Media Teaching Lab
The Media Teaching Lab offers a wide variety of equipment available for use in photography, video, film, and audio production.
The Media Teaching Lab at UC San Diego is dedicated to providing outstanding media production facilities, equipment, and technical assistance to undergraduate and graduate students.
The Media Teaching Lab has a wide variety of equipment available for use in photography, video, film, and audio production. This includes high end cinema cameras, DSLRs, mirrorless and analog film cameras, camcorders, light kits, audio recorders, mixers and microphones, as well as the ancillary equipment and tools used in media production.
Equipment Checkout
Reserve Equipment
See the equipment use policy for information about eligibility, how to check out media equipment, and limitations. As of Fall 2024, logins now use single sign-on for access to reserve equipment after you have registered.
- New users - please fill out the First Time Registration form
- After your registration has been processed (2 Business days, during the quarter), you may view and reserve equipment online.
Need help renewing your checkout? See the "FAQs and Help Guides" section below.
Canvas Reference Guides and Videos
We have a collection of helpful walkthough guides and videos on the Media Teaching Lab Canvas page to help you with common help areas such as:
- Renewing checkouts
- Connecting to the Media Lab "Jellyfish" fileserver
- Using common cameras and accessories
- Loading the Arri 16mm camera
- Editing in Adobe Premiere Pro
In addition to the Canvas guides, the Media Teaching Lab offers in-person workshops that are open to the entire UCSD community. These workshops span a range of levels and topics, introducing students to the various cameras and equipment we have at the facility, lighting techniques, audio recording, and post-production techniques to name a few. For more information, please see our calendar of workshops below.
Workshops
The Media Teaching Lab offers a variety of workshops. Select a workshop title below to view more information about the class. Any UCSD student is welcome to attend and no reservations are necessary, but we advise students to arrive early due to limited space.
For additional topics not offered via live workshops, please visit the Media Teaching Lab Canvas page for how-to videos and resources on media production topics.
View the Media Teaching Lab workshop schedule and descriptions (PDF).
Services
Media Undergraduates and Graduate Researchers
The Media Teaching Lab offers media production equipment, facilities, and educational workshops free of charge to students enrolled in official media production classes and graduate students using media in their research.
Non-Media Undergraduates and Graduate Researchers
A selection of equipment is offered for checkout to undergraduate and graduate students who are using media production components as part of a course assignment or research project. Please create an account in WebCheckout to see available equipment.
Faculty
Assistance is available to faculty who require students to integrate media components into their course assignments. For more detailed information, please see our general policies.
Facilities
The Media Teaching Lab offers production studios and editing bays in the Media Center/Communications building (MCC).
View the facilities use policy for more information about reserving media facilities.
- Equipment Checkout Room MCC 111
Closed weekends, campus holidays and instructional breaks. See hours below for current schedule.
Reserve equipment online. - Ten Video Editing Suites
- Media Transfer Room
- Sound Editing Suite
- TV and Film Production Studios
Location & Hours
Media Lab Equipment Checkout
Media Center/Communication Bldg (MCC), room 111
Open during the quarter, closed for all campus holidays and breaks
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8am-12pm and 1-5pm
Fall 2024 - regular checkout hours begin Thursday 9/26
Voice: (858) 534-4635
Text: (619) 894-6112
Media Lab Staff Office
Media Center/Communication Bldg (MCC), room 225
Meeting by appointment only.
Meet the Media Teaching Lab's staff.
Map & Directions
FAQs and Help Guides
Help Guides
Here are some helpful guides for using the WebCheckout system and doing common tasks like reserving and renewing equipment.
- Renewing a Checkout on Computer/Tablet (PDF)
- Renewing a Checkout on Phone (PDF)
- Renewing a Checkout (Video)
**Once a checkout is late, it cannot be renewed online. If you still need assistance with renewal after following the steps above, please call/text or visit the Checkout desk. We do not accept renewals via email.**
FAQ
Where can I borrow a video camera?
Students: the Media Teaching Lab has equipment available to all UCSD students including still cameras, digital cameras, tripods, lights, and audio recording equipment.
Faculty: please contact Multimedia Services. They have production equipment for loan, as well on-site production facilities available for self-service and on a recharge basis. Your department may also have additional equipment available to you.
What about digital projectors?
Students: visit the Media Teaching Lab. There are a few projectors available for students regardless of class enrollment on a first come, first served basis. There are additional projectors available for students enrolled in media classes who are using them for coursework or installation.
Where can I borrow a dongle or adapter for my computer to use with a projector?
The Library Tech Lending Program has many types of adapters and cables that faculty, staff or students may need to connect their equipment.
Are there production studios on campus?
Students: the Media Teaching Lab has two studios with lighting grids and various backdrops as well as a sound booth that are available to any student on campus regardless of class enrollment.
Faculty: ITS Multimedia Services has studios available for the production of materials related to instruction, research, and academic activities.
There are also other departments on campus that provide production support on a recharge basis, as well as outside vendors. See the University Events Services page for more information.
Where can I find a lab with Media Production software, such as the Adobe Suite.
The Digital Media Lab in Geisel Library has stations with the Adobe Suite installed, available to students, faculty and staff.
The Media Teaching Lab has editing suites available to students only, with a wide variety of production software including the Adobe Suite, Avid Media Composer, DaVinci Resolve, Pro Tools and Reason. You must be currently enrolled in a media production class to reserve these rooms, but any student who is registered with the Media Teaching Lab can use them on a walk-in basis.
Other departments and colleges may additionally have labs available to their students: https://lablookup.ucsd.edu/
Other Equipment and Media Resources
Facilities
UCSD has several facilities for supporting the various populations on campus who are working with media.
- Media Teaching Lab provides equipment and production facilities to undergraduate and graduate students.
- Multimedia Services provides support for faculty needing to produce media for instructional purposes. Please visit https://multimedia.ucsd.edu for more info.
- Digital Media Lab is a space in The Library that is is open to all UC San Diego faculty, staff, and students, providing a space for media creation and editing. Please visit https://library.ucsd.edu/computing-and-technology/digital-media-lab/index.html for more info.
Meet the Media Teaching Lab professional staff, email the team at medialab@ucsd.edu, or visit us in Media Center/Communication Bldg (MCC), room 111.