Welcome to Groundworks! Discover a vibrant space designed to ignite creativity and innovation in media production. Our state-of-the-art facilities provide the U-M community with the tools and expertise to bring their media projects to life.
Hours:
Groundworks is open 24/7
Consultants are available during staffed hours only.
Staffed Hours (Beginning 8/25/2025):
Sunday – Noon – 6:00pm
Mon-Fri – 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Saturday – No Staffed Hours
Location: 1315 Duderstadt Center
Contact: (734) 647-5739
groundworks@umich.edu
Our resources include:
- Multimedia Workrooms
- High-quality video and audio equipment
- Editing suites with professional software
- Soundproof recording booth
- Personal Studio with teleprompter, green screen, and pre-set lighting
- Animation station, copy stand, light tables for photography and more
Whether you’re an aspiring filmmaker, podcaster, animator, or digital artist, our knowledgeable staff is here to support and guide you through every step of your creative journey. Join us and transform your media ideas into captivating realities!
Groundworks Orientations
Multimedia Workroom & Recording Booth access:
Completing the canvas course “Groundworks – Virtual Orientation” and filling out the documents at the end will give you access to the Recording Booth and Multimedia Workrooms.
Personal Studio Orientation:
Our in-person orientation for the Personal Studio will showcase the tools of the room and how it can be used for production. The less than 60 minute training session is offered twice a week. Feel free to sign up for an orientation session.
In person orientations begin in Groundworks and are led by Ground Connections student consultants. Large groups, including classes and student organizations, can schedule in person orientations by emailing DC-scheduling@umich.edu.
Animation Resources
New to Groundworks in the winter term 2025 is the new stop motion animation station! The new setup includes a computer with Dragon Frame, connected camera, lights, figures, and stands for learning and prototyping your stop motion skills.
Our Copy Stand is terrific for 2D stop motion (think “South Park”), or for digitizing something that won’t work in the variety of scanners in Groundworks (e.g. book scanning).
Audio Resources
No matter your experience with audio recording and production, Groundworks, and the DMC houses a variety of audio spaces and equipment to help you produce great audio.
- Recording Booth*: Sound isolation booth with webcam, microphone and lighting for a great content recording environment
- Audio Checkout Kits: NCTC, located in Groundworks is LS&As tech checkout location for N. Campus. Audiorecording kits are but one of the media based resources offered
- Multimedia Workrooms*: Private reservable content creation suites with acoustic treatments, MIDI keyboard and power computers for high end post production.
- Audio Studios*: World class recording studios. Available for you to use
*Workshop or orientation needed to access. Info in room links
Digitizing Resources
Groundworks and the DMC has many options for taking a physical or “analog” item and making a digital version to work with on your computer. These are as simple as scanning a document, or converting a video tape to MP4, to photogrammetry, and 3D scanning.
If you have questions regarding our resources, please feel free to contact us at Groundworks@umich.edu
- Photo Table: Great backdrop for photographing your work. Camera and lights are provided.
- Media Conversion Rack: Analog to digital conversion. Make MP4s of your old VHS, MiniDV, DVD, cassette tapes and more.
- Scanning: Groundworks has a variety of scanners including and 18×24″ flatbed scanner, document scanner, and a film negative/slide scanner.
- Copy Stand: Great for scanning books or tiems you cannot place on a flat bed scanner.
- 3D Scanning: Mole scanner is available for scanning an object into a 3D mesh for using in any number of CAD based applications.
- Photogrammetry: A multiple camera setup can create a 3D model based on whatever you have placed on the available turntable.
Graphic Design Resources
Looking to develop your design skillset? Groundworks has industry standard tools for creating digital content. With access to the Adobe Suite, as well as a variety of hardware tools, we can help get you up and running with your design aesthetic.
- Wacom Cintiq: Industry standard drawing tablet. The stylus has 8200 point of pressure to give you the closest experience to using paint and canvas possible.
- Wacom Intous tablets: Located in our Mulimedia Rooms, the intous is a similar drawing-like tablet used for digital illustration or as a fine tuned track pad.
- XP-Pen: Available for checkout at theNCTC, located in Groundworks. A drawing tablet you can take home with you for your creative work
Photography Resources
Not only does Groundworks have camera kits availabe for checkout, but it has spaces set up to document your physical media, like models, 3d prints, etc. Take a look to see how you document your work.
- Photo Table: Great backdrop for photographing your work. Camera and lights are provided.
- Checkout Camera Kits: Available at NCTC, LS&As checkout resource on N. Campus. Kits contain the Sony a7C, additional lenses, batteries and accessories.
- Mobile phone kits: Available at NCTC, LS&As checkout resource on N. Campus. Kits allow for easier video or photography production with your mobile device. Kit includes holding frame, a lights, mini tripod, and microphone.
- Photogrammetry: A multiple camera setup can create a 3D model based on whatever you have placed on the available turntable.
Podcasting Resources
Groundworks offers a variety of options for creating podcasts, depending on your needs. Whether it is long format storytelling, round-table discussion, remote interviews, or talking with people around the community, we have options for you to choose from. We can even show you how to utilize applications like Zoom for an entry level option for podcasting.
- Recording Booth: Great for narrative storytelling or virtual interviews, the Recording Booth will give you a great recording for your podcast.
- Rodecaster Pro: Located in Multimedia Room 1, the Rodecaster Pro is designed for round-table discussion with up to 4 participants. You can also connect mobile devices to have a guest call into your recording.
- EVO Audio interface: Located in all the Multimedia Rooms and Audio Studios, the EVO allows microphones to be connected to the computer to record to any application you choose. These are well rounded devices for any level of audio recording.
- Audio Checkout Kits: Looking to record a podcast in the field? The kits available at the NCTC, located in Groundworks will do the trick.
- Zoom: Zoom has audio and video capture options. This free to use solution at the university can cover many bases for podcasting. Feel free to reachout with questions.
*Workshop or orientation needed to access. Info in room links
Video Production/Post Production Resources
Do you have a need for video production tools? Groundworks and the Digital Media Commons at the Duderstadt Center has many options to consider to capture content. Whether you need mobile phone production or a full blown professional video studio. We have options for you.
After completing your video shoot, audio recording, or podcast, the resources Groundworks provides can help you to edit everything together. That combined with our skilled staff, we are happy to help you learn the tools necessary to create any content you like.
- Multimedia Workrooms*: Private reservable content creation suites with acoustic treatments, MIDI keyboard and power computers for high end post production.
- Recording Booth*: Sound isolation booth with webcam, microphone and lighting for a great content recording environment
- Personal Studio*: This 1-person production space has a teleprompter, cameras, light and microphones ready to go upon entering the sapce.
- VideoStudio*: Our professional video production space has an entire team of people to help you with your production. Apply early to reserve your time and create most anything you’ve seen on TV or in the movies.
- Checkout Camera Kits: Available at NCTC, LS&As checkout resource on N. Campus. Kits contain the Sony a7C, additional lenses, batteries and accessories.
*Requires training orientation or application for access. Information is in the link to individual spaces.
