Rovira i Virgili University (Tarragona) installs Blackmagic ATEM mixers

In order for students to acquire the technical and editorial skills necessary for the production of content, the Rovira i Virgili University (Tarragona) has just installed an ATEM Constellation 8K and an ATEM 2 M/E Advanced Panel from Blackmagic Design on its 130m² Set 1.

The courses of the university degrees in Audiovisual Communication, Journalism and Advertising and Public Relations aim to balance theoretical and practical learning, providing students with a critical understanding of audiovisual technical workflows, as well as the conception, production and broadcast of a variety of content such as feature films, short films, documentaries, video games, entertainment and fiction programs, and radio and television reports.

Isidro Monreal Ruestes, technical coordinator of the communication degrees at the Rovira i Virgili University, explains why it is essential that students have access to a real professional production environment: “when they cross the threshold of our classrooms, our students will have acquired the necessary knowledge to “to add value to the cultural industry, thanks to the theoretical-practical approach of 'learning by doing'.”

“We have a 130 m2 studio that students have at their disposal from the first year of the course. It is equipped with professional tools. In addition, the university has an agreement with Televisión del Camp de Tarragona, TAC12, for the production of some of its television content, such as sports and entertainment programs,” he adds.

The Set 1 workflow is based on a ATEM Constellation, and a ATEM 2 M/E Advanced Panel connected to the studio cameras. The signal distribution is in charge of a matrix Smart Videohub 20×20.

“We needed a powerful and versatile switcher that could meet the customization needs within our curriculum,” he says. Monreal. “At the Rovira i Virgili University, the teaching of communication is comprehensive, covering the three areas of Audiovisual Communication, Advertising and PR and Journalism, which in practice represents a wide variety of content that our students have to learn to produce. “The ATEM Constellation 8K was an ideal solution for us because it allows us to configure a wide variety of cameras, have complete control over production details and create multi-layer compositions, thanks to the enormous number of inputs.”

“The ability to instantly switch between 720p, 1080p, 1080i, Ultra HD and 8K video standards is another key factor, as we can adapt to different formats depending on production requirements, allowing students to be exposed to a wide variety of broadcast formats,” he adds.

Presence at festivals

Not all the content produced remains in the educational facilities. Some student projects have been selected to participate in national and international festivals, like the documentary From grief to love, presented at the Audiovisual Talent Week, an event aimed at connecting new talent from universities with professionals in the sector, or the documentary feature film Threshold, on the risk of losing your home, developed in collaboration with the UNESCO Chair on Housing.

Unfortunately, the pandemic slowed the pace of production of Communication degree students. However, Isidro Monreal hopes that students can return to pre-pandemic levels during the next academic year.

“I am very satisfied with Blackmagic Design's audiovisual solutions because they allow us to manage educational needs with extreme ease and versatility, achieving a high level of quality, as if they were professional productions. We are very proud of our students when we see what they can achieve.”

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