The studio is a 25’x25’ room set-up for television production. The room is equipped with a lighting grid 
supporting over a dozen Colortran lighting instruments consisting of fresnel, ellipsoidal, and set lights. The room has a 25’ x 11’ chromakey green wall that can be used for video special effects. The studio also has a black curtain that can be used for a variety of video effects and set designs.
In the studio are several props in the form of set pieces and matching chairs. Geometrically shaped risers are available to bring the studio action up to camera level. The carpeted risers can be arranged in a variety of shapes to fit your sets’ requirements.
The studio is equipped with 3 full-time Panasonic AG-HMC150 cameras. Eight microphone inputs are available for use. A Samsung 40” monitor allows for talent to view either themselves or video being played while they discuss what is being seen. The studio is equipped with a studio talkback system which allows the control room to communicate with on-set talent in the studio. A Clear-Com intercom system allows direct communication between camera operators, floor directors and the director of a video production.
The studio can be used as an announce booth for recording audio or can be configured for use in videographing models, drawings and pictures that are used in video productions.
Two Apple iMacs serve as editing stations and are also located in the sudio and available for use.
The WCAT-5 Control Room
The control room houses two videocomputers and and audio board with support for audio production. At the heart of the system is the Newtek Tricaster system. This specialized computer contains video switching, tally functions, monitoring, engineering, character generator, non-linear video editing, and digital disk recording and playback. The unit, which is Windows-based, can be used for live productions or “off-line” for editing or DVD burning. The control room also houses another computer used for live character generation. The graphics computer communicates with the Tricaster in real-time allowing for “live” graphics to be aired.
The control room also houses other equipment in support of the studio and other post-production.
The heart of the system is a sixteen channel Yamaha audio board. This board has the ability to pick up audio signals from a variety of sources and allows these audio sources to be “mixed together” into audio mixes. A compressor/limiter, 10 band graphic equalizer, digital effects generator and aural exciter are available to producers to get their sound “just right”. Also available is a cassette deck player/recorder, and CD player. The NewTek Tricaster also has an audio section in it allowing audio to be digitized and recorded either with video or stand alone on a digital disk recorder. WCAT-5 maintains a small library of production music by Network Music. The music on the disks is available for use by WCAT producers for their projects and is used on a first-come, first-use basis.
WCAT-5 Field Production
WCAT-5 maintains two cameras for use in the field that can be checked out. These cameras are Panasonic AG-HMC150 high-definition cameras. The cameras use 16-32 Gb Secure Digital cards as recording media. Also available is a Panasonic DVX-100A DV camcorder that uses Hi-8 video tape, Each camera has a matched tripod and mounting equipment.
Producers needing lighting in the field can make use of one or both of WCAT-5’s Lowell portable lighting kits. One kit is made up 3 lights (2 flood and spot light) while the other is made up of 2 lights (2 flood lights).
For larger field shoots requiring three or more microphones, a Berhinger Euro audio board is available. The 12 microphone board also includes digital effects and limited audio processing. The mixerboard is accompanied by a microphone/stand/cable field pack that allows maximum audio flexibility in the field.
The WCAT-5 “Head-End”
The “head end” is the portion of the WCAT-5 that actually delivers the video programming to the cable operator. The delivery system is a CASTUS scheduler computer that stores all WCAT-5 programming and then plays it back according to a weekly schedule. The unit, once programmed, is totally automated playing back shows and switching between video sources.
A secondary switcher switches between field sources, allowing for live productions from City Hall and High School.
In the future, it is hoped that the Woodburn Fire District and Woodburn Public Library can be similarly equipped equipped to allow for expanded live field coverage. The switcher also allows for viewing the WCAT-5 Bulletin Board and the ARTs Channel.
Television. It is a powerful communication medium. Not only does it bring images and sounds from around the world on a variety of subjects into people’s homes, but it has the ability to influence events and mold public opinion. Up until recently, television production and programs were centered in large metropolitan areas, concentrating on the community, politics, crime, and events important to those areas. Nearby local communities, under the influence of these large metropolitan cities, were ignored in the metropolitan television broadcasts. Local community events important to local residents had to rely on local newspapers and radio broadcasts. With the development of low cost video equipment production equipment and the advent of cable television, video production has become accessible to local residents and agencies through Community Access Television (CAT).
Community Access Television is not a new concept, but one that has successfully flourished in many cities. Individuals on the local level, through CAT, have the ability to become involved in local television production, producing a wide range of television programs of interest to local viewers. These programs have included local politics, civic events, talk shows, documentaries, local sports, event coverage, school programming, general entertainment, cultural topics, and religion. Once a program is produced, it is then shown on a local CAT cable channel on local cable systems.
