5CLIR-owned Audio-Visual Resources AUDIO EQUIPMENT Available by Reservation We sometimes need audio equipment to improve the quality of our presentations with sounds and music. In addition, we should always have some form of sound amplification when we meet in a large room and when we have a group of more than 20 people. Remember that many of us do not have booming voices and that even more of us do not hear extremely well!! Powered loudspeakers: We own two very powerful powered loudspeakers--i.e. you need to plug them in. They are extremely simple to use. They connect to the sound emitting equipment through 1/4 stereo cables. You will need a 1/8 to 1/4 converter if you want to connect them to your laptop. Powered speaker container Powered speaker unpacked Mixer (Peavey Messenger): The mixer, which integrates its own set of loudspeakers, allows connecting, mixing and regulating up to four sources of input like cable linked microphones, wireless microphones, or our DVD.
Peavey Messenger Box Set up with connections The sounds received by the mixer are controlled by the operator (i.e. you) through sliders and switches. Microphones: The accessory box contains two wireless microphones, one with an integrated transmitter, the other one requiring a separate transmitter. There are also a number of tie microphones." The box contains enough receivers and transmitters for up to three wireless microphones working simultaneously. There is also a cabled microphone packed with the mixer. Should you need a microphone stand, there is one at the office. Wireless Mike with Integrated Transmitter Wireless Mike with UHF Transmitter
UHF Receiver Cables and plugs: As noted above, all cables (except the 30 sound cable used for Great Decisions) are in the accessory box. Spare batteries for all of the equipment is at the 5CLIR office. You may want to have some spare batteries for the equipment that you are using.
VIDEO EQUIPMENT DVD player: The Philips DVD player is in a box marked Samsung. (The original carton packaging became unusable.) It is extremely simple to use. The remote is easier than the buttons on the face of the player and works exactly like the remote on your home DVD player. The box includes a reasonably readable user manual, a remote and several sets of cables. The most usual configuration is to cable the red and white jacks to the sound equipment and the yellow one to the video equipment. Our digital projectors (see below) have integrated loudspeakers but their volume is very low. As a result, it's often advisable to use one of the powered loudspeakers described above. DVD Player Note 1: The DVD can also play all sorts of musical CD s including MP3. If all you want is sound, you do not need the projector or the yellow plug. Note 2: Your laptop itself is a DVD player, and you can connect it through the sound output jack of your PC/MAC to the sound equipment. Digital Projectors: 5CLIR has two digital projectors, which are more or less equivalent One is from NEC, the other from Sanyo. The cases containing the projectors include: the projector itself, the remote, a VGA cable, the power cable and an extension cord with a triple plug. With one of them comes a laser pointer. The projectors can be used with the DVD mentioned above or with your laptop.
The projector will be linked to your laptop's VGA port through a VGA cable. If you are using a MAC you may also need a special adapter between your MAC and the VGA cable. Macs may not have a video port that is compatible with the projection system being used. In this case, an appropriate adapter cable will be needed. You will need to check the specific projector and the specific Mac laptop to figure out what kind of adapter cable is needed. It may be that an appropriate adapter cable came with your Mac when you purchased it, so check before you buy a cable. VGA Port (on the side or the back of the laptop) Note: please handle the projectors with care, we have no spare bulbs! Lumens Overhead Camera: As its name implies, this is a specially designed digital camera for displaying documents (or even objects) that cannot be easily scanned. The camera includes computer memory but does not include a projector. To project the images, the Lumens must be connected to a digital projector. The box includes the Lumens, the power cable, and the cable to connect the Lumens to a digital projector VGA input. Slide Projectors: Many of us still have large collection of slides. There are two slide projectors at the 5CLIR office, each with a carrousel and a spare bulb. Overhead projector: The overhead projector is used to project images from transparencies. Transparencies, either black and white or more expensive color ones can be prepared by your preferred copy shop (or on some personal printers). Screen: We have one transportable screen. It is fairly small, not in excellent shape, and awkward to transport. Whenever you can, we recommend that you use the screens which are found in many of the seminar locations.
