MAP building provides opportunities for recording, filming and editing

Want to record your new song or maybe film a cool movie using a green screen? You can do it right here on campus.

Last year, the new MAP building was finished specifically with Media Arts students in mind, but few students know of the potential it has to be used by the entire student body.

The facility includes a 30 feet by 15 feet green screen, 35 computers, audio and video recording studios and much more.

According to MAP electives and Media Arts 1 teacher Tony Palma, a few seniors came in last year to record projects to be included in college applications.

Students have also used the facility to create English video projects to record themselves playing music and to make music videos.

“My friend Mark Van Aken is in MAP and had mentioned that there was a recording studio in the MAP building,” senior Isabel McPherson said. “I knew if we tried to record it ourselves, the audio quality would be pretty bad, so thankfully Mark was able to help us get into the recording studio. Once there, he and Mr. Palma set up all the mics and recording was really easy.”

Palma said he would love for the equipment to see more use. Students simply have to request time to use the building’s equipment and facilities.

“Right now it’s all arranged through me,” Palma said. The best times to contact him are during tutorial, seventh period or after school.

Unfortunately, the full range of equipment that the MAP students use, such as video cameras and other portable recording equipment is not available to the general student population. Soon, though, the cameras, lighting kits, video and voice recorders and other various technologies will be in the library for check-out by students, provided they have attended and completed a training session.

“We don’t want people checking out equipment and breaking it, then being responsible for it. That’s not fair to them and also not fair to other students who want to check out that equipment afterwards,” Palma said.

The goal is to have this transition to public use completed by November, especially as the school year picks up and projects will be assigned more frequently. With access to the portable equipment in the library, students will have a wider variety of options for their school and personal projects.

“I think it’s important that we have that equipment available to as many students as possible, because it doesn’t do any of us good to sit on the shelf and collect dust,” Palma said.

Palma is excited to see what the new school year brings for the facility.

“I know a lot of students on campus who are into music, whether it would be singing or instrumental music [or] they have their own bands, and I’d love to encourage them to come in,” Palma said.