- Servers back up!
Hexagram-Concordia servers are back up and running on a temporary UPS. A permanent UPS will arrive in a week or so, and the servers will go offline for one or two hours for the switch-over. Otherwise, all services should now be fully functioning. Booking requests can now be made through our website, and users can continue to book workstations through PIR.
- Emergency Server Maintenance
Because of a power supply problem that appeared over the weekend, the Hexagram server requires an emergency repair today. In order to complete the repair, the server will be shut down, starting sometime after 5pm. If the repair is successful, we can expect the server to be up again at around 10pm this evening. But if there are any complications, the server may stay down until tomorrow.
This will affect Webcheckout, PIR, the Hexagram-Concordia website, any websites hosted on the Hexagram server, as well as any files stored in individual or group folders.
We regret the short notice. An update will be sent out when available.
- New Large Format Cameras Available
The Digital Imaging Lab has two new large format cameras available, a Toyo 4X5 field camera and a Toyo 8X10 field camera. Workshops will be held on May 16th, 17th, and 18th and on an ongoing basis. See the Digital Imaging website for more information: di.hexagram.ca/newtoyos.
New summer workshop dates have been added for the other lab equipment and listed here: di.hexagram.ca/demos.
- New Screening Room – Open House
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Hexagram-Concordia is pleased to announce an Open House for the new Screening Room on April 10 from 11am to 3pm.This new facility offers seating for a maximum of twelve people for viewing videos, video-game play, presentation, etc.
It is equipped with an 85inch screen, 7.1 surround sound, Mac Mini, BluRay player, PS3, XBOX 360, WII.The HEXAGRAM SCREENING ROOM is located in EV 10-525
OPEN HOUSE – Tuesday, April 10 from 11am to 3pm
Open to all Hexagram registered Users.The Screening Room will then be made available for all registered Hexagram users to book through the PIR system starting April 11th.
- *** Update March 30 – PIR back online
We are currently having problems with the PIR booking system and will update users once it is back online.
Until then, you can contact technicians directly and they will make the reservations for you.*** Sorry for the inconvenience. Users can again use the PIR system to book workstations.
- Concordia University closed on Thursday, March 22
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** UPDATE: The closure the will actually span from 11 PM on Wednesday March 21st to 7 AM on Friday March 23rd (32hrs total).
Concordia has just announced that the University will be closed on Thursday, March 22 and there will be no access to any buildings.
Any equipment pickups or returns will need to be rescheduled. All workstation bookings for that day will be canceled.
- Hazers and the new Alarm by-pass policy
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Concordia University has initiated a new policy to help prevent false alarms on campus caused by construction work and common research equipment such as haze machines. It will be possible to use a hazer (but not a fog machine) in the Black Box however you must notify the Resource Coordinator at least two weeks in advance of your booking so the procedure set in place can be followed. If notification is not received on time you will not be able to use that type of equipment. If you choose to use a hazer without proper notification to the Resource Coordinator and a false alarm is triggered you will be subject to a University mandated fine/fee of up to $2700.
There is no cost associated with this new procedure however users will not be able to use the main doors of the space when operating a hazer. When exiting through the rear doors users will be required to make sure the inner door is fully closed before leaving through the outer door. This is to make sure minimal amounts of haze escape the space and sensors outside the Black Box are not triggered.
If you would like to use a hazer during an event with more than 40 participants it will be necessary to have an alarm by-pass of the sensors as the rear doors would need to propped open (as stated in the policy regarding Public Events). It should be noted that there is a fee associated with the alarm by-pass which you will be invoiced for. Fees vary based on the electrical department’s hours. Please keep in mind that any by-pass that happens outside of the electrical department’s hours will be extremely expensive and should be avoided if it hasn’t already been budgeted for. Estimates can be provided upon request.
This is an allowance that only applies to the Black Box and its ongoing application is conditional that no alarm be triggered. If an alarm is triggered this process will be reviewed, possibly stopping the use of hazers without an alarm bypass.
- Hexagram-Concordia’s New Recording Studio
Hexagram-Concordia is pleased to announce an Open House for the new Recording Studio facility.
The new facility offers experienced sound researchers a quiet space to record within various software environments, and professional-grade hardware including a collection of studio-specific microphones.
The studio will be in ‘Beta’ phase until May. The studio will be available to accredited Hexagram Users during this period but will be undergoing adjustments, trouble-shooting, calibration and testing of various work-flow procedures. Users should work in this new space with this in mind.
A dedicated blog will be set up and maintained that will outline information about the studio, its equipment and resources, manuals, workflows and troubleshooting guides.
The HEXAGRAM RECORDING STUDIO is located in EV 10-515
OPEN HOUSE
Wednesday, March 7 from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm
Open to all Hexagram registered Users.Hands-on sessions will be scheduled in the near future to orient Users to the facility. If you have any questions regarding this facility, please contact Steve Bates at
sbates@alcor.concordia.ca
- Rapid Prototyping Lab Workshop: Introduction to the Laser Cutter
Rapid Prototyping Lab Workshop: Introduction to the Laser Cutter
This ninety-minute workshop provides a brief demonstration of the Trotec Speedy 500 Laser Cutter / Engraver. The entire process from file preparation to final cutting will be covered.
Workshops will be held from 10:00am until 11:30am on:
Tuesday March 6th, [FULL]
Wednesday March 7th, [FULL]
&Thursday March 8th. [FULL]To register or for more information, please contact Marc Beaulieu, Hexagram-Concordia Rapid Prototyping Lab Coordinator at hexrp@alcor.concordia.ca The Rapid Prototyping Lab is in EV-10.835.
Be sure to include in any message: your name, Hexagram or student ID and the name and date of the workshop you wish to attend.
Note: You must be Hexagram-Registered to participate in this workshop. Maximum of 5 people per session.
- New Website for the Digital Imaging Lab
A new website is available for the Hexagram digital imaging lab at di.hexagram.ca. The site contains news about digital imaging specific workstations and portable equipment, as well as media prices and workshop schedules. All upcoming accreditation sessions will be posted at di.hexagram.ca/demos.
