News from the Mesa County Libraries 970West Studio
October 2022
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With autumn's chill settling in, it's a perfect time to dust off your audio and video projects and see how the Mesa County Libraries 970West Studio can help you bring them to life.
We offer a wide variety of classes to help you hone your studio skills, including some new stuff! We're launching a Photo Restoration Basics class that will show you how to salvage a fading or damaged picture, and we recently acquired an easier-to-use, simplified podcasting station that you can learn more about in the Podcast Production class.
Scroll down to see all of our upcoming class offerings. Let us know how we can help you achieve your creative vision! See you at the 970West Studio!
REMINDER ABOUT HOLIDAY CLOSURES IN NOVEMBER
Mesa County Libraries will be closed Friday, Nov. 11, for Veterans Day and Thursday and Friday, Nov. 24 and 25, for Thanksgiving.
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Discover what the 970West Studio staff have been reading, watching, and listening to. |
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Denise's Pick:
Have you ever got to know who your houseplants are, as beings? Human VS Plant: A Staring Contest. Oops, you blinked. It’s hard to know who our plant friends are, in "human time." We tend to appreciate the fruits of their labor, but tend not to pay much attention to the momentary play-by-play of a plant’s daily life. Why is that? Are plants boring?
Just when we needed to set some records straight about plants, Sir David Attenborough is back to the rescue with another BBC masterpiece: The Green Planet. Attenborough turned 96½ this year, but age, inclement weather, natural disaster, and dangerous terrain cannot keep this wonderful man from trekking, boating, and wandering his way into the wilderness to find extraordinary things. He even plants a few hilarious, but dry, jokes along his narrative journey.
Picture yourself stepping into a frozen forest with skeleton-limbed trees. Now imagine that as you approach a tree, a tiny green node forms on one limb. You move closer, and suddenly millions of green dots burst into tiny leaves that grow to full size in seconds, as the snow around your feet melts into a vibrant scene of wildflowers. You move closer to the tree as it buds and blossoms before your eyes. One step closer, and the buds fall, bright berries appear, then disappear and yellow veins creep through a nearby leaf. With the next step, you are microscopically inside the leaf as it flushes a quick red and withers to a darker brown. Then you both slowly fall to the ground and are dusted with snow.
This Alice in Wonderland experience is now possible in documentary cinema. Thanks to a new rig called the TRIFFID2, time-lapse technology can walk like a human, but still capture the relatively slow movement of plant life, on any imaginable scale. (Fun fact #1: "Triffid" was coined in a 1951 sci-fi novel by John Wyndham to describe an ambulatory, carnivorous plant that likes the taste of humans. Fun fact #2: The Green Planet cinematography crew operate the TRIFFID2 with a Nintendo game controller.)
One thing I learned from watching The Green Planet is that plants are … pretty violent. There are plants that stab, choke, and poison each other. Of course there are plants that network, nurse, and otherwise help other plants, too. Sound design is where all these amazing plants come alive with quirks and personalities. Sound Engineer Charlie Cooper knew that music alone would not draw audiences into the story, so he carefully created a soundtrack rich with foley effects. For example, when the giant balsa tree grows 30 feet in under 3 minutes, we hear something like cabbage leaves and a wooden floor slowly creaking. The giant leaves sound like giant sheets of fabric being whipped by the wind on a clothesline, or on a sailboat. We hear dramatic music pierced by an adorable, tiny yell as a nettle plant is attacked by her parasitic neighbor. For once, plants get to be more than props. In The Green Planet, plants are living, vibrant characters.
Besides graphic depictions of plant violence, there is one more tiny thing I need to warn you about.
If you watch The Green Planet, you will immediately want to start creating foley sounds for your next project. The good news is that 970West Studio has an amazing array of microphones that can help you do just that. Book the 970West Studio Live Room today!
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Jason's Pick:
“JD BECK is a 6-year-old sheep investigator from Texas.”
This delightful bit of tomfoolery taken from DOMi and JD BECK’s official bio is, of course, a joke, but it’s a great example of what most amazes me about this duo. Can DOMi vibe harder with her left hand and feet on the bass pedals of her synth than 90% of the musical acts out there today? Does JD Beck have an instantly recognizable, insanely fast and technical, yet always tasty, drum style? The answer is yes, but on top of all that, they are hilarious and down to earth, and that’s what gives this album, and their entire act, a sense of cool that cannot be faked.
After absolutely tearing it up on various social media platforms for some time now, these jaw-droppingly talented humans have finally released a proper album, and you should check it out immediately! Some of the standout tracks are “SMiLE,” which grooves hard with a laid-back swing, infectious keyboard hook, and snare hits that fly all around the song like random punctuation marks. “MOON” is another great song that features jazz royalty Herbie Hancock and a killer, auto-tuned vocal hook.
Luckily for you, all of the tools you need to make your own amazing, funny, jaw-dropping album exist at 970West Studio. Book your next session today!
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If you've been to a concert in the past 20 years, you have probably witnessed live looping. If you haven't been to a concert lately, get out there! Here's an idea: Check out former library Artist in Residence Charles Walker with his band, Wave 11, to absorb good vibes, great jams, and live looping all at once! Looping is a blast to watch, but have you ever tried doing it? You can do it here! Simply request our Boss RC-1 Loop Station during your next 970West Studio reservation.
