The largest part of WCTV’s new production
 facility is Studio “A” and its dedicated Control
 Room. In this area, production sessions for most
 of WCTV’s “live” and “live-to-tape” programs
 take place.
    The Studio “A” Control Room is exactly what
 its name implies: it is the room in which the crew
 controls the action in the studio. All of the source
 devices in the two rooms (microphones, cameras,
 tape decks, etc) are connected to the control room.
 It is here that those sources are combined to make
 the final program.

 
     The first station on the left is the Graphics Station. This
  area contains all of the equipment necessary to compose
  “on-screen” graphics using text and various image elements.
     In addition to the SCALA InfoChannel Designer software,
  this area is also equipped with image editing tools for use in
  conforming large pictures to the dimensions needed for use
  in television applications.
     Operators at this station can compose professional-looking
  two-dimensional and three-dimensional graphics for use in
  their respective productions.



    The next station over is the Director’s Area.
 in which the project’s Technical Director would
 control the look of the entire program.
    This station is equipped with a video switcher/
 special effects unit and an array of video panels
 which allow the director to monitor up to twelve
 video sources at any given time.
    Other monitoring devices allow the director
 to keep an eye on the overall program quality
 as well as the level of program audio.
    A wired headset keeps the director in touch
 with the operators in the studio.


    An array of larger flat panel monitors mounted
 on the wall over the Director’s Area allows the
 Control Room crew to see what’s going on with
 the main program, and preview upcoming video
 sources.
    Another monitor allows the crew to see what’s
 going out over the three WCTV cable channels.
    A pair of monitors, connected to cameras
 mounted overhead in the studio, allows the crew
 to get an overview of what is happening in the
 studio during the course of a production.


 
    Next to the Director’s Area is the Capture/
 Edit Station. Program content generated in the
 studio can be recorded onto a computer hard
 drive and accessed or edited almost instantly.
    Another nice option is the ability to connect
 via an in-house network connection to one of
 the computer editing bays for more editing and/
 or post-production polish.
    The Capture/Edit station uses Adobe Premiere
 and is connected through a analog-to-digital
 conversion device, allowing not only smooth and
 quick recording and editing capability, but the
 ability to play video files right out of the computer
 and onto the program.


    The right side of the Control Room console
 contains most of the playback and recording
 equipment. Producers can record their programs
 onto a variety of formats including S-VHS, DV,
 MiniDV, DVD, and MPEG video. Programs that
 are completed in “real time” can then be digitally
 transferred into our automated playback system.
    This area also includes processing equipment
 for optimizing (or cleaning up) audio and video
 signals, as well as devices that allow crew
 members to remotely make adjustments to the
 cameras in the studio.
    On the lower right you will see the audio mixer
 which combines the audio sources (microphones,
 playback sources, live feeds, etc.) into the final
 soundtrack you hear with the program.