Express Studio Student Need to Know

Express Studio log The Express Studio is a recording space students can use to create high-quality video content. With the touch of a few buttons, students can record without needing prior experience in recording or editing. Ideal for educational and professional use, the studio can quickly record presentations for class, content for a student organization, or an introduction for an online portfolio.

Location: Second Floor of the Phillips Library at the Emmitsburg Campus; Close to the Entrance of the Frederick Campus

Availability: Contact CIDD@msmary.edu to schedule daytime use

Materials: USB storage device with at least 2 gigabytes of space (USB storage device available upon request); Personal laptop computer

New! Express Studio Student Contest

Submit a video and enter a contest to win a $50 gift card to the Mount St. Mary's Bookstore! The Center for Instructional Design and Delivery (CIDD) hosts periodic contests, open to all enrolled students. The CIDD team provides full support of the Express Studio space, so no previous experience using the Express Studio is required!

Theme: Teach me something new!

Do you have a skill that you would like to teach other students about? Now's your chance! Provide step-by-step instructions, break down your skill by drawing a diagram on our lightboard, or just explain what the skill is. How you teach us is up to you!

Contact CIDD to request a reservation and any additional equipment you need, such as a USB, to start recording!

Email CIDD@msmary.edu to Begin Recording

Ready to submit? Enter your video using our form! Video files will need to be attached or linked to the form submission.

Enter Your Video to Win

Rules

All video submissions must either feature a segment from or be fully recorded in the Express Studio.
Recommended video length is 1-3 minutes in total duration. Videos over 5 minutes in length will not be considered.
Videos should be appropriate for viewing in academic settings.

Winner Selection Process

Members of the Center for Instructional Design and Delivery will review and select the top 4 video submissions.
The top 4 videos will be posted to the CIDD Instagram page where audience voting will take place.
Winners will be selected based on a combination of ratings from the Center for Instructional Design and Delivery and audience voting.
Winners will be notified via email.

Recording Options Available

The studio contains *three recording options that can be customized to meet individual recording preferences. Training is not required, but can be requested by contacting CIDD@msmary.edu. Support is available while using the space for any questions or recording needs.

Select an image to enlarge.

Green Screen

Record with a virtual background of your choosing, including a presentation or background image.

Ideal for: Presentations, demonstrations, and tutorial videos

Podium

Record with a white, black, or gray physical vinyl backdrop.

Ideal for: Speeches, interview-style videos

Lightboard

Record while writing on a glass board, similar to a classroom whiteboard.

Ideal for: Concept mapping, formulas, writing videos

*Lightboard option is available at Emmitsburg location only.

Preparing to Use the Studio

When planning to use the Express Studio, consider the content and materials necessary to record the video. It is possible to access files (PowerPoint presentations, Word documents containing notes or script) via email or OneDrive in the studio, but personal devices, such as a laptop, can also be connected via HDMI. Work with a member of the Center for Instructional Design and Delivery to find the best recording setup to present your content or reference your notes.

All video files recorded in the Express Studio are saved to a USB storage device. Students are asked to bring a personal storage device with at least 2 gigabytes of available space to save their completed video file. Video files can be uploaded directly to a personal computer to be submitted through a Canvas assignment or shared with others via another method. USB storage devices are available for use within the space upon request.

Additional Features

The Express Studio is highly customizable and contains a wide range of additional technology to consider! In addition to the greenscreen, physical backdrops, and lightboard options, students may also make use of the following technology with assistance from the Center for Instructional Design and Delivery:

An overhead camera that can record a top-down view, ideal for capturing writing, drawing, hand gestures, or other hands-on projects.
A teleprompter display that can display notes or a script that scrolls, ideal for recording speeches or messages.
A tablet PC that can be used to annotate Microsoft PowerPoint and Word files while recording.
Background/white noise removal support.
Pause feature for long-form video content.

Overhead camera in use

Touch screen monitor in use

To Canvas Student Support Page Overview