PROCEDURES for RESERVING 5CLIR EQUIPMENT Outside the spring and fall semesters, all the equipment is stored at the 5CLIR office. Whenever you need one or several pieces of equipment, send your request to the A/V coordinator (currently Jim Perot) indicating what is needed, when it is needed (day, AM or PM) and where. The A/V coordinator will send you by email the A/V tracking sheet as well as any updates which may take place between the time you place your requisition and the time you actually use the equipment. It is the participants responsibility to contact one another (the one who needs it and the one who has it) and to arrange the actual transfer of equipment. During the semesters the equipment DOES NOT go back to the office. Whoever has equipment in hand at the end of the semester should return it to the office. In case of doubt or if an piece of equipment does not seem to have a user for a long period of time, ask the A/V coordinator for a recommendation. AUDIO-VISUAL RESOURCES NORMALLY FOUND IN 5CLIR VENUES Amherst College: Keefe Center: Room 207 There is a large TV with an integrated DVD player. It is far easier than our own equipment. Just ask downstairs at the reception for the Room 207 remote controller (marked on a sticker on the back). There is wireless access to the internet. Just let your wireless adapter find and connect to the AC network. You'll be asked to provide your name, the room number and a contact name; just leave the latter blank and it works. Even better, the network will recognize you next time. There is wired access to the network via an Ethernet cable (which you must provide). The ethernet jack is under the power plugs near the TV. The connection is faster than wireless. There is no digital projector permanently installed. Amherst College: Keefe Center: Small theater in basement There is a large screen at the front of the room.
Open ethernet is available, but bring a long cable to attach to your laptop. You will have to bring the LIR digital projector. You can make arrangements to have a small table brought in for the projector and laptop. The table has long legs, and sits between two rows of seats. It is not normally possible to have access to the projection room at the back. Smith College: Dewey Hall Common Room There is a permanently installed digital projector mounted on the ceiling. It can be fed from the VCR or the DVD players permanently installed in the room, or from a laptop which you provide. There is a large, pull-down screen in the front of the room. There is open internet access via a permanently available, 15-feet-long ethernet cable bundled with the video cable which connects to a laptop. The cable bundle also has an audio plug for the laptop. There are permanently installed speakers as well. There is also a 'white board,' but you'll need to bring your own 'dry erase' markers. Finally there are an overhead (transparency) projector, and an easel (which may or may not have fresh paper on it, so check). Umass Continuing Education Bldg, Rooms 113, 114 There is no open wireless access. There is open ethernet access. The ethernet jack is clearly marked under a window on the left side of the room. Given the position of the jack, a fairly long ethernet cable is required. There is a TV/DVD in the rooms. There is also a cabinet of A/V equipment in the back of the rooms. Someone in Room 201 (the Office of the Director) will be happy to help. A digital projector is not normally kept in the room. There is an overhead (transparency) projector in the room 113. The Newman Center at Umass There is a 50-inch plasma TV screen to which your PC laptop can be attached via a standard SVGA display cable which you can provide OR The Newman Center will provide if the presenter lets them know in advance. See the note about Mac connectivity above. There is open wireless connectivity.
Umass Transit Training Facility The room has at least 20 desks, each accommodating 2 people. Each desk has power capability and the desks can be arranged in several configurations. There is an overhead digital projector, with two plug-in locations. There is a screen, which drops down when switched. There are window blinds. There is a moveable podium at the front of the room. Internet access is available, but you need to get an access code from Adam, the Transit tech support. There is no audio or video equipment that we know of. Parking is very close, but one does need to work with the Umass transit folks to get passes, which has proven to work well up to now. The Hitchcock Center There is a screen, a 35-mm slide projector, and a transparency-projector. There are shades for the windows, but one was broken last year. There is no broadband internet connectivity, but there may be wireless internet connectivity. Ask staff at the Center for instructions. There is parking adjacent to the building and a lot across the street. Arcadia Wildlife Center There is plenty of parking. The room has a large white front wall which works well as a screen. They have limited A/V equipment. LIR presenters usually bring their own, or 5CLIR's, equipment. There is wireless internet, but no one seems to know quite how to make it work. Applewood Their conference room has a large screen HD TV and an excellent sound system. There is also a large ceiling attached screen. Should you need it, Applewood will set up their digital projector (but LIR s are more powerful).