Our Services
You must have a media project to use our workstations. All Brandeis community members can log into our iMacs using their Brandeis ID. This will create a temporary workspace for media files, etc. In order to keep our computers running at peak performance levels, we delete these workspaces at midnight every Sunday. You must move any important files to a secure location before then.
If you will be working on a long-term multimedia project, we can provide you with networked storage through our high-bandwidth EditShare server. You can access this storage from any computer within the lab.
We do have some external hard drives, flash drives, and DVD drives available for borrowing. These are primarily available to help you transfer files from our computers; they circulate within the lab only and are not available for long-term loan. For long-term storage, we recommend that you request space on our EditShare server or purchase your own storage device.
We always have at least one staff member on-shift whenever the lab is open. They can help you with general support and troubleshooting on a first-come, first-served basis. However, if you require expert guidance or in-depth training on one of our supported software programs, you also can request a one-on-one (or group) appointment with our staff. You can also request an appointment if you require training in any of our supported equipment.
SIMS also loans out audio/video production equipment to the Brandeis community. A Brandeis ID is required to borrow equipment. We offer two types of equipment: standard equipment, which is available to everyone, and high-end equipment, which requires certification before use.
Our standard equipment comprises audio recorders, video camcorders, tripods, and microphones. This equipment does not require any reservation or certification to use; just swing by SIMS during our regular hours and ask what we have available. You can use our standard equipment for just about everything: video projects for language classes, interviews, and music recording, for example.
Our high-end equipment is designed for people with large-scale projects, such as collaborative film productions. Patrons must be certified in advance of reserving this equipment. To reserve high-end equipment, please fill out this equipment request form (24 hours advance notice is required). If you have not been certified prior to filling out the form, we will contact you to schedule a training session.
All of our equipment circulates for 3 days unless otherwise stated. We do not generally loan items for more than a week. If you require equipment for the semester, please purchase your own (we typically order our equipment from B&H Photo/Video).
If you require more time to complete your project, fill out our renewal request form. If your request is approved, you will be informed of the new due date. Submission of this form does not guarantee that the item will be renewed. Unless you have received an email approving your request, fines will accrue on your account. If you have accrued a fine that you wish to dispute, please email us at sims@brandeis.edu.
See a complete listing of our equipment.
We abide by the U.S. Copyright Office’s guidelines when considering all media conversion requests. Streaming media for courses must be hosted on our Ensemble Video server and linked from a LATTE course. Though SIMS can help you prepare short clips for class streaming, you must request streaming of full-length movies through your LATTE course.
To request duplication, submit our conversion form and bring your media to the staff desk in SIMS. We will either complete the transfer or, in some cases, provide training on how you can perform the conversion yourself. Please allow at least two weeks lead time.