Sound, Study, Studio: Building the Future of Media Production at NMU
At Northern Michigan University, Mark Shevy, head of NMU’s Communication and Media Studies (CAMS) Department, and Dan Zini '15 BS, '19 MA, multimedia production faculty member, are helping to prepare students not only for today’s media industry but also for the future by developing a new state-of-the-art multimedia production studio in Gries Hall on Northern’s campus.
By Sarah O'Neill '10 BS, '26 MA
As Ferris Bueller famously said, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”
The same could be said for technology, particularly in the fast-moving world of media production. At Northern Michigan University, that reality sparked a bold vision from Mark Shevy, head of NMU’s Communication and Media Studies (CAMS) Department, and Dan Zini '15 BS, '19 MA, multimedia production faculty member. Together, they are helping to prepare students not only for today’s media industry but also for the future by developing a new state-of-the-art multimedia production studio in Gries Hall on Northern’s campus.
“We really had no choice but to move forward in the area of media production,” Shevy said. “We are now in competition with home studios and Artificial Intelligence. We’re in competition with online teaching platforms. We wanted to ensure students were getting something that was worth coming to NMU for, something that they can’t get anywhere else. We had a dream to offer a world-class studio that provides an exceptional educational experience for students.”
Communication (Speech) became its own department in the 1950s, offering radio and television courses to prepare students for these relatively new and powerful industries. What began as a small studio operation eventually expanded as student interest in broadcasting and media production increased. The facility had a modest beginning, eventually relocating from the basement of a science building to McClintock Hall in 1998.
Professors Mark Shevy and Dan Zini
Dr. Chuck Ganzert helped design the media studio in McClintock Hall to encompass recording arts as well as the traditional aspects of broadcasting. As the industry evolved, so did the myriad opportunities students sought in media production. In the beginning, the space served students well. But as the media landscape evolved, the studio’s limitations became increasingly apparent.
“That studio had a good start, but it was never fully finished,” Shevy said. “And over time, technology kept advancing, but our technology didn’t keep up. As other programs grew, our space shrunk to the point where it became unusable.”
Around 2016, Zini and Shevy began to question whether NMU could continue to offer students a truly competitive media production education without making significant changes. Those conversations became the foundation for something much larger than a simple renovation project. Instead of settling for incremental improvements, Shevy and Zini began imagining what a truly modern, professional media production experience could look like at NMU.
“The vision for this studio was not only to be industry standard, but also to be respectable and reliable. In the former space, the gear was failing, which created a lot of frustration among the students,” said Zini, who also serves as the chief engineer and manager of the CAMS media production studio. “Distinctive, I think, is one of the biggest words to describe the upgraded studio. Our equipment selection, our design choices, all feed those core guiding principles.”
An example of building this distinct space is the audio console Shevy and Zini chose. The Neve 5088 is one of the best audio consoles in the world and is highly regarded in the industry. Having this equipment allows Zini to train students hands-on with excellent-quality audio. The console is also analog, a conscious decision made by Shevy and Zini after much discussion. A high-quality analog console will last longer than digital equipment, which quickly depreciates and becomes obsolete. More importantly, they want students to learn both analog and digital production.
“We are what’s called a hybrid space, taking the best of the digital world, and in this particular example, the best of the analog world, and bringing them together,” Zini said. “This isn’t a regression in technology or technique. Hybrid production is an area where creative methods continue to evolve.”
Another key feature of the new studio is its immersive audio system. A fleet of world-class PMC speakers positioned around the room allows students to produce and listen to audio in Dolby Atmos and other spatial audio formats. These formats create a 3D soundscape around and above listeners, which is much more visceral than a traditional stereo format. Immersive formats are now common in music and video broadcasts, streaming platforms and movies. “The precision of this audio system is unlike what most people have ever experienced,” Zini said. “These are the same speakers that are used in many top studios, and students are able to truly hear what is good or bad in an audio production. They hear things that they’ve never heard before.”
Adding to the list of impressive equipment are musical instruments and a growing number of microphones, including the highly regarded Telefunken 251.
On the video side, the studio can currently support up to eight cameras in its production room for recording and live broadcasts, both video and audio. The audio and video equipment are connected by digital networks that allow students to experiment with a nearly endless combination of configurations.
“This is a big deal,” said Zini. “You’ll see pieces of what we have scattered around our region, but bringing all of it together to provide this comprehensive system and this capability is unique."
"We don’t know of any other place in the region where students can have a facility and educational experience like this,” Shevy added. “There is no other studio in the world that has this quality of equipment, with such flexible capability, supported by a caring university, and situated in natural beauty on the shore of Lake Superior.”
For students interested in music production, podcasting, sound design, broadcasting and multimedia storytelling, Zini said the facility offers unmatched opportunities to experiment, collaborate and refine their craft in a professional environment. Just as importantly, it positions them to graduate with the technical skills and real-world experience employers increasingly expect.
Students learn both digital and analog production.
For Shevy and Zini, the effort has always centered on students and the opportunities waiting for them after graduation. Their vision is not simply about creating an impressive facility. It is about creating a place where students feel inspired, challenged and prepared for careers in an industry that never stops changing. This also creates opportunities across campus and in the broader community. CAMS has already been involved in many collaborations with the NMU Music Department and community musicians, with more in the works. They are also working on collaborations with the Digital Cinema and Theater & Dance programs, within and outside of classes.
The department is also forming partnerships with high schools and community colleges, developing pipelines that directly connect to NMU. Students who come to NMU can build upon what they’ve previously learned and work toward certifications, including industry-standard AVID credentials. Having the improved media production studio will allow CAMS to engage in collaborative projects, package them professionally and get them on air.
While the possibility of collaboration is certainly exciting, both Shevy and Zini want to be clear that the heart of this project is to better serve their NMU students.
“When people walk into this new multimedia production studio, I want them to picture themselves learning and working there. I want it to be inviting,” Zini said.
While Shevy and Zini were the two major champions of this project, which took years to come to fruition, there are other notable individuals who helped make it a reality. Alumnus Mike Picotte ’01 BS of Sweetwater Sound consulted on the project, and late communications professor Dr. Chuck Ganzert laid the groundwork. Dr. Steve VandenAvond, Associate Provost for Extended Learning and Community Engagement and Dean for the College of Technology and Occupational Sciences, saw the vision early on and committed to helping make it a reality. Dr. Robert Winn, Dean of Arts & Sciences; Dr. Dale Kapla, Senior Associate Provost; and Jim Thams '95 BS, '96 MPA Assistant Vice President of Facilities, provided continued support to bring the project to its current state.
New audio and video production courses have been added to the CAMS curriculum in conjunction with the studio. In the future, audio certifications through CAMS will be offered through NMU’s Continuing Education program. And the journey is not over yet, as the studio will eventually be relocating to a permanent space when Gries Hall is torn down.
“This project really aligns with NMU’s mission and values. We talked about being distinct, we talked about how we want to empower students, and create meaningful experiences that open doors to extraordinary opportunities, self-expression and jobs,” Shevy said. “That’s exactly what we’re doing.”
In a world where technology moves fast, the ability to evolve while still creating meaningful, human-centered work may be central to the future.
To learn more about the NMU CAMS Department, or to find out how you may be able to offer support, visit nmu.edu/CAMS.