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The Music Technology Classroom - Coulter 374
Helps and Hints

LAB HOURS (Subject to change)

LAB PROCEDURES

  1. Give your student ID card to the person monitoring the room and sign in on the sheet provided.

  2. If headphones are not available at the computer station, get a set of headphones from the classroom monitor. The headphones are equipped with a phone plug that can be plugged directly into the mixer that is attached to the listening stations.  It also plugs into the mixer that is attched to the MIDI keyboard.  Any of the mixer inputs are usable.

  3. When finished, turn off the computer, return the headphones and adapter to the monitor, pick up your ID card and sign out.

HINT: remove the headphones by pulling out the adapter or the plug, not the headphone cord.
 

PLAYING CDs and TAPES

  1. There are several stations set up for playing recordings. Each is equipped with a CD player (without headphone jacks) and a dual cassette deck (with headphone jacks). The stations are equipped with amplifiers to monitor the attached CD player with headphones. Set the amp to the desired source. Make sure that the speaker knobs are turned to "off" or the music might play over the speakers in the room.

  2. You can make a cassette copy of a CD by inserting a tape in the record side of the tape deck, pause-record the tape and play the CD to set the proper record level. Then take the tape off of pause and play the CD, taking care to go beyond the tape leader. Listen through the tape deck's headphone jack.

  3. Cassette to cassette copies can easily be made. Cue the source and record tapes to the desired spot on the tape. Put the source tape in the playback side of the deck, and the record tape in the record side of the deck. Select normal speed or fast speed dubbing and press the dub button. Level adjustments are automatic and are not affected by the volume knob.
 

COMPUTER CARE and COURTESY

  1. To cut on the Macintosh computers, press the power-up key on the front of the computer. The display screen should already be turned on. If you do not see the green light on the display, press the power button on the front.

  2. The computer stations are equipped with the following licensed software: "Finale," "Netscape," "Internet Explorer," " Performer," "Garage Band," "Reason." and several freeware, shareware and utility applications such as "iTunes" and "iMovie."  Please do not add any programs to the computer hard drives!

  3. Computers consume alternating current, not coffee and French fries! Please NO FOOD or BEVERAGES in the electronic classroom!

  4. Snazzy desktop pictures may be fun, but they can be distracting to the next user. Please do not alter the computer systems in any way!

  5. Unless asked to do so, please do not play CDs, tapes, keyboards, or the computer speaker out loud in the room. When dealing with sound, please use headphones at all times!

  6. Clear the computer desktop screen for the next person. Close all windows on the desktop before shut down.

HINT: To close all open windows simultaneously, click in the small square in the upper left corner of any window while holding down the "option" key.

  7. Shut down the computer properly. From the finder (desktop), choose "Shut Down" from the "Special" pull-down menu.

  8. It is not necessary to cut off the display screen or cut off the power to the computer.

  9. Reset the computer station for the next person. Return the keyboards, mouse and the chair to their proper positions.

  10. Please help keep the lab clean. Toss any litter in the trash receptacle.

  11. Please treat all equipment with respect. The music department has limited resources for repairs. Damaged equipment may take months to repair or replace.
 

PERSONAL FILES and FLOPPIES

  1. Save your work in the "Student Files" folder on the drive "Macintosh HD." You will be sharing this folder with many others, so label your files with your name or initials.

  2. SAVE OFTEN. Get into the habit of saving your files after a few minutes of work. When you've completed your session, BACK-UP your work on a floppy diskette.

  3. The drives can write to CD-R, CD-RW, and DVD-R.  (Notice that is DVD MINUS R, DVD+Rs will not rcord in these drives.

  4. The "Student Files" folder will be emptied at the end of the semester, so back-up any files you wish to keep ahead of time.
 

PRINTING

  1. There is a 600 dpi HP Laserjet printer available for special projects. It is connected to the computer at the teacher station, but is available to each station over the server.. Please check with the classroom monitor before printing.

  2. Printing is a courtesy made available for small projects and papers consisting of a few pages. Larger printing projects must be scheduled ahead of time. Paper must be provided by you or purchased from the monitor.
 

TO PRINT

  1. Under "File," choose "Page Setup..." from the pull-down menu. Confirm the settings (US letter, portrait view, etc.) and click the "OK" button, or press the "Enter" key.

  2. Make sure the printer is turned on and has enough paper to print your project. If more paper is needed, contact the classroom monitor. Letter and legal sizes are available.

  3. Under "File," choose "Print..." from the pull-down menu. Confirm the settings (number of copies, print range, etc.) and click the "OK" button, or press the "Enter" key.
 

WHAT IF...

  1. The computer freezes!

Restart the computer by simultaneously holding down the "control" key and the command key (with the Apple logo) and pressing the power-up key.

  2. My disc is stuck in the drive!

Don't try to force it out! Report the problem to the classroom monitor and someone will retrieve it for you.

HINT for classroom Monitors: There is a small hole near the drive that may be helpful for such emergencies. The straightened tip of a large paper clip can be inserted into this hole and used to press against the internal eject mechanism forcing the diskette to eject.

  3. The printer jams!

Don't try to force paper out of the printer. This may damage it. The printer must be opened, the paper properly removed, then reset. Ask the classroom monitor for assistance.

  4. The laser printed pages have streaks or faded areas!

The toner is low or needs redistributing. See the classroom monitor to remove the cartridge and redistribute the toner or install a new cartridge.
 

FINALLY...

Enjoy this facility. Critical listening is an invaluable part of your training. The equipment and software is available to help you become more skilled and informed musicians. Take advantage of the opportunity!