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Whereas many loopers are strictly mono, the Boss RC-1 Loop Station has stereo inputs and outputs. This powerful little pedal records and circulates loops up to 12 minutes long. Meanwhile, the circular-patterned indicator lights show exactly how much time is left within the loop. The indicator lights are green during playback, red during recording, and alternating red/green during overdubbing, so it's very easy to stay on track, and on time, while you're layering new dubs or playing along with the loop. Last but not least, it runs on either AC power, or a 9v battery, so there's no need to be plugged into a wall or worry about yet another cable at your feet.
The only downside is that all inputs and outputs on the Boss RC-1 Loop Station are ¼", so it gets along beautifully with instruments but does not play nice with the microphones and would not be suitable for vocals or beatboxing. There are ways around any creative challenge, however, and that's all part of the fun!
We are looking forward to your next creation at the 970West Studio. Feel free to loop us in!
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Take a 970West Studio class!
Most classes require advance registration. Click the links to register.
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970West Studio Orientation
Take the first step toward using the 970West Studio. Orientation classes last an hour. Registration is NOT required.
970West Studio Orientations take place during the following times
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Studio Q&A
Explore the 970West Studio as we offer Orientations and have staff available to answer your multimedia production questions.
Assistance is offered on a first-come, first-served basis. In-depth/additional questions may require a future Book a Librarian appointment if others are waiting.
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Studio Q&A takes place at the following times:
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Camera Kit Basics
If you’re interested in checking out one of Mesa County Libraries’ camera kits, but don’t know where or how to get started, this class is for you! We will cover the basics of camera care, lens attachment, manual/automatic settings, ISO, lens apertures, and focus adjustments. This class, along with a valid Mesa County Libraries card and a little inspiration, will have you creating amazing photos in no time! |
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Photo Restoration Basics
Learn how to preserve and repair your old or deteriorating photographs using Adobe Photoshop. In this course you will learn how to improve color and fix ripped, scratched, stained, and torn photos. Participants are welcome to bring their own scanned photograph to use during the class but will need to bring an external storage device, such as a USB flash drive, to do so.
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Mac OS Basics
Mac OS is a proprietary graphical operating system developed and marketed by Apple Incorporated since 2001. It is the primary operating system used in the 970West Studio and the Creation Station at the Central Library. In this class, learn the basics of Mac OS.
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Podcast Production
Podcasting is a great way to get your story out there! Join us at 970West Studio, where we will go over microphone choice, multitrack recording, signal processing, mixing, and file exporting.
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Green Screen 1.0: Assembly
Let's build a green screen! Explore all the components of the 970West Studio's Green Screen Kit. Students will practice setting up the kit, learn basic green screen theory, and explore common pitfalls and their solutions. Depending on time and interest, students may have an opportunity to practice recording footage with the green screen. Each month, we will explore different layouts and techniques; so students are encouraged to attend multiple times.
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Green Screen 1.0: Assembly takes place:
Seating is limited, and registration is required.
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Green Screen 2.0: Chroma Key
Learn the methods used to remove a video's background and replace it with a different image or video. In this hands-on class, we will explore the process of using a green screen, including video capture and the post-production process known as chroma key. Participants are welcome to bring digital images to use during class, provided that these images are saved on a USB storage device prior to class. This class is ongoing, so keep coming back for more fun (and learning)!
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Green Screen 2.0: Chroma Key takes place:
Seating is limited, and registration is required.
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Introduction to Video Editing
In this hands-on course, learn the fundamentals of video editing using Adobe Premiere, a program included in the Adobe Creative Cloud. Participants will learn how to import video clips into the editor, edit clips inside the editor for improved playback, and export video projects so you can share them to your favorite online video-sharing websites. Sample footage will be provided, but participants may also bring a USB storage device with their own footage. This course is ongoing, so keep coming back to develop your skills!
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Audio Production
Let’s get weird! Are the beats and bass lines of traditional beat making a bit too structured for you? Are you searching for a sound, your own sound, that doesn't live on today's popular playlists? Come to an Audio Alchemy session and explore some experimental soundscapes with us!
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We'll primarily use Alchemy, a sound module included with Logic Pro X, but other ingredients like real-world sampling and vocal chopping may be on the menu. A basic knowledge of Mac OS and music production is strongly recommended. Attend multiple times for best results!
Seating is limited, and registration is required.
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Intro to Art Digitization
This introductory class will familiarize you with the necessary equipment and fundamentals to digitize your two-dimensional works of art using the 970West Studio.
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Additional technology resources are available on our Technology Guide: Tutorials and Classes page. T here you will find printable class handouts, basic tech help for your computer or mobile device, and a selection of tutorials. Still not finding what you're looking for? Fill out a Book a Librarian form to receive one-on-one instruction for your tech-related topic.
All studio classes take place at the 970West Studio, 502 Ouray Ave., across from the Central Library in downtown Grand Junction.
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Follow the 970West Studio on Instagram |
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Follow @970west_studio on Instagram for weekly posts about all things 970WestStudio. We share gear updates, local band highlights, video releases, and more! |
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A NOTE TO READERS
You are receiving this e-newsletter because you are a patron of Mesa County Libraries and/or the 970West Studio.
- The 970West Studio email newsletter is sent monthly (with occasional special editions) to patrons to keep you informed about what's happening at the studio and your local library.
- The library values your privacy and will not share your email address or other information with anyone.
- You can update your library e-newsletter subscriptions by visiting the "Update Profile" link at the bottom of this newsletter.
- You can also remove yourself from all library e-newsletter lists by visiting the "Unsubscribe" link at the bottom of this newsletter.
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Contact Mesa County Libraries at 970-243-4442 or visit mesacountylibraries.org |
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