DMC Rules

To get started in the DMC, please follow these instructions:

Logging In to Workstations

Log in using your UNI and CU password. If you can’t remember your CU password, you need to contact CUIT: Manage My UNI.

Computer Labs:

The DMC currently consists of 3 physical computer labs and 1 virtual computer lab. Each of the computers has the same software on it.

Getting Started

Tech Arts: Post Production 1 in the first semester will give you the basic skills needed for using the DMC to complete coursework. 

What You Need to Bring

You will need 2 USB 3 or Thunderbolt drives to use as your editing drive or backup drive.  Film students also have access to Avid Nexis workspaces for editing and storage. Check out our Purchasing Recommendations page for deals and other suggestions.

You should really purchase a 3rd hard drive to back up your footage on, in case anything happens to the first or second. Believe us data loss can happen at any time. Be prepared!

The Rules

  • No Food. No drinks without lids. Really, no food at all… it attracts mice. Drinks spill and kill hard drives, and thus movies. If you must disobey, please seal the container each time after taking a sip, and place the offending beverage in a place where it will not get knocked over…
  • Keep your voice down when talking to your colleagues in the room.
  • Take your cell phone conversations outside. Please.
  • Air Conditioner is set for controlled temperature. It helps keep machines and equipment from breaking down. See the policy below.
  • The windows should be closed at All Times . Opening the windows can be a security risk, as well as disturbing the temperature controlled environment.
  • No talking on cell phones in the labs. If you receive a call, kindly take it outside.
  • No loud talking. It is disruptive to other students trying to work.
  • Never prop doors open, or grant unsupervised access to non-SOA students.
  • No eating or drinking in the labs. Unless you like sticky keyboards and mice. See first rule again.
  • No removal of equipment from the labs. It will be considered as theft.
  • Do not leave your valuables unattended. The DMC takes no responsibility for lost or stolen items.
  • No changing the thermostat. The temperature is maintained at 70 degrees to protect the equipment. Plan on bringing a sweater.

Who can use the DMC?

See above or read again here.

  • 301 can be used by any current School of the Arts masters’ program student. Please note: In general, priority is given to film students if there is a space crunch, since it’s a Film lab.
  • Raoul can be used by Second year and above Film MFA candidates.
  • 503 (Advanced Editing Lab) can be used by Research Arts year graduate film students.
  • Watson
  • Prentis

Furthermore, these groups of people have the following access:

  • MFA Film Students can use labs until the day of their commencement.
  • Film Alumni and other non-students can use DMC equipment if working together with a current student on the same project at the same station at the same time. The current student is responsible for the non-student and any damage caused by the non-student, and should clear this type of equipment use with the DMC beforehand by requesting permission via email [email protected]
  • Film Alumni; general Columbia students, staff or faculty; and other non-CU-affiliates working on independent projects may contact [email protected] to inquire about PAID use of certain DMC facilities.
  • Undergraduates can not use the DMC resources unless they are taking a specific course which requires use of the labs, after obtaining permission from the DMC with a Film faculty request.
  • Undergrads, Graduates, and Alumni are welcome to use the facilities in the Butler DHC (digital Humanities Center — Room 305)

Equipment

All DMC Equipment is shared among students and must be treated with care and consideration. We can enforce fines on students who negligently damage equipment

Printer

School of the Arts Students may print using the PawPrint System. Dodge has print stations on the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th Floor. Prentis, Watson and Nash also have PawPrint Stations. See this page for more info.

Software Installation

  • Only DMC Staff can install software.
  • Installation of any software, and use of any application or executable file not requiring installation on the machines is strictly forbidden. No peer-to-peer (P2P) clients or network intensive processes are allowed. This includes, but is not limited to, Acquisition, Limewire, BitTorrent, or aMule. This kind of software is not allowed regardless of legal issues downloading content. What happens is that these programs aggressively take over the available network bandwidth and really hurt network operations.

Idle Stations

  • Idle use of workstations is not allowed. Please do not save your seat.
  • Leaving a workstation while rendering/exporting is permitted, but you must return promptly to check on its progress. There are signs in each lab to indicate a render / export is happening.
  • If there are other students that need to work, the DMC staff reserves the right to log idle users off of a workstation after a period of 20 minutes. Your belongings will be moved to the DMC lost and found.

Data Security and Privacy

  • The DMC, School of the Arts and University staff and faculty adhere to the University’s Information Security Policy Statement.
  • We will safeguard your data as much as reasonably possible, but can not be held responsible for private, personal, or copyrighted content being lost or accidentally made accessible to anyone. You are personally responsible for backing up your data.
  • If you do not want staff, faculty, or the potential for other students to access your files, you should not keep or use those files on Columbia servers, computers, or networks.