Videotaping Convocation in high-definition provides a much more immersive experience for viewers, says producer Peter Freele of the Centre for Teaching and Learning. The October 13 graduation ceremonies marked the first time the centre’s staff employed high-definition recording for Convocation.

The high-definition process substitutes 1920x1080 pixel resolution for standard 720x480 pixel resolution.

“You can really see the difference in quality,” Freele says. “The new footage puts viewers in the seat as if they were there. It is so much more immediate.”

The centre has been producing in HD for most production for the last two years, but the size, complexity and importance of Convocation made it a more daunting prospect. Besides Freele, the centre deployed a technical director, a sound technician, a still photographer, three camera operators and a total of five cameras.

“Between the large screens, the lighting, the number of cameras, the scale of the event made it a challenge,” says Freele. “It was test for us and it proved to be an amazing difference.”

He says Cogeco Cable provided invaluable assistance in the form of its new HD production truck.

“It was very community-minded of them to lend us this facility,” he says. “The only thing they want in return is to show the videos.”

TVCogeco’s community channel 11 will televise the videos; a better-resolution option is available on its HD channel 700. The morning session will air at 7 p.m. on Monday, October 29. The afternoon session will air at 7 p.m. on Saturday, October 27, and at 9 p.m. on Monday, October 29.

The videos are also available in HD on the Web:

• Session 1 at https://ctl2.uwindsor.ca/uview/show/F2B46B1C13704534/
• Session 2 at https://ctl2.uwindsor.ca/uview/show/3A8AB14691CDCFC/