Recording station

Explore video and audio recording at the library! The recording station is a sound-baffled 10' x 14' room, equipped with professional video and audio production equipment.

What's your next project?

  • Film and produce your own YouTube video or vlog
  • Rehearse a job interview and get feedback from others
  • Record an audition tape or performance
  • Record your music*
  • Create your own audiobook
  • Record a podcast

Free with a library card registered at North Vancouver City Library!

*Note: Because the booth is not 100% soundproof, there are some instruments (drums, brass, guitar amplifiers) that cannot be accommodated. However, we offer virtual instruments via software to include in your recording.

Made at NVCL

See some projects other artists have created at the City Library Recording Station.

Recording station

Using the recording station

Step 1: Request a booking

  • Check the station availability calendar
  • Fill out a booking request form — give us a first choice date and a backup just in case
  • Request the equipment you want to borrow on the booking request form
  • We will get back to you within 24 – 48 business hours. Please note that your booking is not confirmed until you hear back from us!

Step 2: Arrive for your booking

  • Please plan to arrive approximately 15 minutes before your booking if you need to borrow any additional equipment (cameras, microphones, etc.)
  • Check in at the third floor desk with one piece of photo ID (and your library card if you haven't pre-booked)
  • If you are more than 10 minutes late for your booking, it will be cancelled and the time slot opened to other customers

Reminders:

Please bring a USB flash drive (memory stick) or an external hard drive for saving your files, and a 32 GB or greater SDXD card to use in the camcorder.

Booking policies

  • All bookings are on a first-come, first-served basis and require at least 24 hours’ notice
  • Users must be at least 10 years old
  • Bookings are for a maximum of three hours per day per group, up to twice a week 
  • Book up to one month in advance
  • No more than four upcoming bookings in the system at one time
  • Capacity is limited to four people in the room
  • The station is bookable during regular library hours, with one hour at the beginning and end of the day reserved for cleaning
Recording studio

Available video equipment

In the booth

  • Video lighting
  • Green screen (retractable)
  • Reversible black/white backdrop
  • Adobe Premiere Pro video editing software
  • Microsoft Windows Video Editor basic editing software

Borrow from the desk

  • SONY FDR-AX53 HANDYCAM, with Rode VideoMic Pro Plus and Parrot teleprompter
  • User smartphone kit, with Rode VideoGo microphone
  • Camera tripod

Available audio equipment

In the booth

  • Digital audio interface: MOTU M4
  • 2 desktop microphones: Shure MV7X XLR Podcast Microphones
  • Midi keyboard: M-Audio Keystation 49II
  • M-Audio compact desktop reference monitors
  • Headphones: Audio-Technica ATH-M30X
  • Audacity Digital Audio Workstation software (basic)
  • Pro Tools 12 Digital Audio Workstation software (advanced) 
  • Pro Tools sound libraries, including Addictive Drums 2, Sans Amp, Air organ, piano, and other synth sounds

Borrow from the desk

  • 2 vocal/instrument mics with full-sized stands: Shure SM-58LC
  • Music stand

Made at City Library

A selection of some of the great material being produced at our digitization and recording creation stations!

Want us to feature your "made at City Library" content? Send us an email at techconnect@nvcl.ca with a link to your website or online profile, and a description of what you created so we can share it!

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Beastman and skeletor animated figures

Beastman?

A short cartoon spoof about Skeletor and his goons.

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Cartoon of woman drinking a glass of whiskey

Whiskey Face

An animated short with voice-over work done at the recording station.

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Brave Balloons YouTube thumbnail

Brave Balloons

Brave Balloons is a singer-songwriter duo performing original songs with two vocalists and a ukelele.

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A cookie dish

The Cookie Animation

Stop-motion animation cooking-making, from ingredients to eating, with sound effects recorded in the recording station.

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Two men playing guitar and handpan in the recording booth

Handpan Journey

"Uonuma-Seppu" and "Get Up, Stand Up" performed by Ryuto and Kiyoshi Iio. From Kiyoshi Iio's Handpan Journey YouTube channel.

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Two Studio in the City participants in 2022

Ella's fantastic song

Studio in the City has wrapped up another successful season. Participants learned a variety of skills and recorded songs at our Recording Station, including this one by Ella.

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Book cover of Inside view: The eye behind the lens

Inside View: The Eye Behind the Lens

A book by Michael G. Varga and Roxanne Davies featuring photos converted at the Digitization Station.

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Cover of book 'How to open the heart' by Miles Olsen

How to Open the Heart

The audio version of Miles Olsen’s How to open the heart  recounts his odyssey into vulnerability and empathy.

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Logo for Front Lines mountain bike podcast

Front Lines Mountain Bike podcast

A podcast for the people that truly make mountain biking happen: "the builders, advocates and the often forgotten board of your local mountain bike trail association."

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Logo for "Price Talks" podcast

Price Talks

An episode from Gordon Price's "Price Talks" podcast, featuring an interview with CNV Mayor Linda Buchanan Councillor Tony Valente.

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