Our facilities

The Futures Lab represents the most significant investment in online media production to date by an Australian university. The Futures Lab mirrors the platforms and systems in use by major broadcasters and online media outlets internationally and includes:

• a green screen TV studio with:
  • remote controlled cameras
  • lighting
  • auto cue
• TriCaster vision mixer with virtual sets
• iNews newsroom management system
• an integrated automated social media delivery system
• Avid MediaCentral and Interplay media collaboration tools
• back-end support from an AVID NEXIS network media storage system.

This allows for network integrated production workflows that reflect current professional industry practices. The Futures Lab is a central hub that is connected to facilities across:

• screen
• music
• radio and podcasting
• performance production.

Located in the former Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS) building, Macquarie boasts one of the largest and best equipped screen studios in Australia, with a large dedicated sound stage (20m × 18m × 8m). This studio is equipped with:

• 52 motorised lighting hoists supporting the latest LED lighting fixtures, including:
  • ARRI L7C
  • ARRI Sky Panels
  • ARRI Orbiters
  • Fresnels
  • BBS Area 48 Soft lights with full DMX control
  • a Pathway Cognito lighting console
• industry-level digital cameras, including:
  • Arri Alexa Mini LF
  • Arri Amira
• 17m × 7m green screen
• Rosco green floor
• set storage
• fabrication facilities.

Macquarie has a range of high quality field kits for location shooting and a range of fully equipped edit suites and computer labs for post-production. We have a range of camera rigs including gimbals dollies and jibs, and our studio is equipped with a crane. We also hold a UAV Operators Certificate, so the use of drones is possible.

As an Avid Learning Partner (ALP) site, we offer the full suite of Media Composer software which support and model broadcast-level production workflows.

Students are often working in multi-platform contexts, so our facilities support delivery across a range of platforms in an increasingly integrated fashion.

The music production studios represent state-of-the-art approaches to music production. With acoustic design by one of Australia's most acclaimed designers Richard Priddle, the studios offer a range of contrasting acoustic spaces.

Music Production Studio 1

Studio 1 houses:

• Neve Custom 75 mixing console
• ProTools HDX system
• a selection of premium preamplifiers and outboard processors from:
  • API
  • Chandler/EMI
  • Avalon
  • Solid State Logic
  • Universal Audio (LA2A, 1176)
• an amplifier room with:
  • a selection of classic amplifiers
  • a Radial guitar distribution system for recording and re-amping.

Music Production Studio 2

Studio 2 offers a larger live space and contains:

• Pro Tools HDX system
• outboard preamplifiers and processors from
  • API
  • JLM
  • Audient
• standard professional microphones from
  • Neumann
  • Sennheiser
  • Shure
  • AKG
  • Beyer
• a range of valve microphones from Beezneez.

Music Performance Studio

Our dedicated Music Performance Studio (20m × 18m × 8m) features:

• tiered audience seating
• a Steinway grand piano
• a live performance PA with
  • digital sound console
  • audio playback through 5.1 surround systems
• state of the art DMX controlled LED lighting including moving lights
• multiprojector HD video
• high-speed web access.

Macquarie has some of the best radio and podcasting production facilities of any Australian university. The newly refitted studios include:

• an on air studio with Lawo 12 fader crystal broadcast console
• an on air production control room
• a production booth
• a digital outside broadcast facility to allow for location broadcasts
• the RØDECaster Pro, described as the world's most powerful all-in-one solution for podcasting
• high quality portable audio recording devices
• a selection of specialised microphones.

Live broadcasts are made possible via a broadcast link to community radio station 2-SER FM, who also have studios in the University. This allows for close collaboration between the University and 2-SER.

Radio is becoming increasingly multi-platform, so the facilities tie closely to the Futures Lab and MediaCentral platforms for integration across broadcast and online contexts.

Performance and entertainment industries study is supported by a range of media technologies, reflecting the increasingly mediatized nature of the creative industries in the 21st century. The 18m × 16m × 8m Performance and Entertainment Industries Studio, which can convert to a fully equipped black box theatre, is fitted with:

• tiered seating
• full black curtains and white cycloramas
• state of the art DMX controlled LED lighting, including:
  • moving lights
  • 270 degree mapped video projection capability
• full AV facilities, including:
  • high speed network connection for web access
  • multiprojector HD video.

Purpose-built specialist language learning spaces are located in Macquarie’s award-winning Arts Precinct. Our easily accessible, bright, and flexible teaching areas are designed to facilitate immersive, connected, and collaborative learning. State-of-the-art in-room facilities support real-time connections to international and community collaborators as well as communication between campus-based and online learners. Learners and experts come together in integrated spaces to create meaningful learning experiences.

The Language Centre also incorporates relaxed student spaces for individual and group-based task preparation and practice, and the intercultural foyer for:

• exploring multilingual environments
• showcasing student experiences and student work publicly
• connecting to community partners.

Alongside our on-campus facilities, Macquarie University offers a number of additional facilities and resources to assist students with their studies, including software and hardware like:

• the complete suite of UAD hardware assisted plugin processors
• the full suite of AVID plugins and software tools, including:
  • the full suite of Media Composter software
  • MediaCentral
  • NEXIS network storage facilities
• Avid certified courses in:
  • Media Composer
  • ProTools
  • Sibelius.