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Do you rent laptop computers?
Yes, we have a several PC laptops and one Macintosh laptop. Our machines
are middle-of-the-road PCs with Microsoft Office 2000 suite (as of 8/1/2002),
Acrobat Reader, and MIT distributed software. We have two Thinkpads with
XP and Office XP.Unlike outside rental companies' computers, our computers
are preconfigured for MIT's wired and wireless network, making connection
to the Internet very simple and streamlined. Outside companies computers
requires complicated configuration in order to use the network.
Can we use the equipment in room? Do we need a technician
to use equipment in room? Is this room self-help?
Some of our larger lecture halls have projection booths. Since the primary
purpose of these booth is to support lectures and teaching, public use
of these booths and the equipment and systems therein is not permitted.
Most of these halls have 'self help' systems, which allow public use of
the projection and playback equipment from the front area of the room.
Thus, any MIT person can go into these lecture halls and show video or
computer images without needing entry to the booth. These self help systems
have controls for playback and for audio volume. If you need sound reinforcement
(i.e. microphones etc.) you can engage our services, or you can rent equipment
from Audio Visual.
Who can use MIT AV services? ^
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The MIT Community: students, faculty, alumni, authorized MIT affiliates
and employees.
What equipment is in this room?
to our
classroom database <link> to Registrar's database ^
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What forms of payment do you accept?
The forms of payment that Audio Visual accepts are account numbers, checks
and cash. ^
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How do I confirm my job and get an estimate of costs?
You can confirm your work order by calling MIT Audio Visual Services at
617-253-2808.
You may also e-mail us at avorders@mit.edu. If your order was sent via
e-mail, you will receive a reply e-mail summarizing your request,
including a workorder number. This will serve as your confirmation. If
your order was placed via phone, you will be given a workorder number
at the time of
your call.
An estimate of your job can be faxed, mailed or e-mailed to you. ^
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How far ahead should/could I reserve my equipment
and/or technician's services?
Most of our work is categorized into two groups, Technician Services and
Set Up/Breakdown. For Technician Services jobs (where a technician stays
for the entire program),
we require a 48 hour notice for events during normal working hours. For
events after 5pm or on the weekends, we require a 5 day notice.
For Set Up/Breakdown jobs during normal business hours, most equipment
requests can be accomodated with short notice but to assure adequate equipment
stock, please order at least 24 hours in advance. ^
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How do I get help with planning my event?
MIT AV staff are available to help you with the planning of your event.
We are happy to provide details about the room you will be using and to
discuss your equipment and staffing options. Feel free to contact us at
3-2808 or contact our Event Coordinator at
2-4639. ^
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Can I send you my presentation in advance?
If your equipment request includes the rental of MIT AV laptops, we can
pre-load PowerPoint files in advance provided the presentation is e-mailed
or hand delivered to MIT AV at least 24 hours prior to the event. We also
accept files burned onto CD or on ZIP disks. We can only support Powerpoint
or PDF files only. If you wish to present using your own computer, please
arrive early enough to allow ample set up time. Please contact our office
or the Event Coordinator for details. ^
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I rented equipment from you and my event ended early.
What should I do?
After hours, if the job was set up by Audio Visual, ask the technician
for his cell phone
number and his name, if the job ends early call that cell phone number
and inform the technician that you are done.
During our regular operating hours, call 617-253-2808 to arrange for
an early pickup. ^
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How do I place or cancel an order?
To cancel an order call the audio visual office or send an e-mail saying
you want to
cancel the order, There is no cancellation fee unless the technician has
already left
the office with the equipment and finds out when he gets to the job that
it is cancelled
then there will be a delivery charge. ^
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How do I resolve my billing problem or question?
If you have a question or problem with a bill received from audio visual
call the office and
talk to one of the office staff and they will help. ^
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Do I get charged for equipment I didn't use?
Yes. ^ top^
Do you work off campus?
We will gladly go off campus for an MIT Department sponsored event. ^
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Do you charge for your services?
Yes. ^ top^
Can you videotape my event?
No. ^ top^
There is a different department at MIT which is responsible for video
production.: http://caes.mit.edu/mvp/ . In order to eliminate duplication
of our efforts and services,
How do I get a copy of my bill?
Audio Visual can fax, mail or e-mail a copy of your charges. ^
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I need to replace, upgrade, or install the presentation
equipment in my room.
How do I do this?
If you place a call to the main AV number and inform them of your request,
someone from AV will get back to you and set up a site visit. The site
visit will set in motion the process of upgrading or installing equipment
in the room with AV managing the project for you and making sure that
you get the right equipment and the best price available. ^
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Do I need my own cable to hook my computer to the
projector in room?
If the room has a built computer projector, you may need a "male
to male" (pins rather than holes) 15 pin VGA cable to hook between
your computer's external video port (on the back of your computer, often
colored blue) to the room's computer interface.
Most rooms are equipped with these cables but some times they are stolen
or damaged. If you want you may purchase a VGA cable from us as a backup
to the one installed in the room. ^
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Is there a network drop in the room? How do I get
access to the network for my presentation?
We are not the network people, but since we are here to help you with
your presentation we do everything we can to get you up and running--
on our projection systems and on the network.
Experienced users of MIT's network should have no problems moving from
room to room if their computers are set up for (wired OR wireless) DHCP.
MIT folks should remember that if they have their machines set to fixed
IP addressing, their machine will not connect to the network if moved
to another building (subnet). <LINKto ip addressing>
However, It must be noted that people coming in from outside of MIT need
to make special provisions in order to get their computers on line, and
these arrangements should not be left to the last minute. ^
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Audio Recording: Analog or Digital?
Analog audio cassette is still the most available and inexpensive format.
If your program is primarily spoken word and you plan to make actual hard
copies for distribution, analog cassette is the best choice. If your program
is primarily music or creative sound, or if you plan to post the audio
on the Internet or to archive the program in a digital form on a computer,
digital is the best choice. Most digital audio formats use some degree
of compression and a basic rule of thumb is, more compression less fidelity.
Most of the more common digital formats, MP3, WAV, Windows Media, Quicktime,
will yeild results that will please most ears, but if you want the highest
fidelity choose the least compression. MIT AV offers two digital recording
formats, DAT and Mini Disc. DAT is CD quality. MD is a compressed format
similar to MP3 in quality. Anything recorded digitally can be recorded
to cassette for distribution and ,conversely, anything recorded to cassette
can be digitized. Analog to digital conversion usually results in very
little loss of fidelity, while digital to analog conversion results in
some loss of fidelity due primarily to tape hiss and reduced dynamic range.
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I have a European (PAL)video. Can I show it in my
classroom?
No classrooms are equipped with such equipment. We do have PAL and SECAM
decks (VHS) for rent from our office. ^
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