Audio Lab

New Episodes on the ATU Library Podcast

Posted on August 24, 2026 Written by Angela Black

In the latest episode of the ATU Library Podcast, host Luke Heffley sits down with longtime Arkansas Tech University English professor and author, Dr. Stanley Lombardo, to talk about his curious family history, career, travels, and his writing.

In From Sicily to Lake Dardanelle, Dr. Lombardo discusses his roots in Sicily and his family connections to legendary bandleader, Guy Lombardo. The professor also discusses his nearly 50-year career teaching English literature here at ATU.

Dr. Lombardo is also the author of several science fiction and historical fiction novels including Paxton at Bosworth Field, Who Murdered Shakespeare?, and A Rumor of Innocents. He has also written poetry and children’s books, including the popular Lucas and Nellie series set on Lake Dardanelle.

Tune in to the latest episode to hear his writing inspirations and stories about his decades of guiding students here in the River Valley. For more episodes featuring interviews with musicians, artists, geologists, and more, check out our YouTube Channel or subscribe via Spotify to get updates when new episodes drop. You can also listen to the archive on both platforms at any time.

Want to start your own podcast? Be sure to check out the library’s Audio Lab, located on the 2^nd floor of Ross Pendergraft Library, for access to the equipment, software, and space needed to tell your own story.

Filed Under: Library Tagged: Audio Lab, Podcast

Attention Content Creators!

Posted on January 13, 2025 Written by Angela Black

Are you looking to create higher quality videos, photographs, or sound? Look no further than the Ross Pendergraft Library Media Production Labs.

This unique service offers the spaces, the equipment, the software, and the expertise needed to elevate your creative output, regardless of major or academic discipline. If you are working on a school project or a fun project, all students are welcome to use the labs.

The Media Production Labs include three distinct areas on the second floor of the library to record, create, and learn: the Media Lab, Audio Lab, and Video Lab.

Media Lab

This is an open service area staffed with expert assistance to answer your questions about media production. It features 18 PC computers and other devices to enable you to compose music, digitize analog recordings, create marching band drills, and watch DVDs or BluRay videos. The Media Lab also houses the library’s CD and LP collection, some of the documentary film DVDs, as well as equipment to check-out for home or in-house library use. This includes mics, stands, cables, cameras, umbrella lighting kit, tripods, and a pop-up greenscreen. A full list of equipment, including video tutorials, is located at this Video Production Guide: https://libguides.atu.edu/videoproduction.

The Audio Lab

A reservable audio recording studio that students can reserve to record, edit, and mix sound. It includes some sound-absorption panels, an iMac digital work station featuring the latest in sound mixing and sound editing software, and numerous professional audio production tools. Drop some beats, make a podcast, or professionally record a narration over video or Powerpoint. Reserve time in the Audio Lab by signing in to this page: https://bookit.atu.edu/spaces?lid=15585&gid=32830

The Video Lab

A reservable video recording studio that functions as a maker-space for video capture, still photography, chroma-keying, post-production, and virtual/mixed reality. It features a wall-sized green screen, photography lighting, a PC with three monitors and an expansive suite of video editing software, a 4K video camera, and VR headsets and gloves. Explore greenscreen and VR technologies with expert assistance and professional tools. Reserve time in the Video Lab by signing in to this page: https://bookit.atu.edu/spaces?lid=15612

Each of these labs come equipped with professional software like the Adobe Creative Cloud Suite, Ableton Live, Audacity, GarageBand, Logic Pro X, Vegas Pro 19, OBS Studio, and others.

Access to the Audio Lab and Video Lab are limited to currently registered students working on multimedia projects. Students can also check-out selected equipment for home use for limited durations by visiting the Media Lab.

In addition to spaces, equipment, and software, the Media Librarian, Dr. Lowell Lybarger, has prepared several online research guides to help level up your skills on content creation:

Audio for Podcasting – The basics on starting your own podcast and how to use the equipment and software of the Audio Lab to make your dream a reality.
Video Production – Everything you need to get started on your next video project, including information about the equipment from the library, how to use video production software, and tips for sound design for videos.
Free Media for Content Creation – A valuable collection of web sources for video, images, photographs, sound effects, music and more freely available, adaptable, or usable in your own multimedia project.
Multimodal Literacy – A resource guide for creating stories through multiple media avenues beyond the written word. Includes a resource toolkit and information on copyright.
VR Guides @ATU – A step-by-step guide for using for using the HTC Vive or Oculus Quest 2 Virtual Reality systems the Video Production Lab.

If you’ve always wanted to be a creator instead of just a consumer of music, video, or other media content, the Library’s got you covered. Stay up-to-date on events, news, and contests from the Media Production Labs by following them on Instagram, Facebook, or YouTube.

Filed Under: Library Tagged: Audio Lab, Media Lab, Media Production Labs, Video Lab

Recording in Progress

Posted on October 3, 2016 Written by Angela Black

Have you ever wanted to start your own talk show or record and mix your own song? The Ross Pendergraft Library and Technology Center would like to invite you to our new state-of-the-art recording studio, located on the second floor in room 204. The Audio Lab is now open for the entire ATU community to professionally record their podcasts, oral history interviews, bluegrass banjo jams, piano sonatas, film narrations, funky percussion grooves, and other sick beats.

The library’s Music Lab—already home to an impressive collection of CD’s, LP’s, film course reserves, and digital music/video editing software—built this new center as a creative space for students to bring their audio and video projects to life. The walls have been acoustically treated to keep outside noises out and inside noises in. Students can bring their own instruments, and those with electric guitars can plug directly into the thunderbolt audio interface without using an amplifier, which are too noisy for the second floor. In the quiet of the library, users finally have a space to get loud…ish.

The lab features an assortment of high quality recording hardware, such as microphones, a drum pad, keyboards, and a 10-channel mixer. Users will also have access to audio and video editing software like Adobe Audition, Wavelab, GarageBand, Logic Pro X, iMovie, Adobe Premiere Pro, and more.

Don’t let the high-tech software intimidate you. Audio lab assistants are standing by to help you navigate the controls and the equipment. You can also brush up on your video and music editing skills by creating an account with ATU’s Virtual Training Center (VTC). This service—free to the Tech Community—offers tutorials and video guides to all kinds of video/audio software, including most of the software in the Audio Lab.

Reserve a two hour slot today by contacting Luke Heffley or Lowell Lybarger. More information about making reservations, lab hours, use guidelines, and more can be viewed at the new Audio Lab website: http://www.atu.edu/audiolab/index.php

For any questions about the Audio Lab, Music Lab, or more, email our expert in all things audio, RPL’s Music Librarian, Dr. Lowell Lybarger.

Filed Under: Library Tagged: Audio Lab, NEW!