Round Rock Public Library is proud to now offer a way to make audio recordings at the library! Whether you’re recording yourself on an acoustic and singing, making a podcast, or wanting to create original music on our equipment, it’s all possible through our Audio Production Desk.
One very important note: this is self-service equipment; library staff WILL NOT be available to help use it beyond wheeling out the desk and turning it all on.
Equipment
- Soundcard: Focusrite Scarlett 212
- Keyboard Midi controller: Nektar Impact LX61t
- Headphones: Audio Technica ATH M30x
- Condenser Microphone: Shure PGA181
- DMSKY Mic Shroud stand
- 2 XLR cables
- 2 1/4″ instrument cables
- Recording software: Reason 13
Recording Equipment Policies
- Session Bookings: Session bookings are for three hours. No extensions.
- Must Sign Agreement Form: All users must submit the Audio Production Desk Agreement Form. Bring this form printed out and signed to get started faster; no one may use RRPL’s Audio Production Desk without having first initialed and signed this form to be attached to your library card account. If you cannot print this out yourself, we’ll gladly do it for you at the library, and have you read through it and sign before we wheel out the desk.
- 4 People Max: No more than four users are allowed in the same room as the equipment – one of whom must be the library cardholder. Surprise visitors/guests must immediately vacate, or replace someone already in the room other than the library card holder. Exceptions must be arranged in-person with the Adult Services Manager, (e.g. all members of a band want to be present for a mixdown and they number more than four) .
- No Eating or Drinking: No food or drinks are allowed in the same room as the equipment. This includes covered and sealed drinks. Users can take breaks to get a drink in the foyer outside the meeting room housing the equipment.
- Don’t Hog Bookings: Round Rock Public Library reserves the right to restrict repeated bookings of this equipment by the same users to allocate access as equitably as possible.
- Project Must Be Uploaded: Saved files are in the DAW PC only temporarily. All files, whether mid-process and intended for later work during a future session, or completed tracks, must be either uploaded to a cloud storage service of the user, or onto a large storage capacity USB drive. Round Rock Public Library is unable to provide storage of any music or video files. All saved files will be cleared/deleted by RRPL staff soon after each reservation time ends.
- Projects Will Be Deleted From Workstation: Users must give themselves ample time to complete file rendering, saving, and uploading of their work so that they do not run out of their reserved time before that’s completed. The reservations following yours will not be delayed because the files are not finished rendering, the DAW will be closed and the files lost.
General User Responsibilities
- Must Have a Library Card: Use of this equipment requires a library account, where the policies agreement form will be digitally attached for city records.
- Take Care: Be careful with this equipment, it’s intended to be shared with hundreds of your neighbors!
- Be Polite: Be respectful of and polite towards users in the meeting rooms next door: keep the door fully closed and setup and record instruments on the western wall of the workspace, (left of the door upon entering). Any amplification brought must be set at a volume low enough to not be heard outside of the room.
- Agreement Form Required: Users must follow the terms of the agreement form, including not using our equipment to infringe upon copyright rights, or commit libel. All users of the Audio Production Desk must fill-out and sign our APD User Agreement Form.
- Time Limits: Reservations will start on the hour, without any prior and post setup/breakdown times. All setup and clearing out must be done within the reserved times allotted.
- Parents Must Stay: Patrons under 18 may only use the Audio Production Desk with a parent or legal guardian present. Exceptions will only be considered after an in-person meeting between the parent and the Adult Services Manager.
Need Help?
This tutorial video is technically for Reason 12, but the differences are slight, and the explanations in it are superior to all the Reason 13 videos on YouTube.
