Media Facilities and Equipment

David Letterman Building

Ball State has high-definition digital cameras, digital audio recording, professional lighting kits, support gear, and other various accessories. The premier equipment and labs are housed in the Ball Communication Building and the David Letterman Communication and Media Building.

We integrate state-of-the-art production equipment within the classroom. Our “fleet” includes professional high-definition (HD) camcorders, digital single-lens reflex cameras (DSLRs) and various support equipment.

You’ll have full access to standard gear your freshman year as part of a student organization and later during introductory production courses. Students who demonstrate a high degree of proficiency and responsibility gain access to all production equipment.

Facilities

Letterman Building

David Letterman Communication and Media Building (LB)

Completed in 2007, the Letterman Building features state-of-the-art production facilities and is the home of both Indiana Public Radio and the student-run radio station WCRD. The Letterman, Ball Communication, and Art and Journalism buildings connect to form a communications complex.

Audio Recording and Post Production Studios

Students use these studios to learn how to record, mix, and master music and sound for picture in stereo and surround sound.

LB 121 SCREENING ROOM

Seating up to 30 people, this is a comfortable location to screen feature and short films for classes and other groups.

WCRD Studio

The WCRD studios operate as an applied learning laboratory for Ball State students interested in media and radio. WCRD is a student–run radio FM station licensed by the Federal Communications Commission. It broadcasts at 91.3 FM and is accessible on the TuneIn and RadioFX apps. WCRD broadcasts a variety of music genres, talk shows, sports, news, and weather shows.

Ball Communication

Ball Communication Building (BC)

Renovated in 2003, Ball Communication is home to the Department of Media main office, plus University Media Services, which provides media-related services including video production and broadcast services to the university and public television to East Central Indiana. The Ball Communication, Letterman, and Art and Journalism buildings connect to form a communications complex. Ball Communication also houses the Center for Information Communication and Sciences offices and labs.

Letterman and Clone Studios

These studios are primarily used for voice-over recording. Students with access can swipe in 24/7 using their ID card.

Studios A and B

Managed by University Media Services, Studios A and B and the accompanying control rooms serve the entire Ball State community. Student groups such as SportsLink, Cardinal Sports Live, BSU Tonight, and Cardinal Compass regularly use these state-of-the-art studios for productions featuring digitally-generated virtual sets, as well as traditional practical sets. Ball State PBS broadcasts and immersive class projects also make use of the chroma-keyable green cycloramas in the spacious Studio A (over 40 feet wide), and the more modest Studio B (28 feet wide). Even more green is the full-LED lighting grid, which consumes a fraction of the energy needed for traditional tungsten lighting.

Studio D and Studio E Post Production Suites

These private suites are used for high-end video editing by upper-level immersive learning classes and projects.

Studio D

Students can reserve this production stage for class projects and student organization work.

UMS Equipment Checkout and Video Editing Suites

Over 1,500 resources are available for student use in this brand-new state-of-the-art facility. Here, students check out and return production equipment used for class projects and student organization work.

Surround Sound Editing Suites

These editing suites are open for all students to edit in 5.1 surround sound. Suites require swipe card permission for after-hours access.

Art and Journalism

Art and Journalism Building (AJ)

Completed in 2001, Art and Journalism Building houses degree programs affiliated with the School of Journalism and Strategic Communication and School of Art. It includes the popular Atrium Food Court, an art gallery, campus bookstore, and the offices of our Unified Student Media Group. The Art and Journalism, Letterman, and Ball Communication buildings connect to form a communications complex.

Unified Media Lab: Ad Sales and Creative Suite

Students who work in the advertising sales and creative suite media organization may offer real clients a suite of products in an integrated portfolio. This integrated approach unifies the client’s brand and makes it easier to effectively promote, sell, and buy. Students also learn how to interpret analytical data to provide a return on investment to their clients.

Unified Media Lab: iDesk

The iDesk model is a centralized assignment command center that lets iDesk editors work with all student media outlets to curate content across all platforms. Through this model, students from various journalism and telecommunications disciplines learn to apply their education about the integrated nature of today’s news environment.

Unified Media Lab: Studio

Used by student groups like NewsLink Indiana, Waking Up with Cardinal Weather, and Reel Deal, this state-of-the-art, automated video production studio has live streaming capabilities with live field equipment, energy efficient LED and fluorescent lights to keep the studio cool, and the same weather computer system used by The Weather Channel. For breaking news and live interviews, the audio studio can connect live with all other university media outlets.