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The Cal Poly Humboldt Library has equipment for you to check out, free of charge. You can borrow anything for three days and can grab multiple items, including DSLR cameras, camcorders, GoPro cameras, tripods, digital audio recorders, microphones and more. You can ask for any of these items at the Checkout desk on the first floor.
If you have any questions about equipment, or other aspects of a digital project, we are happy to help! Contact us (the Makerspace) at makerspace@humboldt.edu.
The Logitech c920 HD Pro Webcam is great for web conferencing, live streaming, and recording interviews and events. The high quality of the 1080p HD camera is matched by the stereo mics with built-in noise reduction.
The webcam is quite simple- all you need is a computer or device with a USB port and software for your project. Simply plug in the camera and it should automatically be recognized by Windows or Mac computers. For best results with your project be sure to test out the camera and mics before your event or video shoot.
There are different programs you can use for your project, including:
The Zoom H1n digital recorder allows you to capture quality audio easily. If you don’t have a smartphone (or any room to add apps or files!) this is a great way to record. You can use the included USB cable to connect it to a computer or iOS device to use it as a microphone with any audio or video editing/recording software. Overdubbing capabilities make this a great option for recording music!
The recorder is great for interviews or for capturing high quality audio for your video projects. You can mount the recorder to a tripod using the threaded mount on the back of the recorder. To power on, slide the switch on the right-hand side down and hold for 2-3 seconds. Hit the record button to stop/start recording (the light will turn on while recording). Use the buttons below the LCD screen to control playback.
It's also easy to export your audio tracks. Simply connect via the included USB cable or eject the Micro SD card. Instructions for using the USB cable to export recordings:
The included Micro SD card (2GB minimum) should provide at least 2-3 hours of recording. You may want a backup SD card and/or batteries (2 x AAA) if you have a very long project.
For a quick demonstration, including an example of the difference in sound quality compared with a phone, this video featuring Tina Guo, shows how to do a simple recording.
The Snowball USB mic is great for the desktop- recording your voice for a podcast or capturing a group for a Skype session. Setting it up is extremely easy- simply plug it into the computer and go! This mic is digital and is powered by the USB.
The mic itself is very simple (there isn't even an on/off switch!) and is set up for digital recording, so there isn't a whole lot to do:
This lavalier microphone works with smartphones and tablets and will help you capture high quality audio for interviews. The mic is setup to work with smartphones- just plug it in and start talking. This mic will NOT work with the cameras or digital recorders.
This mic is simple- plug it into your phone or tablet and start using it. It will NOT work with other types of devices.
Lavalier mics are fairly simple but placement can be very important. This short video covers the topic well:
This digital recorder is a great option for capturing high quality audio. The quality x-y stereo microphones are great for capturing interviews as well as a variety of sounds. Your projects are instantly saved to the removable SD card and can be downloaded via the included USB cable or by inserting the SD card into your device.
The recorder is great for interviews or for capturing high quality audio for your video projects. You can mount the recorder to a tripod using the threaded mount. To power on, slide the switch on the right-hand side down and hold for 2-3 seconds. Hit the record button to stop/start recording and use the buttons on the right side to control playback.
It's also easy to export your audio tracks. Simply connect via the included USB cable or eject the Micro SD card.
The included Micro SD card (2GB minimum) should provide at least 2-3 hours of recording. Get a backup battery (AA) if you want to ensure your recording is uninterrupted.