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Information Commons Recording Studio

Meeting Room 1 serves as an amateur recording studio for Library cardholders working on audio or video projects. Please see our policies and guidelines below, as well as technical details.

For tutorials on how to use the equipment and software in the recording studio, visit the Recording Studio Tutorials page.

Recording Studio Policies and Guidelines
  • Reserve time in the Info Commons recording studio at www.bklynpubliclibrary.org/rooms or at the Info Commons reference desk.
  • All users of the recording studio must adhere to the Public Behavior in the Library Policy and the Public Use of Meeting Rooms Policy.
  • You must leave a state-issued ID at the Info Commons reference desk while using the recording studio.
  • The recording studio can be reserved in 30-minute increments. The maximum session length is three hours, and each cardholder can make up to two reservations per calendar month. Reservations may be scheduled up to 28 days in advance.
  • Info Commons staff may be able to accommodate special requests for additional use of the studio. Please contact us at infocommons@brooklynpubliclibrary.org.
  • Reservations are nullified if unclaimed within 10 minutes of the scheduled start time.
  • No food or drinks are allowed in the recording studio.
Recording Studio Technology and Equipment

Please note that this is an “amateur” recording studio! The room’s sound quality and lighting are not what you might find in a professional studio. It is an opportunity to work with quality equipment and introduce you to the production process; it does not guarantee a perfect product.

  • The studio’s equipment includes:
    • an iMac editing station
    • a Canon DSLR camera (with Rode shotgun mic) for video recording
    • an AKG perception condenser mic for audio recording
    • a green screen
  • The iMac station’s software includes, among other applications:
    • Audacity
    • GarageBand
    • Pro Tools
    • WavePad
    • the Adobe Creative Suite
    • GIMP
    • Celtx
    • Final Cut Pro X
    • iMovie
  • Please bring your own large-capacity (16 GB or more) drive to save your work to. Confused about storage options? This guide from Apple may help. If you're using Final Cut Pro X, here's a good tutorial on working with multiple hard drives. You may find this thread that describes the types of external hard drives to use in FCX useful as well. We recommend USB 2.0 with 7200rpm (5600rpm works as well). Avoid memory sticks/thumb drives.
  • To clean up audio a bit in GarageBand, try the following steps in the Edit menu effects:
    • Increase Noise Gate to cut out low-level noises. If you increase it too much, it can potentially cut out softer vocals.
    • Speech Enhancer can also help reduce noise. Set it to Manual and then you can slide the Reduce Noise button between Quiet Noise and Loud Noise.
    • Visual EQ set to Vocals Soft Background helps cut out and soften background noises.
  • Audacity has a Noise Removal effect. Instructions are on their website.
     

Info Commons staff cannot provide one-on-one assistance on demand in the recording studio. Some proficiency in using computers and recording devices is expected to achieve results. All are welcome to attend one of our digital media classes to learn more about making audio or video projects on your own.