Media Production Service

ESS Media Production produces short-form video for instruction or promotional use. Work with our producers to hone your message and create a production plan for shooting in-studio or on-location, capture supporting B-roll footage, add voiceovers and graphics, and edit, finish, and deliver your final product. 

For more information about the production process, see our production primer here. 

The ESS Plympton Street Studio is acoustically designed for audio recording and is one of the quietest rooms on campus. The studio is equipped for multitrack recording with premium microphones. Our Steinway Spirio | r Model D concert grand piano is provided by and maintained by Piano Technical Services.

For podcasting, we can accommodate four in-studio participants plus call-ins from remote locations. Voiceovers can be synced to video, and our experienced engineers can coach your talent, if desired. If you want to perform your own editing, we deliver raw multitrack and mix files with a full take sheet and sound report. Comprehensive editing, mixing, and mastering services are also available.

Both ESS Media Production locations provide in-studio video recording.

Rita E. and Gustave M. Hauser Studio

The Hauser Studio in Widener Library is our premier video facility with multiple cameras with a variety of cinema lenses, live switching, and streaming capabilities. We are happy to work with your team and shoot to your specification, including 4K and log footage. Deliverables can be either raw files for your team to edit, or comprehensive post-production services are available from our Plympton Street team.

Plympton Street Studio

While multi-camera capable, most video shoots in the Plympton Street Studio are for instruction using our custom built 8’ x 4’ Lightboard. Please ask for samples or book a test shoot to see how Lightboard technology is a quick and effective way to capture hand-drawn materials or annotations to existing graphics.

With decades of experience, the ESS Media Production team is uniquely qualified to document and livestream arts and musical performances. We know what’s needed (and what isn’t) to document your performance in an effective and artistically respectful way. If you need live sound amplification, we can provide that, too.

Premium microphones, multitrack recording, compact cameras close to the stage and cinema lensing in the house are all part of the package. Dates during the season book up in a hurry, so contact us today to discuss your upcoming performances.

 ESS Media Production edits footage from across campus and beyond shot by professionals, amateurs, in our studios, and in the classroom. Whatever the source, we edit and enhance raw footage, turning it into ready-to-consume video. For footage needing extensive excerpting, we can edit to your instructions, and provide an Edit Decision List to make this process most efficient.

We can add title cards and lower thirds to identify programs and speakers and customize these graphics to match your branding. Defects can also be addressed in post-production: exposure, color, audio levels, hum, and more can usually be improved depending on the severity of the problem – and the budget available to address the issue. Estimates and advice happily provided.

The Media Production Center is now able to help with your video closed captioning needs in accordance with the University’s digital accessibility guidelines. We work directly with Harvard preferred vendors to provide closed captioning solutions compatible with nearly any video publishing platform, and text transcripts for podcasts and other audio-only recordings. A fee of $ 1.80 per minute of content (typical) plus $ 50 setup fee applies for all customers. Turnaround time for these services is four business days, with rush service available for an additional cost.

For customers wishing to provide their own captions, please contact University Disability Resources for more information.

ESS Media Production can provide advice on web publishing options and recommend an appropriate method to archive your media transferred from legacy formats. We deliver product files to your specification in any format.

Please contact us for formats not shown here.

Video Formats

• VHS, Betamax, BetaSP, Laserdisc, U-matic, Hi-8 (analog), MiniDV, HDV, DVCAM;
• International Standards: PAL & SECAM to NTSC.

Audio Formats

• 1/4″ Reel-to-reel tape (most track configurations and speeds),
• Cassette, micro-cassette, phono disc (LP), DAT, MiniDisc, PCM F-1.

 The most successful video and audio projects begin with a thorough pre-production planning and discussion phase. If you have never created a video or podcast, we are here to guide you through pre-production. Even if you are already an experienced content creator, consider some of the following strategies for your next project.

Please keep in mind that for many of our repeat customers, the pre-production process is often expedited and typically just requires a quick conversation or email exchange to check strategy, set parameters for the session, and book time.

1. Fill out our booking inquiry form or contact us to schedule an initial discussion to review your project. Prepare to answer questions and make decisions about your timeline, goals, and project strategy.
2. Schedule a site visit. We will come to you if shooting/recording on location, or you can visit the Studio if we plan to shoot in either the Hauser or Plympton studios. Plan to discuss the program, set design, lighting, number of cameras/angles, teleprompter script and/or power-point use, closed captioning, and site-specific attributes such as security or potential noise sources or interruptions. For musical performances, we will discuss number of microphones and their positions, and any monitor or in-ear needs.
3. Confirm the day-of schedule, including our load-in and set-up time if on location, your talent and team arrival time, connection time for far site(s) if applicable, sound-check and session duration, and break-down time.
4. For event recordings, share information about other vendors. We will want to coordinate with our colleagues in other audio/video groups to make sure everyone understands their technical responsibilities.
5. Plan to test technical aspects such as lighting, sound, and teleprompter. We want to make sure all aspects of the shoot run smoothly.
6. Confirm that all participants have signed photo, video, and audio releases. We can share samples if you do not have your own version.
7. Confirm financial information and arrange for billing with a 33-digit code or check.

For larger projects, additional pre-production may be needed (e.g. scriptwriting, casting, stage plots or set design).

After completing our pre-production discovery phase, we’re ready to begin production. If recording in one of our studios, all aspects of the production are under our control and we will have the studio set up to accommodate everything we discussed during pro-production. On location, we will want to confirm:

1. Great camera positions: This allows us to properly frame the scene with all performers, speakers, or the stage. The same goes for placing microphones.
2. Time allowance for sound check: especially for musical performances, it is essential that we have the opportunity to adjust levels, hear some of the music you intend to perform and adjust monitors or IEMs as necessary.
3. Adequate light for the activity: Many rooms have sufficient light for recording purposes but it may be necessary for us to provide additional lighting.

Video and audio come alive during the post production process. Recordings benefit from the addition of opening titles, lower thirds, color correction, or motion graphics. We can re-arrange scenes, incorporate additional voice overs, add music, or find licensed images to help illustrate your messages. We can also create graphics or animations. Our audio experts will ensure your podcast or audio production has quality sound. We will work to remove unwanted noises, shorten pauses, and level the audio. Before we plan to distribute the final file, we will review it with you and make any updates you suggest.

Distribution is the final part of the process during which you will share your project with the intended audience. As we plan the production, it is important to keep distribution in-mind for aspect ratios, file formats, and overall marketing best practices. While the MPC cannot host content for you, we will work with you to understand your distribution needs at the outset of the production and tailor our products accordingly.

We will deliver the final product to you via frame io or Hightail, the file transfer services we use. You will receive a link that will allow you to download your file(s). With many file formats, you will also be able to audition the file directly in the browser.