enough to replace if breakage occurs
 * []
 * $29.95 (on Tiger Direct)
 * Total cost for 16 headphones (2 per station): **$239.60**

Because our library is a relatively small space, flexibility is the key. This is one reason I chose laptops rather than desktops. Our video production area would be stored on a [|10 laptop cart]purchased from [|www.demco.com] for **$514.99**. This cart would be specifically for video production, which would also make it accessible for teachers to check out. I chose to start with 8 stations due to our average class size being between 18-24 students. This allows for groups of 3 or 4 students. The media closet can be used as a quiet room to set up the laptop, camera, and microphone, if necessary. I would spend an additional **$350** to purchase a [|photo/video lighting kit]from [|www.demco.com] which includes lights and a green screen. I purposefully kept my lab under budget to buy the other necessities such as power strips, SD cards for the cameras, AA batteries for the wireless mice, headphone splitters, etc. I would also probably buy a couple of extra sets of headphones and the smaller microphone to prepare for lost and damaged items.

Total Cost of Video Lab: **$8378.67**
 * Cameras: $919.20
 * Microphones: $675.76
 * Laptops and mice: $4879.92
 * Software: $559.60
 * Headphones: $479.20
 * Cart: $514.99
 * Lighting Kit: $350.00