Newcastle TAFE media students get access to new post-production facilities
Students in New South Wales’ Hunter region will soon have access to the latest post-production equipment as TAFE Newcastle opens new training facilities for its Music and Performing Arts faculty,
SOUND OFFERING FOR MEDIA STUDENTS
Hunter region Media students will soon be taking advantage of one of the most advanced post-production training facilities in Australia at TAFE NSW Newcastle.
Equipment was installed this week that uses emerging 360-degree sound technology for film editing.
Head Teacher for Music and Performing Arts Teresa Conicella said TAFE NSW students would be able to acquire a “trifecta of transferable skills needed across the creative industry”. These are; the ability to edit dialogue, music, and sound effects on one platform.
“Our media students will learn to use cutting-edge editing technology that so far has been limited to major production studios,” Ms Conicella said. “It is the new Avid S6 sound console with satellite workflow and equipped with Dolby ATMOS 360-degree sound capability.
“Online streaming platforms, including Netflix and Stan, are featuring films and television programs with Dolby ATMOS technology.”
Ms Conicella said TAFE NSW would also offer international Avid User Certifications in addition to its existing nationally-recognised qualifications.
“You don’t get to that advanced level in editing easily,” Ms Conicella said. “Typically, someone will train at TAFE NSW then work in the industry for a few years before returning to get an Avid User Certification – an internationally-recognised certification.
“For example, the 310S6 Certification demonstrates to prospective employers that you can edit music, effects and dialogue using the best technology available. People with these skills can secure jobs with major production studios editing sound for film, television, animation, gaming and advertising.”
TAFE NSW will soon be the leading provider of this Avid Certification in Australasia.
Ms Conicella said giving students hands-on training in the technology was just as much about preparing them for established jobs in major production studios as it was equipping them with all the skills they needed to set up their own small, independent production studios.
“Job titles are changing,” she said. “In an age of YouTube, Netflix and Facebook, we’re encouraging all of our creative students to control their means of production by having the skills to manage the whole process themselves. You can act, direct, film, edit and distribute your own content, and you can get all those skills at TAFE NSW.”
The new equipment is part of a refurbishment of the Music and Performing Arts faculty, which now provides virtual-reality headsets, 360-degree cameras and microphones, Dante networking technology and Smart Suit Technology, along with a 48-channel SSL Duality sound desk installed last year.
Ms Conicella said this type of technology was about “future-proofing” students and giving them competitive industry skills to broaden their employment opportunities.
“We have made a huge leap to the top of the field by offering ATMOS technology, which is where the industry is headed,” she said. “The decision to invest in this technology demonstrates that we’re equipping students with the skills industry needs today and those expected to be most in demand into the future.”
The equipment will be on show on Thursday 21 September at 6pm at the Flow and Space event, to be held at TAFE NSW Newcastle.