The tools used to produce television programming are easily mastered by almost everyone, without years of training or long apprenticeships. Basic training sessions are taught at the CAT studios, and those wishing to use the equipment are cleared for it’s use.
CAT allows anyone, from a local citizen to a small group or agency, access to the local television medium and allows them another avenue to communicate their programs and needs to the people in the community. A strong democracy needs a well informed citizenry. The goal of Community Access Television allows local governments, agencies, groups and citizens a vital communications link to effectively help inform citizens about the community around them.
WCAT-5 Overview
“Woodburn’s Best Kept Secret”
Woodburn Community Access Television (WCAT-5) is a public-access cable television station located in the City of Woodburn, Oregon. WCAT-5 broadcasts over the Wave Broadband Cable System servicing the Woodburn, Gervais, and Hubbard areas on Channel 5. The WCAT-5 studio is located at 635 Glatt Circle, Suite B, in the Wave Broadband Technical Building.
The station is run by a non-profit organization that manages the facility, offers instruction in television production, broadcasts local and locally sponsored programming, and makes video equipment available to the trained public for checkout.
The studio and control room facility is available most weekdays 9:00AM -10:00 PM and is available for scheduling production and editing activities. Office hours occur on Tuesdays and Thursdays usually between 2PM-5PM.
WCAT-5 does not charge for use of the facilities or equipment. WCAT-5 does ask that it have right of first showing of anything produced in the facility. The only costs to citizen producers are the cost of tapes, props, and sets.
The WCAT-5 access center exchange tapes with other area access centers such as CCTV in Salem and access centers in Tualatin Valley, Gresham, Silverton, Eugene, McMinnville, Canby and others.
WCAT-5 uses DV formats for acquisition and processing and can then dub tapes to VHS, S-VHS, DV, Hi-8 and DVD formats for playback and shuttle.
WCAT-5 is run by volunteers and a small part-time staff. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, attending any of the various trainings that are offered, arranging a tour of the facility, or scheduling time for broadcast, please contact the station at: (503) 981-7735.
Woodburn Community Access Television (WCAT-5) is a public-access cable television station located in the city of Woodburn, Oregon. WCAT-5 cablecasts over WAVE Broadband Cable System servicing the Woodburn, Hubbard, and Gervais areas on Channel 5.
WCAT-5 is run by a non-profit organization that manages the facility, offers training in television production, cablecasts local and sponsored programming, and makes video equipment available to the public for checkout.
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, attending any of the various production classes, arranging a tour of the facility, or scheduling time for broadcast, please contact the station Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2 to 5 PM at: (503) 981-7735.
Strategic Goals:
1) Provide consistent, on-going, locally produced, and community interest
television programs to benefit the communities and viewing public.
2) Provide on-going basic and advanced television production
training to the citizens of Woodburn and the cable viewing area.
3) Encourage citizen involvement by on-going media
and community presence.
4) Provide to Woodburn-area citizens on-going television coverage
of their local governmental and community activities.
WCAT-5 Training Topics
Studio & Field Camera Operations
These “hands on” sessions will cover all aspects of Video Camera operations in the field in the studio. Other topics of interest can be covered such as studio lighting and floor direction.
Control Room Operations
This overview and hands-on class introduces students to the operation of WCAT-5’s Video Toaster System. The video toaster allows producer/directors to edit video and audio, place effects and music in their video productions and also uses electronic graphics and titling.
Audio Operations
Thistraining will introduce interested students to the “audio side” of television including audio microphones, patch panel operation, compression, equalization, and digital audio effects.
Television Administration Classes
Producing Television Projects
This training will cover in-depth producing of television projects. Topics that will be covered include: idea creation, project “look”, outlining, storyboarding, scripting, financing, locations, talent, equipment, sets, scheduling, crew staffing, production, post-production, and getting your project to DVD for playback.
Directing Workshop
This training will discuss directing technique and will touch on: the “look” of a television project, blocking talent, blocking cameras, the use of transisition wipes, cuts, and dissolves, framing, types of shots ( single shot, 2-shot, medium shot, wide shot), rolling tape into a program, audio elements, graphic elements, etc.
Scriptwriting
For those who want to deliver a professional product and clear message to their viewers. Class will discuss developing you message for your audience, formatting your script to reflect audio and video cues, marking scripts by the director, and developing dramatic scripts for television plays and shows. Students will script a project and then produce it for WCAT-5.
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